Treating Livestock with Medicinal Plants: Beneficial or Toxic?

Hyptis verticillata

Index

• Introduction and Description
• Common Names
• Chemical Compounds
• Toxicity
• Uses and Efficacy

Introduction and Description

Hyptis verticillata belongs to the family Lamiaceae and originated in Central America. It grows to a height of approximately 2 meters. The leaves are oval and the flowers are white.

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Common Names

• Herbe Au Diable
• Herbe Bourrique
• Hierba Martina -- Mexico
• Malcasada Grande
• Maman-Houanne
• Mamanhouane
• Mastuerzo
• Quitadolor -- Honduras
• Wild mint
• Verbena -- Honduras and El Salvador

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Chemical Compounds

Little research has been done on the compounds in Hyptis verticillata. Some research on the lignin composition has been done. Cadina-4,10(15)-diene-3-one is believed to be an active compound. (For more information regarding the compounds see USDA Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases.)

Some of the Compounds in Hyptis verticillata

• Cadina-4,10(15)-diene-3-one
• Dehydropodophyllotoxin -- cytotoxic
• 4'-Demethyldesoxypodophyllotoxin -- cytotoxic
• Epipodorhizol
• Hyptinin
• Maslinic acid
• 5'-Methoxydehydropodophyllotoxin -- cytotoxic
• Oleanolic acid
• B-Peltatin -- plant (antimiotic)
• Podorhizol
• Rosmarinic acid -- antibacterial
• Sideritoflavone -- antibacterial
• Ursolic acid

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Toxicity

No published studies on the toxicity of Hyptis verticillata could be found. However, it is believed that lignans have phytoestrogen activity. Also, phenolic compounds formed after oxidative reactions of phenolic precursors such as rosmarinic acid can effect endocrine function.

Uses and Efficacy

Hyptis verticillata is used by some farmers in Honduras to treat infections after castration. No studies have been conducted to prove its efficacy regarding this use. However, some compounds have been shown to be antimiotic and inhibit Candida albicans. On TLC plates, rosmarinic acid at levels of 5ug, 7.5ug, and 5ug were found to inhibit Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus luteus, and Escherichia coli, respectively. Effectiveness against these bacteria could explain the antiseptic properties of infusions prepared from the plant.

Research has been conducted on Hyptis verticillata acaricidal and insecticidal activities. Cadina-4,10(15)-diene-3-one, isolated from Hyptis verticillata, has been shown to have chemosterilant activity against the cattle tick and be toxic against the sweet potato pest Ipomoea spp. The compound did not kill adult ticks, but did decrease oviposition and egg hatching.

Other laboratory studies have shown that sideritoflavone is antiphlogistic, and several compounds in Hyptis verticillata are cytotoxic, antiviral, and antidiarrhoic. None of the compounds, however, have been tested in animals.

Some Uses in Humans:

• Aches (head, back, stomach) -- Dominican Republic, Honduras, Mexico, and El Salvador
• Colds -- Africa and the Caribbean
• Dyspepsia
• Itch
• Pectoral -- Haiti
• Rheumatism -- Mexico
• Sedative -- Haiti and El Salvador
• Skin infections -- Mexico and other Central American countries
• Spasm -- Dominican Republic
• Stings
• Tooth pain -- Honduras

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References

• Beckstrom-Sternberg, Stephen M., James A. Duke, and K.K. Wain. "The Ethnobotany Database." http://probe.nalusda.gov:8300/cgi-bin/browse/ethnobotdb. (ACEDB version 4.3 -data version July 1994).
  
• Beckstrom-Sternberg, Stephen M., and James A. Duke. "The Phytochemical Database." http://probe.nalusda.gov:8300/cgi-bin/browse/phytochemdb. (ACEDB version 4.3 - data version July 1994).
  
• Cheeke, P.R. 1998. Natural Toxicants in Feeds, Forages, and Poisonous Plants, 2nd ed. Interstate Pubs., IL.
  
• House, P., S. Lagos-Witte, and C. Torres. 1992. Manual Popular de 50 Plantas Medicinales de Honduras, 3rd Ed. Guaymuras, Honduras.
  
• Kuhnt, M., A. Probstle, R. Bauer, and M. Heinrich. 1993. Biological and pharmacological investigations of Hyptis verticillata. Planta Med 59S: A665.
  
• Kuhnt, M., A. Probstle, H. Rimpler, R. Bauer, and M. Heinrich. 1995. Biological and pharmacological activities and further constituents of Hyptis verticillata. Planta Med 61: 227-232.
  
• Kuhnt, M., H. Rimpler, and M. Heinrich. 1994. Lignans and other compounds from the Mixe Indian medicinal plant Hyptis verticillata. Phytochemistry 36(2): 485-489.
  
• Novelo, M., J.G. Cruz, L. Hernandez, and R. Pereda-Miranda. 1993. Phytotoxic constituents from Hyptis verticillata. J Natural Prod 56(10): 1728-1736.
  
• Porter, R.B.R., P.B. Reese, L.A.D. Williams, and D.J. Williams. 1995. Acaricidal and insecticidal activities of cadina-4,10(15)-diene-3-one. Phytochemistry 40(3): 735-738.
  

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