Propagation of dita to boost anti-TB effort

MANILA, Philippines - The mission of Dr. Fernando Melendres to propagate dita, an indigenous tree species, and use its sap to treat pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) may soon be realized.

Dr. Melendres, a topnotch cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon, said the sap has been used as treatment for hundreds of years in the Cordilleras, and it can be used nationwide to arrest the growing incidence of the deadly disease.

The problem with dita (scientific name – Alstonia scholaris) is that the tree is not systematically propagated since many tree farmers do not know where to source the seeds, while others are unaware of the proper techniques for nursery seedling production and that the tree takes a long time to grow and harvest.

These species are known to have commercial value and enjoy some niche in the international market.

These issues may soon be resolved after Jeremias Bruzon, a forester and researcher of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Caraga, undertook a two-year work on “Phenological Studies on Some Economically Important Tree Species Native to Caraga Region,” which was funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD).

Bruzon was most interested in the phenology of the endemic species. Phenology describes the details of the flowering to fruit maturity of the trees in order to help farmers determine the right time to collect mature fruits or seeds.

Dita is native to Agusan del Sur and in Surigao del Norte. The other indigenous species are malapapaya, dao, kaatoan bangkal, kaaloan, nato, banlag and loktob.

Bruzon is also keen on propagating dita and other indigenous tree species for environmental reasons, since a greener Philippines is one shield from the onslaught of such debilitating weather aberrations as El Niño and La Niña.

The two-year study sought to determine fruit color maturity indicators and find out the best time to collect the seeds in Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Sur and Agusan del Norte.

Apart from this, Bruzon observed the phenology of other species like banlag (Xelupia ferrugenia), bagalunga (Melia azerdarachi), binuang (Octomeles sumatrana), dao (Dracontomelon dao),  kaaloan bangkal (Anthocephalus chenensis), loktob (Duabana moluccana), nato (Palaquium luzonensis), malapapaya (Polyscias nadosa) and others.

Bruzon discovered that maturity stages are related to seasonal changes, including the temperature and rainfall in specific areas.

Most of the indigenous trees flower during months when rainfall is least, which means that prolonged dry season actually enhances the capacity for flowering.

In Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte and in Surigao del Sur, the trees flower and fruit at the same time, with the rates at 88 percent, 90 percent and 88 percent, respectively.

The results of the Bruzon study would be most important to medical researchers who have labored for years to propagate dita and coax it to produce more sap.

Dr. Melendres, who trained in London, Iran and other countries, will be one of the beneficiaries of the study along with others who want to make full use of natural ingredients to improve the health and well-being not only of TB patients but also those who suffer from other maladies.