Chuchuhuasi

OTHER NAME(S): Chuchasha, Chuchuasi, Chuchuhuasha, Maytenus krukovii, Maytenus laevis, Maytenus macrocarpa

Overview

Chuchuhuasi is a tree. The bark, root, and leaf are used to make medicine.

Chuchuhuasi is used for joint and back pain, diarrhea, complications after childbirth, and sexual arousal, but there is no good scientific evidence to support its use for any condition.

As a food, chuchuhuasi is used as a flavoring agent.

Some chemicals in chuchuhuasi might slow cancer growth.

Some chemicals in chuchuhuasi might slow cancer growth.

References
  1. Melo AM, Jardim ML, De Santana CF, et al. First observations on the topical use of Primin, Plumbagin and Maytenin in patients with skin cancer. Rev Inst Antibiot (Recife) 1974;14(1-2):9-16.
  2. Perez-Victoria JM, Tincusi BM, Jimenez IA, et al. New natural sesquiterpenes as modulators of daunomycin resistance in a multidrug-resistant Leishmania tropica line. J Med Chem 1999;42(21):4388-93.
  3. Nakagawa H, Takaishi Y, Fujimoto Y, et al. Chemical constituents from the Colombian medicinal plant Maytenus laevis. J Nat Prod 2004;67(11):1919-24.
  4. Shirota O, Sekita S, Satake M, et al. Two cangorosin A type triterpene dimers from Maytenus chuchuhuasca. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 2004;52(9):1148-50.
  5. Shirota O, Sekita S, Satake M, et al. Nine new isoxuxuarine-type triterpene dimers from Maytenus chuchuhuasca. Chem Biodivers 2004;1(9):1296-1307.
  6. Shirota O, Sekita S, Satake M, et al. Nine regioisomeric and stereoisomeric triterpene dimers from Maytenus chuchuhuasca. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 2004;52(6):739-46.
  7. Chavez H, Estevez-Braun A, Ravelo AG, Gonzalez AG. Friedelane triterpenoids from Maytenus macrocarpa. J Nat Prod 1998;61(1):82-5.
  8. Chavez H, Rodriguez G, Estevez-Braun A, et al. Macrocarpins A-D, new cytotoxic nor-triterpenes from Maytenus macrocarpa. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2000;10(8):759-62.
  9. Torpocco V, Chavez H, Estevez-Braun A, Ravelo AG. New dammarane triterpenes from Maytenus macrocarpa. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 2007;55(5):812-4.
  10. Chavez H, Callo N, Estevez-Braun A, et al. Sesquiterpene polyol esters from the leaves of maytenus macrocarpa. J Nat Prod 1999;62(11):1576-7.
  11. Gonzalez JG, delle Monache G, delle Monache F, Marini-Bettolo GB. Chuchuhuasha - a drug used in folk medicine in the Amazonian and Andean areas. A chemical study of Maytenus laevis. J Ethnopharmacol 1982;5(1):73-7.
  12. Morita H, Hirasawa Y, Muto A, et al. Antimitotic quinoid triterpenes from Maytenus chuchuhuasca. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2008;18(3):1050-2.
  13. Piacente S, Tommasi ND, Pizza C. Laevisines A and B: two new sesquiterpene-pyridine alkaloids from maytenus laevis. J Nat Prod 1999;62(1):161-3.
  14. Salazar A, Loja B, Rabanal A, et al. Comparación de los usos del chuchuhuasi (Maytenus macrocarpa) entre indígenas Bora-Bora de Loreto y chamanes de Lima (Perú). Revista de Fitoterapia 2013;13(1):61-69.
  15. Patel D, Kaur G, Sawant MG, Deshmukh P. Herbal Medicine - A natural cure to arthritis. Indian J Nat Prod Resources 2013;4(1):27-33.
  16. Simons A. The Healing Power of Plants. Medicinal Plants from Abuta and Acerola to Yohimbe and Yucca: a Practical Selection. Coburg, Germany: MayaMedia Publishing, 2013.