Virola sebifera
Template:Short description Template:Speciesbox
Virola sebifera is a species of tree in the family Myristicaceae, from North and South America.[1]
Description
V. sebifera is a tall, thin tree which grows Script error: No such module "convert". tall.[2] The leaves are simple and grow up to Script error: No such module "convert". long. The small flowers are single-sexed and are found in panicles. The fruit is reddish, oval-shaped, and about Script error: No such module "convert". long and about Script error: No such module "convert". in diameter.[2] The individual Virola trees, which include 40 to 60 species, are difficult to differentiate from one another.[3]
Vernacular names
English: red ucuuba.[4]
Portuguese: Ucuúba-do-cerrado.[5]
Chemical constituents
The bark of the tree is rich in tannins[1] and also the hallucinogen[6] dimethyltryptamine (DMT), as well as 5-MeO-DMT. The ripe seeds contain fatty acid glycerides, especially laurodimyristin and trimyristin.[7] The bark contains 0.065% to 0.25% alkaloids, most of which are DMT and 5-MeO-DMT.[8] The "juice or gum" of the bark seems to have the highest concentrations of alkaloids (up to 8%).[8]
Uses
Industrial uses
Seeds from V. sebifera are processed to obtain the fats, which are yellow and aromatic. They smell like nutmeg.[9] The fats also become rancid quickly. They are used industrially in the production of fats, candles, and soaps. This virola fat possesses properties similar to cocoa butter[7] and shea butter.
The wood of V. sebifera has a density around Script error: No such module "convert"..[10]
Homeopathy and traditional uses
The smoke of the inner bark of the tree is used by shamans of the indigenous people of Venezuela in cases of fever conditions, or cooked for driving out evil ghosts.[3]
The homeopathic concoction Myristica sebifera (abbreviation: Myris) is derived from the fresh, red juice from the injured bark of the tree. Homeopathic practice uses it for such ailments as abscesses, phlegmon, paronychia, furuncle, anal fissures, infections of the parotid gland, bacterially infected tonsilitis, and others.[1][11][12]
As of date, there is no empirical evidence supporting any medical effectiveness of Myristica sebifera. Any physiological efficacy would be highly implausible from a biochemical standpoint. [13]
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
- ↑ a b c Markus Wiesenauer, Suzann Kirschner-Brouns: Homöopathie - Das große Handbuch, Gräfe & Unzer Verlag, 2007, Template:ISBN
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Christian Rätsch: Enzyklopädie der psychoaktiven Pflanzen. AT Verlag, 2007, 8. Auflage, Template:ISBN
- ↑ Cite error: Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Andreas Kelich: Halluzinogene Rauschdrogen: Botanischer Teil: Virola spp.: V. sebifera
- ↑ a b Karl Hiller, Matthias F. Melzig, Lexikon der Arzneipflanzen und Drogen, 2 Bände, Genehmigte Sonderausgabe für den area verlag, 2006, Template:ISBN
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Talg, vegetabilischer. In: Meyers Konversations-Lexikon. 4th edition. Volume 15, Verlag des Bibliographischen Instituts, Leipzig/Vienna 1885–1892, p. 499.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
- ↑ Homöopathisches Repetorium, Deutsche Homöopathie Union (DHU)
- ↑ Mohinder Singh Jus, Praktische Materia Medica. Arzneimittellehre von A-Z, Homöosana, 2004, Template:ISBN
- ↑ Edzard Ernst: The truth about homeopathy. (PDF-Datei; 55 kB) In: British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 65(2), 2008, 163–4, Epub 2007 Sep 13. PMID 17875194
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Further reading
- Christian Rätsch: Enzyklopädie der psychoaktiven Pflanzen. AT Verlag, 2007, 8.te Auflage, Template:ISBN
- Karl Hiller, Matthias F. Melzig, Lexikon der Arzneipflanzen und Drogen, 2 Bände, Genehmigte Sonderausgabe für den area verlag, 2006, Template:ISBN
- Markus Wiesenauer, Suzann Kirschner-Brouns: Homöopathie - Das große Handbuch, Gräfe & Unzer Verlag, 2007, Template:ISBN