Carapichea ipecacuanha
Carapichea ipecacuanha, commonly known as ipecac, is a significant medicinal plant prized for its potent emetic properties. Derived from its roots, the plant contains emetine, a powerful alkaloid used historically to induce vomiting and treat amoebic dysentery. It remains a vital subject in pharmacological studies regarding amoebicidal treatments.
- Scientific name: Carapichea ipecacuanha
- Family: Rubiaceae
- Native range: Pacific
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Gentianaales, it is classified under the family Rubiaceae and is identified by the genus Carapichea.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Gentianales | WCVP |
| Family | Rubiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Carapichea | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Carapichaea ipecacuanha, is recognized by several different common names depending on the region and language. In Portuguese, it is referred to as Ipecacuanha, while in Polish, it is known as Ipekakuana prawdziwa. It is also called Іпекакуана in Belarusian. In Chinese-speaking regions, the name used is 吐根酊, which is consistent in both traditional Chinese (zh-hant) and Hong Kong Cantonese (zh-hk) contexts.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hant | 吐根酊 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 吐根酊 | Wikidata |
| pt | Ipecacuanha | Wikidata |
| pl | Ipekakuana prawdziwa | Wikidata |
| be | Іпекакуана | Wikidata |
| ru | ипекакуана | Wikidata |
| es | Psychotria ipecacuanha | Wikidata |
| ca | ipecacuana | Wikidata |
| ms | Pokok Ipecacuanha | Wikidata |
| hu | ipekakuána | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution spanning across several tropical regions. In the Northwestern Pacific, its presence is noted within the Caroline Islands. Its range extends into Central America, where it can be found in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panamá. Additionally, the species reaches into Western South America, specifically located in Colombia. Together, these locations highlight the diverse environments where the plant thrives.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northwestern Pacific | Caroline Is. | WCVP |
| Central America | Costa Rica | WCVP |
| Central America | Nicaragua | WCVP |
| Central America | Panamá | WCVP |
| Western South America | Colombia | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil West-Central | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil Northeast | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil Southeast | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil North | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil South | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Carapichea ipecacuanha, is highly valued in traditional medicine primarily for the therapeutic properties found within its underground structures. The medicinal efficacy is concentrated in the roots, which are harvested and processed to extract their active alkaloids. Often, the entire root system is utilized, including the presence of adventitious roots that emerge from the stem to assist in nutrient absorption. Once collected, the dried root is frequently ground into a fine root powder, which serves as a standard form for preparing emetic or expectorant decoctions.- Total parts
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| root powder | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| root | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| adventitious roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Carapichea ipecacuanha has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include cephaeline, 7'-O-demethylcephaeline, emetin.
- Total chemicals
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| cephaeline | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 7'-O-demethylcephaeline | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| emetin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Carapichea ipecacuanha has 4 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Antioxidant, Emetic, Uterotonic.
- Total activities
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Anticancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Emetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Uterotonic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Carapichea ipecacuanha has 3 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include amebicides, expectorants, ipecac.
- Total uses
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| amebicides | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| expectorants | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ipecac | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |