Botany
Salasik-lupa is a spreading, diffuse, branched herb, with branches 15 to 45 centimeters long. Leaves are stalkless, rough, rigid, slender, elliptic- or linear-lanceolate, 3.5 to 6 centimeters long, 2 to 5 millimeters wide, and pointed at both ends. Flowers are borne in clusters in the axils of the leaves. Calyx-teeth are triangular. Capsules are smooth, ovoid, and 2.5 to 3 millimeters long.

Distribution
- In open places, old clearings, and thickets at low altitudes, from northern Luzon to Mindanao, in most islands and provinces.
- Also occurs in India to southern China and Malaya.

Constituents
- Leaves have yielded kaempferitin, the 3,7-dirhamnoside of kaempferol.

Parts used
Whole plant.

Uses
Folkloric
- Plant used for making poultices; applied for headaches; in small children applied to abdomen for stomachaches.
- Decoction of plants drunk for dysentery.

Studies
• Antioxidant / NO Inhibitory Activity: In a study of the methanol extracts of seven Malaysian medicinal plants, including Hedyotis verticillata, all showed strong antioxidant activity comparable to or higher than a-tocopherol, BHT and quercetin in the FTC and TBA methods. In one assay, H verticillata was one of five that showed strong NO activity inhibition in LPA and IFN-g-induced RAW 264. (1)
• Phytotoxicity of Allelochemical 2,4-Di-Tert-Butylphenol: The allelochemical 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol (2,4-DTBP) is a natural compound found in medicinal plants and has been reported to possess herbicidal properties. Thhe compound was tested on the root and leaf tissues of grassy weed, L. chinensis and broadleaf weed, Hedyotis verticillata. Results showed 2,4-DTBP could be used as a natural herbicide for control of H. verticillata and L. chinensis. (4)

Availability
Wild-crafted.

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Evaluation of antioxidant and nitric oxide inhibitory activities of selected Malaysian medicinal plants / K Saha, N H Lajis, D A Israf et al / Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Vol 92, No 2-3, June 2004, Pages 263-267 / doi:10.1016/j.jep.2004.03.007
(2)
Kaempferitrin from the leaves of Hedyotis verticillata and its biological activity / Hamzah, A.S., Lajis, N.H., Sargent, M.V. / Planta Med.- Journal of Medicinal Plant Research, 1994; 60(4): pp 388-389
(3)
Hedyotis verticillata (L.) Lamk / Vernacular names / GLOBinMED
(4)
Phytotoxic activity of the allelochemical, 2,4-Di-Tert-butylphenol on two selected weed species / T S Chuah, M Z Norhafizah, A H Naimah, B S Ismail / Universiti Kebagsaan Malaysia / Sains Malaysiana, 2016; 45(6): pp 963-967
(5)
Oldenlandia verticillata L. / Synonyms / The Plant List