Erythrina americana Miller ("Colorín"; Fabaceae), a Versatile Resource from Mexico: A Review

We present a review of published and unpublished information on the multipurpose tropical legume tree, Erythrina americana. The genus Erythrina (Fabaceae) consists of 115 species distributed throughout the tropical regions of the world; 25 species are known from Mexico. E. americana is used as an or...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Economic botany 2001-07, Vol.55 (3), p.391-400
Main Authors: Rosario García-Mateos, Marcos Soto-Hernández, Vibrans, Heike
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alkaloids
Animal feed
Antimalarial agents
Asthma
Biological and medical sciences
Biological taxonomies
Birds
Central nervous system
Cocoa
Coffee
Diuretics
Economic botany
Erythrina
Fabaceae
Feeds
Flowers
Food crops
General pharmacology
Legumes
Live fences
Medical sciences
Ornamental trees
Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food
Pharmacology
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Plants
Seeds
Shade trees
Tropical environment
Tropical environments
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Summary:We present a review of published and unpublished information on the multipurpose tropical legume tree, Erythrina americana. The genus Erythrina (Fabaceae) consists of 115 species distributed throughout the tropical regions of the world; 25 species are known from Mexico. E. americana is used as an ornamental tree, also as shade for cocoa and coffee and as a support tree, as a live fence, and for green manure and animal feed. The flowers are frequently eaten, used to make tea and as a sedative. The seeds are toxic because of alkaloids; they are applied in folk medicine as laxative, diuretic, expectorant, anti-asthmatic and antimalarial. The first compounds isolated were isoquinoline alkaloids; of these, β-erythroidine and its more potent derivate dihydro-β-erythroidine were shown to possess curariform activity. Of both compounds, the LD50has been evaluated, and their effects on the central nervous system have been studied. These studies confirmed some applications in popular medicine. /// Presentamos un panorama de información publicada e inédita sobre la leguminosa arborescente tropical de uso múltiple, Erythrina americana. El género Erythrina (Fabaceae) comprende 115 especies distribuidas a través de las regiones tropicales del mundo; 25 de ellas se encuentran en México. E. americana se usa como árbol ornamental, como árbol de sombra en cultivos de café y cacao, como soporte en otros cultivos y en cercos vivos en linderos, también como abono y alimento para animales. Las flores son comestibles y a partir de ellas se preparan infusiones, a los cuales se atribuyen propiedades sedativas. Las semillas son tóxicas por la presencia de alcaloides. En la medicina tradicional se emplea como laxante, diuretico, expectorante, antiasmático y antimalárico. Los primeros compuestos aislados fueron los alcaloides isoquinolínicos; de ellos, la β-erythroidina y su más potente derivado, la dihidro-β-erythroidina, presentan actividad curariforme. Se conoce la LD50, y se han estudiado sus efectos en el sistema nervioso central. Los estudios fitoquímicos y farmacológicos convalidan algunas de las propiedades medicinales atribuidas a esta especie en la medicina popular.
ISSN:0013-0001
1874-9364
DOI:10.1007/BF02866562