Panyawan is a native plant from tropical and subtropical rain forest in India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Philippines. It belongs to the family of Menispermaceae. It has long history of medicinal use in India. In Ayurveda (Hindu traditional medicine), panyawan is considered one of the most divine herbs. It is use to promote longevity, prevent diseases and to treat various illness from arthritis to cancer. In the Philippines, panyawan extract combined with oil is use to treat rheumatism and arthritis, abdominal pains, scabies, and skin ulcers. According to the research conducted in the Indian Medicine Research Laboratory, panyawan can modulate Glut-4 and the predominant protein that influences glucose metabolism. Thus, it is good for people who have diabetes. However, this medicinal plant is generally for topical application and moderate intake only. Pregnant and lactating women should avoid taking this.