Abuta

Abuta is known throughout South America as the midwives’ herb because of its long use for women’s complaints ^{39Reference 39Taylor · 2025Abuta (Cissampelos pareira) — traditional uses by region and people, preparations, alkaloids and contraindications — ethnobotanical database, from The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs, 2nd editionView study →}.

The vine or root is used to prevent a threatened miscarriage and to stop uterine bleeding after childbirth. Midwives in the Amazon still carry it for menstrual cramps, pain before and after childbirth, excessive menstrual bleeding and uterine haemorrhage ^{39Reference 39Taylor · 2025Abuta (Cissampelos pareira) — traditional uses by region and people, preparations, alkaloids and contraindications — ethnobotanical database, from The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs, 2nd editionView study →}.

Several peoples have their own uses for it ^{39Reference 39Taylor · 2025Abuta (Cissampelos pareira) — traditional uses by region and people, preparations, alkaloids and contraindications — ethnobotanical database, from The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs, 2nd editionView study →}:

• The Palikur of Guyana apply a poultice of the leaves to relieve pain.
• The Wayãpi drink a decoction of the leaf and stem for pain.
• Kichwa communities of Ecuador use a leaf decoction for eye infections and snakebite, a leaf tea for rheumatism, and a tea of the vine wood and bark for irregular heartbeat and heavy menstrual bleeding.
• Creoles in Guyana soak the leaves, bark and roots in rum and take it as an aphrodisiac.
• Indigenous peoples of Peru use the seeds for snakebite, fever and venereal disease, and as a diuretic and expectorant. Healers (curanderos) toast the seeds and brew them into a tea for internal and external bleeding.

In Mexico abuta has long been used for muscle inflammation, snakebite, rheumatism, diarrhoea, dysentery and menstrual problems ^{39Reference 39Taylor · 2025Abuta (Cissampelos pareira) — traditional uses by region and people, preparations, alkaloids and contraindications — ethnobotanical database, from The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs, 2nd editionView study →}.

Abuta reached North American practice as an imported Amazonian herb, and it is used for many of the same complaints as in South America. Practitioners add inflammation of the testicles and minor kidney problems, and give it for poor digestion, drowsiness after meals and constipation ^{35,39Reference 35Taylor · 2005The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs: A Guide to Understanding and Using Herbal Medicinals — reference textReference 39Taylor · 2025Abuta (Cissampelos pareira) — traditional uses by region and people, preparations, alkaloids and contraindications — ethnobotanical database, from The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs, 2nd editionView study →}.

In Ayurveda the plant is laghupatha, the lesser patha. Cyclea peltata, known as rajpatha, carries the same name and is used interchangeably ^{40Reference 40Fern · 2026Cissampelos pareira — habit, range, habitat, cultivation, Ayurvedic names and alkaloids — species databaseView study →}. Stephania japonica is also sold as patha ^{33Reference 33Samanta et al. · 2012Phytochemical investigation and pharmacognostic standardization of Cissampelos pareira root — phytochemical analysisView study →}.

The root is used for urinary complaints and skin infections, as a diuretic, and for malaria and convulsions ^{33Reference 33Samanta et al. · 2012Phytochemical investigation and pharmacognostic standardization of Cissampelos pareira root — phytochemical analysisView study →}. It goes into many traditional formulas for rheumatism, ulcers and fevers ^{8Reference 8Bafna et al. · 2010In vitroAntioxidant and immunomodulatory activity of the alkaloidal fraction of Cissampelos pareira Linn — in vitro and in vivo (mice)View study →}.

Tribal communities in India, including in Assam, use the plant to prevent pregnancy ^{23,33,37Reference 23Ganguly et al. · 2007AnimalAntifertility activity of the methanolic leaf extract of Cissampelos pareira in female albino mice — animal model (mice)View study →Reference 33Samanta et al. · 2012Phytochemical investigation and pharmacognostic standardization of Cissampelos pareira root — phytochemical analysisView study →Reference 37Tiwari et al. · 1982Folklore information from Assam for family planning and birth control — ethnobotanical survey}. Ethnic minorities in India also use the leaves for nervous and mental complaints ^{11Reference 11Asif M et al. · 2021AnimalAnti-depressant, anxiolytic, and muscle relaxant activity of hydroalcoholic extract of Cissampelos pareira Linn. leaves — animal model (mice)View study →}.

Abuta is used in Yunnan and in Dai ethnomedicine under the name xi sheng teng (锡生藤) ^{41Reference 41Hu et al. · 2008Cissampelos pareira var. hirsuta (Buchanan-Hamilton ex Candolle) Forman — genus and variety description, distribution and varieties — floraView study →}.

It is used first as a trauma herb, to relieve pain, stop bleeding and repair damaged tissue. It is given for falls, sprains, bleeding from open wounds, rheumatic joint pain and stomach pain, and is applied as a powder or poultice as well as taken internally.

A bioassay-guided Indian programme found that an alcoholic extract of C. pareira (Cipa) inhibited all four dengue serotypes in cell-based assays. It cut viral titres by roughly an order of magnitude and reduced NS1 secretion. In the AG129 mouse model it gave statistically significant protection while lowering TNF-α, a cytokine tied to severe dengue ^{3Reference 3Sood et al. · 2015In vitroCissampelos pareira Linn: Natural source of potent antiviral activity against all four dengue virus serotypes — in vitro and in vivo mouse modelView study →}.

The extract also showed its own antipyretic activity and had no adverse effect on platelet counts ^{3Reference 3Sood et al. · 2015In vitroCissampelos pareira Linn: Natural source of potent antiviral activity against all four dengue virus serotypes — in vitro and in vivo mouse modelView study →}.

Separately, connectivity-map screening plus in vitro assays found anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity for the same extract ^{4Reference 4Haider et al. · 2022In vitroAnti-SARS-CoV-2 potential of Cissampelos pareira L. identified by connectivity map-based analysis and in vitro studies — in vitro and in silicoView study →}. Patents have been filed on the dengue application; no human trial has followed.

A rat study tested a 50% ethanolic root extract (200 and 400 mg/kg) across acute, subacute and chronic models. Carrageenan-induced paw oedema was reduced by about 60–64%, with dose-dependent protection also against histamine-, serotonin- and prostaglandin-E₂-induced oedema, formaldehyde oedema and cotton-pellet granuloma ^{5Reference 5Amresh et al. · 2007AnimalEvaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of Cissampelos pareira root in rats — animal model (rat)View study →}.

The extract caused no gastric lesions at 100–400 mg/kg, and no toxicity or deaths up to 1,000 mg/kg ^{5Reference 5Amresh et al. · 2007AnimalEvaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of Cissampelos pareira root in rats — animal model (rat)View study →}. Polyhydroxylated pregnane and oleanane compounds from var. hirsuta inhibit nitric-oxide release in LPS-stimulated macrophages ^{20,21Reference 20Sun YJ et al. · 2021In vitroCytotoxic polyhydroxylated pregnane glycosides from Cissampelos pareira var. hirsuta — in vitroView study →Reference 21Sun Y et al. · 2022In vitroCytotoxic polyhydroxylated oleanane triterpenoids from Cissampelos pareira var. hirsuta — in vitroView study →}.

A 50% aqueous-ethanolic root extract produced significant, dose-dependent pain relief in mice. It reduced acetic-acid writhing by about 52% at 400 mg/kg, lengthened hot-plate reaction time 2.7-fold, and gave 71% protection against complete-Freund’s-adjuvant arthritis ^{6Reference 6Amresh et al. · 2007AnimalAntinociceptive and antiarthritic activity of Cissampelos pareira roots — animal model (mouse/rat)View study →}.

A comparative study against Cyclea peltata confirmed analgesic activity for both the powder and the ethanolic extract in radiant-heat and writhing models ^{7Reference 7Singh et al. · 2016AnimalComparative antipyretic and analgesic activities of Cissampelos pareira Linn. and Cyclea peltata — animal model (rat)View study →}.

Both results are rodent-only, unreplicated, and at high doses.

The alkaloidal fraction of the roots (containing ~0.18% berberine) showed strong scavenging of DPPH and superoxide radicals and inhibited iron-induced lipid peroxidation in rat-liver homogenate ^{8Reference 8Bafna et al. · 2010In vitroAntioxidant and immunomodulatory activity of the alkaloidal fraction of Cissampelos pareira Linn — in vitro and in vivo (mice)View study →}. Recent work on stem and leaf extracts found high total phenolic (up to ~96 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid content with matching in vitro antioxidant capacity ^{9Reference 9Thim-Uam A et al. · 2025In vitroPhytochemical screening and in vitro antioxidant and anticancer evaluation of stem and leaf extracts of Cissampelos pareira L. — in vitroView study →}. Antioxidant-enzyme restoration recurs as a secondary finding in the hepatoprotective and cardioprotective studies ^{10,16Reference 10Surendran S et al. · 2011In vitroIn vitro and in vivo hepatoprotective activity of Cissampelos pareira against carbon-tetrachloride-induced hepatic damage — in vitro and animal model (rat)View study →Reference 16Singh BK et al. · 2016AnimalCissampelos pareira Linn. ameliorates thyroxin-induced cardiac hypertrophy in rats — animal model (rat)View study →}.

Gap: Entirely in vitro/ex vivo; no demonstration that oral dosing raises antioxidant status in a living system for this herb specifically.

Against carbon-tetrachloride injury, a hydroalcoholic root extract (100–400 mg/kg) significantly lowered raised AST, ALT, ALP and bilirubin, reduced lipid peroxidation, and raised SOD, catalase, GST, GPx and GSH. It also protected freshly isolated rat hepatocytes and HepG2 cells in vitro, in a dose-dependent way ^{10Reference 10Surendran S et al. · 2011In vitroIn vitro and in vivo hepatoprotective activity of Cissampelos pareira against carbon-tetrachloride-induced hepatic damage — in vitro and animal model (rat)View study →}.

Effect size compared favourably to silymarin. It is one study from one group, in an acute-injury model rather than a chronic or fibrotic one.

Antipyretic activity is one of abuta’s classical uses and appears consistently in preclinical work. C. pareira powder produced moderate fever reduction in the Brewer’s-yeast pyrexia model in rats ^{7Reference 7Singh et al. · 2016AnimalComparative antipyretic and analgesic activities of Cissampelos pareira Linn. and Cyclea peltata — animal model (rat)View study →}. The dengue-antiviral study also found antipyretic action in Wistar rats, and a stronger drop in temperature when the extract was given with paracetamol ^{3Reference 3Sood et al. · 2015In vitroCissampelos pareira Linn: Natural source of potent antiviral activity against all four dengue virus serotypes — in vitro and in vivo mouse modelView study →}. The effect sizes are modest and the work is rodent-only.

Two independent leaf-extract studies support activity on the central nervous system. A hydroalcoholic extract (200–400 mg/kg) showed antidepressant effects (reduced immobility in despair-swim and tail-suspension tests), anxiolytic effects (elevated-plus-maze, hole-board) and skeletal-muscle relaxation, with no deaths up to 2,000 mg/kg ^{11Reference 11Asif M et al. · 2021AnimalAnti-depressant, anxiolytic, and muscle relaxant activity of hydroalcoholic extract of Cissampelos pareira Linn. leaves — animal model (mice)View study →}.

A separate 70% hydroethanolic leaf extract confirmed anxiolytic activity across elevated-plus-maze, light-dark and forced-swim models, comparable to diazepam at 200–400 mg/kg ^{12Reference 12Thakur P · 2013AnimalEffect of Cissampelos pareira leaves on anxiety-like behavior in experimental animals — animal model (rat)View study →}.

Gap: Rodent behavioural models only. The muscle-relaxant finding fits the plant’s curare-type alkaloid chemistry and is also a safety consideration.

Two rat studies from the same group show cardioprotection. Root extract (100–200 mg/kg) lessened isoproterenol-induced cardiac dysfunction, restoring calcineurin, LDH, nitric oxide and glutathione-system markers and improving histology ^{15Reference 15Singh BK et al. · 2013AnimalEffect of Cissampelos pareira root extract on isoproterenol-induced cardiac dysfunction — animal model (rat)View study →}. It also reduced thyroxin-induced cardiac hypertrophy ^{16Reference 16Singh BK et al. · 2016AnimalCissampelos pareira Linn. ameliorates thyroxin-induced cardiac hypertrophy in rats — animal model (rat)View study →}.

The constituent tetrandrine has documented effects on heart function in animals and humans ^{39Reference 39Taylor · 2025Abuta (Cissampelos pareira) — traditional uses by region and people, preparations, alkaloids and contraindications — ethnobotanical database, from The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs, 2nd editionView study →}.

Gap: Both models come from one lab and are unreplicated; the traditional use for irregular heartbeat rests on the isolated alkaloid, not the whole herb.

An alkaloidal fraction of the roots was tested on immune responses in mice. It lowered the humoral antibody titre at 25 and 50 mg/kg, suppressed the delayed-type hypersensitivity response at 75 mg/kg, and showed no activity at the higher doses ^{8Reference 8Bafna et al. · 2010In vitroAntioxidant and immunomodulatory activity of the alkaloidal fraction of Cissampelos pareira Linn — in vitro and in vivo (mice)View study →}.

Nothing has been measured in a disease model.

Mostly cell-line cytotoxicity plus one in vivo model. A methanol extract showed cytotoxicity (IC₅₀ ~95 µg/mL) and extended lifespan by 54–72% in mice bearing Dalton’s lymphoma ^{17Reference 17Thavamani BS et al. · 2014In vitroAnticancer activity of Cissampelos pareira against Dalton’s lymphoma ascites-bearing mice — in vitro and animal model (mice)View study →}.

The classical isolate cissampareine was cytotoxic against nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells ^{18Reference 18Kupchan et al. · 1965In vitroCissampareine, new cytotoxic alkaloid from Cissampelos pareira; cytotoxicity of bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids — in vitroView study →}, and pareirubrine A showed antileukaemic activity ^{19Reference 19Morita et al. · 1993In vitroStructures and solid-state tautomeric forms of two novel antileukemic tropoloisoquinoline alkaloids (pareirubrines) from Cissampelos pareira — in vitroView study →}.

More recent var. hirsuta pregnane glycosides and oleanane triterpenoids reach low-µM IC₅₀s against several human lines ^{20,21Reference 20Sun YJ et al. · 2021In vitroCytotoxic polyhydroxylated pregnane glycosides from Cissampelos pareira var. hirsuta — in vitroView study →Reference 21Sun Y et al. · 2022In vitroCytotoxic polyhydroxylated oleanane triterpenoids from Cissampelos pareira var. hirsuta — in vitroView study →}, and n-hexane-fraction alkaloids (hayatinine, cycleanine) are active against KB/SiHa cells ^{22Reference 22Bala M et al. · 2015In vitroCytotoxic agents for KB and SiHa cells from the n-hexane fraction of Cissampelos pareira — in vitroView study →}.

Gap: One in vivo study; most activity is at concentrations the whole plant cannot deliver, and the strongest cytotoxic compounds come from a different variety.

A methanolic leaf extract given by mouth to female mice lengthened the estrous cycle (extended diestrus), altered LH, FSH, prolactin and estradiol, and significantly reduced litter numbers. Its oral LD₅₀ was 7.3 g/kg ^{23Reference 23Ganguly et al. · 2007AnimalAntifertility activity of the methanolic leaf extract of Cissampelos pareira in female albino mice — animal model (mice)View study →}.

In vitro, extract constituents down-regulate estrogen-response signatures through ERα ^{24Reference 24Haider M et al. · 2021In vitroTranscriptome analysis and connectivity mapping of Cissampelos pareira L. provides molecular links of ESR1 modulation to viral inhibition — in vitro and in silicoView study →}.

Gap: One rodent study, using the leaf. Its result runs opposite to the plant’s best-known traditional use in pregnancy, which relies on the vine and root.

An ethanolic root extract (25–100 mg/kg) reduced faecal output (29–60% inhibition) and intestinal fluid accumulation in the castor-oil model in a dose-dependent way. It slowed gastrointestinal transit and preferentially reduced luminal Na⁺, while also lowering lipid peroxidation ^{25Reference 25Amresh et al. · 2004AnimalEthnomedical value of Cissampelos pareira extract in experimentally induced diarrhoea — animal modelView study →}. It is a single study in an acute model, and it matches the traditional use for dysentery and diarrhoea.

Two rat studies came from one group. An alcoholic root extract (100–400 mg/kg) reduced urinary calcium and uric acid and limited crystal deposition in ethylene-glycol/ammonium-chloride-induced lithiasis ^{26Reference 26Sayana SB et al. · 2014AnimalEvaluation of antiurolithic activity of alcoholic extract of roots of Cissampelos pareira in albino rats — animal model (rat)View study →}. It also produced dose-dependent diuresis with increased Na⁺/K⁺/Cl⁻ excretion by the Lipschitz method ^{27Reference 27Sayana SB et al. · 2014AnimalEvaluation of diuretic activity of alcoholic extract of roots of Cissampelos pareira in albino rats — animal model (rat)View study →}. Both were short and have not been replicated elsewhere.

The main memory study used PM52, a combined extract of C. pareira and Anethum graveolens, not abuta alone. It lessened AF64A-induced memory loss and hippocampal neurodegeneration in rats through AChE suppression and reduced oxidative stress ^{13Reference 13Thukham-mee et al. · 2012AnimalEvaluation of safety and protective effect of combined extract of Cissampelos pareira and Anethum graveolens (PM52) against age-related cognitive impairment — animal model (rat)View study →}. Bioassay-guided isolation from the aerial parts yielded N-methylneolitsine, a potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (IC₅₀ ~12 µg/mL) ^{14Reference 14Haldar S et al. · 2024In vitroN-Methylneolitsine as a new and potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitor of Cissampelos pareira Linn. aerial parts — in vitro (bioassay-guided isolation)View study →}.

Gap: The in vivo cognitive benefit is a two-herb formula, so the effect cannot be attributed to abuta; the standalone data is a single enzyme-inhibition result.

Direct experimental support for the traditional antimalarial use is weak. Molecular-docking and dynamics studies predict that bisbenzylisoquinolines such as hayatinine and curine bind Plasmodium targets (dihydrofolate reductase, cGMP-dependent kinase, prolyl-tRNA synthetase) ^{28Reference 28Suresh PS et al. · 2023Bisbenzylisoquinolines from Cissampelos pareira L. as antimalarial agents: molecular docking, pharmacokinetics and molecular dynamics — in silicoView study →}. A Kenyan antiplasmodial screen tested the genus among many plants, with mixed potency ^{29Reference 29Rukunga GM et al. · 2009In vitroAnti-plasmodial activity of the extracts of some Kenyan medicinal plants — in vitroView study →}.

Gap: No whole-extract in vivo antimalarial study; the claim is essentially in silico plus constituent-level inference.

Acute toxicity. A 50% aqueous-ethanolic extract caused no deaths and no changes in blood chemistry, blood counts or organ tissue in rats given 1 or 2 g/kg a day by mouth for 28 days ^{30Reference 30Amresh G et al. · 2008AnimalToxicological screening of traditional medicine Laghupatha (Cissampelos pareira) in experimental animals — animal model (acute/subacute)View study →}. The dengue study found no toxicity at up to 2 g/kg for a week ^{3Reference 3Sood et al. · 2015In vitroCissampelos pareira Linn: Natural source of potent antiviral activity against all four dengue virus serotypes — in vitro and in vivo mouse modelView study →}. No long-term toxicity study has been done ^{30Reference 30Amresh G et al. · 2008AnimalToxicological screening of traditional medicine Laghupatha (Cissampelos pareira) in experimental animals — animal model (acute/subacute)View study →}.

Muscle-relaxant alkaloids. The plant belongs to the curare (arrow-poison) alkaloid family and carries skeletal-muscle-relaxant constituents ^{2,11Reference 2Semwal et al. · 2014ReviewFrom arrow poison to herbal medicine — the ethnobotanical, phytochemical and pharmacological significance of Cissampelos (Menispermaceae) — reviewView study →Reference 11Asif M et al. · 2021AnimalAnti-depressant, anxiolytic, and muscle relaxant activity of hydroalcoholic extract of Cissampelos pareira Linn. leaves — animal model (mice)View study →}. Additive effects with sedatives or neuromuscular-blocking drugs are plausible at high intake.

Immune effects. The one documented immune effect of the alkaloid fraction is immunosuppression at low doses ^{8Reference 8Bafna et al. · 2010In vitroAntioxidant and immunomodulatory activity of the alkaloidal fraction of Cissampelos pareira Linn — in vitro and in vivo (mice)View study →}. This matters for anyone who is immunocompromised or taking immunosuppressant medication.

Blood pressure and heart. Abuta lowered blood pressure in two animal studies, so it may not suit people with low blood pressure. Its alkaloid tetrandrine has documented effects on heart function, and abuta may add to the effect of prescription heart medicines ^{39Reference 39Taylor · 2025Abuta (Cissampelos pareira) — traditional uses by region and people, preparations, alkaloids and contraindications — ethnobotanical database, from The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs, 2nd editionView study →}.

Interactions. Herb–drug interactions have not been formally studied, and no CYP450 data exist.