Jaborandi (Pilocarpus jaborandi): Benefits, Dosage, Safety & Evidence

Questions fréquentes

How does Jaborandi work to treat glaucoma?

Jaborandi works through its active alkaloid, pilocarpine, which acts as a direct muscarinic agonist. By binding to acetylcholine receptors, it stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system. In the eye, this mechanism causes the pupil to constrict (miosis) and opens the drainage angle, facilitating the outflow of aqueous humor to lower intraocular pressure. This specific physiological action is why pharmaceutical pilocarpine is isolated and standardized for glaucoma treatment (Evidence Level: C/Pharmaceutical derivation).

Is Jaborandi safe to take during pregnancy?

No, Jaborandi is considered unsafe during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The active compounds, specifically pilocarpine, can stimulate uterine contractions, potentially leading to miscarriage or premature labor. Furthermore, the herb's potent diaphoretic action causes significant fluid loss, which can compromise maternal hydration and fetal circulation. Due to these risks, pregnant individuals should avoid all forms of the herb, including extracts and teas.

Does Jaborandi interact with heart medications?

Yes, Jaborandi poses significant interaction risks with cardiovascular drugs. Because pilocarpine stimulates the vagus nerve, it can induce bradycardia (slow heart rate). When combined with beta-blockers or digoxin, this can lead to dangerously low heart rates or heart block. Additionally, it antagonizes anticholinergic medications. Patients with cardiac disease or those on heart medications should avoid this herb due to the potential for severe cardiovascular complications.

What is the recommended dosage for Jaborandi herb?

There is no established safe dosage for crude Jaborandi leaf for self-medication. The concentration of active alkaloids varies significantly in plant material, making accurate dosing difficult and increasing the risk of toxicity. Pharmaceutical pilocarpine is dosed in milligrams by physicians for specific conditions like glaucoma. Due to the narrow therapeutic window and risks of respiratory depression, use of the crude herb is not recommended without strict professional medical supervision.

What are the side effects of Jaborandi?

Common side effects include excessive sweating (diaphoresis), salivation, nausea, and frequent urination. In higher doses or sensitive individuals, Jaborandi can cause serious adverse effects such as bradycardia, hypotension, and bronchial constriction, which is particularly dangerous for asthmatics. Respiratory depression is a severe risk of overdose. Because the crude herb has a narrow therapeutic window, distinguishing between a therapeutic dose and a toxic one is difficult, making side effects likely.

Fiche d'information compilée à partir de PubMed

Cette fiche a été compilée à partir de résumés PubMed (NIH) avec l'assistance d'une IA. Chaque affirmation factuelle est citée par un article PubMed réel (voir la liste des sources). Elle n'a pas encore été révisée par un humain — confirmez auprès d'un professionnel de santé avant utilisation.

Compilé à partir de 30 articles PubMed · modèle : gemma4:31b

Résumé

Jaborandi (Pilocarpus microphyllus) is a medicinal plant native to Brazil and the primary natural source of the alkaloid pilocarpine [PMID:37299085, PMID:41885800].

Contexte

Jaborandi, specifically Pilocarpus microphyllus, is an endangered medicinal species from the Rutaceae family endemic to tropical Brazil [PMID:37299085, PMID:41885800]. It is found primarily in the North and Northeast regions of Brazil, spanning the Amazon, Cerrado, and Caatinga biomes [PMID:17682964, PMID:37299085].

Usages traditionnels

While there are many references to its employment for various diseases in ethnological sources, it has not been possible to specify a particular purpose for the use of its leaves among South American Indians [PMID:397371].

Composés actifs

The plant contains a variety of imidazole alkaloids and coumarins [PMID:31078082]. Key alkaloids include pilocarpine (the primary alkaloid), pilosine, epiisopiloturine, epiisopilosine, and macaubine [PMID:28151972, PMID:28111828, PMID:20845264].

Mécanisme d'action

Epiisopiloturine (EPI) attenuates LPS-induced neuroinflammation by interfering with the TLR4/NF-κB-MAPK signaling pathway in microglial cells [PMID:37151606]. Additionally, epiisopilosine and epiisopiloturine may modulate autophagy to provide hepatoprotective effects [PMID:41832950].

Preuves cliniques

Preuve CGlaucoma

Pilocarpine is used as a medical treatment for glaucoma [PMID:37299085, PMID:28151972, PMID:17682964].

Preuve CXerostomia

Pilocarpine is used as a medical treatment for xerostomia [PMID:37299085, PMID:28151972, PMID:17682964].

Preuve DSchistosomiasis

The alkaloid epiisopiloturine has demonstrated effectiveness against schistosomiasis [PMID:28151972].

Preuve DAcetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity

In a murine model, epiisopilosine and epiisopiloturine exhibited hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects [PMID:41832950].

Preuve DNeuroinflammation

Epiisopiloturine significantly reduced the proinflammatory response induced by LPS in microglial cells [PMID:37151606].

Synthèse des preuves

The evidence consists primarily of phytochemical analyses, in vitro studies, and animal models (Level D), with historical references to the clinical use of the isolated alkaloid pilocarpine (Level C).

Sources PubMed

1.PMID: 397371 (1979) — Jaborandi: an interdisciplinary appraisal. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
2.PMID: 31078082 (2019) — Evolution of phytochemical diversity in Pilocarpus (Rutaceae). · Phytochemistry
3.PMID: 37299085 (2023) — Potential Distribution of Pilocarpus microphyllus in the Amazonia/Cerrado Biomes under Near-Future Climate Change Scenarios. · Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
4.PMID: 28151972 (2017) — Seasonal change in main alkaloids of jaborandi (Pilocarpus microphyllus Stapf ex Wardleworth), an economically important species from the Brazilian flora. · PloS one
5.PMID: 17682964 (2007) — Cell suspension as a tool to study the biosynthesis of pilocarpine in Jaborandi. · Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)

Jaborandi

Sources et citations

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