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Family Apocynaceae
Afine
Anodendron affine (Hook. & Arn.) Druce
ASIAN CABLE CREEPER
Shan teng

Scientific names Common names
Aganoma laevis Champ. ex Benth. Afine (Tagalized)
Anodendron affine (Hook. & Arn.) Druce Asian cable creeper (Engl.)
Anodendron affine var. effusum Tsiang Loose flower anodendron (Engl.)
Anodendron affine var. pingienense Tsiang & P.T.Li  
Anodendron fangschengense Tsiang & P.T.Li  
Anodendron laeve (Champ. ex Benth.) Maxim. ex Franch. & Sav.  
Anodendron loheri Merr.  
Anodendron salicifolium Tsiang & P.T.Li  
Anodendron suishaense Hayata  
Epigynum laevigatum Hook.f.  
Holarrhena affinis Hook. & Arn.  
Anodendron affinie is an accepted species. KEW: Plants of the World Online

Other vernacular names
CHINA: Shan teng, Bu hia tin.
JAPANESE: Sakakikazura.
VIETNAM: Nga voi, Day duy, Töc thang.

Gen info
- Anodendron is a genus of plant in the family Apocynaceae. It was first described as a genus in 1844.
As of February 2023, POWO lists 17 species, four of which are found in the Philippines: Anodendron affine, A. axillare Merr., A. candolleanum Wight, and A. oblongifolium. (2)

Botany
Lianas to 10 m, glabrous except for corolla. Branches pale gray. Petiole 0.5-2 cm; leaf blade deep green adaxially, lighter abaxially, narrowly oblong to narrowly ovate, 3-14 X 1.2-5 cm, papery or somewhat leathery; lateral veins 6-12 pairs, usually wrinkled in dry state. Cymes paniculate, terminal or axillary, 3-26 X 3-13 cm, long pedunculate. Sepals ovate, 2-3 mm. Corolla white or yellowish green, pilose inside, tube 3-4.5 mm; lobes falcate, narrowly oblong, as long as or shorter than tube. Stamens inserted at base of corolla tube; disc cup-shaped, shallowly 5-lobed or entire, attached to ovaries. Follicles narrowly ellipsoid, dilated at base, 8-13 X 1.6-3 cm. Seeds tawny, beaked, ca. 2 cm x 6 mm, coma ca. 6 cm. (Flora of China)

Anodendron affine is an evergreen woody vine inhabiting evergreen tree forests. Branches are green at first, then turn dark purple. Leaves, leathery and glossy, are of opposite phyllotaxis; blades measure 5-10cm in length, 1-3cm in width, and are oblong with entire margins. This plant bears cymes at the end of the branches with many light yellow flowers. Corollas, measuring 0.8-1cm, are in a high cup shape and are cleft in 5 twisted segments. Bloom time: April-June. (2)

Distribution
- Native to the Philippines. (1)
- In lowland primary forests.
- Also native to Bangladesh, China South-Central, China Southeast, Hainan, Japan, Laos, Myanmar, Nansei-shoto, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam. (1)

Constituents
- Study of methanol extract of stem and bark of Anodendron affine isolated a new cardenolide, assigned as 2α, 3β,5,11 α,14-pentahydroxy-12-oxo-5β,14β-card-20(22)-enolide. (5
- Study on seeds, unripened fruits, and caules of Anodendron affine isolated esters of p-O-glucosyl-and p-O-primverosylnervogenic acid with some carbohydrates (including dambonitol, glucose, and sucrose). (6)

Properties
- Studies have suggested insect growth-inhibitory, anticancer properties.

Parts used
Whole plant, stem, bark.

Uses

Edibility
- No report found on edibility.
Folkloric
- No reported folkloric medicinal use in the Philippines.
- In China, whole plants used as medicinal bath for treatment of rheumatism. (7)
- A constituent of the Ayurvedic preparation, Olivo (Anodendron affine, manubriatum, Syzygium paniculatum), a mixture of bark, leaves, fruit and stems, used for treatment of liver disorders, dyspepsia, and stomachaches. (8)

Studies
Insect Growth-Inhibitory:
Bioassay-guided fractionation of methanol extract of stem and bark isolated 3 new cardenolide glycosides, 4,5-dehydro-12-oxo-affinoside E, 12-oxo-affinoside E, and 16β-hydroxyaffinoside A along with the previously known cardenolides, affinosides A, E and M. Of the compounds, 4,5-dehydro-12-oxo-affinoside E, affinoside A, and affinoside M exhibit insect growth inhibitory activity against the silkworm, Bombyx mori. (4)
Wogonin / Naturally Occurring Flavonoid / Biologic Activities / Anticancer: Wogonin (5,7-dihydroxy-8-methoxyflavone) is a naturally occurring flavonoid in plants, initially isolated from Scutellariae radix. Biologically active compound wogonin is extracted from the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis (Baikal skullcap), S. amoena (Tall skullcap), S. rivularis (Barbed skullcap) and the stem of Anodendron affine Druce. Wagonin has a remarkable spectrum of therapeutic activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral hepatitis, anti-allergic, anticonvulsant, ant-tumor, anticancer, and neuroprotective. It alleviates anxiety, reduces pain, minimizes heart disease, helps control diabetes, and improves overall health. Wogonin has been found to suppress growth of tumor cells, inhibit angiogenesis, metastasis, and invasion; induces cell-cycle arrest, apoptosis, and modulates telomerase activity. (3)

Availability
- Wild-crafted.

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May 2025

                                                 PHOTOS / ILLUSTRATIONS
IMAGE SOURCE: Asian cable creeper - Anodendron affine / MACAO NATURE - Macao Biological Database / 2 photos / Non-commercial use / Click on image or link to go to source page / Macao Nature
OTHER IMAGE SOURCE:Apocynaceae : Anodendron affine / Inflorescence / Copyright © 2011 by Leonardo L Co [ref. DOL33558] / Non-Commercial Use  / Image modified / Click on image or link to go to source page / Phytoimages.siu.edu
OTHER IMAGE SOURCE:Apocynaceae : Anodendron affine / Flowering plant / Copyright © 2011 by Leonardo L Co [ref. DOL33560] / Non-Commercial Use  / Image modified / Click on image or link to go to source page / Phytoimages.siu.edu

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)

Anodendron affine / KEW: Plants of the World Online
(2)
Anodendron affine - Sakakikazura / Wild Plants In and Around Shimane
(3)
Anticancer flavonoid wogonin for cancer treatment / 2020 / AdmacOncology
(4)
Insect growth inhibitory cardenolide glycosides from Anodendron affine / Yoshiyasu Fukuyama, Mosamitsu Ochi, Hideko Kasai, Mitsuaki Kodama / Phytochemistry, 1993; 32(2): pp 297-301
(5)
A cardenolide from Anodendron affine / Yoshiyasy Fukuyama, Masamitsu Ochi, Hideko Kasai, Mitsaki Kodama / Phytochemistry, 1994; 35(4): pp 1077-1079
(6)
Glycosyl Nervogenic Acid Esters of Carbohydrates from Anodendron affine (Anodendron. VI) / Fumiko Abe, Tatsuo Yamauchi / Chemical and Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 1985; 33(7): pp 2712-2720 /
DOI: 10.1248/cpb.33.2712
(7)
Yao herbal medicinal market during the Dragon Boat Festival in Jianghua County, China
/ Binsheng Luo, Yujing Liu, Bo Liu, Sizhao Liu, Beixi Zhang et al / Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 2018; 14(61) / DOI: 10.1186/s13002-018-0260-5
(8)
Indian tribe’s and villager’s health and habits: Popularity of apocynaceae plants as medicine / Nirmala Devi, Ajay Kumar Gupta, Sunil K Prajapati / International Journal of Green Pharmacy, 2017; 11(2S)

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 1,500 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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