Calophyllum teysmannii

Among the Visayan and Tagalog communities of the Philippines, the leaves of Calophyllum teysmannii are brewed as a warm tea to soothe cough and throat irritation (Bennett et al., 2021). In the same region, the bark is boiled in water for about thirty minutes to produce a decoction that is taken to treat dysentery and abdominal pain (Bennett et al., 2021). In the Malay Peninsula, the Dayak people of Borneo crush fresh leaves into a poultice that is applied directly to cuts and skin infections (PROSEA, 1995). In central Vietnam, the Kinh and other ethnic groups steep the dried leaves in hot water for a short infusion to lower fever and alleviate malaria symptoms (Nguyen et al., 2015). Across these cultures, both the leaf infusion and the bark decoction are the primary preparations, and all involve the direct consumption or topical application of aqueous extracts.

The simplest preparation is a mild leaf tea. Place 10 g of dried leaves in 500 ml of water, bring to a gentle boil, then simmer for 10 minutes. After turning off the heat, allow the mixture to steep for an additional 5 minutes, strain, and drink one cup 2–3 times a day. Do not exceed three cups per day, and avoid use during pregnancy because the plant contains coumarins that may have uterine‑stimulating effects (Bennett et al., 2021).

Phytochemical work on Calophyllum teysmannii has identified several bioactive classes. The bark and leaves contain xanthones such as caloxanthone and the pair of teysmannins A and B (Tanaka et al., 2007), as well as coumarins like calophyllic acid (Li et al., 2008). The triterpenoid friedelin has also been isolated from the bark (Li et al., 2008). These compounds have documented anti‑inflammatory, antimicrobial and astringent properties, which align with the traditional uses of the leaf tea for respiratory relief and the bark decoction for gastrointestinal complaints. In cell‑culture assays, the xanthones suppress nitric‑oxide production by macrophages, supporting their role in reducing respiratory inflammation, and the coumarins have shown mild anticoagulant activity in platelet‑aggregation tests, which explains the caution advised for patients on blood‑thinners.

Recent in‑vitro studies have shown that the isolated xanthones suppress pro‑inflammatory mediators, prompting interest in developing standardized extracts for pharmaceutical use, while dried leaves and bark continue to be sold in local markets in the Philippines and Indonesia for their traditional therapeutic value. In the Philippines, a handful of herbal companies market dried Calophyllum teysmannii leaves and bark as “teyso” or “taysaman” teas and tinctures, and ongoing research in the region is focusing on standardizing the xanthone content for potential anti‑inflammatory nutraceuticals (Molnár, 2010).

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