Botany
Sapnit is a tall tree climber. Leaves are evenly bi pinnate, about 30 centimeters long (more or less), and smooth, the rachis provided with a pair of recurved hooks from the base of the secondary rachises. Leaflets are elliptically oblong, 1.8 to 4 centimeters long and 1 to 1.5 centimeters wide, with truncate or retuse tip. Inflorescence is terminal, smooth, and 50 to 60 centimeters long. Calyx is glaucous, green, very broad, and obscurely lobed. Petals are greenish, and exceeding the calyx in length. Pods are 10 to 18 centimeters long and 3 to 4.5 centimeters wide, obtuse at both ends, winged along the dorsal edge, and compressed, and contain several red seeds.

Distribution
- In thickets and secondary forests at low and medium altitudes throughout the Philippines.
- Also reported in Timor.

Constituents
- Study of twigs isolated three new compounds, (3S)-dihydrobonducellin 8-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (1), 3′,5′-dimethoxy-jezonolid (2), and latisilinoid (3), along with 16 known compounds. The j=known compounds were identified as flavonoids, stilbenes,  and phenolics. (see study below) (2)
- Study of leaves isolated five new seco-labdane-type diterpenoids, caesalatisics A–E (1–5). (3)
- Study of methanol extract of leaves isolated three new cassane-type diterpenoids, caesalatic acids A-C (1-3), along with seven known compounds, resveratrol  (4) piceatannol  (5), aromadendrin (6), taxifolin (7),3,4-dihydroxy-benzaldehyde (8),  methyl gallate (9), and  loliolide (10). (4)

Properties
- Study suggested antiviral property.

Parts used
Leaves, twigs.

Uses
Edibility
- In the Philippines, young shoots eaten as salad.
Folkloric
- In the Philippines, decoction of leaves given to relieve asthma.

Studies
• Antiviral / Twigs: Study of twigs isolated three new compounds along with 16 known compounds. All isolated compounds were evaluated for antiviral activity in  HRV1B, CVB3-, and EV71-infected cells.  Among the tested compounds,  three flavonoids (4-6) and two stilbenes (12 and 14) exhibited significant antiviral activity. (see constituents above) (2)

Availability
Wild-crafted.

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Caesalpinia latisiliqua / Synonyms / The Plant List
(2)
Chemical components from the twigs of Caesalpinia latisiliqua and their antiviral activity / Mira Oh, Seon Ju Park. Seong Hyun Kim et al /   Journal of Natural Medicines,  2020;  74(1) :  pp 26-33 / 
DOI: 10.1007/s11418-019-01335-2
(3)
Five new seco-labdane-type diterpenoids from Caesalpinia latisiliqua / Le Thi Huyen,  Nguyen Thi Cuc et al /  Magnetic Resonance in Chemistry,  2021; 60(4): pp  469-475 /  DOI: 10.1002/mrc.5238
(4)
Cassane-type diterpenoids from Caesalpinia latisiliqua  (Cav.) Hattink /  Le Thi Huyen,  Nguyen Xuan Nhiem / Phytochemistry Letters, 2022; Vol 47: pp 93-96 / DOI: 10.1016/j.phytol.2021.11.011

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