Ayapana

(Ayapana triplinervis)

Family: Asteraceae
Taxon: Ayapana triplinervis (Vahl) R. M. King & H. Rob.
Synonyms: Eupatorium ayapana, Eupatorium triplinerve
Common names: aypana, aiapana, aiapaina, aipana, cagueña, curia, daun panahan, daun perasman, diapalma iapana, diarana-guaco, japana, japana-branca, sekrepatoe wiwir, pool root, white snakeroot, yapana
Plant chemicals: 1-8 cineol, alpha-phellandrene, alpha-terineol, ayapanin, ayapin, beta-selinene, borneol, bornyl-acetate, coumarin, daphnetin, dipentene, herniarin, hydrangetin, linalol, methylene-dioxy-6,7-coumarin, sabinene, stigmasterol, thymoquinone, thymohydroquinone, and umbelliferone.
Parts Used: Leaves, flowers, whole plant

HERBAL PROPERTIES AND ACTIONS

Main Actions: stomachic antiseptic antitussive anti-ulcerous hemostat hepatoprotector tonic vulnerary antitumorous

Other Actions: anticoagulant depurative cicatrizant astringent febrifuge diaphoretic emollient

Standard Dosage Leaves Infusion: 1 cup twice daily

Ayapana is an ornamental erect perennial herb with aromatic leaves that grows 20 to 30 cm high. Ayapana is native to South America and can be found in the Amazon region of Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, and the three Guyanas. It has been introduced into the U.S. and can be found in Puerto Rico and Hawaii and it has naturalized in other tropical countries as well.

Ayapana is a rich source of naturally occurring coumarin chemicals. Coumarin has clinical value as the precursor for several anticoagulant drugs; most notably, one widely prescribed drug called warfarin. Two of ayapana’s coumarin chemicals are called ayapanin and ayapin which were first discovered in the late 1930's. These chemicals were reported to have pronounced blood-thinning or anticoagulant actions in four early studies.

Ayapana also contains a coumarin named hernarin (7-methoxycoumarin) which may help explain why the plant is used in herbal medicine as an anti-tumor remedy. Recent research in 2005 reported that this chemical was toxic to cancer cells—including multi-drug resistant cancer cells and leukemic cells.

In a laboratory study in 1998, a methanol extract of the dried leaves of ayapana did not evidence any antibacterial activity but did show a weak antifungal activity by researchers in Mauritius. An ethanol extract of the entire plant (harvested in Surinam) was reported to be active against Bacillus subtilis at 50 mg/ml but inactive against other bacterial, yeast and fungal strains tested. Researchers in India reported a weak activity against several fungal strains with the leaf essential oil.

The essential oil of the flowers has yielded much better antimicrobial results than the plant itself. In 1979, researchers in India reported a strong activity against 10 strains of fungi in vitro using the essential oil of ayapana flowers. In 1993, the essential oil from the flowers of ayapana was reported to possess antibacterial (against staph, cholera, pneumonia, and shigella), as well as antiparasitic (Ascaris), and anthelminitic (Taenia) actions by researchers in India. In an early studies, the flower essential oil was reported to have CNS depressant, analgesic, and sedative effects (as well as an in vitro antibacterial effect).

The Shipibo-Conibo Indians of Peru take the leaf and stem of the plant internally for colic, stomach pain, edema, and as a depurative. In Peruvian herbal medicine the plant is believed to be sudorific, cicatrizant, astringent, stomachic, stimulant, febrifuge, antidiarrhetic, and anti-tumorous. Ayapana is thought to be antineoplastic and used for cancerous tumors in both Peru and Argentina. An infusion of the entire plant is also used in Argentina to stimulate menstruation.

In Brazilian herbal medicine the leaf juice and an infusion of the leaves and stems are considered tonic, stimulant, astringent, antidysenteric and sudorific. An infusion of the leaves is mixed with honey and used for coughs and sore throats. A leaf infusion is also used for queasy stomachs, indigestion, diarrhea, fever, headaches, insomnia, nausea and vomiting, and stomach ulcers. The leaf juice is used externally as an astringent and emollient and is rich in vitamin C. The leaf juice is swished in the mouth for gingivitis and mouth ulcers.

Ayapana was first written about in the United States in the1887 American Journal of Pharmacy which noted: "The leaves are recommended against indigestion, pectoral complaints and in cholera, and were used for similar purposes in Europe in the early part of the present century." Ayapana leaves are official in the French Pharmacopoeia.

Following up a brief summary of ethomedical uses of ayapana:

Region	Uses
Argentina	to stimulate menstruation, for tumors
Brazil	as an astringent, emollient, sedative, stimulant, tonic, and sudorific; for angina, cholera, coughs, diarrhea, ear infections, eye infections, fevers, gastric ulcers, gingivitis, headaches, indigestion, insomnia, mouth ulcers, nausea, skin ulcers, snakebite, sore throat, vomiting, and wounds
Bangladesh	as an hemostatic, antiseptic, cardiac stimulant, emetic, diaphoretic and laxative; used in ulcers and hemorrhages
Guayanas	as an alexiteric, digestive, febrifuge, laxative, and sudorific; for colds, diarrhea, flu, headaches, hypertension, mouth sores, mouth ulcers, nausea, ulcers, and vomiting
India	as a cardiotonic, diaphoretic, emetic, hemostat, laxative, stimulant and tonic
Malaya	as a sudorific; for bronchitis and diarrhea
Mauritius	as an alterative, antiscorbutic, emetic, diaphoretic, stimulant, and tonic; for bowel problems, cold, diarrhea, dyspepsia, fevers, flatulence, headaches, lung conditions, and ulcers
Peru	as a astringent, antineoplastic, cicatrizant, depurative, febrifuge, hepatoprotector, stimulant, stomachic, sudorific; for colic, diarrhea, edema, hemorrhages, indigestion, snakebite, stomachache, tetanus, tumors, vomiting, urinary tract inflammation, wounds
Philippines	as a sudorific and tonic; for fevers
Trinidad	for chest colds, constipation, fevers, flu, pneumonia, and yellow fever
United States	for cholera, indigestion, and respiratory complaints

 

AYAPANA PLANT SUMMARY

Main Preparation Method:	infusion
Main Actions (in order):	stomachic, pectoral, anti-ulcerous, vulnerary, antitumorous
Main Uses:	as a stomachic for digestive problems (nausea, vomiting, stomachaches) for coughs, sore throat, colds, and bronchitis. for ulcers (mouth, skin, gastric) for cuts, scrapes, and wounds for tumors
Properties/Actions Documented by Research:	analgesic, antibacterial, anticoagulant, antifeedant, antifungal, antiparasitic, anthelminitic, CNS depressant, pesticidal, sedative
Properties/Actions Documented by Traditional Use:	antiseptic, antineoplastic, antitussive, antiulcerous, astringent, cardiotonic, cicatrizant, depurative, diaphoretic, emollient, hemostat, hepatoprotector, laxative, sedative, stimulant, stomachic, tonic, sudorific, vulnerary
Traditional Preparation:	Decotion: whole plant Infusion: dried or fresh leaves
Contraindications:	Ayapana leaves contain naturally occurring coumarins. Coumarin has an anti-coagulant and blood thinning effect and is a precursor to coumadin drugs. 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:	Ayapana may enhance or increase the effect of blood-thinning medications.

 














WARNINGS: The statements given in these pages have an informative aim and are drawned on international publications. The natural properties of the botanicals are only referred to their common uses among folk and herbal traditions. Our products are not intended to diagnose, cure, or prevent any disease as well. It's not meant to give any suggestion of diagnosis or disesase treatment. Please see a doctor when needed.