Crescentia cujete

Scientific name: Crescentia cujete L.

Synonym: Crescentia acuminata Kunth

Synonym 2: Crescentia arborea Raf.

Botanical family: BIGNONIACEAE

Vernacular names

(In territories with significant traditional TRAMIL use)

Dominican Republic:

higüero, güira

Other vernacular names

Cuba:

Guira cimarrona

Dominican Republic:

Higüero

Haiti:

Kalbas
Kalbas anmè
Pye kalbas/higüero

Colombia:

Totumo

Geographical distribution

Native of continental tropical America, cultivated and naturalised in the tropics.

Botanical description

Tree 4-5 (rarely 8) meters high, trunk up to 20 cm in diameter and extended branches. Spatulate, fasciculate, short petiolate leaves, from 5 to 20 cm. Single, yellowish flowers with purple veins, 5 to 6 cm; lacerate lobes. Globose or ellipsoid fruit, smooth, glossy, 10 to 30 cm in diameter, hard shell.

Voucher(s)

Jiménez,22,JBSD

Slane,974,SLNH

earache

heated leaves, juice, in instillation¹

For earache:
Instill (apply) 2-3 drops of the heated leaf juice into the ear, 3 times a day.

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

According to the information available:

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

There is no information available in the scientific literature to validate the effect attributed to heated leaf juice in instillation for earaches.

Due to the risk that an earache may be due to otitis media or interna, an initial medical assessment is recommended. Its use is contraindicated in the presence of secretions from the ear and/or possible perforation of the eardrum.

All application in ears must follow the strictest hygiene measures in order to prevent contamination or additional infection.

If deterioration is observed in the patient or if the earache persists for more than 2 days, seek medical attention.

The fruit should not be ingested because of its TOXICITY and the risk of causing miscarriage.

Not for use during pregnancy, breastfeeding or in children under 8 years of age.

TRAMIL Work¹⁰
The heated fresh leaf juice, applied topically (patch with 0.5 ml of juice on 6 cm² of healthy and damaged skin for 4 hours), to 3 New Zealand albino rabbits, models OECD 404 and OPPTS 870.2500 EPA, did not cause oedema or erythema after 4 hours of application, nor during the subsequent 72 hours of observation.

The leaf infusion (1-10 g/kg), orally in mice, showed no toxicity¹¹.

The toxicity of the fruit pulp is attributed to the presence of hydrogen cyanide. In cattle, it induces abortion due to the presence of unidentified oxytocic substances⁹.

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

TRAMIL Work²

The leaf contains the following groups of compounds:

extract	triterpenoid steroids	flavonic coumarins	flavonic heterosides	phenolic compounds
petroleum ether	+	-	-	-
chloroform	+	-	-	-
ethanol 90%	+	-	++++	++
infusion			++

TRAMIL Work³

The preliminary phytochemical study showed the presence of quaternary alkaloids and polyphenols in the fruit.

The leaves contain terpenes: α and β-amyrin, β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, asperuloside, aucubin, plumieride⁴; benzenoids: gentisic acid-3-hydroxymethyl-dione⁵; alkanes: triacontane⁴.

TRAMIL Work⁶
The hydroalcoholic extract (95%) from fruit pulp in vitro showed no antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

TRAMIL Work⁷
The hydroalcoholic leaf extract (80%), at doses equal to and higher than 1200 mg/kg, orally in rats in the model of inflammation induced by subcutaneous formaldehyde (3.5%) injection (0.1 ml) in the hind leg of the animal, showed anti inflammatory activity with a dose-dependent relationship over 24 hours, equivalent or superior to that caused by the intramuscular administration of 100 mg/kg of diclofenac sodium.

The hydroalcoholic dried leaf extract (95%, 5 mg/ml) did not show antibacterial activity in vitro against Staphylococcus aureus⁸.

The ethanolic leaf and stem extract showed in vitro antibacterial action against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus⁹.

Pharmacopoeia

Ed.3

References

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

2 JOSEPH H, BOURGEOIS P, 1989
Contribution à la connaissance de Crescentia cujete L. Rapport TRAMIL. Laboratoire de phytochimie, Université des Antilles et de la Guyane, Pointe à Pitre, Guadeloupe.

3 ZWAVING J, 1986
Selección fitoquímica preliminar en algunas plantas TRAMIL. Laboratorio de Farmacognosia, Universidad de Groningen, Groningen, Nederland.

4 AGARWAL K, POPLI SP, 1992
The constituents of Crescentia cujete leaves. Fitoterapia 63(5):476.

5 GRIFFITHS LA, 1959
On the distribution of gentisic acid in green plants. J Exp Biol 10:437.

6 LE GRAND A, WONDERGEM PA, 1986
Antimicrobial activity of 10 Caribbean species. TRAMIL inform. Dep. of Pharmacognosy, University of Leyden, Leyden, Nederland.

7 GUPTA M, ESPOSITO AVELLA M, 1988
Evaluación química y farmacológica de algunas plantas medicinales de TRAMIL. CIFLORPAN, Universidad de Panamá, Panamá, Panamá.

8 VERPOORTE R, DIHAL PP, 1987
Medicinal plants of Surinam. IV. Antimicrobial activity of some medicinal plants. J Ethnopharmacol 21(3):315-318.

9 CONTRERAS A, ZOLLA C, 1982
Plantas tóxicas de México. Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, México DF, México.

10 LOPEZ M, GARCIA AI, BOUCOURT E, BACALLAO Y, MORON F, 2012
Ausencia de irritabilidad dérmica primaria sobre piel sana y dañada del zumo de la hoja fresca calentada de Cresencia crujete. Trabajo TRAMIL. Laboratorio Central de Farmacología. Facultad de C. Médicas “Dr. Salvador Allende”. La Habana.

11 CACERES A, Ed., 2005
Vademecum de plantas de uso medicinal en Guatemala. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacia, Universidad de San Carlos, Guatemala, Guatemala.

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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Crescentia cujete

Vernacular names

Dominican Republic:

Cuba:

Dominican Republic:

Haiti:

Colombia:

Geographical distribution

Botanical description

Voucher(s)

Pharmacopoeia

References

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