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

Aerial parts of W. poposa contained (-)-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid, kauran-16alpha-ol, ent-14,15-epoxy-13-epimanoyl oxide, toxyl acetate, p-hydroxyacetophenone, scopoletin, rutin, quercetin, and an unidentified coumarin.  Structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods (UV, 1H- NMR, 13C-NMR) and by comparison with authentic samples and published data.  Bioassay with Artemia salina and the Hippocratic test for central nervous depression were performed on CH2Cl2, MeOH, and aq. exts.; MeOH exts. were the most active.  MeOH exts. showed hypotensive activity in normotensive and hypertensive rats.

Summary
Werneria poposa (Asteraceae) is a shrub that grows in the highlands of Peru, Chile and Argentina. Also known by the common name of poposa, this species has been traditionally used as a digestive, respiratory illness and against altitude sickness. W. poposa has been subject to only one pharmacological study showing the antihypertensive properties of the extract. However, no research has been performed in order to validate its effects as a respiratory ailment.

PARTE UTILIZADA= Used part: Raíz. 

ACCIÓN FARMACOLÓGICA= Pharmacological action: Medicinal, para cólico, pleuresía (raíz). 

COMPOSICIÓN QUÍMICA= Chemical composition: Folk medicines are gaining great importance as information sources on traditional medicinal plants. The aim of this paper is the study of a plant traditionally employed by the Puna inhabitants: Werneria poposa Phil. Morphology of its secretory tissue and other histological diagnostic features, as well as the chemical composition of its essential oil, is described. Puna inhabitants use W. poposa mainly as an infusion for mountain sickness ('soroche'), stomach and hepatic disorders and cold. It is also used externally as a hot bath or unguent for rheumatic pains or traumas. Secretory tissues are schizogenous ducts in leaves and stems. Thirty-one components were detected in the essential oil by means of GC/MS analysis. Oil was characterized by the presence of high content of beta-pinene (21.7%), alpha-pinene (5.5%), terpinen-4-ol (5.3%), alpha-terpinene (5.2%), beta-phellandrene + 1,8-cineole (4.8%), isopulegol (4.8%) and beta-citronellal (4.6%). At the present time, W. poposa is consumed as a medicinal plant, mainly in the northwest of Argentina, not being commercialized in the urban centers. 

ZONA GEOGRÁFICA= Geografical zone: Perú, Bolivia, Chile y N.Oeste de Argentina. 

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Enfermedad o síntoma
Resfrío y congestión

Problemas renales

Apunamiento

Parte utilizada
Hoja y tallo

Forma de preparación
Infusión

Modo de administración
Vía oral

Origen
Tucumán, Argentina

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2) ABELLA, L., et al. Ethnobotany, volatile iols and secretion tissues of Werneria poposa from Argentina . Pharmaceutical Biology. 2000, vol.38, nº3, p.197-203.
 
3) CORDOVA, Alcira I.; LOCK, Olga; JURUPE, Hilda. Chemical-pharmacological study of Werneria poposa Philippi. Boletin de la Sociedad Quimica del Peru. 1998, vol.64, nº4, p.264-272.

4) ALONSO, Jorge ; DESMARCHELIER, Cristian. Plantas medicinales autóctonas de la Argentina : bases científicas para su aplicación en atención primaria de la salud.  Buenos Aires: L.O.L.A, 2005, p. 464.

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