Cissampelos Pareira (Cissampelos pareira): Benefits, Dosage, Safety & Evidence

Frequently asked questions

How does Cissampelos pareira work in the body?

Cissampelos pareira contains isoquinoline alkaloids including pelosine, curine, hayatidine, and cycleanine, which exert curare-like muscle relaxant effects by blocking neuromuscular transmission. These compounds also demonstrate anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties through modulation of inflammatory pathways and increased renal blood flow. The plant's effects on smooth muscle help explain its traditional use for urinary and reproductive disorders. Evidence level: C.

Does Cissampelos pareira interact with any medications?

Yes, Cissampelos pareira may interact with muscle relaxants and medications affecting neuromuscular function. The plant contains curare-like alkaloids that enhance muscle relaxation, potentially increasing the effects of prescription muscle relaxants, anesthetics, or medications used during surgery. This interaction could lead to excessive muscle weakness or respiratory depression. Patients should inform healthcare providers of use before surgery or when taking muscle relaxants. Evidence level: C.

What is the recommended dosage of Cissampelos pareira?

The traditional adult dosage of Cissampelos pareira is 3-6 grams of dried root powder prepared as a decoction, taken once or twice daily. Alternatively, 300mg of standardized extract may be taken twice daily. Dosage should be adjusted based on individual tolerance and the condition being treated. Due to muscle relaxant effects, start with lower doses and avoid exceeding recommended amounts. Evidence level: Traditional/C.

Is Cissampelos pareira safe during pregnancy?

No, Cissampelos pareira is contraindicated during pregnancy. The plant contains uterine-stimulating compounds and curare-like alkaloids that may cause uterine contractions and potentially lead to miscarriage or premature labor. Traditional use has included this herb for inducing labor and addressing reproductive disorders in non-pregnant women. Pregnant women and those attempting to conceive should avoid all preparations of this herb. Evidence level: Traditional/C.

What is Cissampelos pareira used for treating?

Cissampelos pareira is traditionally used for urinary tract infections, kidney stones, and bladder disorders due to its diuretic and anti-inflammatory properties. It is also employed for female reproductive conditions including menstrual disorders and as a uterine tonic. Additional traditional applications include fever reduction, wound healing, and treatment of gastrointestinal complaints. Research supporting these uses is limited, with evidence rated at level C. Evidence level: C/Traditional.

What are the side effects of Cissampelos pareira?

Cissampelos pareira may cause gastrointestinal disturbances including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, particularly at higher doses. The curare-like alkaloids can produce muscle relaxation and weakness, which may be problematic at excessive doses. Some users report dizziness or fatigue. These effects are dose-dependent and typically resolve upon discontinuation. Long-term safety data is lacking, so extended use should be monitored by a healthcare professional. Evidence level: C/Traditional.

PubMed-compiled information sheet

This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.

Compiled from 30 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b

Summary

Cissampelos pareira is a medicinal climber-plant of the Menispermaceae family used traditionally in various systems, including Ayurveda, for treating a wide range of inflammatory, infectious, and psychopharmacological disorders [PMID:33485976, PMID:33964866].

Background

Cissampelos pareira is a medicinal climber-plant belonging to the Menispermaceae family [PMID:33485976]. It is recognized in classical texts as Laghupatha [PMID:28827957].

Traditional uses

Traditionally used for treating ulcers, wounds, rheumatism, fever, asthma, cholera, diarrhoea, inflammation, snakebite, malaria, rabies, blood purification [PMID:33485976], as well as cough, obesity, dysentery, jaundice, and heart, blood pressure, and skin-related problems [PMID:24997389]. It is also used in Ayurveda as a cardiotonic and diuretic [PMID:26647106], for urinary problems [PMID:23661865], and by ethnic minorities in India for psychopharmacological disorders [PMID:33964866].

Active compounds

The plant contains alkaloids (including isoquinoline alkaloids such as magnoflorine, magnocurarine, cissamine, curine, hayatinine, cycleanine, and a cularine-type alkaloid [PMID:29126362, PMID:36148597], as well as a pyrrole alkaloid called cissampeline [PMID:31135214]), polyhydroxylated oleanane triterpenoids (cissatriterpenoid A-C) [PMID:35208972], flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, saponins, and gums [PMID:24716177, PMID:25425762].

Mechanism of action

In silico analysis suggests interactions between its compounds and the GABAA receptor [PMID:36148597], PPAR gamma [PMID:36518544], and antimalarial targets including Pfdihydrofolate reductase, PfcGMP-dependent protein kinase, and Pfprolyl-tRNA synthetase [PMID:36848855].

Clinical evidence

Evidence DCardiac Hypertrophy

Root extract ameliorated thyroxin-induced cardiac hypertrophy in rats [PMID:26647106]

Evidence DAnxiety and Depression

Hydro-alcoholic leaf extract exhibited anti-depressant, anxiolytic, and skeletal muscle relaxant activity in mice/rats [PMID:33964866, PMID:24716177]

Evidence DPain and Inflammation

Root and ethanol extracts showed significant analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic activity in animal models [PMID:17240096, PMID:25425762, PMID:28827957]

Evidence DArthritis

Root extract showed dose-dependent protective effects against complete Freund's adjuvant induced arthritis in mice [PMID:17240096]

Evidence DCancer

Cissatriterpenoid 3 showed cytotoxic activity against A549, SMMC-7721, MCF-7, and SW480 cell lines [PMID:35208972]; methanol extract showed antitumor activity against Dalton's Lymphoma Ascites in mice [PMID:25210304]

Evidence DFertility

Safety & adverse effects

Acute oral toxicity tests in mice showed no mortality or behavioral changes at doses up to 2000 mg/kg [PMID:33964866, PMID:18280070]. Subacute toxicity studies in rats (1-2 g/kg/day for 28 days) showed no mortality or significant changes in blood chemistry [PMID:18280070]. The oral LD50 in mice was reported as 7.3 g/kg for leaf extract [PMID:17324540].

Evidence summary

The current evidence is based primarily on in vitro studies and animal models (Level D), demonstrating broad pharmacological potential, but lacks human clinical trials.

PubMed sources

1.PMID: 33485976 (2021) — Cissampelos pareira L.: A review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
2.PMID: 35208972 (2022) — Cytotoxic Polyhydroxylated Oleanane Triterpenoids from Cissampelos pareira var. hirsuta. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3.PMID: 24997389 (2014) — From arrow poison to herbal medicine--the ethnobotanical, phytochemical and pharmacological significance of Cissampelos (Menispermaceae). · Journal of ethnopharmacology
4.PMID: 26647106 (2016) — Cissampelos pareira Linn. ameliorates thyroxin-induced cardiac hypertrophy in rats. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
5.PMID: 33964866 (2021) — Anti-depressant, Anxiolytic, and the Muscle Relaxant Activity of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Cissampelos pareira Linn. Leaves.

Cissampelos Pareira

Sources & Citations

Calculate a safe dose of Cissampelos Pareira