Xanthium strumarium

Scientific name: Xanthium strumarium L.

Botanical family: ASTERACEAE

Vernacular names

(In territories with significant traditional TRAMIL use)

Cuba:

guisazo de caballo

Other vernacular names

Cuba:

Guizazo de caballo

Geographical distribution

Cosmopolitan.

Botanical description

Annual tree of up to 2 m in height. Rough or rugose stem. Broadly ovate or suborbicular leaves of 3 to 5 lobes, with a more or less cordate base, 8 to 18 cm long and dentate. Male heads at the apex of the branches and in the axils of the leaves; one or a few female heads at the base of the inflorescences, with hooked bracts. Capsular, ovoid and prickly fruit; spines straight and hooked at the apex.

Voucher(s)

Soberats,TR9008,CIFMT

Fuentes,4785,ROIG

kidney pain

root, decoction, orally^1,10

For kidney pain:
prepare a decoction with 15–20 grams of fresh or dried leaves (15 roots of 10 cm) in 4 cups (1 litre) of water, boil for 10 minutes in a covered vessel. Leave to cool, strain (filter) and drink 1 cup 3 to 4 times a day.

Preparations must never be stored for more than 24 hours, even if refrigerated.

According to the information available:

The use for kidney pain is classified as REC based on the significant traditional use documented in the TRAMIL surveys and the scientific information published.

If deterioration is observed in the patient or if the kidney pain persists for more than 3 days, seek medical attention.

The use of this resource for infections or kidney stones must be considered complementary to medical treatment due to its diuretic effect.

Not for use during pregnancy, breastfeeding or in children under 12 years.

The fluid extract (65% ethanol) from the roots (25, 200 and 2000 mg/kg) was administered orally to Wistar rats of both sexes, acute toxicity class (ATC) model. The weight of the animals was monitored at the start, on the 7th and 14th days after the administration of the extract. At the end of the 14-day observation period, in animals receiving the maximum dose, histopathological studies of the stomach, heart, lung, kidney, liver, spleen, thymus, brain, adrenal glands, ovaries and testicles showed no variation. No clinical signs of toxicity or mortality were observed at the end of the study⁸.

The hydroalcoholic root extract (50%), intraperitoneally in mice in a quantitative toxicity test, showed a maximum tolerated dose of 100 mg/kg⁹.

The hydroalcoholic extract (30%) from dried roots (500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg of body weight) orally in 10 BALB/c mice. The genotoxicity test in the bone marrow micronucleus test was compared to a positive control of cyclophosphamide (20 mg/kg). There was no evidence of cytotoxicity at the bone marrow level, nor were there any genotoxic effects. No body weight loss or obvious toxic signs suggesting systemic action were observed in the treated animals¹⁰.

No data are available to recommend medicinal use during pregnancy, breastfeeding or in children younger than 12 years of age.

The roots contain flavonoids; chalcone; carbohydrates: glucose, fructose; steroids: β-sitosterol, daucosterol; phenylpropanoids: caffeic acid and inorganic substances: potassium nitrate, potassium sulfate, potassium chloride³.

The aqueous extract (10 g/100 ml) of dried roots (25 ml/kg) orally in albino rats (200-250 g), 8 animals/group, Lipschitz model, had significant diuretic activity⁴.

The fluid extract (1 kg of drug in 1 l of ethanol 65%) from the roots (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) was administered orally in Wistar rats. A diuretic response similar to the control medication (furosemide 5 mg/kg) was observed in the following variables: urinary excretion (ml/hour) over a period of 6 hours, final volume, sodium and potassium concentration in urine⁵.

The tincture (20 g of drug in 100 ml of 45% ethanol) from the roots, single dose of 60 mg/kg, orally in rats, produced significantly higher diuresis than the control group (45% ethanol) and the group treated with hydrochlorothiazide (5 mg/kg) at 2, 4 and 6 hours of observation. Excretion of electrolytes in urine was significantly higher than in the control group, but lower than the amounts eliminated in the animals of the group treated with hydrochlorothiazide⁶.

The methanolic extract from dried aerial parts (IC⁵⁰ = 42.8 ± 1.3 μg/ml) in vitro, inhibited mesangial cell proliferation activated by interleukin-1β and interleukin-6 in a study to identify agents of therapeutic value in immunoglobulin A nephropathy. It also decreased the production of interleukin-1 and factor-α of tumour necrosis⁷.

Pharmacopoeia

Ed.3

References

1 CARBALLO A, 1990
Encuesta TRAMIL. Centro de investigación de fitoterapia y medicina tradicional de Topes de Collantes, Trinidad, Cuba.

2 MOREJON Z, LOPEZ M, GARCIA MJ, BOUCOURT E, VICTORIA M, FUENTES V, MORON F, BOULOGNE I, ROBINEAU L, 2009
Encuesta TRAMIL preliminar a grupos de vecinos en los municipios 10 de Octubre, Lisa, Marianao, Habana del Este (Cojímar) en la Ciudad de la Habana. Laboratorio Central de Farmacología, Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de La Habana, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba.

3 BISHT NP, SINGH R, 1979
Chemical constituents of the stem and roots of Xanthium strumarium. J Indian Chem Soc 56:108-109.

4 CARVAJAL D, CASACO A, GONZALEZ R, 1986
Actividad diurética e hipotensora de cuatro especies de plantas con reportes en medicina popular. Rev CENIC 17:34-36.

5 JIMENEZ L, LEON MC, HERRERA R, GARCIA G, CADENAS JL, 1999
Efecto diurético de Xanthium strumarium L (guisazo de caballo). Rev Cubana Plantas Med 4(1):22-25.

6 HERRERA R, AGUERO ME, 2000
Efecto diurético de Xanthium strumarium L. en ratas. Archivo Médico de Camagüey (Supl. Med Nat y Trad).

7 KUO YC, SUN CM, TSAI WJ, OU JC, CHEN WP, LIN CY, 1998
Chinese herbs as modulators of human mesangial cell proliferation: preliminary studies. J Lab Clin Med 132(1):76-85.

8 JIMENEZ L, LEON MC, HERRERA R, GARCIA G, CADENAS JL, LOPEZ C, 1999
Toxicidad aguda oral del Xanthium strumarium L (guisazo de caballo). Rev Cubana. Plantas Med 4(1):40-43.

9 DHAR ML, DHAR MM, DHAWAN BN, MEHROTRA BN, RAY C, 1968
Screening of Indian plants for biological activity: part I. Indian J Exp Biol 6:232-247.

10 DIAZ GARCIA GM, 2002
Evaluación del efecto genotóxico del Xantium strumarium L (guisazo de caballo) (Tesis). Instituto Superior de Ciencias Médicas “Carlos J. Finlay”, Camagüey, Cuba.

Disclaimer

The information provided is for educational purposes only for the benefit of the general public and health professionals. It is not intended to take the place of either the written law or regulations. Since some parts of plants could be toxic, might induce side effects, or might have interactions with certain drugs, anyone intending to use them or their products must first consult with a physician or another qualified health care professional. TRAMIL has no responsibility whatsoever towards the user for any decision, action or omission made in relation to the information contained in this Pharmacopoeia.

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Xanthium strumarium

Vernacular names

Cuba:

Cuba:

Geographical distribution

Botanical description

Voucher(s)

Pharmacopoeia

References

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