PARTE UTILIZADA= Used part: Hojas, extracto gomoso de frutos.

ACCIÓN FARMACOLÓGICA= Pharmacological action: Consolidante de fracturas (hojas), parches para fracturas (extracto gomoso de frutos).

COMPOSICIÓN QUÍMICA= Chemical composition: Phoradendron liga (Loranthaceae) is a hemiparasitic plant growing in Argentina. The infusion of the plant living on Prunus persica is sometimes taken orally by the rural population in the Province of Misiones. The plant is known to contain tyramine and ligatoxine A. Nevertheless, people using it in Misiones did not show either hypertension or toxicity. An exhaustive ethanol extract of the same material was prepared and tested. No traces of tyramine were detected by TLC. After coprecipitation with povidone and dispersion in water the extract was injected to mice (CF 1, male) via i.p. No acute toxicity was shown at a dose equivalent to 5 g of dried plant material per kg of weight. The same result was obtained after the daily administration of the same dose for 30 days. All the results were in concordance with the apparent innocuity of the plant as used by the population.

ZONA GEOGRAFICA= Geografical zone: Perú, Bolivia y Argentina.

ÚLTIMOS AVANCES EN LA QUÍMICA Y ACTIVIDADES BACTERIOLÓGICAS EN LAS PLANTAS MEDICINALES= Medicinal plants, last advances on chemistry and bacteria activities on the medicinal herbs

Both plants are semiparasites growing in Argentina.  P. flagellaris gives 5% solid ext. by infusion, 30% by maceration, which produce in the dog, given intravenously, initially an increase, later a decrease in blood pressure, a decrease in kidney vol., and inhibition of intestinal motility.  Section of the vagus nerve modifies the hypertensive effects.  Yohimbine inverts the hypertensive effect but not the effect on the kidneys.  P. cuneifolius gives 5% solids by infusion and 30% by maceration, which cause in the dog, given intravenously, low blood pressure more marked with the ext. obtained by maceration, turning later to hypertension, decrease in the vol. of the kidneys, and intestinal inhibition.  Vagal section has no influence.  The hypotensive effect is subjected to tachyphylaxis.  Both substances have antagonistic effects and it is not possible to substitute Viscum album, which belongs to the same family, with either plant.

1) TOURSARKISSIAN, Martín. Plantas medicinales de Argentina : sus nombres botánicos, vulgares, usos y distribución geográfica. Buenos Aires : Hemisferio Sur, 1980, p.79.

2) DEL CARMEN VACCARO, M.; DE RONDINA, D.C.; ACOSTA, M.L. Preliminary phytochemical and toxicological testing of the leaves of Phoradendron liga. IRCS Medical Science. 1985, vol.13, nº12, p.1199.
 
3) IZQUIERDO, Juan Antonio; STARITTA, Santiago. Vascular actions of Phrygilanthus flagellaris and Psittacanthus cuneifolius. Revista Farmaceutica (Buenos Aires). 1955, vol.97, p.177-181.