PARTE UTILIZADA= Used part: Raíz.

ACCIÓN FARMACOLÓGICA= Pharmacological action: Vulnerario.

COMPOSICIÓN QUÍMICA= Chemical composition: In addn. to the previously described alkaloids, chelerythrine, protopine, and allocryptopine (Manske, CA 49, 2448a), the following bases were characterized in the stem and root: sanguinarine, chelirubine, and coptisine. The concns. of the alkaloids (as percentages of total bases) in B. pearcei stems and roots, resp., were: chelerythrine 51.0, 49.0; protopine 0.6, 0.6; allocryptopine 1.1, 3.5; sanguinarine 39.0, 38.0; chelirubine 2.0, 3.5, and coptisine 6.7, 2.0. This is the first time that berberine bases have been found in Bocconia species and the taxonomical significance of this fact is discussed in relation to the alkaloids present in the related genus Macleaya. The stem also contains another quaternary base in very small amounts.

ZONA GEOGRÁFICA= Geografical zone: Perú, Bolivia y NO de Argentina.

Bark: Bark is boiled, and the water used as an anti-fungal fir athlete’s foot, by the Guyana Patamona.

1) TOURSARKISSIAN, Martín. Plantas medicinales de Argentina : sus nombres botánicos, vulgares, usos y distribución geográfica. Buenos Aires : Hemisferio Sur,1980, p.96.

2) LABRIOLA, Rafael A.; GIACOPELLO, Duilio. Alkaloids of the stem and root of Bocconia pearcei. Anales de la Asociacion Quimica Argentina. 1966, vol.54, nº1-2, p.15-27.

3) Robertt, A., et al.. Medicinal Plants of the Guianas (Guyana, Suriname, French Guyana)/Smithsonian NMNH. cited online: 17-08-2017