Matico

(Piper aduncum)

Family: Moraceae
Taxon: Piper aduncum L.
Synonyms: Artanthe adunca Miq., Piper angustifolium Ruiz & Rav., Piper celtidifolium Kunth., Piper elongatum Vahl.
Common names: anisillo, aperta-ruão, bamboo piper, cordoncillo, cordoncillo negro, erba di soldato, erva-de-jaboti, erva-de-soldado, false kava, gaa ma da oedoe, guayayo, gusanillo, herbe du soldat, higuillo, higuillo de hoja, hoja santa, jaborandi falso, jawawa, jointwood, kakoro, malembe toto, man-anihs, matico pepper, matico, maticoblätter, matika, matiko, menuda, moco-moco, moho-moho, mucumucu, pimenta de fruto ganxoso, pimenta-de-fruto-ganchoso, pimenta-de-macaco, pimenta-matico, Santa Maria negro, shiatani, soldaten kraut, soldier's herb, spiked pepper, tapa-curaco, tokondé, tupa burraco, upnpoingpoing, wer-ui-qui-yik
Plant chemicals: ( )caryophyllenol I, (-)cubebol, 1-2-3-tri-methoxy-5-(2-propenyl)-benzene, 1-8 cineol, 2-6-dimethoxy-4-(2-propenyl)-phenol, 2-acetoxy-1-3-dimethoxy-5-(prop-2-enyl)-benzene, 3-(6-hydroxy-3-7-dimethyl-2-7-benzoic acid methyl ester, 5-methoxy-6-(2'-propenyl)-benzodioxole, 5-methoxy-6-(2-propenyl)-benzo-1-3-dioxole, 7-hydroxy-5-methoxy-dihydro-flavone, aduncamide, adunctin A thru E, aduncumene, alpha-copaene, alpha-cubebene, alpha-humulene, alpha-muurolene, alpha-phellandrene, alpha-pinene, alpha-terpinene, alpha-tocopherol, aromadendrene, asebogenin, benzoic acids, beta-bisabolol, beta-caryophyllene, beta-cymene, beta-elemene, beta-gurjunene, beta-pinene, beta-selinene, beta-sitosterol, bicyclogermacrene, borneol, borneol acetate, cadinene, camphene, camphor, caryophyllene, chalcones, chromenes, cis-ocimene, copaene, dihydro-chalcones, dill apiol, eremophilene, eupatoriochromene, geraniol acetate, germacrene D, germacrene B, globulol, iso-borneol, limonene, linalool, lutein, methyl-lindaretin, myrcene, myristicin, nerol acetate, nerolidol, nervogenic acid, octa-trans-2-7-dienoic acid,6(s)-hydroxy-2-6-dimethyl methyl ester, pinostrobin, piperaduncin A thru C, piperitone, safrole, sakuranetin, seichelene, spathulenol, stigmasterol, tectochrysin, terpineol acetate, thymol, trans-ocimene, trans-phytol, undecanone, verbascoside, and viridiflorol.
Parts Used: Bark

HERBAL PROPERTIES AND ACTIONS

Main Actions: heals wounds stops bleeding stops vomiting eases nausea aids digestion expels gas kills germs kills bacteria kills yeast/fungi

Other Actions: reduces mucous calms coughs decongests aids urinary tract kills viruses

Standard dosage: Leaves Infusion: 1 cup three times daily Fluid Extract: 2-3ml twice daily Capsules: 1g three times daily

Matico is a tropical, evergreen, shrubby tree that grows to the height of 6 to 7 m with lanceolate leaves that are 12 to 20 cm long. It is native to most all of tropical South America as well as Southern Mexico, the Caribbean, and much of tropical Latin America. Once cultivated as an ornamental worldwide, it has naturalized in tropical Asia, Polynesia, and Melanesia and can even be found in southern Florida, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.

Matico contains many active chemicals including flavonoids, sequiterpenes, monoterpenes, heterocycles, phenylpropanoids, alkaloids, and benzenoids. A group of chemicals called chromenes have been found in the leaves (and its essential oil) which have evidenced toxic effects to cancer cells and bacteria. Other chemicals, including a group of bezenoid chemicals, have also demonstrated antibacterial and cytotoxic actions as well. Matico also contains a chemical called safrol which has been used successfully in powerful insecticides, fragrances, soaps and detergent products.

Matico has demonstrated broad spectrum antimicrobial actions which may help to explain its long history of use for various infections and infectious diseases. In various laboratory studies over the years, matico leaves and the essential oil from the leaves or fruits have demonstrated antibacterial actions against various gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. It has also been reported with actions against fungi and yeast. In addition, researchers in France reported matico had antiviral actions against polio virus.

Other research has focused on matico being a possible treatment for a tropical disease called leishmaniasis. Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease spread by the bite of infected sand flies. There are several different forms of leishmaniasis. The most common forms are cutaneous leishmaniasis, which causes skin sores, and visceral leishmaniasis, which affects some of the internal organs of the body (for example, spleen, liver, bone marrow). In two studies, matico (and an extracted chalcone chemical from the plant) was reported to either kill the parasite or treat the disease in laboratory animals. Another rather nasty tropical disease of the tropics is schistosomiasis. This parasitic disease is carried and spread by fresh water snails found in the many rivers and streams of the Amazon basin. In several other studies matico was reported with molluscicidal actions against the snail and the parasite it carries. It also was reported with insecticidal actions against the mosquito that carries and spreads yellow fever.

In herbal medicine systems in South America, matico is quite well known and respected for wound healing as well a numerous other conditions. It is widely used as a remedy for all types of digestive disorders such as stomachaches, vomiting, dyspepsia, diarrhea, gastric ulcers, intestinal gas and even stomach cancer. It is also considered an excellent genitourinary tonic and used for kidney stones, urinary tract infections, cystitis, urethritis, leucorrhea, vaginitis, and various venereal diseases such as gonorrhea and trichomonas. In addition, it is also employed for various upper respiratory conditions such as bronchitis, pulmonary hemorrhages, pleurisy, pneumonia, colds and flu, and tonsilitis and sore throats.

The Spanish name, matico, comes from a South American legend. The plant was supposedly discovered by a wounded Spanish soldier named Matico. He learned (probably from the Indians) that applying the leaves to his wounds stopped them from bleeding, and it began to be called “matico” or “soldier’s herb or tree.” In was introduced into the profession of medicine in the United States and Europe by a Liverpool physician in 1839 as a styptic and astringent for wounds. Early medical texts in the U.S. include matico as it appeared in the United States Pharmacopoeia in the early nineteenth century. It was also recommended for leucorrhea, gonorrhea, hemorrhoids, blenorrhagia, dyspepsia, internal hemorrhages, (pulmonary, gastric ulcers, and postpartum bleeding) as well as diarrhea, dysentery, and cholera.

Following up a breif summary of ethnomedical uses of matico:

Region	Uses
Brazil	as a anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, astringent, balsamic, carminative, chologogue, diuretic, hemostat, resolvent, stimulant, stomachic, tonic and vulnerary; for blenorrhagia, bronchitis, coughs, cystitis, diarrhea, digestive disorders, dysentery, erysipelas, hematuria, hemorrhoids, hemorrhages, inflammation, leucorrhea, liver pain, menorrhagia, prolapsed uterus, pylitis, skin ulcers, snakebite, sores, urinary disorders, urethritis, urinary tract infections, uterine tonic, and wounds
Colombia	as a diuretic and stimulant, for constipation, headaches, kidney stones, leucorrhea, nose bleeds, pneumonia, pulmonary hemorrhages, and stomach-aches
Dominican Republic	as an astringent, diuretic, stimulant, and stomachic
Guatemala	for gonorrhea
Guyana	as a vulnerary for sores and wounds
Haiti	as an aphrodisiac and hemostat; for abdominal pain, blenorrhagia, dropsy, leucorrhea, liver problems, rheumatism, skin problems, sores, and wounds
Honduras	as a digestive aid, childbirth aid, and skin cleanser; for aches, hemorrhages, menstrual pain
Jamaica	for stomachaches
Mexico	as an astringent, balsamic, diuretic, stimulant and styptic; for venereal diseases
New Guinea	as an antiseptic cleanser; for colds, diarrhea, and wounds
Panama	for bronchitis, cancer, decubitus ulcers, digestive disorders, pleurisy, pneumonia, respiratory problems, stomach ailments, trichomonas, ulcers, uterine fibroids, uterine ulcers, vaginitis, and wounds
Peru	as a anti-hemorrhagic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent, carminative, cicatrizant, depurative, disinfectant, diuretic, expectorant, hemostat, nervine, panacea, purgative, stomachic, stimulant, styptic, tonic and vulnerary; for abscesses, blenorrhagia, boils, bronchitis, cholera, colds, conjunctivitis, constipation, cystitis, diarrhea, dysentery, dyspepsia, enteritis, fever, gastritis, gastric ulcers, gonorrhea, herpes ulcers, hemorrhoids, infections, inflam-mation, internal hemorrhages, kidney pain, kidney stones, leucorrhea, malaria, menstrual colic, neuralgia, postpartum hemorrhages, rheumatic pain, skin ulcers, sore throat, stomachaches, stomach cancer, stomach disorders, tonsilitis, ulcers, urinary infections, uterine disorders, uterine fibroids, vaginitis, venereal diseases, vomiting, and wounds
Puerto Rico	as a tonic; for diarrhea, dysentery, vomiting, ulcers, and to control bleeding.

MATICO PLANT SUMMARY

Main Preparation Method:	infusion or fluid extract
Main Actions (in order):	stomachic, carminative, vulnerary, antiseptic, hemostat
Main Uses:	for digestive problems (vomiting, nausea, stomachaches, dyspepsia) as a carminative and stomachic to expel intestinal gas and aid digestion as an antiseptic wound healer for cuts, scrapes, ulcers, boils, etc. as a hemostat for internal bleeding (uterine, gastric, pulmonary) for colds, flu, coughs, bronchitis, pneumonia and other respiratory problems
Properties/Actions Documented by Research:	antibacterial, anticandidal, antifungal, anti-leishmaniasis, antiyeast, antiviral, cytotoxic, insecticidal, molluscicidal
Properties/Actions Documented by Traditional Use:	anti-hemorrhagic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, carminative, cicatrizant, chologogue, decongestant, depurative, disinfectant, diuretic, expectorant, hemostat, nervine, panacea, purgative, resolvent, stomachic, stimulant, styptic, tonic, vulnerary
Traditional Preparation:	Matico leaves are traditionally prepared in infusions and decoctions. Manufactured products available in North and South America also include fluid extracts and tinctures, as well as capsules.
Contraindications:	None reported.
Drug Interactions:	None reported.

 

 

 




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