PARTE UTILIZADA= Used part: Hojas.

ACCIÓN FARMACOLÓGICA= Pharmacological action: Hipoglicemiante, diurético y laxante suave.

POSOLOGÍA: Se emplea la ifusión de las hojas como hipoglucemiante, diurético y laxante suave.Infusión al 1%

COMPOSICIÓN QUÍMICA= Chemical composition: Se ha reportado la presencia de phyllanthol (Hnatyszyn & Ferraro, 1985) y 4`,4``-di-O-metilcupressuflavona en la corteza de tallos (Hnatyszyn, et al., 1988), phyllantamida en hojas y tallos (Tempesta, et al., 1988), scopoletina (0,1 %) e isofraxidina (0,02%) (Hnatyszyn, et al., 1993).

ZONA GEOGRÁFICA= Geografical zone: Uruguay.

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

Phylogenetic relationships within tribe Phyllantheae, the largest tribe of the family Phyllanthaceae, were examd. with special emphasis on the large genus Phyllanthus.  Nuclear ribosomal ITS and plastid matK DNA sequence data for 95 species of tribe Phyllantheae, including representatives of all subgenera of Phyllanthus (except Cyclanthera) and several hitherto unplaced infrageneric groups, were analyzed.  Results for ITS and matK are generally concordant, although some species are placed differently in the plastid and ITS trees, indicating that hybridization/paralogy is involved.  Results confirm paraphyly of Phyllanthus in its traditional circumscription with embedded Breynia, Glochidion, Reverchonia, and Sauropus.  We favor the inclusion of the embedded taxa in Phyllanthus over further generic segregation.  Monophyletic Phyllanthus comprises an estd. 1269 species, making it one of the "giant" genera.  Phyllanthus maderaspatensis is sister to all other species of Phyllanthus, and the genus appears to be of paleotropical origin.  Subgenera Isocladus, Kirganelia, and Phyllanthus are polyphyletic, whereas other subgenera appear to be monophyletic.  Monotypic Reverchonia is sister to P. abnormis, arborescent section Emblica to herbaceous Urinaria, free-floating aquatic P. fluitans to the weed P. caroliniensis, and the phyllocladous section Choretropsis to the delicate leafy P. claussenii.  The unique branching architecture known as "phyllanthoid branching" found in most Phyllanthus taxa has been lost (and/or has been derived) repeatedly.  Taxonomic divisions within Phyllantheae based on similar pollen morphol. are confirmed, and related taxa share similar distributions.  We recommend recognition of six clades at generic level: Flueggea s.l. (including Richeriella), Lingelsheimia, Margaritaria, Phyllanthus s.l. (including Breynia, Glochidion, Reverchonia, and Sauropus), P. diandrus, and Savia section Heterosavia.  

Summary
Phyllanthus sellowianus (Euphorbiaceae), also known by the common name of sarandí, is a shrub native to Southern Brazil, although it can also be found in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. The aerial parts have several medicinal uses throughout the region, the most common being as an anti-diabetic. In vivo pharmacological evidence has proved that sarandí is an effective hypoglicaemic agent, thus validating popular beliefs. The active principle, in this case, has been identified as phyllanthol, although other compounds present in the plant, such as the alkaloid phyllantimide (and flavonoids) and ellagitanins have been claimed responsible for antispasmodic and analgesic activities, respectively.

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