PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS JABORANDI/425

tract. The indigenous people of the Amazon have used the

bark and roots of Iporuru for many different purposes for

hundreds of years. One of the more popular preparations is

an alcoholic bark tincture used to treat rheumatism, arthritis,

' colds and muscle pains. In Africa the drug is used frequently

W as an aphrodisiac and hallucinogen.

LITERATURE
de Smet PA, Some ethnopharmacological notes on African
^ hallucinogens. J Ethnopharmacol, 261: Drug Information Center,
Royal Dutch Association for the Advancement of Pharmacy.
The Hague, The Netherlands. 96.
Duke J, and Vasquez R, Amazonian Ethnobotanical Dictionary,
CRC Press Inc., Boca Raton. FL, 1994.
Hansel R, Keller K, Rimpler H, Schneider G (Ed), Hagers
Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 5. Aufl., Bde 4-6
(Drogen), Springer Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1992-
1994.
Raymond-Hamet Goutarel R, Are the stimulant effects of
Alchomea floribunda Mueller Arg. in men due to yohimbine. C
R Acad Sci Hebd Seances Acad Sci D, 261:3223-4, 1965 Oct
18.

Iris species

See Orris

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the dried leaves.

Flower and Fruit: The numerous flowers are in terminal or

axillary racemes that are up to 30 cm long and 0.5 cm wide.

The pedicles are 0.1 to 1.5 mm long and have alternate

bracts. The flowers have a diameter of 4 to 5 cm and are

glabrous. The 5 sepals are free, broadly triangular to

orbicular and coriaceous. The petals have forward-bending

tips and are thinly coriaceous and somewhat translucent. The

oval anthers have an oblong gland. The disc is 0.5 mm high

and 1.3 to 1.5 mm in diameter. The ovary is 0.5 mm and

extends past the disc with a head-like stigma. The mericarp

has roundish, flattened, black-brown seeds.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is a tree or shrub 3 to 7 m

high with a trunk diameter of 3 to 7.5 cm. The branches are

pubescent when young and glabrous when older. The leaves

are alternate to opposite, odd-pinnate with 1 to 5 pairs of

pinna. The pinna are sessile, elliptical, distinctly asymmetri-

cal at the base and have an indented tip. The leaflets are dull

green, up to 5 cm long and 3 cm wide, with entire, slightly

recurved margins and an uneven base. The ribs are promi-

nent on the upper surface and have visible oil cells.

Characteristics: The taste is bitter and the odor slightly

aromatic.

Habitat: The plant grows in the northeastern part of Brazil.

Production: Jaborandi leaves are the dried leaves of Pilocar-

pus microphyllus.

Other Names: Arruda Brava, Arruda do Mato, Jamguarandi,

Juarandi

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Imidazole alkaloids (0.5-1.0%): chief alkaloid is ^-pilocar-

pine, through drying and under storage conditions changing

over to some extent into isopilocarpine, companion alkaloids

including pilocarpidine, pilosine and others

Volatile oil (0.5%): chief components are limonene and

undecanone

EFFECTS

The drug affects the parasympathetic system. It increases the

secretion of saliva, sweat, gastric juices and tears, and

stimulates the smooth muscle of the gastrointestinal tract,

bronchi, bile duct and bladder.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: Jaborandi has been used in the treatment of

glaucoma. In folk medicine, it has been used for epilepsy,

convulsions, gonorrhea, ischuria, as an anesthetic for mucous

membranes, for fever, influenza, pneumonia, gastrointestinal

inflammations, kidney disease, psoriasis, neurosis and

poisoning.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

General: No health hazards or side effects are known in

conjunction with the proper administration of designated

therapeutic dosages. The drug is used today as an industrial

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

Nothing has been documented regarding side effects in

connection with therapeutic administration.

OVERDOSAGE

The drug is considered severely toxic. High dosages in

animal experiments led to severe excitation and spasms.

Cases of death through exhaustion have been observed

among humans following over-stimulation and hallucination.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: Whole herb and cut drug prepara-

tions for internal use.

Preparation: There are traditional preparations in the form

of macerates or palm wine with the appropriate dosage.

Jaborandi

Pilocarpus microphyllus