Saluyot - Herbal Medicine

Saluyot Uses, Health Benefits, Side Effects

Scientific Name: Corchorus olitorius
Also knows as:
Saluyot (Tagalog), Jute, Jews mallow, Egyptian spinach, jute mallow, bush okra, West
African sorrel (En), Chang shouo huang ma (Ch). Krinkrin (Fr)
Saluyot (Corchorus olitorius) is an edible leafy vegetable that is a member of the genus
Corchorus, classified under the subfamily Grewioideae of the family Malvaceae. Saluyot
is widely found in tropical and subtropical areas from Asia to Africa valued as food and
for its strong fiber. Saluyot has long been used as food staple since ancient times by
Jewish people and Egyptians hence derived its English names Jews mallow and Egyptian
spinach.

Saluyot leaves
are very
nutritious, it is
rich in
calcium, iron,
protein,
vitamin A, C
and E,
thiamin,
riboflavin,
niacin, folate,
and dietary
fibers. Saluyot is usually cooked as stew, forming a thick slimy syrup similar in
consistency to okra usually taken with rice or other starchy staple.
Saluyot can almost grow anywhere in the Philippines. Saluyot is a hardy plant that is
resistant to pests and requires little care. It can be found in the wild as it can also be
grown in a farm.
Saluyot plants are tall, reaching 2-4 meters in height, having only a few side branches.
Saluyot leaves are alternate, simple, lanceolate, about 5-15 cm in length tapering to a
pointed tip and has finely serrated margin. Saluyot flowers are yellow about 2-3 cm wide
with five petals. The fruit is capsule like with plenty of small seeds inside.
Saluyot Herbal Medicine - Health Benefits

Saluyot being rich in vitamins and minerals generally promotes good health and wellbeing.
Saluyot being rich in vitamin A can provide health benefits for good eyesight.
Saluyot contains vitamin E and other antioxidants. It is said to prevent wrinkles and
promote youthful looking skin.
Saluyot is used to treat inflammation and pain such as arthritis , headache, stomach ache
and others.
Saluyot being rich in fiber helps to control blood pressure, cholesterol build-up, diabetes
and prevents heart disease.
Saluyot leaves are rich in fiber and its slimy consistency when cooked is used to treat
various digestive problems such as diarrhea, stomach ache, dysentery, constipation and
ulcers.
It is also claimed that together with other herbs it can cure cancer.
Saluyot, Scientific Studies - Medical Uses
Benefits of Saluyot for Diabetes
A study conducted in Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, India reported that by
administering powdered Saluyot supplements to pregnant rats, both the mother and the
fetus exhibited an increased resistance in diabetes induced oxidative stress versus a
control group. The results suggest that Saluyot supplementation during pregnancy may
provide beneficial effects against diabetes induced oxidative stress both for the mother
and the fetus. (Journal of Diabetes. March 2013: Dietary supplementation with Ipomoea
aquatica attenuates maternal and fetal oxidative stress in streptozotocin-diabetic rats)
Beneficial Effects of Saluyot Against Liver Disease
The Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Malaya in Malaysia conducted a
study on the protective action of Saluyot against thioacetamide-induced hepatotoxicity in
rats to determine if Saluyot can indeed help treat jaundice. An ethanol extract of Saluyot
has been administered to rats subjected to liver damage by thioacetamide. Results had
shown that the rats when compared to a control group showed resistance against liver
lesions, cell necrosis and inflammation. The study further suggests that the protective
effect of Saluyot extract in chemical-induced liver damage might be contributed to its
modulation on detoxification enzymes and its antioxidant and free radical scavenger
effects. Moreover, it confirms a scientific basis for the traditional use of Saluyot for the
treatment of liver disorders. (Molecules. 2012: Ipomoea aquatica extract shows protective
action against thioacetamide-induced hepatotoxicity)

Saluyot Availability And Preparation

Saluyot being an annual plant can be grown in your backyard or can be bought in your
local wet market by the bunch.
Saluyot leaves may be dried and stored for later use.

Saluyot leaves
are dried and
boiled to make a
medicinal tea.
Saluyot leaves
being a
vegetable can be
thrown in as an
ingredient in
making stews or
soups and other
viands. The
Ilocanos are
known to prepare delicious dishes with saluyot, the most popular are dinengdeng and
bulang-bulang. Some Ilocanos even attributes their youthful looks and longevity in
saluyot rich diet.
Saluyot Side Effects, Cautions And Warnings
Saluyot is an edible vegetable considered safe for human and animal consumption.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Saluyot is considered safe even for pregnant women and
breast feeding mothers..
Other Related Articles For Saluyot
Anticancer activities and mechanisms of Blumea
balsamifera extract in hepatocellular carcinoma
cells./ Am J Chin Med. 2008;36(2):411-24.
Antioxidant Properties of Extracts from Medicinal
Plants Popularly Used in Taiwan / International
Journal of Applied Science and Engineering .
2005. 3, 3: 195-202

Did you know that the popular Ilocano favorite vegetable, saluyot (jute leaves),
originated in Egypt, and was the source of health and beauty of the Egyptian royalties
including Cleopatra? You might as well decide to eat it too, if you want to look young,
healthy, and beautiful. Saluyot thrives almost anywhere in the country, requires little care
in cultivation, and can be grown year-round. It is a green, leafy vegetable that is rich in:
beta-carotene for good eyesight, iron for healthy red blood cells, calcium for strong bones
and teeth, and vitamin C for smooth, clear skin, strong immune cells, and fast woundhealing. Saluyot is one if not the most nutritious vegetable in the Philippines. One-half
cup cooked saluyot leaves (45g) contains 20kcal, 1.3g protein, 0.3g fat, 3.1g
carbohydrates, 0.4g fiber, 87.3mg calcium, 22.5mg phosphorus, 1334mg carotene or
222g Retinol Equivalent (vitamin A), 1.0mg iron, 0.02mg thiamin, 0.04mg riboflavin,
0.3mg niacin, and 10mg Ascorbic Acid or vitamin C. Moreover, saluyot has an
antioxidant activity of 77% or -tocopherol equivalent (vitamin E) of 48.9. In other
words, saluyot contains all the important nutrients needed by the body. Free radicals are
highly unstable by-products created as our cells use oxygen. Because they are so
unstable, they react easily with many chemicals inside the cells, and these reactions can
cause tremendous damage to the delicate cellular control mechanisms. When those
mechanisms are damaged, the cell may malfunction or die. Biologists tell us that this
cumulative cell damage is the cause of many of the common degenerative diseases:
arthritis, hardening of the arteries, heart and kidney ailments. Vitamins A, C and E present
in saluyot "sponge-up" free radicals, scooping them up before they can commit cellular
sabotage. Saluyot can make you look younger. Due to the high antioxidant activity of
saluyot, eating it reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines in the face and body.
Thus, regular consumption of saluyot can make you appear young. Saluyot can be
prepared into dishes like dinengdeng of the Ilocano, bulanglang, or sauteed with bamboo

shoots or dried beans. It can be steamed and pureed, mixed with chicken, and prepared
into soup like how the Japanese prepare it as molohiya. Source: Food & Nutrition
Research Institute (FNRI), Philippines

'Saluyot' now source of premium, earth-friendly fabric

February 12, 2010 11:32 pm
By Danny O. Calleja
LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 12 The lowly "saluyot" which is a highly nutritious leafy
vegetable that is commonly cooked by Filipino peasants with bamboo shoots is now an
internationally known Philippine agricultural crop for its premium, earth-friendly fabric.
Known as jute leaves called famine food by Africans because of its being a vegetable
of last resort during droughts, the plant, with its fiber made a debut on the fashion ramp
last year when unveiled by the Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) during a
conference in celebration of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organizations
(FAO) International Year of Natural Fibers.
We have weaved 80 percent polyester with 20 percent spinned saluyot fibers to make
smooth fabrics; the mix can go as high as 40 percent saluyot that has been treated to make
fiber, PTRI Director Carlos Tomboc said in a statement here Thursday.
To make an all-natural blend, saluyot may also be weaved with cotton and is ideal for
curtains and drapes, beddings, table runners and linens as well as burlaps for nets, ropes
and geotextiles against soil erosion, Tomboc said.
Saluyot stems soaked in water for about three weeks yield at least five percent fibers that
passed textile tests for fineness, tensile strength and residual gum properties, he added.
A part of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the PTRI in recent years
has concentrated on research and development of saluyot, maguey, water hyacinth, abaca,
anabo, banana, kenaf, pineapple and ramie as fabrics.
Having established the procedures for mechanical and chemical pretreatment, yarn and
fabric processing, the PTRI has commercialized the technologies for abaca, banana and

pineapple fibers and is ready to do the same for saluyot, water hyacinth and maguey.
Water hyacinth grows in almost all of the countrys freshwater bodies. It is so prolific in
fact that the plant is considered a weed because it clogs waterways and kills aquatic life
in rivers and lakes.
Maguey grows wild in northern Luzon, Cebu and Panay. It is used in cordage, ropes,
twines, carpets, wall coverings, crafts and handmade paper.
It is also planted on 500 hectares, mostly in Bohol but production has declined because of
inefficient fiber extraction and dwindling fiber supply due to old, sparsely planted or
abandoned plantations. It takes four years from planting to harvesting while productions
returns are low.
The PTRI is about to drastically change the status of these seemingly lowly plants to
reverse the sliding textile industry owing to stiff competition from China, cheaper fabrics
from abroad, imported raw materials, local labor unrest, higher production costs and
widespread smuggling, Tomboc said.
Substituting just a fourth of imported textile with local tropical fabrics means foreign
exchange savings for the Philippines of 6.72 million, according to Nora Mangalindan,
head of research and development at PTRI.
The world textile industry has been devoid of new natural textiles for 15 years now and
it is a great opportunity for tropical fibers made in the Philippines, Mangalindan said.
About 99 percent of textiles currently used are synthetic. Natural cotton, mostly from
Mindanao, is sporadic and supplies less than three percent of demand from textile mills.
The use of tropical fabrics is required by law to compose at least three percent of
government uniforms. When implemented fully, this could mean import substitutions of
481 metric tons of fibers worth 7.8 million.
Mangalindan said, the Philippines has some 30 useful fiber crops of which abaca, ramie,
coconut coir, salago, maguey, buntal, raffia, kapok, pina, banana, kozo, kenaf and silk
have commercial applications.
About 143,585 hectares are currently planted to fiber crops94.7 percent or 135,958
hectares to abaca and the rest to ramie, salago, burl, maguey, mulberry and other fiber
crops.
Fiber production in 2005 was 79,131 metric tons worth P2.65 billion, a steep increase
over P2 billion in 2004. High abaca demand in 2005 caused fiber exports to rise to P4.99
billion, compared to P4.35 billion the previous year.
In 2005, abaca accounted for 93 percent representing 73,875 tons worth P2.61 billion, or
98 percent of the take.
For all its worth, abaca is plagued by low farm income productivity due to pests and
diseases, inconsistent fiber quality, limited markets and relatively high prices.
The countrys dominance is threatened by Indonesias massive abaca plantations and the
expansion of abaca farms in Ecuador.
There are low-volume, high-value tropical fibers. Pineapple for example, has an edge
because it is high-end with upscale niche markets that demand exquisite and hand-woven
products.
Pineapple fiber, mostly from Aklan and Camarines Norte is used for barong, panuelos,
gowns, handkerchiefs, table linens, table napkins, table cloth, pillow cases fans and other
household items.
Then there is raffia which can replace cord, grass, leaves, fabric, ribbon, stuffing, floral

string and even paper. Hats, mats, baskets, bags and twine are also made from raffia.
Last year, because of increased demand, raffia production in Quezon surpassed the output
of Aklan, the major producer.
Salago, farmed in Cebu, Bohol and Negros Oriental, is used for handmade paper, stencil
paper, currency paper, check paper, Japanese kimono, Japanese sliding door (shoji) as
well as components for radio and computers.
Its production however fluctuates due to a two-year harvesting cycle but exports earnings
average S531,498 per year. Taiwan is the biggest buyer.
Demand for coconut coir meanwhile is improving with local purchases from upholstery
and mattress makers as well as for panel board, organic compost, vehicle upholstery,
insulator pads against erosion and as biodegradable cover for soil regeneration.
Sourcing husks remains a problem due to high freight cost and lack of drying facilities
and high density baling press, Mangalindan said.
Worldwide, she said, some 30 million tons of natural fibers are produced annually but
have lost market share to synthetic fibers. The International Year of Natural Fibers aimed
to promote them as viable crops for farmers.
Cotton, which is pure cellulose, is the worlds most widely used natural fiber and still the
undisputed king of the global textiles industry. Around 25 million tons of cotton is
produced worldwide each year, a volume four times greater than that all other natural
fibers combined.
China, the United States, India, Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Brazil are the main producers.
Jute, the strong threads made from jute fiber, is used worldwide in sackcloth. One of
natures strongest vegetable fibers, it is second only to cotton in terms of production
quantity and range of uses.
Sackcloth makes up the bulk of manufactured products but it is now made into floor
coverings, jute composites, geotextiles, non-wovens, paper pulp, technical textiles,
chemical products, apparel, handicrafts and fashion accessories.
India produces 60 percent of the worlds jute, with Bangladesh accounting for most of the
rest.
Flax is much stronger than cotton and used in clothing, bed and bath fabrics and
household furnishings. It is grown in more than 30 countries led by China, the Russian
Federation, Belarus and France. Almost one million tons are produced each year, with the
finest linen produced in Belgium, Ireland and Italy.
Ramie, white with a silky luster, is one of the strongest natural fibers, similar to flax in
absorbency and density. Usually blended with cotton and wool, it increases the luster and
strength of cotton fabric, and reduces shrinkage in wool blends. Almost all are grown in
China.
Hemp is a non-drug relative of marijuana. Its recent cottonization could open the door
to the high quality clothing market. A clothing, cordage and paper material, hemp is
increasingly used in construction and as bioplastics in automobile panels.
Almost half of the worlds industrial hemp is grown in China, followed by Chile, France,
North Korea and Spain.
Sisal, too coarse for clothing and upholstery, is replacing asbestos and fiberglass in many
composite materials and is found in specialty paper, filters, geotextiles, mattresses,
carpets and wall coverings. The major producers are Brazil, Tanzania and Kenya.
"Through saluyot, the Philippines adds its contributions to fiber production worldwide.

Abaca, ramie, pineapple and coconut coir are the early contributions of the country to this
area of agricultural products for industrial uses," Mangalindan said. (PNA)
V3/LAP/DOC/cbd/
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