Gen info
- Urceola is a plant genus in the family Apocynaceae, first described as a genus in 1798. Currently, it has 21 accepted species.
- Etymology: The genus name Urceola derives from the Greek word urceus, meaning "pitcher" or "urn", referring to the shape of the flower's corolla. The specific epithet laevigata derives from Latin, meaning "smoothed" or "polished", probably referring to the smooth surface of the leaves or stems. The genus name Parameria derives from Greek para, meaning "near or beside", and meris, meaning "part", referring to the allusion to the same floral parts.

Botany
• Dugtong-ahas is a woody vine. Leaves are oblong or obovate-lanceolate, 7 to 10 centimeters long, pointed at both ends. Flowers are small, white and clustered. Fruit is very long and slender, 15 to 20 centimeters in length, smooth, very narrowed between seeds. Seeds are about a centimeter long, sharply pointed at one end and crowned on the other end with numerous white hairs about 2.5 centimeters long.

• Growth form: An evergreen climbing shrub producing stems as long as 10 m. Foliage: Petiole is 2-4 cm long; leaf blade is ovate, green and variegated with white nearer to the leaf margin.  Stems: Stems are pale grey. Flowers: Yellowish, white flowers, borne on inflorescence called as cymes; each flowers has broadly ovate sepals, reddish to white corolla measuring around 7 mm in diameter and tubular about 2.5 mm.  Fruit: Follicles with seeds about 1 cm. (Flora & Fauna Web)

• Lianas evergreen, to 10 m. Stems pale gray; branchlets shortly hairy when young, soon glabrescent. Petiole 2-4 cm; leaf blade narrowly oblong or subovate, rarely elliptic or ovate, 5-13 X 2-5 cm, glabrous; lateral veins 5 or 6 pairs, with domatia. Cymes 5-16 X 5-16 cm, puberulent distally. Sepals broadly ovate, 0.5-1 mm, glabrous or pubescent, apex obtuse or acute. Corolla reddish to white, ca. 7 mm in diam., tube 2-2.5 mm; lobes broadly ovate or nearly orbicular, ca. 3 X 3 mm; disc shorter than ovary. Ovary pubescent. Follicles to 45 cm. Seeds ca. 1 cm, pubescent, coma ca. 3 cm. (Flora of China)

Distribution
- Native to the Philippines.
- Common in thickets and open forests at low and medium altitudes in Ilocos Norte, La Union, Bontoc, Benguet, Nueva Viscaya, Zambales, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, and Rizal Provinces in Luzon; and in Mindoro, Busuanga, Palawan, Panay, and Cebu.
- Also native to  Andaman Is., Bangladesh, Borneo, Cambodia, China South-Central, China Southeast, Jawa, Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Malaya, Myanmar, Nicobar Is., Sulawesi, Sumatera, Thailand, Vietnam. (2)

Constituents
- The bark contains a caoutchouc, 8.5%, which may be mixed with a resin.
- Study reports the rubber contains 6% of resin.
- Study of bark yielded one new trimeric proanthocyanidin, epicatechin-(2beta-->O-->7, 4beta-->6)-epicatechin-(2beta-->O--->7, 4beta-->8)-epicatechin (5) and two new tetrameric proanthocyanidins, epicatechin-(2beta-->O-->7, 4beta-->8)-[epicatechin-(4beta-->6)]-epicatechin-(4beta-->8)-epicatechin, named as parameritannin A-1 (6), and epicatechin-(2beta-->O-->5, 4beta-->6)-[epicatechin-(2beta-->O-->7, 4beta-->8)]-epicatechin-(4beta-->8)-epicatechin, named as parameritannin A-2 (7), along with the two known dimers, proanthocyanidin A-2 (1) and proanthocyanidin A-6 (2), and two trimers, cinnamtannin B-1 (3) and aesculitannin B      (4). (1)
- A systematic review showed the bark of P. laevigata contains alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, and saponins. (see study below) (13)

Properties
- Cicatrizant, vulnerary.
- Studies have suggested antithrombotic, antiatherosclerotic, anticancer, embryoprotective, antiteratogenic, analgesic, antifungal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antibiofilm, hepatoprotective properties.

Parts utilized
Bark, twigs, leaves.

Uses
Folkloric
- In the Philippines, the tagulauai oil has been long valued as a cicatrizant. To prepare, the bark is macerated in coconut oil and used as vulnerary.
- Pounded twigs and leaves are applied to cuts and lacerations.
- Infusion of leaves taken internally as an emmenagogue, to facilitate menses.
- The bark, macerated in oil is an efficient, also used internally for tuberculosis.
- Decoction of the bark drunk in the Sunds Islands and in Java after childbirth to help shrink the uterus.
- Used for relief of postpartum pain.
- Decoction of the bark also used for dysentery and externally for wounds.
- Referred to as "Aceite de Moros," "Balsamo de Cebu" and "Balsamo de Tagulaway" - prepared by cooking the root-bark and branches of Parameria barbata in coconut oil. The yellowish-white oily liquid is used for skin diseases and wounds.
- In Indonesia, it is an ingredient of a folk medicine called "Jamu" or" Kayu rapet," traditionally used as an anti-ulcer or anti-diarrheal medicine and for treating wounds.
Others
- Oil: "Tagulauai" oil is valued as a cicatrizant; to prepare, macerate the bark in coconut oil.
- "Balsamo de Tagulaway" or Balsamo de Cebu is prepared by cooking the root-bark and branches of Parameria barbata in coconut oil to form a yellowish-white oily liquid which is used for skin disease and wounds.
- Fiber: Bark fiber used for making rope.

Studies
• Jamu / Anti-thrombotic / Anti-arteriosclerotic: P laevigata, one of many components in a study, was shown to have an anti-thrombus effect. (3)
• Antiteratogenic Potential: Extracts from the leaf of P. laevigata and yacon tubers (Smallanthus sonchifolius) were studied for antiteratogenic potential using duck embryos. Extracts administered with retinoic acid had antiteratogenic properties. (4)
• Parameritannins / Selective Human Cancer Cytotoxins / Anticancer: Study isolated parameritannins A-2 and A-3, new A-type tetrameric proanthocyanidins from the bark of P. laevigata which showed to inhibit eukaryotic topos I, II or both. Parameritannin A-3 induced apoptosis, while parameritannins acted as topo inhibitors. Results suggest a potential for an anti-cancer compound that poisons topos. (7)
• Embryoprotective / Antiteratogenic / Leaves: Study evaluated a hexane fraction of leaves of Parameria laevitgata for possible embryoprotective / antiteratogenic effect using measures of number of live and dead fetuses per litter on pregnant ICR mice (Mus musculus L.) model. Extract treated groups showed high incidence of live fetuses and low incidence of low fetuses per litter. Morphological appearance was normal, with higher mean fetal weight and enhanced degree of ossification. (9)
• Analgesic / Bark: Study evaluated the analgesic effect of kayu rapat bark infusion using heat-induced pain in male mice. Results showed significant analgesic effect with a potency similar to sodium diclofenac. (10)
• Hepatoprotective / CCL4-Toxicity / Leaves: Study evaluated the hepatoprotective property of Parameria laevigata leaf extracts in CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in Sprague-Dawley rats. Results showed hepatoprotective activity evidenced by SGPT and SGOT levels and histopathological findings at 100% concentration. Activity was attributed to secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, saponins, and tannins. (11)
• Anti-Inflammatory / Stem: Study evaluated the anti-inflammatory response of Mus musculus when treated with P. laevigata stem crude extract using carrageenan-induced rat paw edema assay. Result showed anti-inflammatory effect at 100 mg/kg, comparable to anti-inflammatory drug, Diclofenac. (12)
• Antibacterial / Anti-Inflammatory / Ointment Formulation: Study evaluated the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects of Parameria laevigata in a topical ointment formulation. Chloroform and ethanolic solvents were used for extraction. Extracts were both positive for steroids and phenolic compounds. The chloroform extract was found partially active against Staphylococcus aureus with ZOI 10-13 mm. Anti-inflammatory activity evaluation was done using wound excision in albino rats, with betamethasone-mupirocin (Foskina-B) as positive control. All ointments in different concentrations of 100, 300, and 500 mg/kbw were comparable to positive control. Best ointment formulation was 500 mg. Results suggest potential of the ointment as antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. (13)
• Antifungal in Vulvovaginal Candidiasis / Stem Bark: Study evaluated the antifungal properties of ethanol extract from Parameria laevigata stem bark against Candida albicans from patients diagnosed with vulvovaginal candidiasis. Results showed 70% extract can inhibit the growth of C. albicans strains in range of 36.39% to 84.87%, and the 96% extract from 17.49 to 38.42%.  (14)
• Antimicrobial / Inhibition of Biofilm Formation / Bark / Review: Study evaluated the effect of compounds in Parameria laevigata bark in forming biofilms. The systematic review showed the bark of P. laevigata contains alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, and saponins.  Alkaloids can interfere with components of peptidoglycan in bacteria. Flavonoids can inhibit growth of microorganisms. Tannins can influence cell wall polypeptides so that the formation of cells walls. Saponins hydrolyze bacterial cell walls. Conclusion suggests the bark has potent activity as antimicrobial by inhibiting biofilm formation mechanisms. (15)

Availability
- Wild-crafted.
- Herbal products (capsules, powders, spices) in the cybermarket.