Espinheira-Santa
Maytenus ilicifolia
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
Safety information
Safety information
Toxicity: Generally low acute/chronic toxicity in safety studies; however reproductive concern: extract caused pre-implantation embryonic loss in pregnant mice (consistent with folk anti-fertility use).
Contraindications: Pregnancy and women trying to conceive (pre-implantation embryo-loss/contraceptive effect); breastfeeding (reduces milk in some reports).
Interactions: May alter drug intestinal permeability and hepatic metabolism (caution with narrow-therapeutic-index drugs); tannins may reduce absorption of co-ingested medicines/iron; theoretical additive effect with antacids/H2 blockers.
Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Contraindicated in pregnancy and conception (pre-implantation embryo loss/contraceptive effect).
Evidence level
Supported by clinical trials in humans.
Preparations
standardized extracts/capsules (approved phytomedicine in Brazil) · dried leaves
Part used: dried leaves
leaf infusion or decoction · dried leaves
Part used: dried leaves
Traditional use: gastric/peptic ulcer and gastritis; dyspepsia, 'stomach protector'; in some traditions contraceptive/abortifacient
Proposed mechanism: tannins on gastric ATPase (reduced acid secretion); anti-inflammatory/antinociceptive
Associated conditions
Nutritional notes
Not a food; tannins, flavonoids, triterpenes.
Healing traditions
Sources (2)
- Effect of Maytenus ilicifolia on pregnant mice, Contraception, 2001
- Maytenus ilicifolia antinociceptive/anti-inflammatory/antiulcerogenic, J Ethnopharmacol, 2004