DAMIANA

Description

Aromatic perennial shrub of up to 2 m high; simple, petiolate, yellowish-green lanceolate leaves up to 2.5 cm that show pinnate prominent dorsal nerves. Yellow flowers are axillary small and arise at the end of summer. The capsular fruit is small, globose with plenty of seeds.

It’s an aromatic plant that grows wild in the sub-tropical regions of Africa and America.

Part used

Leaves.

Indications

> Depression.
> Sexual stimulant, impotence.
> Asthenia, tiredness, surmenage.
> Dyspepsia and gastric ulcer.
> Rheumatism.
> Diuretic, urinary antiseptic.

Bibliography

Alarcon-Aguilar FJ, Roman-Ramos R, Flores-Saenz JL y Aguirre-Garcia F.  Investigation on the hypoglycaemic effects of extracts of four Mexican medicinal plants in normal and alloxan-diabetic mice. Phytother Res. 2002 Jun;16(4):383-6

Alarcon-Aguilara FJ, Roman-Ramos R, Perez-Gutierrez S, Aguilar-Contreras A, Contreras-Weber CC y Flores-Saenz JL. Study of the anti-hyperglycemic effect of plants used as antidiabetics. : J Ethnopharmacol. 1998;61(2):101-10.

Antonio MA y Souza Brito AR.  Oral anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcerogenic activities of a hydroalcoholic extract and partitioned fractions of Turnera ulmifolia (Turneraceae). : J Ethnopharmacol. 1998;61(3):215-28.

Arletti R, Benelli A, Cavazzuti E, Scarpetta G y Bertolini A. Stimulating property of Turnera diffusa and Pfaffia paniculata extracts on the sexual-behavior of male rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 1999;143(1):15-9.

Farnsworth, N. Potencial value of plants as sources of new antifertility agents. I J of Pharmacol  Sci. 1975; 64: 535-98.

Hernandez T, Canales M, Avila JG, Duran A, Caballero J, Romo de Vivar A y Lira R. Ethnobotany and antibacterial activity of some plants used in traditional medicine of Zapotitlan de las Salinas, Puebla (Mexico). J Ethnopharmacol. 2003;88(2-3):181-8..