Health Benefits of Pansit-pansitan Or Ulasimang Bato (Peperomia Pellucida Linn)

Pansit-pansitan is a fleshy, shallow-rooted herb that grows in damp and slightly shaded areas. It is characterized by its shiny heart-shaped leaves that grow from an erect translucent green stalk. Moreover, it has tiny dot-like flowers, that turns brown when matured, and fruits that are very small.

The entire plant is edible both cooked or raw and can be used as a medicinal herb for its analgesic, anti-arthritic, diuretic activity.

Traditional Health Benefits

  1. Prostate problems
  2. A sore throat
  3. Skin Boils
  4. Wounds
  5. Burns
  6. Diarrhea
  7. High blood pressure
  8. Eye inflammation
  9. Arthritis
  10. Gout
  11. Mental excitement disorder
  12. Skin inflammation
  13. A headache
  14. Fever
  15. Abdominal pains
  16. Pimples
  17. Renal problems

Science-Based Health Benefits

Analgesic / Anti-inflammatory Action

Traditionally, this plant is used to treat a cough, common cold, fever, arthritis, and headache.
In a study done on rabbits, pansit-pansitan extract shows an anti-pyretic activity which is comparable to standard aspirin. Moreover, the plant also exhibited anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities in a study of aerial parts of peperomia extracted in mice.

Antioxidant Activity

The extract of Pansit-pansitan has strong scavenging activity against free radicals, according to studies. Therefore, this suggests that it can be a good natural antioxidant.

Anti-Arthritic Activity

Some studies have shown that pansit-pansitan extract, combined with ibuprofen treatment, can significantly improve the symptoms of arthritis, particularly knee joint rheumatism.

Anti-Cancer Activity

P. pellucida has the potential to be an anti-cancer supplement. A study found that this plant has compounds that can prevent the growth of some cancer cells.

Anti-Bacterial Activity

A study reveals that P.Pellucida has a compound known as patuloside A, a xanthone glycoside that has a wide spectrum antibacterial activity.

Depressant Activity

Researchers from Bangladesh conducted a study wherein mice were given nikethamide to induce excitement and was later on administered with peperomia pellucida extract in order to determine its depressant activity. The results of the study reveal that the plant extract has a dose-dependent depressant activity which can be used to treat excessive mental excitement disorder.

Uric Acid Reduction In Blood

In a study of rats given with P. pellucida extracts and uric acid levels were monitored, it was revealed that the rats had a 44% reduction of uric acid level, while on the other hand, those that were given allopurinol drug have shown 66% reduction in uric acid level. This means that pansit-pansitan can be used as an alternative to allopurinol when it comes to controlling uric acid levels in the blood.

Pansit-pansitan Tea Preparation

  1. Wash some freshly gathered Pansit-pansitan plant parts
  2. Chop the parts and then place in a pot.
  3. Add in 4 cups of water for every 1 cup and let it boil for 10-15 minutes.
  4. Let it steep then strain.
  5. Drink half cup of Pansit-pansitan tea three times a day.