Tonic, fortifier and aphrodisiac: adaptogens in the Brazilian folk medicine

Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia

Fúlvio R. Mendes¹ 

[1] ,Universidade Federal do ABC Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas Santo André,Brazil

关键词: adaptogens;    anti-stress;    aphrodisiac;    ethnopharmacology;    folk medicine;    tonics;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S0102-695X2011005000097

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

In Brazil, many plants are used as tonic, fortifier, aphrodisiac, anti-stress, among other uses that are similar to the indications of an adaptogen. In general, such plants are used unspecifically, in situations of stress and fatigue, in the recovery after a previous pathological or debilitating state, or simply aiming at the maintenance of a healthy state. This article discusses the popular terms employed in the Brazilian folk medicine for the plants with this profile, their particularities and limitations. The article also discusses the possible mechanisms of action of an adaptogen and compares the main Brazilian plants used for that purpose: guarana (Paullinia cupana Kunth, family Sapindaceae), muirapuama (Ptychopetalum olacoides Benth., Olacaceae), catuaba (Anemopaegma arvense (Vell.) Stellfeld & J.F. Souza, Bignoniaceae, and Trichilia catigua A. Juss., Meliaceae), nó-decachorro (Heteropterys aphrodisiaca O. Mach, Malpighiaceae), damiana (Turnera diffusa Willd. ex Schult., Turneraceae) and pfaffia or Brazilian ginseng (Pfaffia sp, Amaranthaceae).

【 授权许可】

CC BY-NC-ND   
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