Leung's Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics

DAMIANA

Source:Turnera diffusaWilld. (syn.T.aph-
rodisiacaL.F. Ward and T.microphylla
Desv.) (Family Turneraceae).

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

A shrub with small aromatic leaves (mostly
1–2 cm long), up to 2 m high; native to tropical
America (Mexico, Texas, Central America,
South America, and the West Indies).^1 Part
used is the dried leaf.

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION

Contains 0.5–1% volatile oil;2,3triacontane;
hexacosanol-1; b-sitosterol; gonzalitosin I
(5-hydroxy-7,3^0 ,4^0 -trimethoxyflavone)^2 and
other flavonoids,^4 a cyanogenic glycoside;^5
arbutin;4,6resin; tannin; a bitter substance
(called damianin) of undetermined structure.^3
The volatile oil is composed of two main
fractions. A low-boiling fraction contains
mainly 1,8-cineole,a- andb-pinenes, andp-
cymene, while the higher boiling fraction con-
sists primarily of thymol and sesquiterpenes
(a-copaene,d-cadinene, and calamenene).6,7
The essential oil of micropropagated damiana
contains caryophyllene, caryophyllene oxide,
d-cadinene, elemene, and 1,8-cineole.^8

PHARMACOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL
ACTIVITIES

Damiana is widely believed to have aphrodi-
siac properties and has also been reported to

have diuretic, laxative, and stimulant proper-

ties, among others (LEWIS AND ELVIN-LEWIS;

TYLER1;UPHOF).^3

USES

Food. Used as a flavor ingredient in major

food products, including alcoholic and nonal-

coholicbeverages,frozendairydesserts,candy,

baked goods, and gelatins and puddings. High-

est maximum use level reported to be 0.125%

for the crude in baked goods.

Dietary Supplements/Health Foods. Vari-

ous products, including capsules, tablets, and

drinks; tea ingredient; primarily for alleged

aphrodisiac reputation (TYLER1).^9

Traditional Medicine. Reportedly used as

a laxative, nervous stimulant, tonic, and aph-

rodisiac; also used in coughing, nephritis,

menstrual disorders, and other ailments.^3

COMMERCIAL PREPARATIONS

Crudeandextracts.Crudewas formerlyofficial

in N.F. Extracts do not have uniform standards.

Regulatory Status. Has been approved for

food use (§172.510). Subject of a German

therapeutic monograph; not recommended as

claimed efficacy is unproven.^10

REFERENCES

See the General References forAPPLEQUIST;BARNES;BLUMENTHAL1;CLAUS;DER MARDEROSIAN AND
BEUTLER;LUST;MCGUFFIN1&2;TERRELL;TYLER1;UPHOF.

1. P. C. Standley, Vol. 23 Part 3 of
   Contributions From the United States
   NATIONALHerbarium, Trees and Shrubs of
   Mexico, Smithsonian Press, Washington,
   DC,1923p. 848.
   2. X. A. Dominguez and M. Hinojosa,
   Planta Med., 30 , 68 (1976).
   3. E.F. Steinmetz,Acta Phytother., 7 ,1(1960).
   4. S. Piacente et al.,Z. Naturforsch. C, 57 ,
   983 (2002).

Damiana 237