Botany
Silong-pugo is a climbing shrub, with hairy branchlets when young. Leaves are thin, pale or subglaucous beneath, broadly ovate or nearly round, 5 to 8 centimeters wide, truncately rounded or heart-shaped at the base, sometimes slightly peltate, and pointed at the apex, with 5 basal nerves, and tomentose. Cymes or panicles are 2- to 3-chotomous. Flowers are numerous and yellow. Fruit is rounded, red or purplish, becoming pea-sized black when ripe. Seeds are kidney-shaped, with crested edges.

Distribution
- Throughout the Philippines in open thickets at low and medium altitudes.
- Also reported in India through Malaya to the Moluccas.

Constituents
Study yielded 5 triterpenes: hopenone-B,hopenol-B,22-hydroxyhopan-3-one,erythrodiol 3-palmitate, and 5β,24-cyclofriedelan-3-one.

Properties
Roots are narcotic; contains an alkaloid.

Parts utilized:
Leaves and roots.

Uses
Folkloric
Roots used as antidote for snake bites.
Leaves applied to the head for headaches.
Also used for asthma and coughs.

Studies
• Periglaucines / Anti-Hepatitis B / Anti-HIV Alkaloids: Study isolated four new hasubanane-type alkaloids, periglaucines A-D (1-4) and three known alkaloids. Alkaloids 1-4 inhibited hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (HBsAb) secretion.
• Chemical Constituents: Study of rhizomes yielded six cyrstalline substances: epifriedelinol, mellisic acid, palmatic acid, stearic acid, bututic acid and daucosterol.
• Triterpenoidal Constituents / Antitumor Activity: Study yielded five triterpenes. Compound 4, erythrodiol 3-palmitate, inhibited the proliferation of K562 cells.

Availability
Wild-crafted.