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Little Hand Flower

Compilation by Armando Gonzalez Stuart, PhD

Scientific Name:

Chiranthodendron pentadactylon

Botanical Family:

Malvaceae

Other Common Name:

Devil’s hand tree, Handflower tree, Mexican handplant, Macpalxóchitl, Mapilxóchitl, Mecapalxóchitl, Cacpalxóchitl, Camxóchitl, Canaco, Canahue, Papasúchil, Teyacua (Quattrocchi, 2012; Wieresma and León, 2012; Berdonces, 2009; White, 2002; Linares et al., 1999; Martínez, 1994).

Common names in Spanish:

Flor de manita, Árbol de las manitas, Manita, Mano de dragón, Mano de león, Mano de mico, Palo de mecate, Palo de tayuyo, (Quattrocchi, 2012; Wieresma and León, 2012; White, 2002; Sánchez-Monge, 2001; Argueta, 1994; Schoenhals, 1988).

Where is it found?

This tree is native to southern Mexico and Guatemala (Quattrocchi, 2012; Mabberley, 2008; Johnson, 1999; Argueta, 1994; Martínez, 1994).

Parts of the plant used:

Principally the flowers, although sometimes the leaves and the bark of the tree are also used (Argueta and Zolla, 2014; Berdonces, 2009).

How is it used?

In Mexico and parts of Central America, the flowers are commonly decocted in water and taken as a tea for various medicinal purposes, including the treatment of diarrhea (Velázquez et al., 2012). The decoction can also be applied externally as a wash (Martínez, 1989).

What is it used for?

The flowers have been used in Mexican traditional medicine for centuries, especially in combination with various other medicinal plants, for the treatment of diverse health problems. These include nervousness, epilepsy, headaches, insomnia, depression, dizziness, as an anodyne (for pain), inflammation, ulcers, eye inflammation, piles, and as a stimulant for heart problems (Argueta and Zolla, 2014; Jiménez, 2012; Mendoza-Castelán and Lugo-Pérez, 2011; Quattrocchi, 2012; Berdonces, 2009; Mabberley, 2008; Adame and Adame, 2000; Johnson, 1999; Linares et al., 1999; Argueta, 1994). Externally, the decoction of the flowers is used as a wash to treat afflictions affecting the pubic area, as well as a poultice to treat hemorrhoids (Linares et al., 1994, 1999; Martínez, 1989).

Mendoza-Castelán and Lugo-Pérez (2011) mention that the plant has an anti-cholinergic effect. Additionally, the alkaloids and glycosides contained in the flowers have a combined synergistic action that exerts a digitalis-like effect that stimulates the heart.
However, there are no known clinical studies published in the English language to confirm its effectiveness for the treatment of cardiovascular problems.

There are scientifically-documented studies regarding little hand flower extracts that confirm their potential use for the treatment of certain gastrointestinal diseases, including diarrhea and dysentery (Calzada et al., 2010; Velázquez et al., 2006). Research by Velázquez et al. (2009) employed a methanol extract of the flowers and their flavonoid compounds in order to assess their antisecretory activity against cholera toxin-induced intestinal secretion in an animal model (rat jejunal loops). One for the plant’s flavonoids, epicatechin, demonstrated the most powerful antisecretory activity with a potency that was very similar to that of loperamide, the drug used as a control. This finding partially supports the traditional use of the plant against dysentery and diarrhea.

Studies have shown that extracts obtained from the flowers possess important antibacterial as well as anti protozoan actions that are useful in the treatment of certain infectious gastrointestinal diseases (Calzada et al., 2006; Alanís et al., 2005).

Velázquez et al. (2012) conducted computational, in vitro, and in vivo studies to assess the antisecretory activity of a flavonoid compound (epicatechin) isolated from a crude extract obtained from the flowers. The results of this study, including the effects of the plant compound on pathogenic bacterial toxins (Vibrio cholera and Escherichia coli), demonstrated the potential of epicatechin as a novel antisecretory compound. These results seem to back up the traditional medicinal use of the little hand flower for the treatment of gastrointestinal problems, including diarrhea.

 

Safety / Precautions

Safety/Precautions:

  • The safety of using products made from this plant (either internally or externally) during pregnancy and lactation has not been established.
  • Avoid taking this plant during pregnancy and lactation.
  • Talk to your healthcare provider first before taking this plant if you are currently taking anti-hypertensive or anti-epileptic prescription medications, to avoid a possible herb-drug interaction.

Before you decide to take any medicinal herb or herbal supplement, be sure to consult with your health care professional first. Avoid self-diagnosis and self-medication: Always be on the safe side!

 

References:

Adame J, Adame H. Plantas Curativas del Noreste Mexicano.
Monterrey, México: Ediciones Castillo; 2000; p. 101.

Alanís AD, Calzada F, Cervantes JA, Torres J, Ceballos GM. Antibacterial properties of some plants used in Mexican traditional medicine for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2005;100 (1-2):153-7.

Argueta A. Atlas de las Plantas de la Medicina Tradicional Mexicana Vol.2.
Mexico City: Instituto Nacional Indigenista; 1994; pp. 644-645.

Argueta A, Zolla C. Plantas Medicinales de Uso Tradicional en la Ciudad de México.
México, D.F.: UNAM; 2014; pp. 63-64.

Berdonces J L. Gran Diccionario de las Plantas Medicinales.
Barcelona, Spain: Editorial Océano; 2009; pp. 489-490.

Calzada F, Yépez-Mulia L, Aguilar A. In vitro susceptibility of Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia to plants used in Mexican traditional medicine for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. J Ethnopharmacol. 2006; 108(3):367-70.

Calzada F, Arista R, Pérez H. Effect of plants used in Mexico to treat gastrointestinal disorders on charcoal-gum acacia-induced hyperperistalsis in rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2010; 128(1):49-51. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2009.12.022.

Jiménez A. Herbolaria mexicana 2a ed.
Madrid: Mundi-Prensa; 2012; p. 193.

Johnson T. CRC Ethnobotany Desk Reference.
Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press; 1999; p. 196.

Linares E, Flores B, Bye R. Selección de Plantas Medicinales de México.
México, D.F.: UTEHA/Noriega Editores; 1994; pp. 44-45.

Linares E, Bye R, Flores B. Plantas Medicinales de México-Usos y Remedios Tradicionales.
México, D.F.: Jardín Botánico UNAM; 1999; pp. 56-57.

Mabberley D. Mabberley’s Plant Book 3rd ed.
London: Cambridge University Press; 2008; p.180 .

Martínez M. Las Plantas Medicinales de México.
México, D.F.: Editorial Botas; 1989; pp. 421-422.

Martínez M. Catálogo de Nombres Vulgares y Científicos de Plantas Mexicanas.
México, D.F.: Fondo de Cultura Económica; 1994; p. 348.

Mendoza-Castelán G, Lugo-Pérez R. Plantas Medicinales en los Mercados de México. Chapingo, Estado de México: Universidad Autónoma Chapingo; 2011; pp. 390-391.

Quattrocchi, U. World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants (Vol. 2).
Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press; 2012; p. 227.
Sánchez-Monge E. Diccionario de Plantas de Interés Agrícola Vol. 1.
Madrid: Ministerio de Agricultura; 2001; p. 333.

Schoenhals L. A Spanish-English Glossary of Mexican Flora and Fauna.
Mexico City: Summer Institute of Linguistics: 1988; p. 48.

Velázquez C, Calzada F, Torres J, González F, Ceballos G. Antisecretory activity of plants used to treat gastrointestinal disorders in Mexico. J Ethnopharmacol. 2006;103(1):66-70.

Velázquez C, Calzada F, Esquivel B, Barbosa E, Calzada S. Antisecretory activity from the flowers of Chiranthodendron pentadactylon and its flavonoids on intestinal fluid accumulation induced by Vibrio cholerae toxin in rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2009;126(3):455-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2009.09.016.

Velázquez C, Correa-Basurto J, Garcia-Hernandez N, Barbosa E, Tesoro-Cruz E, Calzada S, Calzada F. Anti-diarrheal activity of (-)-epicatechin from Chiranthodendron pentadactylon Larreat: experimental and computational studies. J Ethnopharmacol. 2012;143(2):716-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2012.07.039.

White R. Elsevier’s Dictionary of Plant Names of North America Including Mexico.
Amsterdam: Elsevier; 2003; p. 48.

Wieresma J H., León B. World Economic Plants, a Standard Reference 2nd ed.
Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press; 2013; p. 170.