The chancapiedra (Phyllanthus niruri) is a wild herbaceous plant with medicinal properties that belongs to the Phyllanthaceae family. Known as barbasquillo, chanca piedra blanca, hidden flower, niruri, stone breaker or stone bankruptcy, it is a native species of South America.
It is an annual herb of short growth and erect growth that reaches between 20 and 60 cm in height. The alternate leaves have small oblong or elliptical leaflets with tiny whitish-green flowers.
It is considered a medicinal plant with various medicinal properties, among which its ability to eliminate stones in the kidneys and strengthen the liver stands out..
In addition, its usual intake has an antibacterial, antispasmodic, antioxidant, antiseptic effect on the genitourinary tract, antiviral, cytostatic, cholagogue, liver detoxifying, diuretic, hepatoprotective and hypoglycemic..
Its active principles include ursolic acid, allantoin, b-sitosterol, flavonoids, lignin, phillantin, quercetin-3-rutinoside and quercetin-3-glucoside. Similarly, the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids and indolizidine alkaloids, tannins, methyl salicylates, vitamins and mineral elements has been reported..
According to popular tradition it is called "stone breaker" for its ability to destroy and disintegrate kidney stones. Despite the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, their consumption is not contraindicated, however, their frequent intake in high doses can have a hepatocarcinogenic effect and cause hepatic veno-occlusion..
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It is a small wild shrub with an erect stem and an annual habit that reaches 20 to 60 cm in height. The branched stems present abundant pendulous twigs where alternate leaves and inflorescences are arranged..
The alternate leaves are arranged along a central branch, being sessile, oblong-ovate and 7-12 cm long. They have an asymmetric base, obvious veins on the underside, are obtuse, apiculate and with a pair of triangular stipules.
On the branches, the leaves are reduced, but on the lateral twigs they are arranged in the opposite way as leaflets of compound leaves. However, they are small simple leaves, small inflorescences and occasionally new twigs emerge from their axils..
The chancapiedra is a monoecious plant, so its flowers are unisexual, green-whitish, actinomorphic, axillary and apétalas. The inflorescences are made up of a pedicellate female flower together with several smaller pedicellate male flowers grouped in the foliar axil..
The fruit is a compressed, globular schizocarp or capsule 2-3 mm in diameter. Inside the seeds are located 1-1.5 mm triangular in shape and warty in appearance..
The species Phyllanthus niruri It is a small herbaceous plant that is used as a medicinal plant. Among its main components are the lignans filantin, filnirurin, filtetralin, filtethrin, hypofinaltin, hydroxynirantin, hydroxylignans, isolintetralin, kinokinin, lintetralin, niranthine, nirfilin, nirtetralin and nirurinetin..
The terpenes cymene and limonene, the triterpenes lupeol and lupeol acetate, the steroids b-sitosterol, estradiol and 24-isopropyl-cholesterol, tannins and vitamin C. The flavonoids astragalin, eriodictyol-7-o-glucoside, fisetin-glucoside, isoquercitrin, kaempferol, nirurin, nirurinetin, phyllanthus FG-1 and FG-2, quercetin, quercitrin, and rutin.
Organic acids such as dotriancontanoid acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, or ricinoleic acid. Also esters such as methyl salicylate.
On the other hand, it contains various types of alkaloids, such as filantin and nirurin. The pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) norsecurinine, nor-ent-securinine, and 4-methoxy-norsecurinine, and the indolizidine alkaloids filantin, phyllocrisin, and nirurin.
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Subkingdom: Tracheobionta
- Phylum: Magnoliophyta
- Class: Magnoliopsida
- Subclass: Rosidae
- Order: Malpighiales
- Family: Phyllanthaceae
- Tribe: Phyllantheae
- Subtribe: Flueggeinae
- Gender: Phyllanthus
- Species: Phyllanthus niruri L.
- Phyllanthus: the name of the genus is derived from the Greek "phyllon" which means leaf or foliole, and "anthos" which means flower. Alluding to the particular arrangement of the flowers that seem to hang from the leaves.
- niruri: the specific adjective is an indigenous term attributed to the natives of the Amazon that means "to break or break stone".
- Phyllanthus niruri subsp. lathyroid (Kunth) G. L. Webster
- Phyllanthus niruri subsp. niruri.
- Diasperus niruri (L.) Kuntze
- Niruris annua Raf.
- Nymphanthus niruri (L.) Lour.
- Phyllanthus lathyroides F. decoratus Standl. & Steyerm.
- Diasperus chlorophaeus (Baill.) Kuntze
- Diasperus lathyroides (Kunth) Kuntze
- D. microphyllus (Mart.) Kuntze
- D. rosellus (Müll. Arg.) Kuntze
- Phyllanthus chlorophaeus Baill.
- Phyllanthus lathyroides Kunth
- P. microphyllus Mart.
- P. mimosoides Lodd.
- Phyllanthus parvifolius Steud.
- Phyllanthus purpurascens Kunth
- P. rosellus (Müll. Arg.) Müll. Arg.
- P. williamsii Standl.
- Phyllanthus carolinianus White
- Niruris indicates Raf.
- Phyllanthus ellipticus Buckley
- Phyllanthus filiformis Pav. ex Baill.
- P. humilis Salisb.
- P. kirganelia White
- Phyllanthus lathyroides var. commutatus Müll.Arg.
- Phyllanthus moeroris OK in
- Erect urinary Medik.
The species Phyllanthus niruri It is native to the warm and temperate regions of South America, specifically the rainforests of Colombia, Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru. It is distributed in tropical environments around the world, such as India, China, the Bahamas in the Caribbean, Mexico and Texas in Central America, including in Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina.
It grows on humid meadows, low mountain evergreen forests, intervened or modified terrain, rocky areas, between paved walkways and around buildings. It is a wild plant that adapts to various types of soils and latitudinal floors between 500 and 2,500 meters above sea level..
Chancapiedra is a medicinal plant that contains various secondary metabolites that provide it with therapeutic and medicinal properties. Indeed, it contains flavonoids, tannins, terpenes and triterpenes, as well as lignin and vitamin C, considered effective natural antioxidants.
Its main properties include its ability to prevent and treat symptoms in association with the presence of kidney stones. Clinical studies have made it possible to determine its effect on the formation of stones, limiting their growth and favoring their expulsion through the urine..
In the same way, it prevents the appearance of stones in the gallbladder, prevents fluid retention and alleviates the symptoms of heartburn. Relieves muscle contractions, acts as a muscle relaxant and controls constipation.
Its consumption allows regulating glucose levels in the body and the high content of insulin in the blood or hyperinsulinism. It also inhibits the DNA reproduction of certain viruses, such as the HBV virus that causes hepatitis B.
On the other hand, its diuretic effect favors the elimination of sodium, which controls blood pressure, in turn protects the liver from poisoning. The antioxidant property of this plant prevents the appearance of certain types of cancer, such as lung and breast.
In addition, it is used as a home remedy to calm asthma, dilate the bronchial tubes and relieve a dry cough without expectorations. It is used in some regions to stimulate appetite, lower typhoid fever, and cure cold or flu symptoms.
Its intake is recommended as a natural treatment for different physiological disorders, such as cancer, diabetes, jaundice, loss of appetite and prostatitis. In the same way, pathologies related to dyspepsia or functional indigestion, dysentery, fevers, tumors or vaginitis..
Of the chancapiedra the branches, leaves, flowers, seeds and occasionally the root are used, in any form of consumption it has a bitter taste. This plant can be harvested directly in the field or commercially dehydrated and tinctured..
- Dry extract: the slightly crushed commercial product is used to prepare infusions or drinks. The recommended dose is 350 mg in three daily doses..
- Cooking: it is recommended to boil 30 grams in a liter of water for 10-15 minutes. The preparation is ingested or applied topically depending on the type of ailment.
- Powder: a dose of 1-2 g per day is suggested for this modality.
- Tincture: it is customary to take 15 drops diluted in water or fruit juice, 3 times a day.
- Infusion: the infusion is prepared with 20 gr or 3 medium leaves in a liter of boiling water. The mixture is left to stand, strain and consumed warm without any sweetener additives. It is advisable to take 1-2 cups a day, for no more than 3 months in a row.
- Juice or nectar: topically from the crushed leaves a juice or nectar is obtained that is mixed with a few drops of castor oil. Can be applied on external wounds or injuries, even a drop in each eye.
- Poultice: the fresh leaves can be crushed with a wood or heated on a budare until their tissues soften. Once bruised or cooled, it is placed on the area affected by arthritic or rheumatic pain and covered with a bandage or gauze.
- Ointment: the branches and leaves of the plant are crushed (the root can be included) and mixed with rice water to form a thick paste. The ointment thus prepared is applied to the affected area until the pain is calmed.
- Sap: The milky sap extracted from the fresh plant is applied directly to the skin to heal rashes or ulcers.
Even though the species Phyllanthus niruri has shown minimal side effects in human and animal studies, it can cause stomach upset. Its consumption is restricted in pregnant women, lactating women, children under 6 years of age, diabetic patients, with a medical prescription or with recent scheduled surgery..
The chancapiedra can be multiplied both by seeds and by suckers that sprout directly from the rhizomes. During spring, the rhizomes are separated from the mother plant and planted in a fertile substrate, placed in partial shade until new leaves sprout.
In the case of propagating through seeds, it is required to prepare seedbeds or planting beds under nursery conditions. It is recommended to use a substrate based on composted compost mixed with sand and black earth in equal parts.
Due to the small size of the seeds, it is recommended to mix with sand, to achieve a homogeneous distribution over the seedbeds. Once distributed, they are covered with a thin layer of sand or earth to protect them from wind and radiation..
It is essential to keep the substrate moist during the initial germination phase. After 15-30 days the seedlings reach 10-12 cm in height, being the opportune moment to transplant to the definitive field.
Adequate and timely watering after transplanting ensures the establishment of the crop. The plantations obtained through the transplant technique allow to obtain plants with greater vigor and yield of leaf area.
It is a plant that adapts to soils with a wide pH range, preferring soils with a loam-sandy and loamy-clay texture, loose and well drained. It grows as a rainfed crop in tropical and subtropical environments.
It is indifferent to lighting requirements. Being highly productive both in full sun exposure and in partially shaded places.
It is recommended to fertilize with worm humus or some type of composted organic fertilizer. The substrate must be prevented from drying out completely, otherwise the plant may reduce its development, dying in extreme conditions..
It is advisable to keep the crop free of weeds that interfere with the proper development of the crop. In this case, weeding must be done regularly, preferably manually, the application of herbicide can cause a residual effect..
Like any medicinal plant, its cultivation must be exclusively organic, avoiding the application of chemical fertilizers or pesticides. It is recommended to use organic fertilizers, worm castings, compost, bioles or green manures.
In areas where the luvias are distributed frequently throughout the year, the application of irrigation is not necessary. However, in locations where rainfall is rare, occasional irrigation is required..
The prevention of some type of disease or pest attack must be carried out organically. There are several highly effective plant-based biopesticides such as Azadirachta indica (Neen), Plumbago indica (Chitrak mool) or flowers of the genus Dhatura.
The harvest begins at the end of the rainy season, when it has a herbaceous appearance and shows a bright green color. The harvest consists primarily of separating the foliar area of the plant, since it is the structure where the highest content of active components is concentrated..
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