Turnera diffusa

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Turnera diffusa
Turnera diffusa var. aphrodisiaca 002.JPG
Turnera diffusa var. aphrodisiaca
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Passifloraceae
Genus: Turnera
Species:
T. diffusa
Binomial name
Turnera diffusa
Varieties [2]

T. d. var. aphrodisiaca(G.H.Ward) Urb.
T. d. var. diffusa

Contents

Synonyms [3]
List
    • Bohadschia humifusaC.Presl
    • Bohadschia microphyllaGriseb.
    • Triacis microphylla(Desv.) Griseb.
    • Turnera aphrodisiacaWard
    • Turnera diffusa var. aphrodisiaca(Ward) Urb.
    • Turnera humifusaEndl. ex Walp.
    • Turnera microphyllaDesv.
    • Turnera pringleiRose
Turnera diffusa var. aphrodisiaca foliage and inflorescence Turnera diffusa var. aphrodisiaca 001.JPG
Turnera diffusa var. aphrodisiaca foliage and inflorescence
A bottle of Damiana liqueur. The shape of the bottle is modeled after that of a pregnant mother, a reference to Daminana's supposed aphrodisiac effect. DamianaLiqueur.jpg
A bottle of Damiana liqueur. The shape of the bottle is modeled after that of a pregnant mother, a reference to Daminana's supposed aphrodisiac effect.

Turnera diffusa, known as damiana, [4] is a shrub native to southern Texas in the United States, [5] Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. It belongs to the family Passifloraceae. [2]

Damiana is a relatively small, woody shrub that produces small, aromatic flowers. It blossoms in early to late summer, followed by fruits that taste similar to figs. The shrub is said to have a strong spice-like odor somewhat like chamomile, due to the aromatic compounds present in the plant. [6]

Uses

Damiana is an ingredient in a traditional Mexican liqueur, which is sometimes used in lieu of triple sec in margaritas. Mexican folklore claims that it was used in the "original" margarita. The damiana margarita is popular in the Los Cabos region of Mexico. [7] [8]

Damiana was included in several 19th-century patent medicines, such as Pemberton's French Wine Coca. The leaves were omitted from that product's non-alcoholic counterpart, Coca-Cola. [9] In folklore, the plant was believed to be an aphrodisiac, hence its sometimes used binomial synonym, Turnera aphrodisiaca.

Phytochemistry

Damiana contains damianin; tetraphyllin B; gonzalitosin I; arbutin; tricosan-2-one; acacetin; p-cymene; β-sitosterol; 1,8-cineole; apigenin; [10] α-pinene; β-carotene; β-pinene; tannins; thymol; [11] and hexacosanol. [12] In total, 22 flavonoids, maltol glucoside, phenolics, seven cyanogenic glycosides, monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, triterpenoids, the polyterpene ficaprenol-11, fatty acids, and caffeine have been found in the genus Turnera. [13] As of 2006, damiana's constituents have not been identified for their effects attributed to the whole herb. [14] Damiana's anxiolytic properties might be due to apigenin. [12] The extract from damiana has been found to suppress aromatase activity, including the isolated compounds pinocembrin and acacetin. [15] [16]

Ecology

T. diffusa is a host plant for the Mexican fritillary ( Euptoieta hegesia ), a butterfly. [17]

Misidentification in commerce

Viable plant and seed material sold as T. diffusa from both private and commercial sources largely turns out to be misidentified Turnera ulmifolia (a.k.a. "False Damiana"), a closely related species. This widespread issue has been noted by the scientific community, and has created much confusion among both amateur and professional horticulturists alike. [18] [19] [20] While T. ulmifolia are similar in appearance, it's chemical constituents and ethnobotanical uses are distinctly different. [21] Mature stems of T. diffusa are woody, with small, grayed green leaves 13 to 16 mm long, 4.5 to 5.5 mm wide, obtuse at the apex, and strongly aromatic when crushed. [22] T. ulmifolia is differentiated by herbaceous stems, larger blue-green leaves that are strongly dentate with a pointed apex, and only weakly aromatic. [23] [24] [25] One scientific study however, demonstrated this confusion being mostly associated with horticultural commerce, and does not extend appreciably to commercial herbal products, most of which exhibit constituents that can be definitively traced to T. diffusa. [26]

Related Research Articles

Lactucarium is the milky fluid secreted by several species of lettuce, especially Lactuca virosa, usually from the base of the stems. It is known as lettuce opium because of its sedative and analgesic properties. It has also been reported to promote a mild sensation of euphoria. Because it is a latex, lactucarium physically resembles opium, in that it is excreted as a white fluid and can be reduced to a thick smokable solid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turneraceae</span> Family of flowering plants

Turneraceae Kunth ex DC. was a family of flowering plants consisting of 120 species in 10 genera. The Cronquist system placed the Turneracids in the order Violales, but it is not currently recognized as a family by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group in the APG III system of 2009, which includes the taxa in the Turneraceae in Passifloraceae as a subfamily (Turneroideae).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aromatase inhibitor</span> Class of drugs

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<i>Passiflora incarnata</i> Species of vine

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<i>Nigella sativa</i> Species of annual flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae

Nigella sativa is an annual flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to eastern Europe and western Asia, but naturalized over a much wider area, including parts of Europe, northern Africa and east to Myanmar. It is used as a spice in many cuisines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lactucopicrin</span> Chemical compound

Lactucopicrin (Intybin) is a bitter substance that has a sedative and analgesic effect, acting on the central nervous system. It is a sesquiterpene lactone, and is a component of lactucarium, derived from the plant Lactuca virosa, as well as being found in some related plants such as Cichorium intybus. It is also found in dandelion coffee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mesembrine</span> Chemical compound

Mesembrine is an alkaloid present in Sceletium tortuosum (kanna). It has been shown to act as a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (Ki = 1.4 nM), and has also been found to behave as a weak inhibitor of the enzyme phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) (Ki = 7,800 nM). In an in vitro study published in 2015, researchers concluded that "a high-mesembrine Sceletium extract" may exert anti-depressant effects by acting as a monoamine releasing agent." As such, mesembrine likely plays a dominant role in the antidepressant effects of kanna. The levorotatory isomer, (−)-mesembrine, is the natural form.

<i>Kaempferia galanga</i> Species of flowering plant

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pinocembrin</span> Chemical compound

Pinocembrin is a flavanone, a type of flavonoid. It is an antioxidant found in damiana, honey, fingerroot, and propolis.

<i>Reynoutria multiflora</i> Species of flowering plant

Reynoutria multiflora is a species of flowering plant in the buckwheat family Polygonaceae native to central and southern China. It is known by the English common names tuber fleeceflower and Chinese (climbing) knotweed. It is known as he shou wu in China and East Asia. Another name for the species is fo-ti, which is a misnomer.

<i>Turnera ulmifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

Turnera ulmifolia, the ramgoat dashalong or yellow alder, is a species of plant of family Passifloraceae, native to Mexico and the West Indies. A recent study found that yellow alder potentiated the antibiotic activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

<i>Artemisia herba-alba</i> Species of plant

Artemisia herba-alba, the white wormwood, is a perennial shrub in the genus Artemisia that grows commonly on the dry steppes of the Mediterranean regions in Northern Africa, Western Asia and Southwestern Europe. It is used as an antiseptic and antispasmodic in herbal medicine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acacetin</span> Chemical compound

Acacetin is a 4′-O-methylated flavone of the parent compound apigenin, found in Robinia pseudoacacia, Turnera diffusa (damiana), Betula pendula, and in the fern Asplenium normale.

<i>Equisetum myriochaetum</i> Species of vascular plant in the horsetail family Equisetaceae

Equisetum myriochaetum, also known as Mexican giant horsetail, is a species of horsetail that is native to Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru and Mexico. It is the largest horsetail species, commonly reaching 15 feet (4.6 m), with the largest recorded specimen having a height of 24 feet (7.3 m). At each node is a whorl of as many as 32 branchlets. It is semi-aquatic and is often found growing on riverbanks.

Many cacti are known to be psychoactive, containing phenethylamine alkaloids such as mescaline. However, the two main ritualistic (folkloric) genera are Echinopsis, of which the most psychoactive species occur in the San Pedro cactus group, and Lophophora, with peyote being the most psychoactive species. Several other species pertaining to other genera are also psychoactive, though not always used with a ritualistic intent.

<i>Clerodendrum infortunatum</i> Species of flowering plant

Clerodendrum infortunatum, known as bhat or hill glory bower, is a perennial shrub belonging to the family Lamiaceae, also sometimes classified under Verbenaceae. It is the type species among ~150 species of Clerodendrum. It is one of the most well-known natural health remedies in traditional practices and siddha medicine.

Alpinia nigra is a medium-sized herb belonging to the ginger family. The rhizome is well known in many Asian cultures as a medicinal and culinary item. In many Asian tribal communities it is a part of the diet along with rice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pellotine</span> Chemical compound

Pellotine is an alkaloid found in Lophophora species, in particular L. diffusa. Pellotine is slightly narcotic, and has been used by Native Americans as a constituent of peyote for sacramental purposes.

<i>Sisymbrium erysimoides</i> Species of flowering plant

Sisymbrium erysimoides, known as smooth mustard, is a plant in the family Brassicaceae. It is found on roadsides and wasteland, and as a weed of arable land. A native to western Mediterranean region, it is now well-established throughout the world.

References

  1. ↑ "Turnera diffusa". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 2011-01-29.
  2. 1 2 "Turnera diffusa". Germplasm Resources Information Network . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture . Retrieved 2012-01-03.
  3. ↑ "Turnera diffusa Willd. ex Schult". Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  4. ↑ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Turnera diffusa". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
  5. ↑ Everitt, J. H.; Dale Lynn Drawe; Robert I. Lonard (2002). Trees, Shrubs, and Cacti of South Texas. Texas Tech University Press. p. 208. ISBN   978-0-89672-473-0.
  6. ↑ Gildemeister, Eduard; Friedrich Hoffmann (1922). Edward Kremers (ed.). The Volatile Oils. Vol. 3 (2 ed.). Wiley. p. 183.
  7. ↑ "Damiana Liqueur at Damiana.net". Archived from the original on 2018-02-28. Retrieved 2007-04-10.
  8. ↑ Perry, Charles (2007-06-20). "The unexpected thrill". Los Angeles Times .
  9. ↑ Pendergrast, Mark (2000). For God, Country, and Coca Cola: The Definitive History of the Great American Soft Drink and the Company That Makes It (2 ed.). Basic Books. pp.  24–30. ISBN   978-0-46505-468-8.
  10. ↑ Kumar, Suresh (February 9, 2005). "Anti-anxiety Activity Studies on Homoeopathic Formulations of Turnera aphrodisiaca Ward". Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2 (1). Hindawi Publishing Corporation: 117–119. doi:10.1093/ecam/neh069. PMC   1062162 . PMID   15864356.
  11. ↑ Balch, Phyllis A. (2002). Prescription for Nutritional Healing: the A to Z Guide to Supplements (2 ed.). Penguin. p.  233. ISBN   978-1-58333-143-9.
  12. 1 2 Kumar, S; Madaan, R; Sharma, A (2008), "Pharmacological evaluation of Bioactive Principle of Turnera aphrodisiaca", Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 70 (6): 740–4, doi: 10.4103/0250-474X.49095 , PMC   3040867 , PMID   21369434
  13. ↑ Szewczyk, K; Zidorn, C (2014). "Ethnobotany, phytochemistry, and bioactivity of the genus Turnera (Passifloraceae) with a focus on damiana – Turnera diffusa". Journal of Ethobotany. 152 (3): 424–443. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2014.01.019. ISSN   0378-8741. PMID   24468305.
  14. ↑ Kumar, Suresh; Taneja, Ruchi; Sharma, Anupam (2006), "Pharmacognostic Standardization of Turnera aphrodisiaca Ward", Journal of Medicinal Food, 9 (2): 254–60, doi:10.1089/jmf.2006.9.254, PMID   16822212
  15. ↑ Zhao J, Dasmahapatra AK, Khan SI, Khan IA (2008). "Anti-aromatase activity of the constituents from damiana (Turnera diffusa)". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 120 (3): 387–393. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2008.09.016. PMID   18948180.
  16. ↑ Katarzyna Szewczyka; Christian Zidorn (2014). "Ethnobotany, phytochemistry, and bioactivity of the genus Turnera (Passifloraceae) with a focus on damiana—Turnera diffusa". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 152 (3): 424–443. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2014.01.019. PMID   24468305.
  17. ↑ Wauer, Roland H. (2004). Butterflies of the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Boulder, CO: Johnson Books. p. 128. ISBN   9781555663476.
  18. ↑ Joshi, V.C.; Rao, A.S.; Wang, Y.H.; Avula, B.; Khan, I.A. (March 2009). "Taxonomic Clarification on Turnera diffusa Ward and its Demarcation from "False Damiana" using Fluorescence, Scanning Electron Microscopy, HPTLC and UPLC". Planta Medica. 75 (4). doi: 10.1055/s-2009-1216454 .
  19. ↑ "Damiana - Turnera diffusa, Turnera ulmifolia seed pictures". shroomery.org. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  20. ↑ "Turnera diffusa var diffusa or var aphrodisiaca or what?". National Gardening Association. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  21. ↑ "Tropical Plant Database". Raintree. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  22. ↑ Meerow, Alan W.; Ayala-Silva, Tomás; Irish, Brian M. (December 2010). "Turnera diffusa 'Luisa', a Drought-tolerant Small Shrub for Warm Climates". HortScience. 45 (12): 1895–1896. doi: 10.21273/HORTSCI.45.12.1895 .
  23. ↑ "Elm-leaved Turnera – Turnera ulmifolia". A Neotropical Savanna. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  24. ↑ "Turnera Ulmifolia". College of Micronesia. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  25. ↑ "Woody and Herbaceous Plants Native to Haiti" (PDF). University of Florida, Miami-Dade. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  26. ↑ Schäffer, Marion; Gröger, Thomas; Pütz, Michael; Zimmermann, Ralf (July 2013). "Assessment of the presence of damiana in herbal blends of forensic interest based on comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography". Forensic Toxicology. 31 (2): 251–262. doi:10.1007/s11419-013-0186-5. S2CID   21030359 . Retrieved 7 September 2016.
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