Guaco

(Mikania guaco)

Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Mikania
Species: cordifolia, glomerata, guaco, laevigata
Synonyms: Mikania amara, M. aspera, M. attenuata, M. glomerata, Willoughbya parviflora
Common Names: Guaco, guace, bejuco de finca, cepu, liane Francois, matafinca, vedolin, cipó caatinga, huaco, erva das serpentes, coração de Jesus, erva-de-cobra, guaco-de-cheiro
Phytochemicals: caffeolylquinic acids, cinnamic acid, coumarin, glycosides, kaurenic acids, germacranolides, stigmasterol, tannins, resins.
Part Used: Leaves

HERBAL PROPERTIES AND ACTIONS

Main Actions: suppresses coughs expels phlegm dilates bronchials arrests asthma relieves pain kills bacteria kills yeast reduces inflammation thins blood

Other Actions: reduces fever cleanses blood heals wounds promotes perspiration increases urination kills protozoas

Standard Dosage: Leaves. Infusion: 1/2 cup 3-4 times daily; Tincture: 3-4 ml three times daily

Mikania is the largest genus of tropical lianas, representing over 300 species of vines. The common name guaco is quite common; it is used for several species of Mikania vines that look very similar and are used for similar purposes. These include the South American M. guaco species found in Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia and Ecuador; M. cordifolia, found throughout South America as well as Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama; M. glomerata, found mostly in Paraguay and Venezuela; and Mikania laevigata, which has only been cataloged in Brazil.

Guaco is a significant source of the natural plant chemical, coumarin (as high as 11% in some guaco plants!). Coumarin is used to produce the most commonly used anticoagulant and blood thinning drug called coumadin. It is such a large source of coumarin, Brazilian research groups are studying the possibility of the commercial cultivation and extraction of coumarin from guaco leaves for pharmaceutical industry use. Guaco also contain 14 novel sesquiterpene chemicals that are called germacranolides. This classification of plant chemicals has yielded some very biologically active antibacterial, insecticidal, anticancerous and antitumorous agents obtained from plants; the actual activities of these novel guaco germacranolides are still being researched. At least three caffeoylquinic acids demonstrating in vitro anti-inflammatory activities and two kaurenic acid chemicals with significant in vitro antibacterial activity have been also been isolated in guaco leaves.

Many of guaco's long-time traditional uses have been validated by scientists. Raul Coimbra wrote the first journal article validating the use of guaco as a bronchodialator and expectorant herbal drug in 1942. In a 1984 Brazilian study, human volunteers were given a guaco leaf tea (M. glomerata) and researchers again reported the strong cough suppessant and bronchodilator effects. Other researchers in Brazil published papers about the brochodilator and anti-inflammatory effects of guaco leaf extracts in 1992; one scientist suggested that these actions could be attributed at least by half to the natural coumarin in the plant. Most recently (in 2002) a Brazilian research group reported that extracts of guaco leaves (M. glomerata), significantly inhibited histamine contractions and evidenced a relaxing effect of the trachea (throat) in guinea pigs (as well as isolated human bronchi in vitro). They summarized their findings by saying: "The results supported the indication of M. glomerata products for the treatment of respiratory diseases where bronchoconstriction is present."

They also validated yet another indigenous use for snakebites; reporting that guaco significantly reduced swelling, edema, and related vasoconstriction in mice injected with snake venom. Guaco's in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity had already been reported by three other studies; the most recent study in 2002 reporting an 81% inhibition of inflammation in rats. In other recent research, a crude guaco leaf extract (M. cordifolia) demonstrated antiprotozoal activity in one study and the same species evidenced one of the strongest antiprotozoal activity tested out of 79 plant extracts tested in 2002 (against two protozoa: Trichomonas vaginalis and Trypanosoma cruzi). In other research published in 2002, guaco was reported with in vitro antibacterial and antiyeast actions against candida.

Mikania cordifolia and M. glomerata are the two plants in Brazil that are used interchangeably and oftentimes with no distinction between the two species; they are just referred to as guaco.

In current herbal medicine systems in Brazil, guaco is well known and well regarded as an effective natural bronchodilator, expectorant and cough suppressant employed for all types of upper respiratory problems including bronchitis, pleurisy, colds and flu, coughs, and asthma; as well as for sore throats, laryngitis, and fever. Guaco is also popular in Brazil as an anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and pain-reliever for rheumatism, arthritis, intestinal inflammation and ulcers. A decoction of the leaves is also employed externally for neuralgia, rheumatic pain, eczema, pruritus, and wounds.

Following-up, a brief summary of worldwide ethnomedical uses of guaco.

Region	Uses
Brazil	for albuminuria, analgesic, appetite stimulation, arthritis, asthma, blood cleansing, bronchitis, bronchial constriction, cancer, cholera, colds, coughs, fever, gout, infections, influenza, intestinal problems, laryngitis, neuralgia, pain, pleurisy, pruritus, respiratory problems, rheumatism, snakebite, sore throat, syphilis, tonsillitis, wounds, and as an expectorant
Dominican Republic	for cholera, fever, flu
Guyana	for itch, insect bite, snakebite, skin eruptions
Haiti	for fever, malaria, syphilis
Mexico	for asthma, bites(dog), fever, malaria, menstrual irregularities, rheumatism, scorpion stings, sores, snakebite, spasm, stomach problems, tetanus, worms
Venezuela	for fever, snakebite, tumor
Elsewhere	for cholera, snakebite

GUACO PLANT SUMMARY

Main Preparation Method:	fluid extract, syrup, or decoction
Main Actions (in order):	cough suppressant, bronchodilator, expectorant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory
Main Uses:	for upper respiratory problems (coughs, bronchitis, colds/flu, asthma, allergies, etc) for various internal and external bacterial and protozoal infections for Candida and yeast infections for snakebite and insect bites and stings as an analgesic (pain-reliever) and anti-inflammatory for arthritis, rheumatism, intestinal inflammation, and ulcers
Properties/Actions Documented by Research:	anti-anaphylactic (reduces allergic reactions), anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anticandidal, anticoagulant (blood thinner), antihistamine, antiprotozoal, antivenin, bronchodilator, cough suppressant, expectorant
Other Properties/Actions Documented by Traditional Use:	analgesic (pain-reliever), anesthetic, anti-asthmatic, anticancerous, antispasmodic, blood cleanser, diaphoretic (promotes sweating), febrifuge (reduces fever), vermifuge (expels worms), wound healer
Traditional Preparation:	Syrup: A handful of fresh leaves (or about 2 ounces dried leaves) in 6 cups of water and boiling until it is reduced to 2 cups. Then 3/4 of a cup of sugar is added and it is boiled again for about 20 minutes into a syrup. The mixture is strained to remove the leaves, 3 soup-spoonfuls of honey are added, and the syrup is cooled, bottled and stored in the refrigerator. As a cough syrup, 1 soup-spoon is taken 3 times daily to help quiet coughs Infusion: the traditional remedy is also to take 2 cups of fresh leaves (or ½ cup dried leaves) and infuse them in a liter of water. A half-cup of this infusion is taken 4 times daily for rheumatism, respiratory problems and coughs. It can also be used as a topical wound healer and pain-reliever Tincture: 3-4 ml three times daily.
Contraindications:	In large dosages (two to three times the traditional remedy above) guaco has been reported to cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Guaco contains a significant amount of coumarin which is the plant chemical coumadin drugs are derived from. Coumarin has an anti-coagulant and blood thinning effect and the use of guaco may demonstrate anticoagulant effects due to the coumarin content. Consult with your physician before taking this plant if you are taking coumadin drugs or if coumadin anticoagulant type drugs are contraindicated for your condition.
Drug Interactions:	May potentiate Warfarin® and other coumadin drugs.

 
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