Botany
Tagpo is a small tree reaching a height of about 10 meters. Leaves are alternate, oblanceolate to elliptic-oblanceolate, 6 to 15 centimeters long, 2 to 6 centimeters wide, and pointed at both ends. Flowers are white or pink, fragrant, borne on compound, terminal or lateral inflorescences, and about 1 centimeter in length. Fruit is dark blue or purple, rounded, and 5 to 8 millimeters in diameter.

Distribution
- Common in primary forests at low and medium altitudes, ascending to 1,000 meters throughout the Philippines.
- Occurs in India, Sri-Lanka, Indo-China, Malaysia, Indonesia and New Guinea.

Properties
- Vulnerary, febrifuge, anti-diarrheal.

Parts used
Leaves.

Uses
Culinary
- Flowers and fruit cooked as flavoring for fish.
Folkloric
-- In the Philippines, leaves used on wounds.
- Malays use a decoction of leaves for treatment of chest pains; roots may be substituted for the same use.
- Plant used for complications of parturition, liver poisoning, fever, and diarrhea.

Studies
• Health-Promoting Compounds / Phytopharmaceuticals: Species of Ardisia are a rich source of novel and potent phytochemical compounds, such as bergenin and ardisin. Report reviews the usage and biological activities of Ardisia compounds.
• Anti-Herpes Simplex Virus / Anti-Adenovirus: In a search for new antiviral agents from traditional medicine, the hot water extracts of 12 traditionally used medicinal plants in Taiwan, including Ardisia squamulosa, showed anti-HSV and anti-ADV activities. A. squamulosa was more effective in inhibiting ADV-8 replication than the other four viruses.
• Antibacterial / Anti-Salmonella: Study of dried fruit extracts yielded three compounds, viz., syringic acid, isorhamnetic and quercetin, which showed activity against veterinary Salmonella.
• ß-Amyrin / Anti-Platelet Aggregation: Study of a methanol extract of fresh Ardisia elliptica leaves showed inhibition of platelet aggregation. ß-amyrin was isolated, and showed to be more potent than aspirin in the inhibition of collagen-induced platelet aggregation.

Availability
Wild-crafted.

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
The genus Ardisia: a novel source of health-promoting compounds and phytopharmaceuticals / Hideka Kobayashi and Elvira de Mejia / Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 96, Issue 3, 15 January 2005, Pages 347-354 / doi:10.1016/j.jep.2004.09.037
(2)
In vitro anti-herpes simplex viruses and anti-adenoviruses activity of twelve traditionally used medicinal plants in Taiwan / Lien-Chai Chiang, Hua-Yew Cheng et al / Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin, Vol 26 / 2003 Nov
(3)
Ardisia elliptica Thunb. / Catalogue of Life, China, 2010
(4)
Anti-Salmonella activity of constituents of Ardisia elliptica Thunb. / Methin Phadungkit, Omboon Luanratana / Natural Product Research (2006), Volume: 20, Issue: 7, Pages: 693-696