Gen info
- Ardisia (coralberry or marlberry) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Primulaceae. It was formerly the Myrsinaceae family, now recognized as the myrsine sub-family, Myrsinoideae. There are over 700 accepted species. (4)
- Various compilations list  Ardisia pyramidalis and Ardisia serrata as synonyms, with both sharing the local name aunasin. Plants of the World Online and Leonardo Co's Digital Flora of the Philippines list them as separate species.

Botany
• Growth form: Small, shrubby tree up to 7 m tall. Foliage: Bright green leaves are oblong (elongated oval shape) to oblanceolate (round, wide tip narrowing at the base). The leaf edge is smooth to slightly toothed. Stems: Slender, woody stems are up to 10 cm in diameter. Flowers: Purplish pink, star-shaped flowers are arranged in large, branched clusters known as panicles. (3)

Distribution
- Native to the Philippines. (1) (2)
- In most islands and provinces; in primary forests at low and medium elevation, often common.  (2)
- Also found in Borneo. (2)

Constituents
- A dichloromethane extract of leaves afforded spinasterol, spinasteryl acetate, squalene, lutein, and triglycerides. (4)
- Study of dichloromethane extract of air-dried   leaves isolated spinasterol (1), spinasteryl acetate  (2), a mixture of α-amyrin (3a) ß-amyrin (3b) and bauerenol (3c) at a ration of 2:1:2, squalene (4), lutein (5), and triglycerides (6). (see study below) (8)
- Proximate analysis of fruit yielded high fiber content (37.99%), crude protein (13.50%), crude fat (0.41%), and some minerals such as Ca (0.96%). P (0.21%), K (1.90%), and N (2.16%). (9)

Properties
- The defining characteristic of the genus is the small tube formed at the center of the flower by stamens, which are joined at the bases. (4)
- Studies have suggested angiosuppressive, antiangiogenic, potential teratogenic properties.

Parts used
Roots, leaves.

Uses
Edibility
- Fruits, leaves and flowers are edible.
- Young shoots eaten raw as vegetable.
- Flowers and fruits added to fish dishes as seasoning.
Folkloric
- Root decoction drunk to treat infection of the genitals and to assuage toothache. Leaves applied externally to relieve headaches. (5)

Studies
• Angio-Suppressive / Sterols / Leaves: Spinasterol (1) and spinasteryl acetate (2) from leaves of Ardisia pyramidalis were tested on duck chonioallantoic membrane (CAM) vascularity assay. Both sterols effectively suppressed blood vessel branching and intercapillary elongation. Absence of epithelial membrane antigen in all samples suggested the main mechanism of angiosuppression is related to the action of von Willebrand factor which modulates other angiogenic factors. Spinasterol was the most effective in reducing branch point formation and intercapillary distance with minimal incidence of mortality, suggest potential as source of phytopharmaceuticals. (5)
• Angioangiogenic / Leaves: Bioassay directed fractionation evaluated the angiosuppressive activity of leaf extracts of A. pyramidalis using duck in ovo chorioallantoic membrane assay. The methanol extract showed antiangiogenic activity evidenced by significantly lower blood vessel count. Hexane partition showed more angiosuppressive activity compared to ethyl acetate counterpart. Hexane fraction 4 was most potent. Subfractionations through normal phase liquid column chromatography and thin layer chromatography showed loss of antiangiogenic activity suggesting synergistic effect in the parent active fraction. (6)
• Effect on Maternal Reproduction / Maternal Hepatotoxicity / Leaves: Study evaluated Ardisia pyramidalis and Aglaia loheri for their effects of maternal reproductive performance and fetal morphology using inbred ICR mice. Doses of 10 and 1 mg/ml concentrations were used for A. pyramidalis from the 8th to 15th day of pregnancy. A. pyramidalis, 1 mg/ml extract plus vitamin A treatment reduced maternal reproductive performance most significantly.  In addition, maternal hepatotoxicity was observed.  Results advise caution when taking the extracts during pregnancy because of potential toxicity and teratogenicity. (7)
• Triterpenoids and Angioangiogenic Sterols / Leaves: Study of dichloromethane extract of air-dried leaves isolated triterpenoids and sterols.  Compounds 1 and 6 and the mixture of 3a, 3b, and 3c demonstrated positive vascular change activity, while Compound 1 showed possible anti-angiogenic property characterized by capillary hemorrhaging and ghost vessels, which eventually led to a non-functional chorioallantoic membrane. (see constituents above) (8)

Availability
Wild-crafted.

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Ardisia pyramidalis / KEW: Plants of the World Online
(2)
Ardisia pyramidalis / Co's Digital Flora of the Philippines
(3)
Ardisia pyramidalis / National Parks: FLORA & FAUNA WEB
(4)
Ardisia / Wikipedia
(5)
ANGIO-SUPPRESSIVE EFFECT OF STEROLS FROM ARDISIA PYRAMIDALIS (CAV.) PERS. / Dennis D Raga, Annabelle A Herrera, Agnes B Alimboyoguen, Chien-Chang Shen, Consolacion Y Ragasa / Pharmaceutical Chemistry Journal, 2017; 51(8) / DOI: 10.1007/s11094-017-1674-4
(6)
Antiangiogenic activity of extracts and fractions from an endemic plant Ardisia pyramidalis (Cav.) Pers. From Bataan, Philippines using Duck in ovo chorioallantoic membrane assay / Annabelle A Herrera, Evangeline C Amor / Journal of Medicinal plants Research, 2011; 5(13): pp 2637-2646 / ISSN: 1996-0875
(7)
Effects of oral administration of crude leaf extracts of Aglaia loheri Blanco and Ardisia pyramidalis (Cav.) Pers on mouse embryo morphology and maternal reproductive performance / Annabelle A Herrera, Rich Ericson, C King et al / Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, 2011; 5(16)
(8)
Triterpenoids and an anti-angiogenic sterol from Ardisia pyramidalis (Cav.) Pers / Dennis Raga, Agnes B Alimboyoguen, Chien Chang Shen, Annabelle A Herrera, Consolacion Y Ragasa / Philippine Agricultural Scientist, 94(2): pp 132-139
(9)
Analgesic triterpenes from Ardisia cf. Elliptica (Subgenus: Tinus) (Myrsinaceae)   / Dennis D Raga, Consolacion Y Ragasa et al / Der Pharma Chemica, 2014; 6(4): pp 153-161 / ISSN: 0975-413X

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