Chamissoa altissima

Scientific name: Chamissoa altissima (Jacq.) Kunth

Synonym: Achyranthes altissima Jacq.

Botanical family: AMARANTHACEAE

Vernacular names

(In territories with significant traditional TRAMIL use)

Haiti:

lyann panye

Other vernacular names

Haiti:

lyann panye

Geographical distribution

Tropical America.

Botanical description

Woody climbing plant. Leaves ovate to lanceolate, acuminate or acute, from 6 to 18 cm. Axillary or terminal inflorescences of up to 20 cm; flowers 3 to 4 mm; white or greenish sepals, oval to
oblong. 4 to 5 mm long globular to ovoid utricle; black lenticular or reniform seeds.

Voucher(s)

García, 2612, JBSD
Jiménez,18&255, JBSD

asthenia, weakness

leaf, broth (long decoction with salt), orally¹

The leaves of Chamissoa altissima are a food of relatively widespread human consumption.

For asthenia or weakness:
prepare a decoction with 15 grams of leaves in 2 cups (1 litre) of water and 1 teaspoon (5 milligrams) of salt, boil for 10 minutes in an open vessel. Leave to cool, strain (filter) and drink 1 cup 1 to twice a day.

Preparations must never be stored for more than 24 hours, even if refrigerated.

According to the information available:

The use for asthenia and weakness is classified as REC based on the significant traditional use documented in the TRAMIL surveys and the toxicity studies.

Due to the health risk of asthenia and weakness, an initial medical assessment is recommended. If deterioration is observed in the patient or the weakness or asthenia persists for more than 5 days, seek medical attention.

Not for use during pregnancy, breastfeeding or in children under 12 years.

TRAMIL Work⁶
In the acute toxicity test on aerial parts, administered orally to mice, the LD50 was greater than 2 g/kg. During the treatment of chronic toxicity there were no variations in weight or morphological alterations in the vital organs of the treated animals.

TRAMIL Work⁷
The hydroalcoholic extract (80%) from the aerial parts (200 μg/ml) did not induce toxicity in the MOLT-4 in vitro model and showed weak activity on lymphocytes.

No data are available to recommend their medicinal use during pregnancy, breastfeeding or in children.

TRAMIL Work²

The aerial part of the plant contains: flavonoids, tannins and saponins.

TRAMIL Work³
Proximate analysis of 100 g of dried leaves: calories: 40.23; water: 5.7%; protein: 20.7%; fat: 6.5%; carbohydrates: 31.78%; fibre: 23.5%; ash: 15.72%; calcium: 78.3 mg; copper: 2.2 mg; iron: 129.3 mg; potassium: 309.3 mg; lithium: 12.5 mg; magnesium: 67.4 mg; sodium: 26.5 mg; phosphorus: 156.7 mg;
zinc: 3.4 mg.

The leaf contains phenolic compounds, quinolones, saponins and tannins⁴.

The aerial parts possess alkaloids: betaine (2.01%); proteins: trigonelline (0.078%)⁵.

No information is available in the scientific literature on the validation of the effects attributed to leaf decoction for asthenia and weakness.

Pharmacopoeia

Ed.3

References

1 WENIGER B, ROUZIER M, 1986
Enquête TRAMIL. Service Oecuménique d’Entraide SOE, Port au Prince, Haïti.

2 WENIGER B, SAVARY H, DAGUIHL R, 1984
Tri phytochimique de plantes de la liste TRAMIL. Faculté de Médecine, Université d’Haïti, Port au Prince, Haïti.

3 DHENIN J, SUAREZ I, 1990
Datos promedio sobre Chamissoa altissima HBK. Análisis fitoquímicos de hojas. Informe TRAMIL. ORSTOM, Universidad Mayor de San Simón, Cochabamba, Bolivia.

4 DUKE JA, 1999
Chemicals and their biological activities in: Chamissoa altissima (Jacq.) HBK. Dr. Duke’s Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases. USDA-ARS-NGRL, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, USA. Nov.20,1999. www.ars-grin.gov/duke/

5 BLUNDEN G, YANG MH, JANICSAK G, MATHE I, CARABOT-CUERVO A, 1999
Betaine distribution in the Amaranthaceae. Biochem Syst Ecol 27(1):87-92.

6 GARCIA MD, SAENZ MT, 1995
Toxicidad aguda de algunas plantas TRAMIL. Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, España.

7 WENIGER B, ITALIANO L, BECK J, ANTON R, ROBINEAU L, 1993
Activités biologiques (cytotoxicité, effet sur la croissance, effet inmunomodulateur) dans des systèmes de cellules animales et humaines en culture de drogues végétales de la Caraïbe. Rapport TRAMIL. Tunis, Tunisie: 1er Congrès Intercontinental Plantes Médicinales et Phytothérapie.

Disclaimer

The information provided is for educational purposes only for the benefit of the general public and health professionals. It is not intended to take the place of either the written law or regulations. Since some parts of plants could be toxic, might induce side effects, or might have interactions with certain drugs, anyone intending to use them or their products must first consult with a physician or another qualified health care professional. TRAMIL has no responsibility whatsoever towards the user for any decision, action or omission made in relation to the information contained in this Pharmacopoeia.

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Chamissoa altissima

Vernacular names

Haiti:

Haiti:

Geographical distribution

Botanical description

Voucher(s)

Pharmacopoeia

References

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