Cipó Cabeludo

(Mikania hirsutissima)

Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Mikania
Species: hirsutissima
Synonyms: Mikania banisteriae, M. caudata Benth., M. ferruginea, Willoughbya banisteriae
Common Names: Cipó cabeludo, guaco-cabeludo, guaco peludo, cipó-almecega-cabeludo, erva dutra
Part Used: Leaves

HERBAL PROPERTIES AND ACTIONS

Main Actions: relieves pain reduces mucus increases urination thins blood

Other Actions: kills leukemia cells kills cancer cells calms nerves

Standard Dosage: Vine, Leaves. Infusion: 1/2 cup twice daily; Tincture: 5-10 ml twice daily

Cipó cabeludo is a very small, shrubby vine that grows only 13–18 cm tall and produces small, white flowers. A member of the Mikania genus (which comprises over 300 neotropical species of climbing vines), it is indigenous to many parts of Brazil, including the Amazon region. It is also indigenous to Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.

Chemical screening has revealed that cipó cabeludo contains coumarin, sesquiterpenes, flavonols, saponins, and kaurenoic acid derivatives. These acid derivatives are chemicals that have been documented with various biological activities. Several of the known kaurenoic acids in cipó cabeludo (and other Mikania species) have demonstrated in vitro antibacterial properties against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria in published research. Cipó cabeludo (and other Mikania plants) contain the natural plant chemical coumarin. Coumadin (an anticoagulant prescription drug with blood-thinning effects) is derived and/or synthesized from this natural plant chemical. The main chemicals in this vine include coumarin, essential oils, flavonols, flavones, kaurenoic acid diterpenes, resins, saponins, and tannins.

This particular species of Mikania was described by a Brazilian researcher at the University of São Paulo in the early 1970s. In the mid-eighties, other Brazilian researchers documented that an extract of cipó cabeludo had powerful molluscicidal effects (it had a lethal effect against adult snails) at only 10 ppm concentration. This type of test generally is conducted on plants in the ongoing search for new products to treat the common and highly problematic tropical disease, schistosomiasis. More recently, cipó cabeludo has interested a research group in Japan. Their first study (in 1999) reported the discovery of two novel sesquiterpene chemicals as well as nine other known compounds. They tested eleven of the isolated compounds against leukemia cells in vitro and reported that four of them "showed relatively strong cytotoxicity." Their second (2000) study reported that cipó cabeludo contained five biologically-active kaurenoic acids (which also occur in other Mikania species) as well as a novel one-which they named mikanialactone.

Little research has been conducted thus far on cipó cabeludo; virtually none of its longstanding traditional uses have been confirmed by studies. .

Cipó cabeludo is widely used in Brazilian herbal medicine and highly regarded as a powerful diuretic.

Following- up, a brief summary of its ethnomedical uses.

Region	Uses
Brazil	for albuminuria, arthritis, cystitis, diarrhea, excessive mucus, gallstones, gastrointestinal disorders, gout, kidney stones, lumbago, menstrual colic, muscle pain, nephritis, neuralgia, pain, paralysis, prostatitis, renal disorders, rheumatism, urethritis, urinary insufficiency, urinary tract infections

CIPÓ CABELUDO PLANT SUMMARY

Main Preparation Method:	infusion or tincture
Main Actions (in order):	analgesic (pain-reliever), antibacterial, decongestant, antilithic (prevents or eliminates kidney stones), antileukemic
Main Uses:	for prostatitis, benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), and prostate pain for urinary tract disorders (infections, cystitis, nephritis, urethritis, kidney stones) as a pain reliever for neuralgia, arthritis, and general muscle pain as a decongestant to remove excessive mucous in the bowel, urinary tract, and lungs for leukemia
Properties/Actions Documented by Research:	antibacterial, anticoagulant, antileukemic, molluscicidal (kills snails)
Other Properties/Actions Documented by Traditional Use:	analgesic (pain-reliever), antilithic (prevents or eliminates kidney stones), anti-rheumatic, blood cleanser, decongestant, diuretic, nervine (balances/calms nerves)
Traditional Preparation:	One-half cup of a standard herb infusion once twice daily, or 5-10 ml of a standard tincture daily is generally recommended in Brazilian herbal medicine.
Contraindications:	Cipó cabeludo is used in herbal medicine as a diuretic. While these effects have not been confirmed scientifically, use of this plant may be contraindicated in various medical conditions where diuretics are not appropriate. Chronic long-term use of any diuretic can cause electrolyte and mineral imbalances as well as other medical problems and are generally not recommended; therefore, it is probably best to avoid chronic use of this plant. While not substantiated scientifically, it is possible that cipó cabeludo may demonstrate an blood thinning effect due to its coumarin content. Consult your doctor before using this plant if you are taking coumadin drugs (or if coumadin anticoagulant-type drugs are contraindicated for your condition).
Drug Interactions:	May potentiate coumadin drugs. May potentiate diuretic drugs.

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