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Family Primulaceae
Aunasin
Payung-payung
Ardisia serrata (Cav.) Pers.
SAWTOOTH ARDISIA

Scientific names Common names
Anguillaria serrata Cav. Aunasin (Tag.)
Ardisia abanii B.C.Stone Payung-payung (Tag.)
Ardisia angustifolia A.DC. Sawtooth ardisia (Engl.)
Ardisia candolleana Mez. Serrated ardisia (Engl.)
Ardisia cavanillesii Roem. & Schult.  
Ardisia curtipes Merr.  
Ardisia dataensis Mez.  
Ardisia mindorensis Merr.  
Ardisia oligantha Elmer  
Ardisia oligocarpa Merr.  
Ardisia whitfordii Mez.  
Tinus candolleana Kuntze  
Tinus serrata (Cav.) Kuntze  
Ardisia serrata is an accepted species. KEW: Plants of the World Online
Taxon conflict: Some compilations list Ardisia pyramidalis and A. serrata as synonyms. POWO and Co's Digital Flora of the Philippines list them as separate species. (•) "Species of Philippine Ardisia Sw" (Magtoto, Buot 2020) lists Ardisia serrata and A. pyramidalis as separate species. (6)
Aunasin, as common name, is applied to both.

Other vernacular names
Malay: Aunasin, Rugrusu.

Gen info
- Ardisia (coralberry of marlberry) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Primulaceae. It was formerly in the family Myrsinaceae, now recognized as the myrsine sub-family Myrsinoideae. There are over 700 accepted species. It is the largest genus of the family Primulaceae.
- There are 74 Ardisia species recorded in the Philippines, 62 of which are endemic. (6)

Botany
A small evergreen tree that grows up to about 8-12 m. A shade-loving tree that grows well at low to medium altitude. Leaves are membranous spatulate (curved with broad rounded end) that alternately crowd slender branches. Flowers are small, white or pale purple, terminal,  and 5-petaled. Fruits are small spherical berries, about 8 mm, with small and round seeds.

Remarks: A polymorphic ochlospecies. From plant to plant, or even within the same plant of different age or vigor, there is considerable variation in the size, shape of leaves, and in the density of indumentum. These variants intergrade considerably and show no geographical separation. They might well be regarded as a complex of species, which have a distinct tendency to merge into each other, although extreme forms are distinct enough. (7)

Distribution
- Native to the Philippines.
- In primary forests from lowland to mossy, on ridges, up to 2400 m. (2)
- Also native to Borneo and Jawa. (2)
- Used as hedge or border plant.

Constituents
- No studies found.

Properties
- Studies on the genus Ardisia have shown potential antibacterial, antiangiogenic, cytotoxic, and antipyretic properties.
- Study suggested antibacterial property.

Parts used
Leaves.

Uses

Edibility
- Fruits, leaves, and flowers are edible.
- Young shoots and leaves are eaten as vegetable. After blanching, used as salad greens, mixed with tomatoes and onions.
- Flowers and fruits added as seasoning to fish dishes. (4)
- Berries used for making jams and jellies.
Folkloric
- No reported folkloric medicinal use in the Philippines.
Others

- Tannins: Bark is a source of tannins.

Studies
Antibacterial / No Antibiofilm Formation / Leaves:
Study of evaluated the antibacterial and antibiofilm- forming activities of Ardisia serratia ethanolic and aqueous extracts on E. coli, and MSSA (Methicillin-Sensitive Staphylococcus aureus) and MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus). The ethanolic extract showed weak growth inhibitory activity against MSSA and MRSA with MICs of 2.61 and 3.29 mg/mL, respectively. with no biofilm inhibition activity, and no activity against E. coli. The aqueous extract showed not growth inhibition and negligible biofilm inhibition. (5)

Availability
- Wild-crafted.
- Ornamental cultivation.

June 2024

                                                 PHOTOS / ILLUSTRATIONS
IMAGE SOURCE: Primulaceae : Ardisia serrata / Flowering and fruiting twigs / Copyright © 2015 by P B Pelser & J F Barcelona (contact: pieter.pelser@canterbury.ac.nz) [ref. DOL94733] / Non-Commercial Use  / Image modified / Click on image or link to go to source page / Phytoimages.siu.edu
OTHER IMAGE SOURCE: Ardisia serrata / Inflorescence / Cerlin Ng / CC BY-NC-ND / Click on image or link to go to source page / Useful Tropical Plants

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Ardisia serrata / KEW: Plants of the World Online
(2)
Primulaceae / Ardisia / Co's Digital Flora of the Philippines
(3)

Ardisia / Wikipedia
(4)
Ardisia serrata / National Parks: FLORA & FAUNA WEB
(5)
Antimicrobial Activity of Ardisia serrata (Cavs.) Pers. Ethanolic and Aqueous Leaf Extract on the Growth and Biofilm Formation of Selected Bacterial Isolates / Patrick Josemaria Altavas MD, Alfonso Rafael G Abaya MD, Remo Vittorio Thaddeus Abella MD, Danna Lee Acosta MD et al / ACTA MEDICA PHILIPPINA
(6)
Species of Philippine Ardisia Sw. (Primulaceae) / Liezel Molina Magtoto, Inocencio E Buot Jr / JNBR: Journal on New Biologica Reports, 2020; 9(3): pp 289-298 / eISSN: 2319-1104
(7)
New synonyms and combinations in Asiatic Ardisia (Myrsinaceae) / Hu Chi Ming / BLUMEA, 1999; 44(2): pp 391-406

DOI: It is not uncommon for links on studies/sources to change. Copying and pasting the information on the search window or using the DOI (if available) will often redirect to the new link page. (Citing and Using a (DOI) Digital Object Identifier)

                                                            List of Understudied Philippine Medicinal Plants
                                          New plant names needed
The compilation now numbers over 1,300 medicinal plants. While I believe there are hundreds more that can be added to the collection, they are becoming more difficult to find. If you have a plant to suggest for inclusion, native or introduced, please email the info: scientific name (most helpful), local plant name (if known), any known folkloric medicinal use, and, if possible, a photo. Your help will be greatly appreciated.

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