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Dominican Medicinal Plants: A Guide for Health Care Providers

by Jolene E. Yukes and Michael J. Balick, PhD

by Jolene E. Yukes and Michael J. Balick, PhD

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along the sides of branches with white petals. Fruits are narrowly oval capsules with two chambers, each<br />

containing a light brown seed (Acevedo-Rodríguez 1996).<br />

Distribution: This plant is native to tropical America and has been introduced and naturalized in tropical<br />

Africa and Asia; as a common weed, in can often be found in open, disturbed areas (Acevedo-Rodríguez<br />

1996).<br />

SAFETY & PRECAUTIONS<br />

Insufficient in<strong>for</strong>mation available in the literature.<br />

Contraindications: Insufficient in<strong>for</strong>mation available in the literature.<br />

Drug Interactions: Insufficient in<strong>for</strong>mation available in the literature.<br />

SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE<br />

No published laboratory or clinical studies were found in a Medline search <strong>for</strong> the species Spermacoce<br />

assurgens; however, one study on the antioxidant effects of a related species in the same genus was<br />

identified and is described in the table below.<br />

Laboratory and Preclinical Data: Spermacoce spp.<br />

Activity/Effect Preparation Design & Model Results Reference<br />

Antioxidant &<br />

nitric oxide (NO)<br />

inhibition<br />

Saha et al. 2004<br />

REFERENCES<br />

Methanol plant<br />

extract<br />

(Spermacoce<br />

articularis & S.<br />

exilis )<br />

In vitro; using FTC,<br />

TBA & DPPH free<br />

radical scavenging<br />

methods; Griess<br />

assay <strong>for</strong> measuring<br />

NO inhibition<br />

Spermacoce articularis<br />

showed strong NO inhibition<br />

& DPPH free radical<br />

scavenging activity that was<br />

comparable to standards; S.<br />

exilis showed moderate<br />

antioxidant activity & NO<br />

inhibition (due to cytotoxic<br />

effects on cells)<br />

Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Memoirs of The New York Botanical Garden,<br />

Volume 78. Bronx, NY: NYBG Press.<br />

Saha K, Lajis NH, Israf DA, Hamzah AS, Khozirah S, Khamis S, Syahida A. 2004. Evaluation of antioxidant and<br />

nitric oxide inhibitory activities of selected Malaysian medicinal plants. Journal of Ethnopharmacology<br />

92(2-3):263-7.<br />

Lechosa<br />

OTHER COMMON NAMES<br />

Papaya (Spanish); papaya (English).<br />

SCIENTIFIC NAME<br />

327

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