The University of the Philippines Manila’s (UP Manila) Institute of Herbal Medicine (IHM) has launched “Tsaang Gubat” tablet and syrup as a “natural, affordable, and highly effective” remedy for gastrointestinal and biliary colic.

According to a report from UP Manila on Nov. 26, Tsaang Gubat (Ehretia microphylla), also known as Scorpion Bush, has long been used in the Philippines to treat diarrhea and spasms, as it contains natural compounds—alpha- and beta-amyrin—that provide pain relief, have anti-diarrheal effects, and reduce spasms in the gastrointestinal tract.

Dr. Jaime M. Purificacion, research faculty at IHM, explained that the Tsaang Gubat tablet and syrup provide “an accessible and natural option, particularly in rural areas, supporting our local herbal industry while integrating traditional knowledge with modern pharmaceutical practices.”

Clinical trials conducted by the National Integrated Research Program on Medicinal Plants (NIRPROMP) have shown that Tsaang Gubat syrup is as effective as dicycloverine in treating mild to moderate gastrointestinal colic, particularly in patients two to 18 years old.

“Human trials showed that Tsaang Gubat provided comparable symptomatic improvement with dicycloverine syrup at various time points, from 30 minutes to 24 hours,” Purificacion said.

In addition, studies have shown that Tsaang Gubat tablets provide comparable pain relief for biliary colic caused by gallstones, with relief within 30 minutes and full symptom resolution in about 2.5 hours.

Tsaang Gubat is also significantly more affordable than many synthetic treatments.

Once commercialized, it will be priced at approximately P30 per treatment—cheaper than synthetic treatments, like dicycloverine, which can cost P50.

It added that Tsaang Gubat has no major side effects, making it a safer option for patients, including children.

Moreover, Purificacion said Tsaang Gubat syrup has been well-received by patients.

“The majority of patients found the syrup sweet, pleasant, and easy to swallow, and there were no adverse effects reported,” Purificacion added. This makes Tsaang Gubat a viable and safer alternative, particularly for pediatric use.

UP Manila is positioning Tsaang Gubat as a major herbal product for 2024, offering pharmaceutical companies the opportunity to license and manufacture this innovative treatment.

The development of Tsaang Gubat was the result of the collaborative efforts by leading scientists, including Dr. Nelia P. Cortes-Maramba, Evangeline Amor, Dr. Clara Lim Sylianco, Dr. Horacio Estrada, Prof. Ernesta Quintana, Dr. Romeo Quijano, Dr. Natividad de Castroci, Dr. Cecilia Zamora, and Prof. Leticia Barbara Gutierrez.