Cissampelos pareira

Cissampelos pareira L., Menispermaceae, is a tropical climbing species, with male and female flowers on different plants (dioecious). The plant is easily identified from its leaves and the fruits (Cissampelos pareira1).

The roots are diuretic, antiperiodic, purgative and also used in dyspepsia, dropsy, and urinary troubles. The leaves are a local application against itch.

Plants yield strong fibre.

In West Africa, Cissampelos mucronata A. Rich., and Cissampelos owariensis Beauv., ex DC., (= Cissampelos pareira L., var. owariensis (Beauv. Ex DC.) Oliv., Cissampelos robertsonii Excell., are in use. The roots are an emmenagogue, abortifacient, antipyretic and diuretic. The leaves are purgatory.

The alkaloids sepeerine, cessampeline, pelosine (berbeerine), deyamitine; dehydrodiecentrine, dicentrine, cycleanine, hyatine, hyatinine, insularine and isochondrodendrine, and saponins have been reported from the leaves and roots.

The plant has some curarising activity, as of d-tubocurarine, due to hyatin methidide and so this species is used as an Indian substitute for curariform drugs, to induce muscular relaxation.

There is a need to study the taxonomy of Cissampelos pareira in relation to the species and uses in other countries of its occurrence.