Manacá

(Brunfelsia uniflora)

Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Brunfelsia
Species: uniflora
Synonyms: Brunfelsia hopeana, Franciscea hopeana, Belsleria bonodora
Common Names: Manacá, manacán, chiric sanango, chuchuwasha, manaka, vegetable mercury, managá caa, gambá, jeratacaca, bloom of the lent, camgaba, Christmas bloom, chuchuwasha, gerataca, geratacaca, good night, jerataca, moka pari, Paraguay jasmine, santa maria, umburapuama, white tree
Phytochemicals: Aesculetin, Brunfelsene, Hopeanine, Lactic Acid, Manaceine, Manacine, Starch, Mandragorine, Scopoletin, Tartaric Acid, Quinic Acid
Part Used: Root, bark, leaf

HERBAL PROPERTIES AND ACTIONS

Main Actions: relieves pain reduces fever reduces inflammation detoxifies blood depresses CNS moderately sedative increases urination mildly laxative moves lymphatic fluid promotes menstruation

Other Actions: prevents mutations kills insects promotes perspiration lowers body temperature

Standard Dosage: Root. Decoction: 1/2 cup twice daily; Capsules: 1 g twice daily; Tincture: 1-2 ml twice daily.

Manacá is a medium-sized, shrubby tree that grows to 8 m in height. It is often cultivated as an ornamental tree in the tropics . It can be found in the Amazon regions of Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela. In Brazil, manacá is known by several botanical names, including Brunfelsia uniflora, B. hopeana, and Franciscea uniflora. In Europe the plant is known and sold in herbal commerce as Brunfelsia hopeana. All refer to the same plant. Other plant relatives from Colombia and Ecuador include Brunfelsia chiricaspi (from its local name, chiricaspi, which means "tree of chills"), and Brunfelsia grandiflora both of which are used by rainforest Indians as hallucinogens. However, due to the toxicity and unpleasant side effects, use of these plants appears to be on the wane. They are different plants than manacá - but sometimes are confused with manacá for their similar look, growth, and habit.

A 1996 phytochemical study on the aerial parts of manacá revealed it contained such active compounds as benzenoids, terpenes, alkaloids, lactones, and lipids. It is the root, though, that has been used primarily by indigenous peoples throughout the Amazon and by herbalists throughout the world. The root of manacá contains coumarins, alkaloids, lignans and sapogenins. Active constituents include two alkaloids, manaceine and manacine, as well as scopoletin and aesculetin (types of coumarin chemicals). Manaceine and manacine are thought to be responsible for stimulating the lymphatic system, while aesculetin has demonstrated pain-relieving, liver detoxification, and anti-inflammatory activities in laboratory tests. Scopoletin is a well-known phytochemical that has demonstrated analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antitumor, cancer-preventive, antifungal, and antispasmodic activity in many different laboratory experiments. It occurs in significant amounts in manacá. A U.S. patent was awarded in 2002 for scopoletin's ability to inhibit nitric oxide production. Nitric oxide is a reactive radical produced in the body and involved in inflammatory processes and in diseases such as asthma, heart disease, and erectile dysfunction. These chemicals and their reported biological activities could help to explain many of manacá's uses in traditional herbal medicine systems.

Much more research is published on various chemicals found in manacá, rather than the plant itself. However, several animal studies do confirm some of its traditional uses - especially for pain and inflammation. In a 1991 clinical study with mice, manacá demonstrated pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects. An earlier (1977) study reported that manacá root extracts evidenced marked anti-inflammatory actions in rats - as well as central nervous system depressant and fever-reducing actions. Other root extracts administered to rats showed anti-inflammatory actions. Leaf and root extracts of manacá also showed insecticidal actions (which may be attributed to naturally-occurring insecticidal chemicals nerolidol and farnesol). Extracts of the twigs also have been documented to prevent cellular mutations.

Manacá has a long history of indigenous use for both medicine and magic. Its Brazilian common name, manacá, originated with the Tupi Indians in Brazil; they named it after the most beautiful girl in their tribe, Manacán, for its lovely flowers. It is a sacred and spiritual plant used by shamans and curanderos in the potion ayahuasca (a sacred hallucinogen), in special initiation ceremonies, and for bad luck (the chiricaspi and grandiflora species are preferred for ayahuasca brews).

In South America today manacá is respected as an important sacred and medicinal plant - mainly employed by shamans, healers, curanderos, herbal practitioners, and professionals.

Following up, a brief summary of worldwide ethnomedical uses of manacá.

Region	Uses
Amazonia	for arthritis, colds, detoxification, fever, flu, lymphatic disorders, rheumatism, snakebite, syphilis, uterine cramps, urinary insufficiency, uterine disorders, venereal disease, yellow fever, and to increase perspiration
Brazil	for abortions, blood cleansing, constipation, dermatosis, fever, menstrual disorders, nausea, rheumatism, scrofula, snakebite, syphilis, urinary disorders, urinary insufficiency, venereal disease, yellow fever, and to increase perspiration
Ecuador	for abortions, arthritis, cold, flu, lymph glands (swollen), malaria, pain, rheumatism, snakebite, uterine problems, venereal disease, yellow fever
Europe	for arthritis, blood cleansing, bronchitis, fever, rheumatism, scrofula, snakebite, urinary insufficiency
Peru	for arthritis, back pain, bronchitis, chills, colds, diuretic, fever, hallucinogen, impotence, inflammation, kidney, lung disease, malaria, pain, rheumatism, snakebite, syphilis, tuberculosis, ulcers, uterine cramps, venereal disease, yellow fever, as a sedative and to increase perspiration
South America	for abortions, colds, fever, impotence, malaria, rheumatism, snakebite, yellow fever
U.S.	for menstrual disorders, pain, rheumatism, and to increase perspiration
Elsewhere	for abortions, arthritis, back pain, blood cleansing, bronchitis, cold, constipation, eczema, fever, gout, heat stroke, hypertension, inflammation, kidney problems, laxative, lung, lymphatic disorders, menstrual cramps, pain, rheumatism, scrofula, skin problems, snakebite, syphilis, tuberculosis, ulcers, urinary insufficiency, yellow fever

MANACÁ PLANT SUMMARY

Main Preparation Method:	tincture or decoction
Main Actions (in order):	sedative, analgesic (pain-reliever), central nervous system depressant, anti-inflammatory, blood cleanser
Main Uses:	for arthritis and rheumatism (internal and external) and general painful and inflammatory conditions to cleanse and stimulate the lymphatic system (and for swollen lymph glands) to relieve menstrual pain and cramps for colds, flu, and fevers for venereal diseases
Properties/Actions Documented by Research:	analgesic (pain-reliever), anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant (blood thinner), antimutagenic (cellular protector), antispasmodic, central nervous system depressant, febrifuge (reduces fever), insecticide, refrigerant (lowers body temperature)
Other Properties/Actions Documented by Traditional Use:	abortive, anesthetic, antitumorous, antivenin, blood cleanser, diaphoretic (promotes sweating), laxative, lymphatic stimulant, menstrual stimulant, sedative
Traditional Preparation:	One-half cup root decoction 1-2 times daily, or 1-2 ml of a 4:1 tincture twice daily.
Contraindications:	Manacá has a traditional use as an abortive. No clinical studies have been performed to indicate its safety during pregnancy; therefore, it is contraindicated for pregnant women. Manacá root is reported to have toxicity in large doses - causing excessive salivation, vertigo, general anesthesia, partial paralysis of the face, swollen tongue, and disturbed vision. Avoid dosages higher than the traditional remedy indicates. Those allergic to aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) should avoid using manacá. Manacá contains salicylate and several of its derivatives. Salicylate occurs naturally in plants; for some people, too much salicylate causes problems (known as "salicylate sensitivity" or "salicylate intolerance") without being allergic to aspirin. Do not use manacá if sensitive to salicylate. Manacá root contains coumarins - plant chemicals known to thin the blood. Those taking blood-thinning medications such as coumadin should use manacá only under the direction and supervision of a qualified healthcare practitioner to monitor these effects. The plant chemical scopoletin has been documented to inhibit monoamine oxidase. Those taking monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors should consult their healthcare practitioner before taking manacá.
Drug Interactions:	None reported; however, manacá may potentiate blood-thinning medications such as Warfarin® and heparin. It may potentiate monoamine oxidase inhibitor drugs also.

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