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Pseudognaphalium viscosum

scientific name: 
Pseudognaphalium viscosum (Kunth) Anderb.
Botanical family: 
ASTERACEAE

Vernacular names

(In territories with significant traditional TRAMIL use)

  • Haiti : kamomy

Botanical description

Annual or biannual herb, 20-80 cm high.  Stems with hirsute-glandulose.  Leaves, linear-lanceolate, apex acute or acuminate, margin usually revolute, veinsgreen, densely or scarcely hirsute-glandulose, underside with wooly surface.  Inflorescence head, simple or corymbose; corolla yellow, sometimes with coffee-colored apex.  Achenes oblong or tightly obovate, coffee-colored.

Voucher(s)

Jiménez,278,JBSD

crise de nerf:

  leaf, decoction, orally1

TRAMIL Research14

For nervous breakdown:

Prepare a decoction with 5-10 grams of fresh leaf in 250 mL (1 cup) of water, boil for at least 10 minutes in a covered pot.  Filter, allow to cool and drink 1 cup 3 times a day.

Any medicinal preparation must be preserved cold and used within the 24 hours.

 

According to published and other information:

Use for nervous breakdown is classified as REC, based on the significant traditional use documented in the TRAMIL surveys and toxicity studies.

Should there be a notable worsening of the patient’s condition, or should the nervous breakdown persist for more than 7 days, seek medical attention.

Not for use during pregnancy, during lactation or by children under 5 years old.

TRAMIL Research10

The ethanolic extract of the plant demonstrated in vitro cytotoxicity against adherent tumor cells.  It showed neither toxic effect on human lymphocytes nor immunomodulating activity.

TRAMIL Research11

The LD50 of the decoction from the entire plant, orally to mice was higher than 25 g/kg.  The LD50 by intraperitoneal administration was 1.58 ± 0.35 g/kg (doses stated in weight of dried plant).

The decoction from the entire plant was orally administered to mice (25 g/kg/day) during 28 days.  There was no mortality, and no histopathological changes were observed after 60 consecutive days.

The LD50 of quercetin administered orally to rat was 161 mg/kg12.

Quercetin and kaempherol are claimed to have mutagenic activity, as detected by Ames test13.

There is no available information documenting the safety of medicinal use for children or for lactating women.

TRAMIL Research2-3

The aerial parts contain neither alkaloids nor quinones but they do contain flavonoids, tannins, saponins and steroids / terpenes.

The plant contains flavonoids: kaempferol, quercetol, apigenin, luteolin, calycopterin and methyl ether derivatives4.

The extracts with hexane from the flower and the leaf and with ethyl acetate from the flower showed in vitro (50 mg/mL) activity against Bacillus cereus.  The extract with hexane from the flower was active against Staphylococcus aureus.  No extract showed activity against Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli or Klebsiella pneumoniae.  The extracts with methanol, in equal conditions, did not have any effects5.

The tincture from the flower was active in vitro againstSalmonella typhi, Shigella flexneri, Streptococcus pneumoniae andS. pyogenes6.  It also inhibited Vibrio cholerae (CIM = 100 µg/mL)7.

Quercetol is claimed to have platelet anti-aggregating activity, to be effective against herpes and as an antioxidant, and to have hair protection properties8-9.

Pharmacopoeia: 

Ed.2

References:  

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

2 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.

3 WENIGER B, 1992 Pseudognaphalium viscosum (H.B.K.) W. A. Weber. Rapport TRAMIL. Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France.

4 SALEH NA, MANSOUR RM, EL-KAREEMY ZA, FAYED AA, 1988 The chemosystematics of local members of the subtribe Gnaphaliinae (Compositae). Biochem Syst Ecol16(7-8):615-618.

5 Villagomez-Ibarra JR, Sanchez M, Espejo O, Zuniga-Estrada A, Torres-Valencia JM, Joseph-Nathan P, 2001 Antimicrobial activity of three Mexican Gnaphalium species. Fitoterapia 72(6):692-694.

6 CACERES A, SAMAYOA B, FLETES L, 1990 Actividad antibacteriana de plantas usadas en Guatemala para el tratamiento de infecciones. Cuadernos DIGI 4-90.

7 españa SM, VELEZ DMP, CACERES A, 1994 Plants used in Guatemala for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. 5. Vibriocidal activity of five American plants used to treat diarrhea. Fitoterapia 65(3):273-274.

8 DUKE JA, 1992 Handbook of biologically active phytochemicals and their bioactivities. Boca Raton, USA: CRC Press.

9 DUKE JA, 1992 Handbook of phytochemical constituents of GRAS herbs and other economic plants. Boca Raton, USA: CRC Press.

10  WENIGER B, 1992 Gnaphalium, preliminary report inform to TRAMIL VI. Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France.

11 HERRERA J, 1992 Determinación de parámetros farmacológicos usados en medicina tradicional popular en la cuenca del Caribe. Informe TRAMIL. Dep. de Farmacología, Facultad de Salud, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia.

12 CHRISTENSEN H, THOMAS T, (Eds.), 1973 The toxic substances list. Maryland, USA: U.S. Department of Health, Education & Welfare. p1001.

13 DE MEESTER C, ROLLMANN B, MUPENDA K, MARY Y, 1990 The mutagenicity of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz.) preparations. Food Addit Contam 7(1):125-136.

14 CARBALLO A, 1995 Cálculo de concentración y dosis de las drogas vegetales TRAMIL: Mensuraciones farmacognósticas y aproximaciones técnico-clínicas. Laboratorio provincial de producción de medicamentos. Sancti Spiritus, Cuba.

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.