PARTE UTILIZADA= Used part: Resina.

ACCIÓN FARMACOLÓGICA= Pharmacological action: Balsamico y antiflamatorio.

COMPOSICIÓN QUÍMICA= Chemical composition: The oils from Austrocedrus chilensis, Fitzroya cupressoides and Pilgerodendron uviferum leaves collected in the Argentinian Patagonia were isolated steam distillation yielding 0.50%; 0.22% and 0.19% of essential oils, respectively. Leaf oils were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The main constituents of each oil were: (i) Austrocedrus chilensis oil. alpha-pinene (53.5%), myrcene (14.9%) and δ-3-carene (11,9%); (ii) Fitzroya cupressoides oil: alpha-pinene (40.8%), spathulenol (5.6%), (Z)-nerolidol (5.5%), alpha-cadinol (4.4%) and cis-calamenene (4.4%); and (iii) Pilgerodendron uviferum oil: alpha-pinene (38.0%), alpha-bisabolol (13.0%), epi-alpha-muurolol (12.0%), delta-cadinene (11.9%), limonene (8.0%), beta-pinene (3.4%) and myrcene (3.2%). © 2000 Allured Publishing Corp.

ZONA GEOGRÁFICA= Geografical zone: S de Chile y Argentina. 

DIVERSIDAD GENÉTICA Y MEJORAMIENTO DE PLANTAS MEDICINALES= Medicinal plants and improvement of medicinal herbs:

The genetic constitution and diversity of four relictual redwoods are discussed in this review. These include monotypic genera of the family Cupressaceae: coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum), dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides), and alerce (Fitzroya cupressoides). All four species are narrow endemics, share a number of common phenotypic traits, including red wood, and are threatened species. Fossil history suggests that the ancestors of redwoods probably originated during the Cretaceous and Tertiary periods and flourished thereafter for millions of years. Towards the end of the Tertiary period began their decline and struggle for existence that continued during the subsequent geologic upheavals and climate changes, until the survival of the present-day redwoods in the current restricted locations in the world (USA, China, and South America). Although two species, Sequoiadendron and Metasequoia, are diploids (2n = 22), and the other two are polyploids: Fitzroya a tetraploid (2n = 4x = 44), and Sequoia a hexaploid (2n = 6x = 66); they all share the same basic chromosome number x = 11. The genome size in the hexaploid Sequoia is one of the largest (31,500 MB) in the conifers, while the genome sizes of diploid Metasequoia and Sequoiadendron are about one-third (∼10,000 MB) of Sequoia. Genetic diversity in the redwoods is lower than most other gymnosperms, except in Sequoia, which seems to rank near the upper quarter of the coniferous forest trees. Genomic research is sparse in the redwoods, and should be pursued for a better understanding of their genome structure, function, and adaptive genetic diversity. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

1) TOURSARKISSIAN, Martín. Plantas medicinales de Argentina : sus nombres botánicos, vulgares, usos y distribución geográfica. Buenos Aires : Hemisferio Sur, 1980, p.47.

2) Malizia, R.A., Cardell, D.A., Molli, J.S., Gonzalez, S., Guerra, P.E., Grau, R.J. Volatile constituents of leaf oils from the cupressacea family: Part II. Austrocedrus chilensis, Fitzroya cupressoides and Pilgerodendron uviferum species growing in Argentina. Journal of Essential Oil Research.2000, vol. 12, nº2, 233-237.

3) Ahuja, M.R. Genetic constitution and diversity in four narrow endemic redwoods from the family Cupressaceae. Euphytica.2009, vol.165, nº1, 5-19.