Cissus verticillata

Scientific name: Cissus verticillata (L.) Nicolson & C. E. Jarvis

Synonym: Cissus sicyoides L.

Botanical family: VITACEAE

Vernacular names

(In territories with significant traditional TRAMIL use)

Dominican Republic:

bejuco caro

Haiti:

lyann mòl

Other vernacular names

Cuba:

bejuco ubí

bejuco Ubi

Haiti:

fèy mòl
lyann mol

Geographical distribution

Tropical regions of the American continent.

Botanical description

Climbing plant, glabrous with tendrils; articulated branches. Alternate, simple, oblong to ovate leaves, up to 15 cm, densely pilose to glabrous, with a slightly serrated margin. Pedunculate cymes, yellow, highly ramified; small, green or yellow-green flowers. Ovoid or globose berries, purple to black, 8 to 10 mm, with a single seed.

Voucher(s)

García, 2326, JBSD
Cénesca, 201&202, SOE

affection ganglionnaire

leaf, slightly heated, applied locally^1-2

flu

leaf, decoction with sugar, orally¹

colds

leaf, decoction with sugar, orally¹

cough

leaf, decoction with sugar, orally¹

boil

leaf, crushed, applied locally²

abscess

leaf, slightly heated, applied locally^1-2

The use for abscesses or lymph node disease:
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 to the injury. Cover with a dressing or a clean cloth and change twice a day.

For boils:
wash the injury with boiled water and soap, apply on the affected area in sufficient quantities. Cover with a dressing or clean cloth and change twice a day.

For use in colds, coughs or flu:
prepare a decoction with 30 grams of leaves in 4 cups (1 litre) of water, boil for 10 minutes in a covered
vessel. Leave to cool, strain (filter) and drink 3 cups a day.

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

According to the information available:

Topical use for abscesses, lymph node disease and boils is classified as REC based on the significant traditional use documented in the TRAMIL surveys, the validation, toxicity and dermal irritability studies and the scientific information published.

All topical application must follow strict hygiene measures that prevent contamination or additional infection.

If deterioration is observed in the patient, if the abscess, lymph node disease and boils persist for more than 5 days, seek medical attention.

Oral use for colds, coughs and flu is classified as REC based on the significant traditional use documented in the TRAMIL surveys and the toxicity studies.

If deterioration is observed in the patient, and the cold, cough or flu persists for more than 5 days, seek medical attention.

Contraindicated in people susceptible to nervous depression or with antidepressant treatments.

Not for use during pregnancy because it can cause miscarriage, nor while breastfeeding or in children under 5 years of age.

TRAMIL Work¹⁵
The fresh crushed leaf (0.6 g) applied to healthy skin (6 cm²) on the back of 3 New Zealand rabbits did not show evident signs of dermal irritability. The animals were observed after 1, 24, 48 and 72 hours.

TRAMIL Work¹⁶
The freshly crushed leaves (0.6 g) applied with a patch on healthy skin (12 cm²) for 24 hours in Wistar rats (5 males and 5 females, 200-220 g body weight) did not induce death or signs of obvious systemic toxicity. The animals were observed for 14 days, and the necropsy showed no macroscopic damage to the internal organs.

TRAMIL Work¹⁷
The aqueous extract from dried leaves (100 mg, 0.5, 1 and 4 g/kg), orally and subcutaneously in mice (38.5 ± 3.1 g body weight), did not cause death. The animals were observed for one week. There is no information available documenting the safety of use during pregnancy, breastfeeding or in children.

TRAMIL Research³

Preliminary phytochemical screening (leaf)

alkaloids:	-	saponoside:	-
quinones:	-	phenolic compounds:	+
flavonoids:	+	tannins:	-
steroids, terpenoids:	+

TRAMIL Work⁴
The preliminary phytochemical study of the stem and leaf showed that they do not contain alkaloids.

Coumarin glucoside was reported in the aerial parts, along with coumarin, flavonoids and compounds of steroid nature (β-sitosterol and sitosterol-β-D-glucopyranoside)^5-6. Also isolated by acid hydrolysis from the aqueous extract: luteolin, kaempferol and luteolin-3-sulfate⁷.

Tyramine has been isolated from the methanolic extract from the leaves⁸.

The plant contains calcium oxalate⁹.

TRAMIL Work¹⁰
The extract using oil from fresh crushed leaves (6 g heated in 1 ml of oil) produced significant inhibition (halo 32 mm) of the Staphylococcus aureus ATCC15006 culture on agar plate, but not the extract using oil prepared by adding the fresh crushed leaf (6 g) in 1 ml of oil, previously heated.

TRAMIL Work¹¹
The hydroalcoholic dry leaf extract (95%) did not show antibacterial activity in vitro against Staphylococcus aureus or Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The aqueous leaf extract (0.033 ml/l) induced stimulant activity
in isolated rat uterus¹², central nervous system depression, an anticonvulsant effect and antibacterial activity¹³.

The stem decoction (3 mg/ear) topically in male mice, TEA-induced inflammation model, induced anti-inflammatory activity¹⁴.

The stem decoction (300 mg/kg), orally in rats, carrageenan-induced leg oedema model, showed anti-inflammatory activity¹⁴.

Pharmacopoeia

Ed.3

References

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

2 GERMOSEN-ROBINEAU L, GERONIMO M, AMPARO C, 1984
Encuesta TRAMIL. enda-caribe, Santo Domingo, Rep. Dominicana.

3 WENIGER B, SAVARY H, DAGUIHL R, 1984
Tri phytochimique de plantes de la liste TRAMIL. Laboratoire de chimie des substances naturelles, Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie, Université d’Etat d’Haïti, Port au Prince, Haïti.

4 PINEDA M, 1990
Fitoquímica de algunas plantas TRAMIL. Laboratorio enda-caribe, Santo Domingo, Rep. Dominicana.

5 GARCIA MD, QUILEZ AM, SAENZ MT, MARTINEZ-DOMINGUEZ ME, DE LA PUERTA R, 2000
Anti-inflammatory activity of Agave intermixta Trel. and Cissus sicyoides L., species used in the Caribbean traditional medicine. J Ethnopharmacol 71:395-400.

6 BELTRAME FL, SARTORETTO JL, BAZOTTE RB, CUMAN RN, CORTEZ DAG, 2001
Estudo fitoquímico e avaliação do efeito antidiabético do Cissus verticillata L (Vitaceae). Química Nova 24:783-785.

7 BARBOSA WLR, SANTOS WRAS, PINTO LN, TAVARES ICC, 2002
Flavonóides de Cissus verticillata e a atividade hipoglicemiante do chá de suas folhas. Rev Bras Farmacognosia 12:13-15.

8 DE SOUSA C, DE PAIVA T, BEZERRA P, FALCÃO J, OLIVEIRA F, SILVEIRA E, FERREIRA J, FREIRE D, RODRIGUES M, CLÉA F, DE SOUSA F, DE CASTRO D, DA ROCHA S, DE BARROS G, 2007
Anti-diabetic activity of a fraction from Cissus verticillata and tyramine, its main
bioactive constituent, in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. American J of Pharmacology and Toxicology 2(4):178-188.

9 STANDLEY PC, 1937
The flora of Costa Rica, Pt. I. Bot Serv Field Mus Nat Hist 18(391):398.

10 MARTINEZ MJ, LOPEZ M, BOUCOURT E, FUENTES V, MORON F, 2002
Evaluación de la actividad antiestafilocóccica de Cissus verticillata. Informe TRAMIL. Laboratorio Central de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas “Dr. Salvador Allende”, La Habana, Cuba.

11 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, Hollande.

12 FENG PC, HAYNES LJ, MAGNUS KE, PLIMMER JR, 1964
Pharmacological screening of some West Indian medicinal plants. J Pharm Pharmacol 16:115-117.

13 JIU J, 1966
A survey of some medicinal plants of Mexico for selected biological activities. Lloydia 29:250-259.

14 GARCIA MD, QUILEZ AM, SAENZ MT, MARTINEZ DOMINGUEZ ME, DE LA PUERTA R, 2000.
Anti-inflammatory activity of Agave intermixta Trel. and Cissus sicyoides L., species used in South Caribbean traditional medicine. J Ethnopharmacol 71(3):395-400.

15 MARTINEZ MJ, LOPEZ M, BOUCOURT E, BETANCOURT J, FUENTES V, MORON F, 2002.
Irritabilidad dérmica primaria de Cissus verticillata. Informe TRAMIL. Laboratorio Central de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas “Dr. Salvador Allende”, La Habana, Cuba.

16 MARTINEZ MJ, LOPEZ M, BOUCOURT E, BETANCOURT J, FUENTES V, MORON F, 2002.
Toxicidad aguda tópica de Cissus verticillata. Informe TRAMIL. Laboratorio Central de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas “Dr. Salvador Allende”, La Habana, Cuba.

17 CAMBAR P, 1992
Efecto de los extractos acuosos de Cissus verticillata L. Informe TRAMIL. Unidad de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Honduras UNAH, Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

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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Cissus verticillata

Vernacular names

Dominican Republic:

Haiti:

Cuba:

Haiti:

Geographical distribution

Botanical description

Voucher(s)

Pharmacopoeia

References

Disclaimer