Cissampelos pareira is known as abuta and is widely used in Asia and in the Caribbean for its antioxidant properties, stomach pain, regulating menstrual flow, and high blood pressure.
The chemical properties of abuta are the following: the leaf contains alkaloids, hayatin, and carbohydrates.
Studies by Tramil conducted on abuta show that in an “hydroalcoholic extract (50%) of dried root is credited with antihistamine and antispasmodic effect in vitro (1 mg/mL) on guinea pig ileum.”
Abuta is a fairly unknown herb in the Western world thus there are little studies on abuta or even the trace on it introduction or perhaps even origin in the Caribbean. Our little knowledge of this plant is at odds with indigenous knowledge of people or even animals, as the people that come in regular contact with the plant know it best such as Macandal, “He held out his hand to a cow; she sniffed and drew back her head with frightened eyes, snorting” (18).
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