Family: Euphorbiaceae
Genus: Alchornea
Species: floribunda, castaneifolia
Common Names: Iporuru, Iporoni, Iporuro, Ipururo, Ipurosa, Macochihua, Niando
Part Used: Leaves, Bark

Iporuru is a medium-sized woody bush which grows in the lower elevations and flood plains of the Amazon river system in Peru. Iporuru can only be harvested in the Amazon's dry season due to the fact that it spends the rainy season underwater.⁽¹⁾ The active medicinal chemicals found in the bark are present only during the dry season.⁽¹⁾ Iporuru belongs to family Euphorbiaceae, or the spurge family, which contains about 5,000 species of trees, shrubs, and herbs.⁽²⁾ This family of plants is economically important in that it provides food, rubbers, medicinals, oils, dyes, and many other useful products.⁽²⁾

The indigenous peoples of the Amazon have used the bark and roots of Iporuru for many different purposes for centuries, preparing it in many different ways. One of the more popular preparations is an alcoholic bark tincture used to treat rheumatism, arthritis, colds, and muscle pains.⁽³⁾ It is well known to the indigenous peoples of Peru for relieving the symptoms of osteoarthritis ^{(4, 5)} and helps flexibility in movement and range of motion .⁽⁵⁾ The Candochi-Shapra and the Shipibo tribes use both the bark and roots for treating rheumatism.⁽³⁾ To prevent diarrhea, the Tikuna tribe take one tablespoon of bark decoction before meals.⁽²⁾ The pain relieving properties of Iporuru are also used topically by indigenous people. Crushed leaves are rubbed on painful joints as an analgesic and beaten into a paste and applied to painful stingray wounds.⁽²⁾ Iporuru remedies and products are often sold in local markets and herbal pharmacies in Peru. In Peruvian herbal medicine, Iporuru is highly recommended for rheumatism.⁽⁶⁾ In addition to an arthritis remedy, local citizens of Pucallpa take the leaf decoction orally for cough and rheumatism.⁽⁷⁾ The leaves of Iporuru are used in the area around Piura to increase female fertility in cases where the male is relatively impotent.⁽⁷⁾ It is also used as an aphrodisiac and geriatric for males.⁽⁸⁾

Currently Iporuru is gaining popularity among athletes and North American health practitioners due to the properties of Iporuru which provide support of muscle and joint structure.⁽⁹⁾ Its analgesic and anti-inflammatory agents have also begun to make it popular for those suffering with arthritis and other joint problems. In addition to its anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties, a study in Argentina found that an extract of Iporuru was antibacterial and effective against penicillin G resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Aspergillus niger.⁽¹⁰⁾ The anti-inflammatory properties of Iporuru are attributed to a group of alkaloids including Alchorneine, which are found in the bark of Iporuru as well as several other related species of Alchornea.⁽¹¹⁾

Currently, in Peruvian herbal medicine, Iporuru is widely used to treat impotency and for reducing sugar in the blood and urine in diabetics. One cup of dried leaves is infused in ½ liter of water for one day and 2-3 doses (of ½ cup) is drunk daily for impotency.⁽¹²⁾ For diabetes, one-half of cup of dried leaves is infused 1 liter of water and 1 cup is drunk after each meal.⁽¹²⁾

Footnotes:

1. Schwontkowski, Dr. Donna, 1993. HERBS OF THE AMAZON, Traditional and Common Uses, Science Student BrainTrust Publishing, Utah.
2. Schultes, R.E., and Raffauf, 1990. The Healing Forest. Medicinal and Toxic Plants of the Northwest Amazonia, R.F. Dioscorides Press, 1990.
3. Duke, James and Vasquez, Rudolfo, 1994 Amazonian Ethnobotanical Dictionary, CRC Press Inc., Boca Raton, FL
4. Easterling, J. 1993 Traditional Uses of Rainforest Botanicals
5. Powerful and Unusual Herbs from the Amazon and China, 1993. The World Preservation Society, Inc.
6. Vasquez M., R. 1990. Useful Plants of Amazonian Peru. Spanish typescript. Second Draft. Filed with USDA's National Agriculture Library.
7. de Feo, V. 1992. Medicinal and magical plants in the northern Peruvian Andes. Fitoterapia 63: 417-440.
8. Rutter, R.A. 1990 Catalogo de Plantas Utiles de la Amazonia Peruana. Instituto Linguistico de Verano. Yarinacocha, Peru. 349.
9. Schwontkowski, D. "Herbal Treasures from the Amazon", (A series of three articles published in Healthy & Natural Journal 1994, 1995)
10. Anesini, C. and Perez, C. "Screening of plants used in Argentine folk medicine for antimicrobial activity." Catedra de Farmacologia, Facultad de Odontologia, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina. J Ethnopharmacol 39: 119-28 (1993)
11. Ogungbamila FO, et.al., Smooth muscle relaxing flavonoids from Alchornea cordifolia. Acta Pharm Nord, 2: 6, 1990, 421-2
12. Herboper, SA. Lima, Peru. Packing inserts on instuctions of use for Iporuru.

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REFERENCED QUOTES

1 "The bark of the Iporuru shrub is truly a treasure of the Amazon. It has been found to be very effective in cases of osteoarthritis. Unfortunately, this herb can only be harvested during the dry season in the Amazon for two reasons. First, during the rainy season, the shrubs are too far underwater and second, the active ingredients are present in the bark only in the dry season." 2 Iporuru is used by the indigenous peoples of Peru for relieving symptoms of osteoarthritis. It helps to increase flexibility in movement and range of motion." 10 "Alchornea castaneifolia (Willd.) Juss. Euphorbiaceae. "Iporoni", "lporuro", "Ipururo", "Ipurosa", "Macochihua". Alcoholic bark maceration used to treat rheumatism, arthritis, colds, and muscle pains after a long fishing day. The "Candochi-Shapra" and the "Shipibos" used the bark and roots to treat rheumatism. Iquitos herbalists recommend it for rheumatism (RVM). Pucallpa citizens take the leaf decoction orally for cough and rheumatism (VDF). "Tikunas" take one tablespoon bark decoction before meals for diarrhea (SAR). Around Piura, the leaves are used to increase fertility of females where the male is relatively impotent (FEO). Rutter stresses that it is an aphrodisiac and geriatric for males (RAR). Sometimes found in the famous "Rompe Calzon" aphrodisiac." 11 "The primary Amazon herbs used for their synergistic effects during athletic training and recovery include the following: Catuaba and Marapuama as strong tonics and nervous system fortifiers; Marapuama also for its anti-rheumatic properties; Sarsaparilla to increase circulation, clear toxins and stimulate metabolism; Iporuru for support of muscle and joint structure; Samambaia for detoxification of waste products and anti-rheumatic properties; Una de gato for antioxidant properties; Tayuya to remove lactic acid accumulations; and Suma for anabolic (muscle-building) effects. (See Table 1) 21 "Alchornea Swartz
There are 70 species of this pantropical genus. They are shrubs to medium-sized trees. The insect antifeedants of A. triplinervia have been studied (Hankinson, 1982); alkaloids have been found in A. floribunda (Khuong-Huu, 1972); the structure of the alkaloid alchomeine has been established (Cesario, 1970).
Alchornea castanaefolia (Willd.) jussieu, Tent. Euph. (1824) 42. pajaro arbol (Col.)
G 202; SB 8439
Amongst the Tikunas, a decoction of the bark, in one-tablespoon doses before meals, is considered to be a treatment for diarrhea. The crushed leaves are also rubbed on painful joints for relief. In Venezuela, a species of Alchornea is used in the form of cataplasm for wounds inflicted by the sting ray.

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Clinical References

1. Raymond-Hamet, et.al., [Are the stimulant effects of Alchornea floribunda Mueller Arg. in men due to yohimbine?] C R Acad Sci Hebd Seances Acad Sci D, 261: 16, 1965 Oct 18, 3223-4
2. Ogungbamila FO, et.al., Smooth muscle relaxing flavonoids from Alchornea cordifolia. Acta Pharm Nord, 2: 6, 1990, 421-2

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Smooth muscle relaxing flavonoids from Alchornea cordifolia.
Ogungbamila FO, Samuelsson G
Acta Pharm Nord 1990;2(6):421-422

Alchornea cordifolia (Schum. & Thonn.) Muell. Arg. (Euphobiaceae) is widely distributed throughout tropical Africa, where it is used extensively in traditional medicine. Conditions for which the plant has enjoyed wide use are: coughs, gonorrhoea, yaws, ulcer, rheumatic pains, fever and bronchial troubles. This paper reports isolation of smooth muscle relaxing flavonoids from the leaves of the plant.