Rowegie Abanto

The Peperomia pellucida plant, locally known as "ulasimang bato" or "pansit-pansitan." Photo by Sarah Hazel Moces S. Pulumbarit and IHM/UP Manila

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<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1742366459544image-77.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Peperomia pellucida plant, locally known as &quot;ulasimang bato&quot; or &quot;pansit-pansitan.&quot; <em>Photo by Sarah Hazel Moces S. Pulumbarit and IHM/UP Manila</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Leading herbal medicine experts from the University of the Philippines Manila have developed an anti-gout tablet derived from a plant long used in Philippine traditional medicine, which could potentially benefit around 1.6 million Filipinos suffering from the painful form of arthritis.</p><p>The Peperomia pellucida plant — locally known as &quot;ulasimang bato&quot; or &quot;pansit-pansitan&quot; — has been clinically proven by researchers from UP Manila&#x27;s Institute of Herbal Medicine to be effective for its &quot;powerful&quot; analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-hyperuricemic properties. </p><p>Professor Jade Rodriguez, who announced the &quot;breakthrough&quot; research on the Peperomia pellucida plant at a pharmaceutical exhibition last month, said the herbal tablet could be a &quot;safer, more natural way for Filipinos <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2024/5/15/winning-moment-mga-diskarte-para-iwas-gout-1905">to manage gout</a> without the risks linked to synthetic drugs.&quot;</p><p>The researchers noted that while medications like allopurinol and febuxostat help lower uric acid levels, they can cause side effects affecting kidney and liver function.</p><p>Gout — which can develop in some people with high levels of uric acid — is a form of arthritis characterized by intense pain, swelling, or tenderness, often in the big toe, according to the Mayo Clinic.</p><p>The researchers believe the easy-to-take herbal tablet could serve as an alternative treatment for gout and hyperuricemia because of its proven ability to lower uric acid levels.</p><p>Due to the plant&#x27;s reputation for pain treatment, it is one of the medicinal plants endorsed by the Department of Health.</p><p>&quot;This research transforms the plant from a folk remedy into a scientifically validated alternative for gout relief,&quot; the UP experts said.</p><p>UP Manila said it was working to make the anti-gout tablet available to the public, with the university&#x27;s Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (TTBDO) already looking for partners to help bring the herbal medicine to the market.</p><p>For those interested in collaborating or investing in the herbal pill, UP Manila said stakeholders could contact the <a href="https://www.upm.edu.ph/cpt_news/up-manila-researchers-develop-herbal-medicine-from-ulasimang-bato-for-gout/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR15RQUTJBwocXT_wkRIetWrU7o63xwNubYSLAhRLhhSqVMAScXRMyvQwIs_aem_TOcwbjtECuL2f4uNzPAfFw">TTBDO</a>.</p><p>In October last year, UP Manila announced that it was <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2024/10/9/up-manila-seeks-partners-to-commercialize-ampalaya-pill-for-diabetes-827">seeking partners to commercialize and market its ampalaya medicine tablet</a>.</p><p>The ampalaya pill was developed after years of clinical trials and found to be a promising alternative that could complement treatments for managing type 2 diabetes.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2024/10/2/up-researchers-ampalaya-medicine-tablet-for-type-2-diabetes-shows-promise-1343">&#x27;Game changer&#x27;: UP researchers&#x27; ampalaya medicine tablet for Type 2 diabetes shows promise</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lcOYripVqsA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NFYUmwVfasg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Leading herbal medicine experts from the University of the Philippines Manila have developed an anti-gout tablet derived from a plant long used in traditional medicine, which could potentially benefit around 1.6 million Filipinos suffering from the painful form of arthritis.</p>

Leading herbal medicine experts from the University of the Philippines Manila have developed an anti-gout tablet derived from a plant long used in traditional medicine, which could potentially benefit around 1.6 million Filipinos suffering from the painful form of arthritis.

UP develops 'powerful' anti-gout tablet from 'pansit-pansitan' plant

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UP develops 'powerful' anti-gout tablet from 'pansit-pansitan' plant

Rowegie Abanto,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 19, 2025 03:06 PM PHT

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Updated Mar 19, 2025 04:21 PM PHT

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herbal medicine

Peperomia pellucida

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Institute of Herbal Medicine

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