Newly-discovered PHL medicinal plants named in honor of Pope Francis

Scientists from the University of Santo Tomas Graduate School and the College of Science discovered a new plant species in Mt. Madia-as, Antique that has the potential to treat cancer, fever, malaria, and rheumatism.

 

Dr. Grecebio Alejandro of the UST Graduate School and the Research Cluster for the Natural and Applied Sciences named the plant Hedyotis papafranciscoi Alejandro, sp. nov. in honor of Pope Francis.

 

The UST College of Science discovered two other newly-characterized organisms: the Phyllostica francisci, sp. nov., a fungal endophyte that could be used in studies about drugs, and vBE-popefrancis, a bacteriophage isolate that has the potential as an alternative to conventional therapy for bacterial infections.

 

According to a press release sent to GMA News Online, the plants will be featured in a papal exhibit until March 28 at the UST Main Building lobby that will be showcasing new plants species, organisms, and bacteria discovered by UST faculty members and students. A paper about Hedyotis papafranciscoi Alejandro, sp.nov was published in the Antoninus Journal.

 

Researchers are Thomasian scientists Dr. Thomas Edison de la Cruz, Carlo Chris Apurillo, Donna May Papa, Paola Bianca Buiser, and Delia Ontengco. — Bea Montenegro/TJD, GMA News