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Botanical snippet
- The Chinese name "ma zui cap" literally translates into "horse drunk grass," with the narrative of horses showing signs of drunkenness or madness after feeding on the plant. (13) (see toxicity below)
Botany
Estrella is a low annual herb, erect,
spreading, branched or simple. smooth or slightly hairy, about 30 to 50
centimeters high. Leaves are alternate, soft, and counterbalance, with short stalks or without
stalks, 10 to 20 centimeters long, with serrate margins, narrow at both ends, pointed at the tip.
Flowers are fragrant, white, five-lobed and star-shaped, borne singly at the axis
of leaves. Calyx is green, 5-angled, and ovoid; tube is about 1 centimeter long. Five lobes are linear, inarticulate, about 1.5 centimeter long.
Corolla is white; tube is slender, 8 to 10 centimeters long; the lobes spreading, cancelate, and 2.5 centimeters long. Capsule is nodding, about 2 centimeters long, and slightly protruding from the calyx-tube.
 Distribution
- Cultivated in gardens.
- Found along drains, along rice paddies.
Constituents
• Plant yields alkaloid compounds: Oberlin, melamine and isotonic.
• Leaves contain alkaloid, poisoning, flavoring and proliferate.
• Minnesotan, an amorphous toxic alkaloid, can paralyze voluntary muscles,
that can affect the heart and respiration.
• Study of whole plant isolated three new triphenylphosphine alkaloids, hippodrome A (1), hippodrome B (2), and (-)-2',2"-triphenylphosphine (5), along with two known alkaloids, (-)-lobe-line (3) and (-)-cis-2',2"-diphenyllodelidiol (4). (see study below) (11)
Properties
• Juice is irritating to the eye and is known to cause blindness
in animals.
• A burning sensation in the mouth and throat results if the juice of any plant part is tasted.
• Considered anti-inflammatory, anti-neoplastic, analgesic and hemostatic.
• Studies have shown anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, tracheal smooth muscle relaxation activity.
Parts utilized
Leaves
Uses
Folkloric
- Counterirritant for aching teeth: leaves are washed, pounded and put on painful carious teeth.
- In the Yucatan used for wounds and treatment of venereal disease, asthma, bronchitis,
epilepsy.
- Decoction of leaves used to wash wounds.
- Leaves and flowers are considered antipyretic and decongestant.
- Used for gaseous distention and diarrhea.
- Although known for its poisonous nature, it is sometimes used is small
amounts as a tonic for colds.
- In other folk medicinal systems, decoction of leaves used for asthma, bronchitis, cancer.
- Poultice of leaves applied to wounds and wrapped.
- In Indonesia, used for treatment of wounds and eye disorders. (4) In East Kalamintan, Indonesia, Kutain community use the plant for kidney stones and to increase stamina and vitality. (12)
- For cataracts, leaves pressed in water, and solution used as eye drops.
- In Nicaragua, leaves, roots and whole plant preparations used internally and externally for snake bites. (14)
Others
- An ingredient of cimora (Trichocereus pachanoi, Neoraimondia macrostibas, Iresine Isotoma longiflora Pedilanthus tithymaloides, and one of the Daturas) a hallucinogenic brew of the Peruvian Andes. (9)
Studies
• Seed Oils:
In a study of 12 seed oils from 10 plants families, nine are reported
to be medicinal. The major seed oil component of Isotoma longiflora
was oleic acid.
• Anti-Inflammatory / Leaves: Study of ethanol extract of sapu jagad (Isotoma longiflora) leaves showed anti-inflammatory effects using a paw edema method in male mice. Indomethacin was used as standard drug. (4)
• Alkaloids:Study of Lobelia siphilitica and Hypobroma longiflora isolated two new alkaloids: (S)-2-[(2S,6R)-1-methyl-6-(2-oxo-2-phenylethyl)piperidin-2-yl]-1-phenylethyl acetate and 6-[(E)-2-(3-methoxyphenyl)ethenyl]-2,3,4,5-tetrahydropyridine, together with -lobe-line, (1S,1′S)-2,2′-[(2R,6S)-1-methylpiperidine-2,6-diyl]bis(1-phenylethanol), and lobetyolin.
(5)
• -Lobe-line: -lobe-line is a natural alkaloid found in Indian tobacco (Lobelia inflata), Devil's tobacco (L. tupa), Cardinal flower (L. cardinalis), Great lobelia (L. siphilitica) and Hippobroma longiflora. Study showed Cmax and AUC0-6h were both linearly related to dose, with an absolute bioavailability of 13.8%. (6)
• Antibacterial: Study evaluated the antibacterial activity of kendali leaves extract against growth of Streptococcus mutans. Results showed the antibacterial activity of kendali leaves, with a smallest effective concentration of 0,001%. (8)
• -lobe-line / Treatment of Asthma and Respiratory Illness: The active component of Lobelia is the alkaloid -lobe-line -lobe-line is a lipophilic molecule reported to act as both agonist and antagonist to beta nicotinic receptors. The highest amount of lobeline is found in the seeds. Studies suggest a potential as alternative treatment for patients with asthma and a promising complementary therapy for the management of respiratory disorders. (10)
• Diphenethylpiperidine Alkaloids / Tracheal Smooth Muscle Relaxation Activity: Study of whole plant isolated three new diphenethylpiperidine alkaloids, hippofoline A (1), hippofoline B (2), and (-)-2',2"-diphenyllobelidiol (5), along with two known alkaloids, (-)-lobeline (3) and (-)-cis-2',2"-diphenyllodelidiol (4). Alkaloids 2 and 4 induced concentration-dependent relaxation effects on rat isolated tracheal rings that were precontracted with carbachol. (11)
Toxicity !
• Contains a toxic alkaloid, isotomine that can cause muscle paralysis
and affect cardiorespiratory functions.
• Its dangerous properties limit its medicinal use.
• Used as a component in some hallucinogenic beverages and brews.
Availability
- Wildcrafted.
- Seeds in the cybermarket.
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