Petiveria alliacea

Scientific name: Petiveria alliacea L.

Synonym: Petiveria foetida Salisb.

Botanical family: PHYTOLACCACEAE

Vernacular names

(In territories with significant traditional TRAMIL use)

Dominican Republic:

anamú

Colombia:

anamú

Panama:

anamú

Guatemala:

apacín

Haiti:

ave

Honduras:

ipacina

Dominica:

koujourouk

Other vernacular names

Colombia:

Anamú
Guinea Hen

Cuba:

Anamú

Panama:

Anamú

Dominican Republic:

Anamú

Haiti:

Anamú/ave
Ave
Vèvènn

Dominica:

Gardic weed

Honduras:

Ipacina

Geographical distribution

Originally from tropical America, cultivated and naturalised in tropical regions.

Botanical description

Herbaceous or perennial subshrub of up to 1 m high, with a foul smell. Alternate leaves, oblong to elliptic, acute to acuminate at the apex, usually glabrous. Spikes of up to 40 cm, puberulous; perfect flowers, subsessile, apetalous. Achene of about 8 mm in length, cuneate, striate, with six reflex terminal bristles; single seed, linear.

Voucher(s)

Girón,184,CFEH

Gómez,140961,HUA

FLORPAN,1936,PMA

Jiménez,24,JBSD

headhache

leaf, crushed, inhaled²

toothache

leaf, macerated, mouth wash²

clogged nose (sinusitis)

root and stem, powdered, inhaled^1,6

muscle pain

leaf, decoction, bath¹

flatulence

root, infusion, orally⁵

headhache

root, mashed, inhaled^3,6

rheumatism

leaf and root, decoction with salt or sugar, orally^9-10

flu

root, mashed, inhaled⁶

cold

leaf and stem, decoction, orally⁸

gastric heaviness

leaf, decoction, orally¹

flu

leaf, decoction, orally⁷

flu

root, decoction, orally⁴

skin diseases

leaf, decoction, wash¹

For digestive conditions, asthma, fever, flu, colds or rheumatism:

prepare a decoction with 30 grams of chopped leaves in 4 cups (1 litre) of water, boil for 5 minutes in a covered vessel. Leave to cool, strain (filter) and drink 2-3 cups a day³⁹.

For flatulence, flu or rheumatism:

prepare a decoction or infusion with 30 grams of chopped roots in 4 cups (1 litre) of water. For the decoction boil for 10 minutes in a covered vessel. For the infusion, add the boiling water to the 30 grams and cover. Leave to cool, strain (filter) and drink 2-3 cups a day³⁹.

For skin diseases:

prepare a decoction with 30 grams of leaves in 4 cups of water (1 litre). Boil for 5 minutes in a covered vessel. Allow to cool for 15 to 20 minutes and apply in baths or locally on the affected area 2 or 3 times a day.

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

According to the information available:

Use of the leaves for digestive complaints (stomach pain, poor or slow digestion) is classified as REC based on the significant traditional use documented in the TRAMIL surveys, the validation and toxicity studies, and the scientific information published.

If deterioration is observed in the patient or if the stomach pain or poor digestion persists for more than 3 days, seek medical attention.

The use of the leaves for asthma, fever, flu, colds and rheumatism is classified as REC based on the significant traditional use documented in the TRAMIL surveys, the toxicity studies and the scientific information published.

If deterioration is observed in the patient or the asthma persists for more than 2 days or the attack for more than 1 hour, or the fever or cold for more than 7 days, seek medical attention.

Due to the health risk of asthma, an initial medical assessment is recommended. The use of this resource must be considered complementary to medical treatment, unless contraindicated.

The use of the leaves for skin diseases is classified as REC based on the significant traditional use documented in the TRAMIL surveys 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 skin condition persists for more than 5 days, seek medical attention.

The use of the roots for flatulence, flu and rheumatism is classified as REC based on the significant traditional use documented in the TRAMIL surveys and the scientific information published.

Not for use during pregnancy; it can cause miscarriage, nor while breastfeeding or in children under 8 years of age.

Due to the documented risks of interaction with insulin and oral hypoglycaemics, the ingestion of the leaves and branches in decoction should be avoided in people taking or using these drugs because of the possible increase of the potency of their effects⁸.

The roots and stems can produce hypersensitivity reactions.

TRAMIL Work²⁸

The freeze-dried aqueous extract (decoction) from fresh leaves at doses of 1 and 2 g/kg/day/5 consecutive days a week, orally in NGP mice (5 males and 5 females) for 70 days with an additional observation period of 14 days, did not cause death or obvious signs of toxicity.

TRAMIL Work¹⁵

The aqueous extract (decoction) from the leaves (10 g/kg), orally in mice, single dose and subsequent observation for 7 days, did not show any external signs of toxicity.

TRAMIL Works^29-³⁰

The aqueous extract (decoction 30%), 9 mg/ml yield, freeze- dried, from fresh young leaves, (100, 1000, 5000 and 10000 mg total solids/kg, single dose) was administered orally in BALB/c mice (25 females and 25 males in groups of 10 animals), with a negative control group (water). Under constant observation for the first 24 hours and daily for 14 days, there was no mortality but decreased activity, piloerection and decreased faecal excretion in the first few hours; macroscopic examination showed no evidence of organ damage. The decoction did not demonstrate toxicity²⁹.

Under all equal conditions, the intraperitoneal route caused decreased activity and piloerection, as well as dyspnoea, exophthalmia, cyanosis, corneal opacity and contraction of muscle groups at the highest dose. The LD50 was 1673 mg/kg³⁰.

TRAMIL Works^31-³³

The aqueous extract (30% decoction), 9 mg/ml yield, freeze- dried, from fresh young leaves, (200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000 mg total solids/kg/day/5 days), intraperitoneally in BALB/c mice, sperm head morphology genotoxicity test system, negative control (distilled water) and positive control (cyclophosphamide 20 mg/kg), showed no genotoxic effects³¹.

The same extract, same route and controls (200, 418 and 836 mg total solids/kg/day/2 days), in 6 mixed groups of 10 Swiss mice, did not cause any mutagenic effects or any toxic effects in the micronucleus model in bone marrow³².

The same extract in vitro (1, 10, 100 and 1000 mg total solids/ml), genotoxicity test system with Aspergillus nidulans D30, showed no detectable toxic effects by reducing the linear colony growth rate, nor any genotoxic effects³³.

The aqueous extract from fresh leaves (1-5 g/kg) orally in mice showed no toxic effects in the acute toxicity test³⁴.

The aqueous extract from the leaves (100 mg/animal), stems or roots (200 mg/animal) was administered orally in rats on the 3rd or 5th day after insemination and they were slaughtered on the 14th day. The root and leaf extracts showed an anti-implantation effect and the stem showed zygotoxic action. The controls received distilled water in volumes equivalent to the extracts and the corpora lutea, viable implants and resorptions were counted³⁵.

The LD50 of the hydroalcoholic root extract, orally in male mice, was greater than 1.27 g/kg³⁶.

The hydroalcoholic extract (70%) from the dried roots, 1 mg (equivalent to 7.7 mg of dry root) when applied on rat skin, did not produce an irritability reaction in 15 successive days of application²⁴.

The benzaldehyde present in the roots and stems can cause contact dermatitis^37-38.

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

TRAMIL Work⁹

Preliminary phytochemical screening (root)

alkaloids:	-	saponins:	+
flavonoids:	-	polyphenols:	+
quinones:	-	tannins:	-
steroids, terpenoids:	+

The whole plant contains coumarins, allantoin, pinitol, lignoceryl alcohol, lignoceric acid, lignoceryl lignocerate and triterpenes: isoarbinol acetate, isoarbinol cinnamate, β-sitosterol and α- friedelinol^10-11.

The root contains sulfur derivatives: benzyl-hydroxy-ethyl- trisulfide, trithiolaniacin, dibenzyl-trisulfide; benzene derivatives: benzaldehyde, benzoic acid; potassium nitrate and β- sitosterol^10-12.

The leaves contain allantoin, potassium nitrate, lignoceryl alcohol, lignoceryl lignocerate, linoleic acid, nonadecanoic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid and stearic acid¹².

The branches contain allantoin, trans-N-methyl-4- methoxyproline, potassium nitrate and lignoceric acid¹². The stems contain benzylhydroxyethyl trisulphide, trithiolaniacin, benzaldehyde and benzoic acid^10-12. The inflorescences contain a particular carbohydrate, pinitol¹².

TRAMIL Work¹³

The decoction of 50% fresh roots, in vitro (100 µl/well), did not show any activity against Staphylococus aureus (ATCC 29737), Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6633), Escherichia coli (ATCC 10536), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 1003), Enterobacter cloacae or Candida albicans (ATCC 10231).

TRAMIL Work¹⁴

The freeze-dried leaf decoction (100 mg/kg, equivalent to 0.6 g of fresh leaves/kg) orally in mice, hot plate analgesia model and acetic acid-induced contortions, did not induce an analgesic effect.

TRAMIL Works¹⁵

The aqueous extract (6.25 g/kg) orally in rats in an carrageenan- induced leg-oedema inflammation model, showed a significant anti-inflammatory effect. Orally (10 g/kg) in mice, in a model of contortions induced by acetic acid intraperitoneally, showed a significant analgesic effect. The doses are expressed in grams of dried plant.

TRAMIL Work¹⁶

The freeze-dried aqueous extract (decoction) from fresh leaves (100 mg/kg, equivalent to 0.6 g of fresh leaves/kg), orally in rats in an experimental model of pleurisy induced by carrageenan, granuloma by cotton and thymic involution by adrenalectomy, did not present any anti-inflammatory effects.

TRAMIL Work¹⁷

The aqueous extract (9 mg/ml decoction) from freeze-dried fresh young leaves (0.1 mg/ml) produced significant smooth muscle contractions in isolated organ preparations (rat uterus, aorta and gastric fundus; guinea pig ileum and rabbit trachea). The increase in contractions was equivalent to those induced by potassium (11.4 µg/ml, a concentration similar to that contained in the freeze-dried dose applied under the same experimental conditions).

The amount of potassium ion, determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, was 285 mg/g of freeze-dried decoction.

TRAMIL Work¹⁸

The aqueous extract (decoction) from freeze-dried fresh leaves, in a single dose of 1 and 2 g/kg orally in NGP mice (5 males and 5 females), in an intestinal transit speed model, did not modify it in a statistically significant way.

The fluid extract from dried leaves with a hydroalcoholic menstruum at 30%, in concentrations of 0.135, 0.54, 1.075, 4.3 and 17.2 mg/ml, showed a significant antigiardial effect, which reached 96.81% with the highest concentration and 5.03% with the lowest, on the in vitro growth of Giardia lamblia, incubated at 37 ºC for 48 hours and subsequently adjusted the concentration to 2 x 105 parasites/0.5 ml. The mean inhibitory concentration (IC50) was 2.05 mg/ml¹⁹.

The aqueous extract from the aerial parts did not show in vitro activity on Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus²⁰, nor on Trichophyton sp. With a concentration of 1 ml/plate it was active against Epidermophyton floccosum²¹.

The aqueous extract (infusion) and methanolic extract from the leaves and stems in vitro inhibited the replication of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV), but were not active against Herpes simplex virus type 1, poliovirus type 1, adenovirus serotype 7 and vesicular stomatitis virus type 1²².

The ethanolic extract (60%) from dried leaves in vitro on Candida albicans did not produce inhibition²³.

The hydroalcoholic root extract (70%, 1 mg) equivalent to 7.7 mg of dry roots, applied locally in male rats, in an experimental model of cotton granuloma and cotton oil-induced dermatitis, showed local anti-inflammatory activity²⁴.

The 70% ethanolic extract from the whole plant dried and subsequently diluted in 10% ethanol (concentration of 0.5 mg/ml), applied at a dose of 20 µl, did not inhibit (13%) the in vitro biosynthesis of prostaglandin catalysed by cyclooxygenase-1. In contrast, the same extract in vivo, (20 µl/ear) topically in rats, in ethyl phenylpropiolate-induced oedema (1 mg/10 µl), had significant anti-inflammatory activity²⁵.

The aqueous extract from raw roots showed significant analgesic effect on contortions induced by acetic acid, acetylcholine or hypertonic saline solution in mice, but had no effect on hot plate and hot water immersed tailing models. It also did not cause central nervous system depressive action²⁶.

The aqueous extract (decoction) from the whole dried plant (15 g/l) filtered, was administered to a group of patients affected by osteoarthritis (200 ml/person); analgesic results were observed that were not statistically significant compared to the controls²⁷.

Pharmacopoeia

Ed.3

References

GIRON L, 1988

Encuesta TRAMIL (Costa atlántica). Centro Mesoamericano de Tecnología CEMAT, Guatemala, Guatemala.

SOLIS P, CORREA M, GUPTA M, 1995

Encuesta TRAMIL (Comunidades afro-caribeñas). Centro de Investigaciones Farmacognósticas de la Flora Panameña CIFLORPAN, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Panamá, Panamá, Panamá.

CHARLES C, 1988

TRAMIL survey. Movement for Cultural Awareness MCA, Roseau, Dominica.

GOMEZ H, GAITAN R, DIAZ F, 2003

Encuesta TRAMIL (Norte del departamento de Bolívar). Grupo de Productos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas. Universidad de Cartagena, Cartagena de Indias, Colombia.

CASTILLO D, RODRIGUEZ S, DE LOS SANTOS C, BELEN A, 2003

Encuesta TRAMIL (región Este). Dep. de Botánica, Jardín Botánico Nacional, Santo Domingo, Rep. Dominicana.

GERMOSEN-ROBINEAU L, GERONIMO M, AMPARO C, 1984

Encuesta TRAMIL. enda-caribe, Santo Domingo, Rep. Dominicana.

CASTILLO D, RODRIGUEZ S, DE LOS SANTOS C, BELEN A, 2003

Encuesta TRAMIL (Zambrana, Cotuí). Dep. de Botánica, Jardin Botánico Nacional, Santo Domingo, Rep. Dominicana.

LEMUS Z, GARCÍA M, BATISTA A, DE LA GUARDIA O, CASTILLO A, 2004

La tableta de anamú: un medicamento herbario inmunoestimulante. MEDISAN 8(3), 57-64.

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.

HEGNAUER R, 1973

Chemotaxonomy der Pflanzen. Basel, Schweiz: Birkhauser Verlag. 6:882.

SEGELMAN F, SEGELMAN A, 1975

Constituents of Petiveria alliacea. Lloydia 38(6):537.

DE SOUSA JR, DEMUNER AJ, PINHEIRO JA, BREITMAIER E, CASSELS BK, 1990

Dibenzyl trisulphide and trans-N-methyl-4-methoxyproline from Petiveria alliacea. Phytochemistry 29(11):3653-3655.

BOUCOURT E, MARTINEZ M J, MOREJON Z, 2010

Evaluación de la actividad antimicrobiana del extracto acuoso de la raíz fresca de Petiveria alliacea L. Informe TRAMIL. Laboratorio Central de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas “Dr. Salvador Allende”, C. Habana, Cuba.

FURONES JA, MORON F, PINEDO Z, 1996

Ausencia de la acción analgésica de la Petiveria alliacea (anamu) en ratones. Rev Cubana Planta Med 1(1):16-18.

DEL CARMEN RIVAS C, JIMENEZ M, AYALA L, CARILLO C, CABRERA Y, 1988

Actividad anti-inflamatoria y analgésica de Petiveria alliaceae. Informe TRAMIL. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo de Medicamentos (CIDEM), La Habana, Cuba.

FURONES JA, MORON F, PINEDO Z, 1996

Ausencia de actividad antiinflamatoria del extracto acuoso liofilizado de Petiveria alliacea (anamú) en ratas. Informe TRAMIL. Rev Cubana Planta Med 1(2):34-37.

MARTINEZ MJ, BETANCOURT J, LOPEZ M, MOREJON Z, FUENTES V, MORON F, PINEDO Z, BOUCOURT E, 2001

Actividad antimicrobiana y sobre varias preparaciones de músculo liso, in vitro, de la decocción liofilizada de hoja de Petiveria alliacea. Informe TRAMIL. Laboratorio Central de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas “Dr. Salvador Allende”, La Habana, Cuba.

GARCIA GM, COTO MT, GONZALEZ CS, PAZOS L, 1995

Velocidad del tránsito intestinal en ratones, del extracto acuoso de hoja fresca de Petiveria alliacea. Informe TRAMIL. Laboratorio de Ensayos Biológicos LEBi, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, Costa Rica.

ECHEVARRIA A, TORRES D, 2001

Efecto de un extracto de Petiveria alliacea Lin sobre el crecimiento de Giardia lamblia in vitro. Rev Cubana Med Mil 30(3):161-165.

CACERES A, GIRON LM, ALVARADO SR, TORRES MF, 1987

Screening of antimicrobial activity of plants popularly used in Guatemala for the treatment of dermatomucosal diseases. J Ethnopharm 20(3):223- 237.

CACERES A, LOPEZ BR, GIRON MA, LOGEMANN H, 1991

Plants used in Guatemala for the treatment of dermatophytic infections. 1. Screening for the antimicotic activity of 44 plant extracts. J Ethnopharm 31(3):263-276.

RUFFA MJ, PERUSINA M, ALFONSO V, WAGNER ML, SURIANO M, VICENTE C, CAMPOS R, CAVALLARO L, 2002

Antiviral activity of Petiveria alliacea against the bovine viral diarrhea virus. Chemotherapy 48(3):144-147.

CACERES A, JAUREGUI E, HERRERA D, LOGEMANN H, 1991

Plants used in Guatemala for the treatment of dermatomucosal infections. 1: Screening of 38 plant extracts for anticandidal activity. J Ethnopharm 33(3):277-283.

GERMANO DH, CALDEIRA TT, MAZELLA AA, SERTIE JA, BACCHI EM, 1993

Topical anti-inflammatory activity and toxicity of Petiveria alliacea. Fitoterapia 64(5):459-467.

ANDERSSON DUNSTAN C, NOREEN Y, SERRANO G, COX PA, PERERA P, BOHLIN L, 1997

Evaluation of some Samoan and Peruvian medicinal plants by prostaglandin biosynthesis and rat ear oedema assays. J Ethnopharmacol 57(1):35- 56.

LIMA TCM, MORATO GS, TAKAHASHI RN, 1991

Evaluation of antinociceptive effect of Petiveria alliacea (guiné) in animals. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 86(suppl.2):153-158.

FERRAZ MB, PEREIRA RB, IWATA NM, ATRA E, 1991

Tipi. A popular analgesic tea. A double blind cross-over trial in osteoarthritis. Clin Exp Rheumatol 9(2):205-206.

GARCIA GM, COTO MT, GONZALEZ CS, PAZOS L, 1996

Toxicidad sub-crónica en ratones, del extracto acuoso de hojas frescas de Petiveria alliacea. Informe TRAMIL. Laboratorio de Ensayos Biológicos LEBi, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, Costa Rica.

GUERRA MJ, BETANCOURT J, LOPEZ M, MOREJON Z, BOUCOURT E, FUENTES V, MORON F, 2001

Toxicidad aguda (DL50) oral de la decocción de hojas jóvenes frescas de Petiveria alliacea L. Informe TRAMIL. Laboratorio Central de Farmacología. Facultad de Medicina “Dr. Salvador Allende”. C. La Habana, Cuba.

GUERRA MJ, BETANCOURT J, LOPEZ M, MOREJON Z, BOUCOURT E, FUENTES V, 2001

Toxicidad aguda (DL50) intraperitoneal de la decocción liofilizada de hojas frescas de Petiveria alliacea L. Informe TRAMIL. Laboratorio Central de Farmacología. Facultad de Medicina “Dr. Salvador Allende”. C. La Habana, Cuba.

GUERRA MJ, BETANCOURT J, LOPEZ M, MOREJON Z, BOUCOURT E, FUENTES V, 2001

Genotoxicidad in vivo: ensayo de morfología de la cabeza del espermatozoide en ratones de decocción liofilizada de hojas frescas de Petiveria alliacea L. Informe TRAMIL. Laboratorio Central de Farmacología. Facultad de Medicina “Dr. Salvador Allende”, C. La Habana, Cuba.

GUERRA MJ, BETANCOURT J, LOPEZ M, MOREJON Z, BOUCOURT E, FUENTES V. 2001

Genotoxicidad in vivo: ensayo de micronúcleos en médula ósea de decocción liofilizada de hoja fresca de Petiveria alliacea L. Informe TRAMIL. Laboratorio Central de Farmacología. Facultad de Medicina “Dr. Salvador Allende”, C. La Habana, Cuba.

GUERRA MJ, BETANCOURT J, LOPEZ M, MOREJON Z, BOUCOURT E, FUENTES V, 2001

Genotoxicidad in vitro: mediante el sistema de ensayo con Aspergillus nidulans de decocción liofilizada de hoja fresca Petiveria alliacea L. Informe TRAMIL. Laboratorio Central de Farmacología. Facultad de Medicina “Dr. Salvador Allende”, C. La Habana, Cuba.

CACERES A, LOPEZ B, GONZALEZ S, BERGER I, TADA I, MAKI J, 1998

Plants used in Guatemala for the treatment of protozoal infections. I. Screening of activity to bacteria, fungi and American trypanosomes of 13 native plants. J of Ethnopharmacology 62(3):195-202.

GUERRA MO, OLIVEIRA AB, MAIA JGS, PETERS VM, 1989

Alteraçäo do desenvolvimento embrionário de ratos após tratamento com extratos aquosos de diferentes orgäos de Petiveria alliacea. Bol Centro Biol Reprod 8:17-22.

GERMANO DHP, SERTIE JAA, BACCHI EM, 1995

Pharmacological assay of Petiveria alliacea. II. Oral anti-inflammatory activity and gastrotoxicity of a hydroalcoholic root extract. Fitoterapia 66(3):195-202.

REYNOLDS J Ed., 1996

Martindale: The extra pharmacopoeia. Evaluated information on the world’s drugs and medicines. 31st ed. London, England: The Royal Pharmaceutical Society. p1678.

BUDAVARI S Ed., 2001

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ALBORNOZ A, 1993

Medicina tradicional herbaria. Caracas, Venezuela: Editorial Instituto Farmacoterápico Latino S.A. p298.

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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Petiveria alliacea

Vernacular names

Dominican Republic:

Colombia:

Panama:

Guatemala:

Haiti:

Honduras:

Dominica:

Colombia:

Cuba:

Panama:

Dominican Republic:

Haiti:

Dominica:

Honduras:

Geographical distribution

Botanical description

Voucher(s)

Pharmacopoeia

References

Disclaimer