 Botany
Lobo-lobohan is more or less erect herb, with a more vigorous growth than Physalis minima, more upright with less deeply toothed leaves, larger flowers. The berries are oblong, about 2 cm long. Seeds are numerous, very small, pale yellow and embedded in juicy pulp.
Distribution
In open, waste places in the Benguet provinces.
Constituents
Seeds constitute 4.5 to 5 % of the weight of the husk-free, fresh, ripe berries, and contain 6.28 percent of a pale yellow semi-drying oil.
The oil consists of oleic acid, linolic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid and a saponifiable matter.
Properties
Considered vermifuge and diuretic.
Parts used
Leaves
Uses
Edibility / Nutrition
Fruit is edible, raw or cooked.
Excellent for making of jams and preserves; for pies and cakes.
Fruit is rich in A, C and B-complex vitamins
 Folkloric
Zulus use an Infusion of the leaf as an enema for children with abdominal upsets.
Heated leaf used by Europeans to draw inflammations.
Juice of leaves used for worms and bowel complaints.
In India, used by the Muthuvan and Tamilian tribes for jaundice.
In Peruvian traditional medicine, used for treating pterygium.
In other traditional systems, used for treating cancer, malaria, asthma, hepatitis, dermatitis and rheumatism.
Studies
• Anti-Cancer / Cell Apoptosis Mechanisms: (1) Study results suggest the ethanol extract of PP induced Hep G2 cell apoptosis possibly mediated through the CD95/CD95L system and the mitochondrial signaling transduction pathway.
• Antioxidant / Anti-Inflammatory: Study of several extracts showed the SCEPP-5 extract with the strongest antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Its protection against LPS-induced inflammation could be through the inhibition of iNOS and COX-2 expression.
• Anti-Lung Cancer: Study showed the golden berry-derived 4BHWE is a potential DNA-damaging and chemotherapeutic agent against lung cancer.
• Anti-Pterygium / Anti-Fibroblast: Juice of PP exhibited a mild anti-inflammatory activity compared with methylprednisolone. A dose-dependent cytostatic effect on cultured fibroblast was noted. Study showed PP fruit juice's anti-pterygium effect may be related to its inhibiting fibroblast growth.
• Antioxidant: Study showed the ethanol extracts to possess good antioxidant activities; the highest, obtained with 95% ethanol extract of PP.
• Hepatoprotective: (1) Study showed the aqueous extract of PP possesses antioxidant activity and potent hepatoprotective effect against APAP-induced liver injury in rats. (2) Study of water, ethanol and hexane extracts showed antihepatotoxic activities against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity.
Availability
Wild-crafted.
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