Chromolaena odorata

Scientific name: Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M.King & H.Rob.

Synonym: Eupatorium odoratum L.

Botanical family: ASTERACEAE

Vernacular names

(In territories with significant traditional TRAMIL use)

Dominican Republic:

rompezaragüey

Other vernacular names

Trinidad and Tobago:

Christmas bush = baby bush

Haiti:

Lang chat
Langchat
Rompe zaragúey/la

Cuba:

Rompe zaraguey

Dominican Republic:

Rompezaragüey

Geographical distribution

Tropical America.

Botanical description

Highly-branched shrub, erect from 1 to 3 m, terete, striated, puberulent to glabrous stems. Opposite leaves, ovate to ovate- lanceolate, trinerved from the base, up to 15 cm, irregularly serrated margins. Capitula in terminal corymbs of up to 10 cm wide; blue or white flowers. Ribbed columnar achenes.

Voucher(s)

Jiménez,103,JBSD

skin ulcer

leaf, dried in fire (faded), applied locally¹

boils

leaf, warm and greased (lamb fat), applied locally¹

For boils:
wash the wound with boiled water and soap. Wash the leaves adequately, heat them slightly over a fire, spread grease on them and apply on the boils. Cover with a dressing or a clean cloth and change twice a day.

For skin ulcers:
wash the wound with boiled water and soap. Wash the leaves adequately, heat them slightly over a fire, take 5-10 grams of the plant material and apply directly on to the injury. Cover with a dressing or a clean cloth and change twice a day.

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

According to the information available:

The use for boils and skin ulcers is classified as REC based on the significant traditional use documented in the TRAMIL surveys, the toxicity and validation studies and the scientific information published.

All topical application must follow strict hygiene measures in order to prevent contamination or additional infection.

If deterioration is observed in the patient or the boils or skin ulcer persist for more than 5 days, seek medical attention.

Not for use during pregnancy, breastfeeding or in children under 5 years.

TRAMIL Work¹⁹
The fresh leaves heated (0.6 g/12 cm2) for 24 hours, topically in Wistar rats (5 males and 5 females per group), acute topical toxicity model, observed constantly for the first 4 hours and daily for 14 days, did not show deaths or signs of toxicity; in the necropsy no macroscopic damage was observed in any organ.

The LD₅₀ of the hydroalcoholic extract (50%) via the intraperitoneal route in mice was 1 mg/kg^20-21.

There is no information available documenting the safety of use in children, during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

The plant contains flavonoids: acacetin, velutin, tamarixetin, mikanin, sakuranetin, isosakuranetin, salvigenin; chalcones: odoratin^2-5.

The leaves contain terpenes: β-amyrin, β and α-sitosterol, lupeol and epoxylupeol6; flavonoids: quercetin; tannins, essential oil: (+) and (-) eupatenol^7-9.

The aerial parts contain polyphenolic compounds, tannins, flavonoids, ferulic acid and terpenoids^2-3,10-11.

Proximate analysis of 1 g of dried12 leaves: phosphorus: 4352 mg; magnesium: 3202 mg; copper: 37 mg; manganese: 71 mg; iron: 79 mg.

TRAMIL Work¹³
The aqueous leaf extract, in concentrations greater than or equal to 0.5 mg/ml, antagonised TBH-induced cell necrosis and showed antiradical activity, without modifying lipid peroxidation.

TRAMIL Work¹⁴
The aqueous extract from fresh leaves (10 g/100 ml) inhibited the growth of Bacillus subtilis. The hydroalcoholic extract (95%) showed activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus and Trichophyton rubrum.

TRAMIL Work¹⁵
The ethanolic extract (95%) of dried leaves (100 μg/ml) did not show in vitro activity against Staphylococcus
aureus or Candida albicans.

TRAMIL Work¹⁶
The ethanolic extract (80%) of dried leaves, obtained by percolation and defatted with petroleum ether, showed no in vitro activity against Staphylococcus aureus or Candida albicans.

The aqueous leaf extract (decoction, 10 μg/ml and 100 μg/ml) in vitro, increased cell growth of fibroblasts and endothelial cells¹⁷.
Chloroformic and acetone leaf extracts showed activity against Staphylococcus aureus¹⁰.

The essential oil is attributed with antimicrobial properties¹¹; acacetin with antiallergic properties; lupeol with antirheumatic and antidiuretic effects, and sakuranetin with antiseptic and bactericidal properties¹⁸.

The essential leaf oil obtained by steaming showed activity against Staphylococcus aureus¹¹.

Pharmacopoeia

Ed.3

References

1 GERMOSEN-ROBINEAU L, GERONIMO M, AMPARO C, 1984
Encuesta TRAMIL. enda-caribe, Santo Domingo, Rep. Dominicana.
2 BOSE P, CHAKRABARTI D, CHAKRAVARTI S, DUTTA S, BARVA A, 1973
Flavonoids constituents of Eupatorium odoratum. Phytochemistry 12(3):667-668.

3 ARENE E, PETTIT G, ODE R, 1978
The isolation of isosakuranetin methyl ether from Eupatorium odoratum. Lloydia 41:68-70.
4 FARNSWORTH N, CORDELL GA, KAAS CJ, 1980
What is odoratin? J Pharm Sci 69(9):1107.
5 METWALLY A, EKEJIUBA E, 1981
Methoxylated flavonols and flavanones from Eupatorium odoratum. Planta Med 42:403-405.
6 HAI M, SAHA K, AHMAD M, 1995
Chemical constituents of Eupatorium odoratum Linn (Compositae). J Bangladesh Chem Soc 8(2):139-142.
7 AHMAD M, NABI M, 1967
Chemical investigations on the leaves of Eupatorium odoratum. Sci Res 4:154-157.
8 TALAPATRA SK, BHAR DS, TALAPATRA B, 1977
Terpenoids and related compounds: Part XIII. Epoxylupeol, a new triterpenoid from Eupatorium odoratum. Indian J Chem 15B(9):806-807.
9 IWU M, CHIORI C, 1984
Antimicrobial activity of Eupatorium odoratum extracts. Fitoterapia 55(6)354-356.
10 BOSE P, CHAKRABARTI P, CHAKRAVARTI S, DUTTA SP, BARUA AK, 1974
Chemical examination of the leaves of Eupatorium odoratum. Trans Bose Res Inst Calcutta 37(1-2):25-30.
11 INYA-AGHA S, OGUNTIMEIN B, SOFOWORA A, BENJAMIN T, 1987
Phytochemical and antibacterial studies on the essential oil of Eupatorium odoratum. Int J Crude Drug Res 25(1):49-52.
12 NWOKOLO E, 1987
Leaf meals of Siam weed Eupatorium odoratum L. as nutrient source in poultry diet. Nutr Rep Int 36(4):819-826.
13 JOYEUX M, FLEURENTIN J, DORFMAN P, MONTIER F, 1988
Recherche d’une activité hépatotrope et antiradicalaire de plantes médicinales de la caraïbe. Rapport TRAMIL. Laboratoire de Pharmacognosie, Centre des Sciences pour l’Environnement, Metz, France.
14 FIALLO M, VAZQUEZ TINEO M, 1992
Evaluación in vitro de plantas usadas en afecciones de la piel: Extractos vegetales antimicóticos y antimicrobianos. Informe TRAMIL. CIBIMA, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma UASD, Santo Domingo, Rep. Dominicana.
15 LE GRAND A, WONDERGEM PA, 1986
Activités antimicrobiennes et études bibliographiques de la toxicologie de dix plantes médicinales de la Caraïbe. Rapport TRAMIL. Dép. de Pharmacognosie, Universités de Groningen & Leyden, Pays-Bas.
16 GUPTA M, ESPOSITO AVELLA M, 1988
Evaluación química y farmacológica de algunas plantas medicinales de TRAMIL. Centro de Investigaciones Farmacognósticas de la Flora Panameña CIFLORPAN, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Panamá, Panamá, Panamá.
17 PHAN TT, HUGHES MA, CHERRY GW, 1998
Enhanced proliferation of fibroblasts and endothelial cells treated with an extract of the leaves of Chromolaena odorata (Eupolin), an herbal remedy for treating wounds. Plastic and reconstructive surgery 101(3):756-765.
18 DUKE JA, 1992
Handbook of biologically active phytochemicals and their bioactivities. Boca Raton, USA: CRC Press.
19 MARTINEZ MJ, LOPEZ M, MOREJON Z, BOUCOURT E, FUENTES V, MORON
F, 2000 Toxicidad aguda tópica hojas frescas calentadas de Eupatorium odoratum L. Informe TRAMIL. Laboratorio Central de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas “Dr. Salvador Allende”, La Habana, Cuba.
20 FENG PC, HAYNES LJ, MAGNUS KE, PLIMMER JR, SHERRAT HSA, 1962
Pharmacological screening of some West Indian medicinal plants. J Pharm Pharmacol 14:556-561.
21 BHAKUNI O, DHAR ML, DHAR MM, DHAWAN BN, MEHROTRA BN, 1969
Screening of Indian plants for biological activity. Part II. Indian J Exp Biol 7(4):250-262.

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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Chromolaena odorata

Vernacular names

Dominican Republic:

Trinidad and Tobago:

Haiti:

Cuba:

Dominican Republic:

Geographical distribution

Botanical description

Voucher(s)

Pharmacopoeia

References

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