Mullaca

(Physalis angulata)

Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Physalis
Species: angulata
Synonyms: Physalis capsicifolia, Physalis lanceifolia, Physalis ramosissima
Common names: Mullaca, camapu, bolsa mullaca, cape gooseberry, wild tomato, winter cherry, juá-de-capote, capulí cimarrón, battre-autour, k'u chih, 'urmoa batoto bita, cecendet, dumadu harachan, hog weed, nvovo, polopa, saca-buche, thongtheng, tino-tino, topatop, wapotok
Phytochemicals:14-alpha-hydroxy Ixocarpanolide, Ayanin, Chlorogenic Acid, Acetyl Choline, Beta Sitosterol, Phygrine, Physagulin A, Physagulin B, Physagulin C, Physagulin D, Physagulin E, Physagulin F, Physagulin G, Physalin B, Physalin D, Physalin E, Physalin F, Physalin G, Physalin H, Physalin I, Physalin J, Physalin K, Physangulide, Vamonolide, Withagulatin A,Withaminimin, Withangulatin A, 24-25-epoxy Withanolide D, Withanolide T, Withaphysanolide
Parts Used: Whole plant, leaves, roots

HERBAL PROPERTIES AND ACTIONS

Main Actions: kills mycobacteria kills bacteria kills cancer cells reduces spasms kills leukemia cells kills viruses kills germs enhances immunity thins blood

Other Actions: relieves pain reduces inflammation reduces spasms prevents ulcers increases urination reduces fever expels phlegm

Standard Dosage: Whole plant. Infusion: 1/2 to 1 cup 1-3 times daily; Capsules: 1-2 g twice daily; Tincture: 1-3 ml twice daily

Mullaca is an annual herb indigenous to many parts of the tropics, including the Amazon. It can be found on most continents in the tropics, including Africa, Asia, and the Americas. It grows up to 1 m high, bears small, cream-colored flowers, and produces small, light yellowish-orange, edible fruit sometimes referred to as cape gooseberry. The fruit is about the size of a cherry tomato, and like tomatoes, it contains many tiny edible seeds inside. Mullaca propagates easily from the many seeds the fruit contains; spontaneous clumps of plants can be found along river banks and just about anywhere the soil is disturbed and the canopy is broken (allowing enough sunlight to promote its rapid growth).

Phytochemical studies on mullaca reveal that it contains many types of biologically active, naturally occurring chemicals including flavonoids, alkaloids, and many different types of plant steroids, some of which have never before been seen in science. Mullaca has been the subject of recent clinical research (which is still ongoing), based on the preliminary studies showing that it is an effective immune stimulant, is toxic to numerous types of cancer and leukemia cells, and that it has antimicrobial properties. The new steroids found in mullaca have received the most attention, and many of the documented anti-cancerous, anti-tumorous and anti-leukemic actions are attributed to these steroids.

Various extracts of mullaca, as well as these extracted plant steroids called physalins, have shown strong in vitro and in vivo (mice) activity against numerous types of human and animal cancer cells including lung, colon, nasopharynx, liver, cervix, melanoma and glioma (brain) cancer cells. This cancer research began in the early 1980s with researchers in Thailand and the U.S. and was verified with research performed at the University of Taiwan in 1992 (where they demonstrated a significant effect against five human cancer cell lines and three animal cancer cell lines). Then in 2001, researchers at the University of Houston isolated yet another new chemical in mullaca which demonstrated remarkable toxicity against nasopharynx cancer cells, lung (adenocarcinoma) cancer cells as well as leukemia in mice. The same Taiwanese researchers had already published a separate study on mullaca's other anti-leukemic phytochemicals in 1992, reporting that two physalin chemicals inhibited the growth of five types of acute leukemia, including lymphoid (T & B), promyelocytic, myeloid and monocytic.

Other researchers in China and Russia independently demonstrated significant immunomodulatory effects against blastogenesis (a process triggered in leukemia) while boosting other immune functions which might account for the anti-leukemic effects in mice seen by other researchers. With tumor cells, research suggests that several of the steroidal chemicals in mullaca act on an enzyme level to arrest the normal cell cycle in cancer cells as well as cause DNA damage inside of cancer cells (making them unable to replicate).

In addition to mullaca's anticancerous and antileukemic actions, several research groups have confirmed mullaca's antibacterial and antiviral activity. Most recently in 2002 and 2000, mullaca was shown to be active in vitro against several strains of mycobacteriums and mycoplasmas (both very stubborn types of bacteria which are not widely susceptible to standard antibiotics). In addition to these actions, mullaca has demonstrated effective antibacterial properties in vitro against numerous types of gram positive and gram negative bacteria, including Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus. Other research groups in Japan have been focusing on mullaca's antiviral actions and preliminary studies show that it is active in vitro against Polio virus I, Herpes simplex virus I, the measles virus, and HIV-I - demonstrating reverse transcriptase inhibitory effects.

Mullaca has also been reported to reduce spasms in guinea pigs, lower blood pressure in cats and to contract isotonic muscles in toads. In the test tube, mullaca was shown to have an anticoagulant effect. Western scientists did somewhat validate the indigenous use for diabetes when they reported a mild hypoglycemic effect in mice fed a water extract of the root. One must wonder what the results would have been if they had followed native customs and employed an alcohol extract instead.

Mullaca has long held a place in natural medicine in the tropical countries where it grows. Its use by rainforest Indians in the Amazon is well documented, and its edible sweet-tart fruits are enjoyed by many rainforest inhabitants, animal and human alike. Indigenous tribes in the Amazon use a leaf infusion as a diuretic. Mullaca has also been used by indigenous peoples for female disorders.

Mullaca is employed in herbal medicine systems today in both Peru and Brazil. I
Interestingly enough, much of the clinical research has ignored the local and indigenous uses of the plant; thus, many of its effective uses in herbal medicine remain unexplained. Its tested antibacterial properties could validate its use as a antiseptic and disinfectant for skin diseases and its use to treat gonorrhea. Its antiviral properties could well explain its long history of use for hepatitis, although scientists have not tested it specifically against hepatitis. Possibly the antispasmodic and muscle contractive properties documented for mullaca might explain its widespread use for asthma and female disorders as well. Yet its widespread use throughout the rainforests for malaria and fevers remains unexplained by science.

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

Region	Uses
Brazil	for asthma, blood cleansing, dermatitis, earaches, fever, gallbladder problems, kidney problems, jaundice, liver disorders, malaria, nausea, rheumatism, skin diseases, urinary insufficiency
Central America	for fever, gonorrhea, malaria, skin diseases, and to prevent miscarriages
Colombia	for asthma, bacterial infections, inflammation, skin diseases
Japan	for colds, fever, strep throat, swelling, urinary insufficiency
Peru	for asthma, bacterial infections, diabetes, earaches, hepatitis, infection (postpartum), inflammation, itch, jaundice, liver problems, malaria, rheumatism, skin diseases, urinary insufficiency, worms
Taiwan	for cancer, fever, hepatitis, liver disease, tumors, urinary insufficiency
Trinidad	for bacterial infections, fever, indigestion, nephritis, rectitis
Suriname	for gonorrhea, jaundice, malaria, nephritis, urinary insufficiency
Elsewhere	for asthma, bacterial infections, boils, cancer, childbirth, dermatosis, diabetes, diarrhea, diuretic, edema, expectorant, eye infections, fainting, fevers, hemostatic, hemorrhage (postpartum), infertility, inflammation, leukemia, malaria, nausea, pain, tumor (testicle), skin disease, sleeping sickness, stomach problems and as an antiseptic

MULLACA PLANT SUMMARY

Main Preparation Method:	infusion or capsules
Main Actions (in order):	antibacterial, antimycoplasmal, anticancerous, immunomodulator, antiviral
Main Uses:	for bacterial infections of all kinds for cancer and leukemia for Mycoplasma and mycobacteria infections for skin diseases (dermatitis, psoriasis, skin infections, rosaceae, scleroderma, etc.) for viral infections of all kinds
Properties/Actions Documented by Research:	antibacterial, anticancerous, anticoagulant (blood thinner), antileukemic, antimycobacterial, antispasmodic, antitumorous, antiviral, hypoglycemic, hypotensive (lowers blood pressure), immunomodulator (modulates some overactive immune cells), immunostimulant
Other Properties/Actions Documented by Traditional Use:	analgesic (pain-reliever), anti-inflammatory, anti-asthmatic, antihemorrhagic (reduces bleeding), antiseptic, blood cleanser, disinfectant, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge (reduces fever), hepatotonic (tones, balances, strengthens the liver), sedative, vermifuge (expels worms)
Traditional Preparation:	Depending on what it is employed for, generally one-half to one cup of a whole herb infusion 1-3 times daily or 1-2 ml of a 4:1 tincture twice daily is used. Two to 4 grams of powdered whole herb (depending on body weight) in tablets or capsules or stirred into water or juice twice daily can be substituted if desired (since the active sterol chemicals are completely water soluble).
Contraindications:	It may lower blood pressure and have a blood anticoagulant activity. People with blood disorders such as hemophilia, those taking heart medications or blood thinners, or those with other heart problems such as low blood pressure should not use this plant without supervision and advice of a qualified health care practitioner.
Drug Interactions:	None reported; however, see above contraindications.

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