The search continues for the
easy weight loss answer.
COMMENTARIES ON HERBAL DRUG "PORANGABA"
Searching in literature technique for the name porangaba, arrives it almost
nothing, therefore it is about an old name very and little used by the
dictionaries and it list of popular names of plants. It was possible to locate
it as synonymous of tea of bugre (non-translated: cha' de bugre or bugrinho and
related to leaves of the species Salicifolia Cordia Cham. - Family Boraginaceae
(HOEHNE, F.C. What the hervanários of the city of S. Paulo vendem. São Paulo,
Duprat House, 1920). Other popular books, however, do not make this same
reference, showing to be a diffuse popular name in relation terms accomplish
with a species in particular.
Searching the internet, you find the site of the laboratory Medicinal Flora, of
Rio De Janeiro, which tells the Porangaba name â , that is, corporate name
registered by the laboratory; the composition of the product with such name,
however, involves leaves of Arabica Coffea (coffee) and inflorescências of
Grindelia camporum , total different of the species that is offered currently.
To feed the confusion, the commercial offers also relate to the name porangaba
to the species Cordia Ecalyculata , without knowing itself if he is synonymous a
botanical one or if they involve two different species. Still it must be told
offers advertising, with the name porangaba, of leaves of guaçatonga, Casearia
sylvestris - Flacourtiaceae family.
In terms of idoneous literature, the data bases send only and exclusively to a
study published internationally:
HAYASHI, K.; HAYASHI, T.; MORITA, N. & NIWAYAMA, S. Antiviral activity of in
extract of Salicifolia Cordia on herpes simplex virus type . Plant medicates, 56
[ 5 ]: 439-43, Oct. 1990). However, as treatment of herpes is well more
restricted than offers for emagrecimento, and as porangaba is indicated of this
form through probable diuréticos mechanisms and greasy fabric erasers, I
extended the survey for summaries of congresses trying to justify of some form
this "commercial wave" with porangaba.
Of this effort a small article resulted, which start to tell:
RIADO, S.R.; ARAÚJO, L.C.L.; ARAÚJO, C.E.P.; OLIVEIRA, F. & HISS, J.R. preliminary Studies of the farmacológicas and toxicológicas activities of the hidroalcoólico extract of Cordia ecalyculata Vell.. Lecta, São Paulo Bragança, Special number : 71-2, 1997.
The authors, academics, technician and professors of the University San
Francisco de São Paulo Bragança, relate the use popular of leaves of the plant as
diurético and cicatrizante. They had prepared liquid extract of this
drug and had evaluated its anti-inflammatory toxicity and properties and
antiulcerogênica in animals. The toxicity data had used some doses and ways i.p.
and verbal in mice and rats; of this administration, it was used to advantage
for a preliminary general comment, call of "hipocrático Screening". The results
had shown low toxicity, with DL 50 of 2,48 g/kg saw i.p. and above of 10 g/kg
saw verbal; the preliminary comment showed to reduction of the conscientious
state and disposiçào, reflected reduction of tônus muscular and, and marked
reduction of the micção in the way i.p.. The antinflamatórios tests had used the
models of granuloma induced for cotton, with negative results after 7 days of
treatment, and edema of induced leg for carragenina, equally without positive
results. Already the antiulcerogênicos models (administration of alcohol 95% and
induction of injuries for reserpina), met positive effect in the administration
of the hidroalcoólico rude extract (dose of 1 g/kg saw verbal).
The set of results shows low toxicity to the extract, negative antinflamatórios
effect and increase of the mechanisms citoprotetores of the gastric mucosa.
Contrary to the popular and commercial use, however, the data do not confirm the
told diuretic property, with reduction of the micção in the intra-peritoneais
doses of screening hipocrático.
The search for a easy weight loss medicine seems not to have end in our country,
even so our statisticians still does not demonstrate obesity as a "epidemic",
as it occurs in the United States. Despite this, lamentavelmente, the launchings
of miraculous and fantastic weight loss drugs are happened again, all of natural
origin and without collateral effect. As it shows the presented survey, again
this illusion not if it confirms, therefore porangaba is a plant with, at the
very least, related popular use to the increase of diurese. It does not have
formal studies absolutely that they confirm this effect, and nothing that points
greasy fat reduction, reduction of the belly and as much other peoples
commercial that we see daily, as much in pharmacies as in the television
channels.
The confusion between species is another factor aggravation, either enters the
two species of Cordia or with Casearia sylvestris , plant equally without no
relation with weight loss, even so exists given very positive of this species
in other farmacológicas areas. Therefore, it can to try to conclude that, to
little in the level of the existing and available information, one is about plus
perhaps useful a vegetal species, that still needs better to be studied, but
that it does not present basement, exactly traditional, that justifies its use
as a weight loss medicine.
Prof. Luis Carlos You mark
Dr. in Sciences
Pharmacy course of the UEM