BITTER CHAPARRO: WHAT IS IT FOR, USE AND CONTRAINDICATIONS - ECONOMÍA - 2025

The bitter short (Castela erecta spp. Texana) is a shrub that grows in Mexico and the southwestern United States. It has a variety of common names, including crown of Christ, bisbirinda, quasia, dog grass, and bittersweet. However, some of these names can also refer to other species of the genus Castela.

In Mexico four species of this genus coexist with similar therapeutic properties, called by the same common name. The Latin synonym of its scientific name is Castela texana and Castela tortuosa Liebm. In English it is commonly known as allthorn castela and crucifixion thorn.

The shrub is highly thorny and is grown in semi-arid and subtropical territories. The generic name honors the French naturalist René Richard Luis Castel. The branches and roots are used from the plant, and if present, also the leaves. In traditional medicine it is used against intestinal parasites, amoebas and diarrhea.

The plant belongs to the Simaroubaceae family. Some of the members of this family have antitumor activity; several quasinoids have been isolated from the methanolic extract obtained from the root of the plant.

The amoebicidal effect is mainly attributed to one of these quasinoids called chaparrin (C ₂₀ H ₂₈ O ₇). The aqueous extract of the bitter chaparro is antimutagenic, antioxidant and antigenotoxic.

What is it for? (Health benefits)

Quasinoids are a class of substances found almost exclusively in plants of the Simaroubaceae family. Chemically, they are considered biodegraded triterpenes with a high level of oxygenation, presenting a wide range of biological activity.

Quasinoids are natural compounds whose structure is close to that of quasin. Quasine (C ₂₂ H ₂₈ O ₆) is the most bitter natural substance known, approximately 50 times more bitter than quinine.

Quasinoids have a wide range of biological activities, such as anticancer, antimalarial, phytotoxic, phagoinhibitory in insects, insecticide, amebicide, nematicide, antiviral, antiulcer, antituberculous, aphrodisiac, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, among others.

In gastrointestinal disorders

It is used to treat gastrointestinal problems such as colitis, diarrhea, dysentery, and viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu). By facilitating digestion, it is recommended in cases of dyspepsia and also stimulates the appetite.

It acts as a liver tonic and for gallbladder problems. In these cases, the bark of the chaparro is mainly used.

Antimalarial activity

The resistance created by the human malaria parasite (Plasmodium falciparum) to chloroquine and other antimalarial drugs has spurred the search for new drugs to combat the disease.

Several quasinoids showed marked in vitro activity against this parasite. Furthermore, there is documented evidence about the antimalarial activity of Simaroubaceae.

Slight anti-chagasic activity

The methanolic extract of the bitter chaparro exhibited low activity against the epimastigote form of the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. This parasite is the cause of trypanosomiasis or Chagas disease. Approximately 33% inhibition of protozoan growth was achieved.

Antiparasitic activity

The aqueous extract of the bitter chaparro is traditionally used in Mexico and China in the form of teas or capsules for the treatment of dysentery and amoebiasis. The plant is active against the Entomoeba histolytica species.

It destroys both the parasite cysts that form in the intestinal mucosa and the adult parasite. Unlike the commonly used amoebicidal drugs, the aqueous extract of bitter chaparro has antimutagenic properties. This further justifies the use of this plant in the treatment of amoebiasis.

Inhibits the growth of insects

The activity of quasinoids includes inhibition of insect growth. The methanolic extract of this plant shows a great ability to stop the growth of insects such as the Heliothis virescens moth. The quasinoid exhibiting this property was designated chaparramarin (C ₂₀ H ₂₈ O ₆).

Antitumor activity

The cytotoxic activity of various quasinoids is already known. In vitro activity against lymphocytic leukemia has been shown to be mild in the case of bitter chaparro quasinoids.

Antioxidant activity

Bitter chaparro extract is an antioxidant product that could prevent the action of free radicals derived from other pharmacological mutagens.

The antioxidant properties would explain the protective role against precancerous liver cells in experimental animals. However, this property has not yet been validated in human clinical trials.

The antimutagenic nature of the aqueous extract reduces the number of mutations induced by norfloxacin, a fluoroquinolone that produces free radicals.

For skin conditions

Topically, the tincture, decoction or in the form of a poultice is used. The drops of tincture made from the branches are applied to the skin when there are acne lesions.

Other skin ailments such as eczema and psoriasis have been treated with poultices or washing using the decoction of the leaves. They have also been used to relieve external bruises.

How to use it?

The bitter taste of the plant makes you prefer to consume the powder in capsules, made from the roots, stems and leaves. Both capsules and tinctures and syrups are available commercially.

Traditionally, the decoction of the branches is prepared in boiling water. For this, a decoction is made with approximately 50 grams of leaves for one liter of water.

Bring to a boil for about 40 minutes, then strain and make up to two liters with water.

250 mL are taken; that is, a cup.

Against parasites

Against amoebas and parasites it must be ingested on an empty stomach for nine days, and then rest for seven days and take up again.

For diarrhea

In case of diarrhea, a cup is ingested three times a day, half an hour before the meal, until improvement is observed.

For the skin

The preparation for diarrhea can be used for topical application; it is also used to make enemas.

The branches are soaked and that drink is drunk as a cold tea.

Contraindications

- It is not advisable to consume it during pregnancy or if its existence is suspected. It is also not recommended ingestion while breastfeeding.

- If you are being treated for amebiasis, there may be an interaction between the plant and the drugs. In this case, it is necessary to consult a doctor before taking it.

- Consumption should be avoided if there is a kidney or liver disease.

- Long-term use can cause a decrease in the number of red blood cells.

References

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