PIRUL: CHARACTERISTICS, WHAT IS IT FOR, SIDE EFFECTS - ECONOMÍA - 2025

The pirul (Schinus molle) is a native tree of the Peruvian Andes, of evergreen and of great height. Its bright pink fruits are often presented as "pink peppercorns." However, this species is not related to the true pepper (Piper nigrum).

Perhaps due to this similarity, it is popularly also known as Peruvian pepper, American pepper, pepper tree, or Californian pepper. It is also called Peruvian chili, brush, false pepper, molle, and Peruvian mastic. The tree is currently available in many parts of the world. Its wood is durable and resistant.

Historically, and still today, it has been appreciated for the manufacture of saddles. The tree is very resistant to drought; this property has now made it an invasive species in many countries. The dyeing of the leaves has been used for the dyeing of textiles in Peru since pre-Columbian times.

With the oil from the leaves, the Incas preserved and embalmed the dead. As a medicinal plant it is attributed antibacterial, antiseptic, analgesic, antidepressant and diuretic properties.

Tree characteristics

The lollipop is a fast-growing tree, reaching up to 15 meters in height. The diameter can vary from 25 to 45 cm in diameter. Of all the Schinus species, it is the largest and probably the longest-lived.

The pinnate leaves of the tree are 8 to 25 cm long and 4 to 9 cm wide. They are made up of 19 to 41 alternate pinnae.

The upper branches of the tree tend to fall off. The flowers form abundantly in panicles at the ends of the fallen branches; they are small and white.

It is a dioecious species; that is, the male and female flowers are produced on separate plants. The fruits are round drupes of 5 to 7 mm in diameter, and they generate clusters with hundreds of berries that can be forming all year round.

The seeds change from green to red, pink or purple. The outer bark is light brown in color and has cracks.

The inner bark is homogeneous, pale pink in color and darkens to light brown when oxidized. It may release a small amount of a milky white latex. The bark, leaves and berries are aromatic when crushed.

What is it for?

The composition of the leaves and fruits of the tree explains many of its attributes in traditional medicine. These compounds include tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, sterols, terpenes, gums, resins, and essential oils.

The essential oil of the lollipop is used as a flavoring agent in cosmetic and personal hygiene products, such as soaps, lotions, mouthwashes and toothpastes.

Culinary use

The fruit, due to its sugar content, can be used to make fermented beverages (chicha) and also vinegar. It is also used as an ingredient in the maceration of certain beverages to form liqueurs.

Although the species is not related to commercial pepper, the berries are sold as pink peppercorns. In other cases, they are mixed with these and used as a flavoring in meals.

Therapeutic use

The aqueous extract of the leaves is used in the treatment of menstrual disorders, such as amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea. The leaves have diuretic properties and are laxative or purgative. They are used as a digestive and are chewed to harden the gums.

The blades are used as an antirheumatic. These are lightly roasted to rub the affected part and are placed as a poultice.

In skin diseases - such as inflammations, ulcers and sores - the resin from the bark is used topically. The ground leaves are applied locally as plasters. The infusion is also prepared to wash the affected area.

It has stimulating and antidepressant action according to some research results. In these it is suggested that lollipop extract shares some pharmacological effects with classic antidepressants, such as fluoxetine. This property has been found at the preclinical level.

Antitumor

The essential oil has shown promising antioxidant and antitumor activity for non-solid tumors, such as those of leukemia. The cytotoxic effect of essential oil has been evidenced on breast carcinoma cells in mice, as well as human gastric carcinoma.

These observations suggest that it may also have a strong effect on solid tumors. In addition, it has analgesic properties. It has been used especially for the relief of toothache and acts as a hypotensive.

Repellent and insecticidal properties

The lollipop is a natural product with insecticidal properties. The essential oil is used in moth-proofing preparations and as an insect repellent.

Currently there is a trend to seek natural and safe alternatives to replace highly toxic chemicals used in pest control.

The foliage of the S. molle L. pepper is traditionally used in Ethiopia as a repellent for the house fly Musca domestica L. This action was also found in laboratory bioassays using the volatile extracts of S. molle leaves.

Hexane extracts from the leaves and fruits of the lollipop have repellent and insecticidal properties against Triatoma infestans. This insect is the most important vector of Trypanosoma cruzi, a parasite that causes Chagas disease.

Antimicrobial properties

It has an antiseptic effect. The essential oil from the fresh leaves of Schinus molle was tested as antibacterial, showing activity against the following species: Alcaligenes faecalis, Clostridium sporogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Leuconostoc cremoris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris and Enterobacter aerogenes.

It also acts against Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter calcoacetica, Brochothrix thermosphacata, Citrobacter freundii, Beneckea natriegens, Bacillus subtilis and Serratia marcescens.

The following fungal species were also affected by the essential oil components: Aspergillus parasiticus, Aspergillus ochraceus, Alternaria alternata, and Fusarium culmorum. The sensitivity of the species to essential oil will depend on the concentration used.

Possible side effects

The fruit and leaves are potentially poisonous to poultry, pigs, and possibly calves. The extract is also toxic to fish.

There have been cases of children who have experienced vomiting and diarrhea after ingesting the fruit. Its hypotensive effect indicates that it should be avoided by people suffering from low blood pressure.

References

1. Abdel-Sattar E., Zaitoun AA, Farag MA, El Gayed SH, Harraz FMHChemical composition, insecticidal and insect repellent activity of Schinus molle L. leaf and fruit essential oils against Trogoderma granarium and Tribolium castaneum. Natural Product Research. 2010; 24: 3: 226-235.,
2. Bendaoud H., Romdha M., Souchard J., Cazaux S., Bouajila J. Chemical Composition and Anticancer and Antioxidant Activities of Schinus Molle L. and Schinus Terebinthifolius Raddi Berries Essential Oils. Journal of Food Science. 2010; 75 (6): C466-C472.
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4. Díaz, C., Quesada, S., Brenes, O., Aguilar, G., Cicció, J. Chemical composition of Schinus molle essential oil and its cytotoxic activity on tumor cell lines. Natural Product Research. 2008; 22 (17): 1521-1534.
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8. Gundidza M. Antimicrobial activity of essential oil from Schinus molle Linn. Central African Journal of Medicine. 1993; 39 (11): 231-234.
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10. Machado DG, Kaster MP, Binfaré RW, Dias M., Santos ARS, Pizzolatti MG, Brighente IMC, Rodrigues ALS Antidepressant-like effect of the extract from leaves of Schinus molle L. in mice: Evidence for the involvement of the monoaminergic system. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry. 2007; 31: 421–428.
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