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| | Family: Cucurbitaceae
Genus: Cayaponia
Species: tayuya, ficifolia
Common names: Tayuya, Taiuia, Taioia, Abobrinha-do-mato, Cabeca-de-Negro, Tomba
Part Used: Root
DESCRIPTION | | Properties/Actions: | Analgesic, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Anti-rheumatic, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-syphilitic, Choleretic, Depurative, Digestive, Diuretic, Laxative, Metabolic regulator, Purgative, Stomachic, Tonic | | Phytochemicals: | 29-nor-cucurbitacin glucosides, Alkaloids, Amentoflavone, cayaponosides, Cucurbitacins, Cucurbitane triterpenoids, Datiscetin, Eriodictyol, Flavonoides, Isoorientin, Leucocyanidol, Orientin, Malic acid, Resins, Robinetin, Saponins, Sterols |
Tayuya is a woody vine found throughout Brazil and in many parts of the Amazon rainforest. This important Amazon plant belongs to the gourd family. There are many plants in the Tayuya family, all of which are characterized by long tuberous roots. Tayuya is known by several botanical names including Cayaponia tayuya, Trianosperma tayuya, Trianosperma ficifolia, Bryonia tayuya and Cayaponia ficcifolia however, all of these scientific names refer to the same plant. Indians have been using Tayuya since prehistoric times, and the value of this herb is undisputed. It has traditionally been used as a tonic and blood cleanser, usually combined with a bit of honey or stevia to tone down the strong bitter taste. In the Amazon rainforest, Indians have used the root of Tayuya for snake bite and rheumatism for centuries. Indians in Columbia use a derivative of the plant for sore eyes, and while indigenous tribes of Peru use it for the skin problems. Tayuya has a long history in Brazilian herbal medicine. Botanist J. Monteiro da Silva states that, "Tayuya is used...for treatment of all types of pain...It has a calming action on pain...It is recommended as an anti-syphilitic agent." Monteiro also believes that Tayuya helps regulate the metabolism. In Brazil today, Tayuya is used as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, tonic, blood purifier and detoxifier, and as a diuretic to treat diarrhea, epilepsy, for metabolism regulation, backache, sciatic pain, headaches, gout, neuralgia, constipation, anemia, cholera, dyspepsia, stomach problems, fatigue and debility, skin disorders, arthritis and rheumatism, syphilis, tumors (especially in the joints), and as a general analgesic for many conditions. Tayuya is currently being researched because of its pain reducing properties, as well as other properties. Natural health practitioners in the U.S. today are using Tayuya to treat irritable bowel syndrome, dyspepsia and sluggish digestion, neuralgia, sciatica, gout, headaches, rheumatism, and as a metabolic regulator. Because of its effectiveness as a blood purifier and detoxifier, it is also being used to treat water retention, wounds, splotchiness on the face, eczema, herpes, severe acne and other skin problems. It is also being employed in athletic training and recovery to help remove lactic acid accumulations and to reduce swelling and relieve emotional fatigue and depression. Tayuya's analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties were validated scientifically in 1991 which supported much of its indigenous and folkloric uses. Cucurbitacins, glucosides, and phytochemicals with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties have been isolated in Tayuya. Saponins, sterols, and phenolics are also known to be existent in other plants of the same family. According to the study entitled, "Superoxide scavenging properties of flavonoids in a non-enzymic system," there are phytochemicals in Tayuya which act as potent scavengers of free radicals, providing an anti-oxidant effect. Another recent study conducted by T. Konoshima, et. al., shows that phytochemicals in Tayuya have significant inhibitory effects on Epstein-Barr virus as well as anti-tumor effects on mouse skin. | ETHNOBOTANY: WORLDWIDE USES | | Brazil | Analgesic, Diarrhea, Diuretic, Epilepsy, Metabolism, Neuralgia, Purgative, Rheumatism, Syphilis, Tonic, Tumor (Joint) | | Columbia | Eye (Sore) | | Peru | Skin |
Footnotes:  | Balee, William., 1994 Footprints of the Forest Ka'apor Ethnobotany - the Historical Ecology of Plant Utilization by an Amazonian People Columbia University Press, New York. | | Bernardes, Antonio , 1984. A Pocketbook of Brazilian Herbs. Editora e Arta Ltda, 1984. | | Ruppelt, B.M. et al , 1991. " Pharmacological screening of plants recommended by folk medicine as anti-snake venom--I Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities," Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz, 86 Suppl 2:, 203-5. | | Schultes, R.E., and Raffauf, 1990. The Healing Forest. Medicinal and Toxic Plants of the Northwest Amazonia, R.F. Dioscorides Press, 1990. | | Balbach , A. As Plantas Curam, A., p. 329. | | Cruz, G.L. 1995. Dicionario Das Plantas Uteis Do Brasil, 5th ed., Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Bertrand 1995. | | Coimbra, Raul, 1994. Manual de Fitoterapia 2nd Ed., Editora Cejup., Belem, Brazil. | | Schwontkowski, Dr. Donna, 1993. HERBS OF THE AMAZON, Traditional and Common Uses,Science Student BrainTrust Publishing, Utah. | | Dr. Donna Schwontkowski., 1994, 1995. "Herbal Treasures from the Amazon", A series of | | three articles published in Healthy & Natural Journal 1994, 1995. | | Powerful and Unusual Herbs from the Amazon and China, 1993. The World Preservation Society, Inc. | | Bauer, R, and H. Wagner, 1983. Dtsch. Apoth. Ztg.,, 123 (1983) 1313 | | Bauer, R, et.al., 1984., Cucurbitacins and flavone C-glycosides from Cayaponia tayuya., Phytochemisty 1984 p. 1587-91 | | Himeno E, et al. Structures of cayaponosides A, B, C and D, glucosides of new nor-cucurbitacins in the roots of Cayaponia tayuya. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo), 1992 Oct | | Huguet, A.I. et al 1990." Superoxide scavenging properties of flavonoids in a non-enzymic system,", Z Naturforsch [C], Jan-Feb. | | Konoshima, T. et al, 1995. Inhibitory effects of cucurbitane triterpenoids on Epstein-Barr virus activation and two-stage cacinogenesis of skin tumor, Biol Pharm Bull, Feb. |
The above text has been quoted from the book, Herbal Secrets of the Rainforest
REFERENCED QUOTES ON TAYUYA1. "Tayuya shows a calming action on the pain of neuralgias (nerve pain), sciatica (pain radiating down the sciatic nerve in the thigh), backaches, headaches, gout, epilepsy, and rheumatism. It acts on the digestive system to clear liver and spleen obstructions, heal ulcers, reverse dyspepsia (discomfort after eating from excess Stomach acid), reduce the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, relieve stomach tension, and improve sluggish digestion. It is also thought to assist in the regulation of metabolism. Tayuya acts as a blood purifier and detoxifier. It is used to treat water retention, wounds, splotchiness on the face, eczema, herpes, bad acne, and other skin problems." 2. "Tayuya is believed to flush excess fluids from the tissues and reduce swelling. It may also relieve emotional fatigue and depression." 8. "Brazilian uses and Folklore: Centuries before Brazil was discovered Tayuya was already used by the Indians, dating back to prehistoric times. The value of this herb is undisputed. That is why despite its strong taste, it is so widely used. Tayuya is a tonic and a cleanser of the blood. The famed Brazilian botanist J. Monteiro da Silva states that "Tayuya is used. . . for treatment of all types of pain. . . It has a calming action on pain, and thus indicated with success in various neuralgias, sciatic pain etc. . . It is recommended as an anti-syphilitic agent" (As Plantas Curam, by A. Balbach p. 329). Tayuya helps regulate the metabolism.Uses: Tayuya is used as a tonic, regulator of the metabolism and blood cleanser. It relieves symptoms of backache, sciatic pain, headaches, rheumatism, gout and epilepsy; effective as a general analgesic." 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)" 19. "Vine of the old swidden.
MED24: Medicinal uses: applied to wounded or sore eyes
"Sore eyes. Sore eyes are treated by applying resins or saps from five species directly to the eye. These medicinal species include four vines and one tree. The vines are (Schubertis granidflora), (Cayaponia sp), and (Uncaria guianensis). The tree species is (Hymenaea parvifolia), a copal tree." 21. "Cayaponia has approximately 45 species, mostly climbers, some becoming rather woody. The distribution of the genus is wide: warmer parts of the Americas, tropical West Africa, Madagascar and Indonesia. Cucurbitacins have been isolated from C. tayuya (Bauer, 1983).
Clinical AbstractsInhibitory effects of cucurbitane triterpenoids on Epstein-Barr virus activation and two-stage carcinogenesis of skin tumor. II.
Konoshima T, Takasaki M, Kozuka M, Nagao T, Okabe H, Irino N, Nakasumi T, Tokuda H, Nishino H
Biol Pharm Bull 1995 Feb;18(2):284-287
To search for possible anti-tumor-promoters, we carried out a primary screening of twenty-four 29-nor-cucurbitacin glucosides isolated from the roots of Cayaponia tayuya (Cucurbitaceae) using an in vitro synergistic assay system. Of these glucosides, cayaponosides B (5), B3 (7), D (8), D3b (22) and C2 (23) exhibited significant inhibitory effects on Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) activation induced by the tumor promoter, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Furthermore, 5 and 23 exhibited remarkable anti-tumor-promoting effects on mouse skin tumor promotion in an in vivo two-stage carcinogenesis test.
Superoxide scavenging properties of flavonoids in a non-enzymic system.
Huguet AI, Manez S, Alcaraz MJ
Z Naturforsch [C] 1990 Jan;45(1-2):19-24
The superoxide anion scavenging activity of 38 flavonoids, some of them isolated from Sideritismugronensis, Sideritis javalambrensis and Cayaponia tayuya were investigated by measurement of their inhibition of nitroblue tetrazolium reduction. Isoorientin, orientin, amentoflavone, leucocyanidol, eriodictyol, datiscetin and robinetin behaved as potent scavengers and structure-activity relationships were established. Pharmacological screening of plants recommended by folkmedicine as anti-snake venom--I. Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities.
Ruppelt BM, Pereira EF, Goncalves LC, Pereira NA
Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 1991;86 Suppl. 2:203-205
We have observed that several plants used popularly as anti-snake venom show anti-inflammatory activity. From the list prepared by Rizzini, Mors and Pereira some species have been selected and tested for analgesic activity (number of contortions) and anti-inflammatory activity (Evans blue dye diffusion--1% solution) according to Whittle's technique (intraperitoneal administration of 0.1 N-acetic acid 0.1 ml/10 g) in mice. Previous oral administration of a 10% infusion (dry plant) or 20% (fresh plant) corresponding to 1 or 2 g/kg of Apuleia leiocarpa, Casearia sylvestris, Brunfelsia uniflora, Chiococca brachiata, Cynara scolymus, Dorstenia brasiliensis, Elephantopus scaber, Marsypianthes chamaedrys, Mikania glomerata and Trianosperma tayuya demonstrated analgesic and/or anti-inflammatory activities of varied intensity. |
