Difference between revisions of "Boldo"

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:''"Boldo" is also a settlement in [[Arauco Province]] (Chile) named after this tree.''
 
 
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'''''Peumus boldus''''', the only [[species]] in the [[genus]] '''''Peumus''''', is commonly known as '''boldo''' (from the [[Mapudungun]] name '''''foḻo'''''). This tree of the [[family (biology)|family]] [[Monimiaceae]] is natively [[endemism|endemic]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.innerpath.com.au/matmed/herbs/Peumus_boldus.htm|title=Peumus boldus, Peumus bolod, Boldo -Western-|last=Coop|first=Paul|website=www.innerpath.com.au|access-date=2017-12-11}}</ref>{{Verify source|date=June 2011}} to the central region of [[Chile]], occurring from [[33rd parallel south|33°]] to [[40th parallel south|40° southern latitude]]. Boldo has also been introduced to [[Europe]] and [[North Africa]], though it is not often seen outside [[botanical garden]]s.
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'''Boldo''' is a tree used for its aromatic leaves, considered medicinal and brewed as a tea.
 
 
Together with ''litre'', [[Soap bark tree|''quillay'']], ''peumo'', ''bollén'' and other indigenous plants, it is a characteristic component of the [[sclerophyllous]] forest [[endemism|endemic]] to central Chile.  Its leaves, which have a strong, woody and slightly bitter flavor and [[camphor]]-like aroma, are used for culinary purposes, primarily in Latin America.  The leaves are used in a similar manner to [[bay leaf|bay leaves]] and also used as an [[herbal tea]], primarily in [[Chile]], [[Bolivia]], [[Argentina]], [[Paraguay]], [[Peru]], [[Uruguay]], [[Brazil]] and bordering countries in [[South America]].
 
 
 
==Growth==
 
Although not well known, boldo fruits, which appear between December and February, are very tasty, nutritious, small, green, edible spheres. Boldo's assertive flavor comes primarily from the presence of the chemical [[ascaridole]], which is also present in the ''[[epazote]]'' plant.
 
 
 
==Uses==
 
In Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Paraguay boldo is mixed with ''[[yerba mate]]'' or other teas to moderate its flavor. Some families keep a boldo plant at home for this purpose, although boldo [[teabag]]s are readily available in nearly all supermarkets.
 
 
 
Boldo and plants with similar properties are widely used as mild [[folk medicine]] in various South American countries in both urban and rural areas, even among people who do not usually drink [[herbal tea]]s other than [[yerba mate|mate beverage]]. Boldo is officially listed as phytotherapic plant as [[cholagogue]] and [[choleretic]], for treatment of mild [[dyspepsia]] in Brazilian [[pharmacopoeia]].<ref>ANVISA (Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária). 2011 [http://www.anvisa.gov.br/hotsite/farmacopeiabrasileira/conteudo/Formulario_de_Fitoterapicos_da_Farmacopeia_Brasileira.pdf  Formulario de Fitoterapicos da Farmacopeia Brasileira] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323002129/http://www.anvisa.gov.br/hotsite/farmacopeiabrasileira/conteudo/Formulario_de_Fitoterapicos_da_Farmacopeia_Brasileira.pdf |date=March 23, 2014 }}. Brasilia, Governo Federal do Brasil.</ref>
 
 
 
Boldo is in the family [[Monimiaceae]], which is closely related to the family [[Lauraceae]] (which includes many other plants used for their aromatic leaves, such as [[cinnamon]], [[Cinnamomum aromaticum|cassia]], [[bay laurel|bay leaf]], and [[Camphor Laurel|camphor laurel]].)
 
 
 
==Toxicity==
 
[[File:Boldine.svg|thumb|right|[[Boldine]]]]
 
In 2009, the European Medicines Agency assessed boldo as follows:
 
 
 
Boldo leaf contains the alkaloid [[boldine]]. Boldo leaf also contains 2-4% of volatile oil. Major constituents reported as: [[ascaridole]] (16-38%), [[1,8-cineole]] (11-39%) and [[p-Cymene]] (9-29%).<ref>Bradley, 2006</ref>{{full|date=November 2014}}  Ascaridole is highly toxic, and this raises concerns about the suitability of boldo leaf in traditional herbal medicinal products.
 
 
 
[[Abortifacient]] and [[teratogenic]] effects in rats were observed with very high doses (800 mg/kg) of a dry [[ethanolic]] extract of boldine in the first days of pregnancy, not present at lower doses.<ref name="EMA2009">{{ cite web | url = http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/Herbal_-_HMPC_assessment_report/2009/12/WC500018102.pdf | format = pdf | title = Assessment Report on ''Peumus boldus'' Molina, Folium | id = Doc. Ref.: EMEA/HMPC/591131/2007 | author = Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC) | publisher = European Medicines Agency | year = 2009 }}</ref>
 
 
 
Most investigations have been carried out using boldine. Limited information is available on herbal preparations of boldo leaf and where studies have been reported, details of the preparations are usually lacking. There are no reported genotoxicity or carcinogenicity studies with herbal preparations of boldo leaf.
 
 
 
Boldo oil should not be used internally or externally. Where boldo leaf is used, the total exposure to ascaridole should be considered from a safety standpoint. The levels of ascaridole in herbal medicinal products should be quantified. In view of the low solubility of ascaridole in water the use of aqueous extracts including herbal teas could be accepted.{{medcn|date=May 2017}} The use of ethanolic extracts of boldo leaf is not considered acceptable for traditional herbal medicinal products in view of the potentially higher levels of the toxic ascaridole constituent.<ref name="EMA2009" />
 
 
 
==References==
 
{{Reflist}}
 
 
 
==External links==
 
{{Portal|Trees}}
 
*{{ cite web | url = http://gernot-katzers-spice-pages.com/engl/Peum_bol.html | title = Boldo leaves (''Peumus boldus'' Molina) | work = Gernot Katzer's Spice Pages }}
 
*{{ cite web | url = http://www.chilebosque.cl/tree/pbold.html | title = Pictures and information of Boldo tree, leaves and flowers }}
 
*{{ cite web |trans-title=Chilean plants cultivated in Spain | title = Plantas de la flora de Chile cultivadas en España | language = Spanish | url = http://www.arrakis.es/~jmanuel/Plantaschilenas.pdf | format = pdf | accessdate = 2009-06-27 }}
 
 
 
{{Herbs & spices}}
 
  
 
[[Category:Monimiaceae]]
 
[[Category:Monimiaceae]]
[[Category:Laurales genera]]
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[[Category:Plants Keenan has eaten]]
[[Category:Chilean Matorral]]
 
[[Category:Trees of Chile]]
 
[[Category:Trees of Mediterranean climate]]
 
[[Category:Drought-tolerant trees]]
 
[[Category:Endemic flora of Chile]]
 
[[Category:Medicinal plants of South America]]
 
[[Category:Dietary supplements]]
 
[[Category:Herbs]]
 
[[Category:Herbal tea]]
 
[[Category:Poisonous plants]]
 

Latest revision as of 16:07, 7 July 2019

Boldo
Peumus boldus - Köhler–s Medizinal-Pflanzen-104.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Magnoliids
Order: Laurales
Family: Monimiaceae
Genus: Peumus
Molina
Species:
P. boldus
Binomial name
Peumus boldus
Molina

Boldo is a tree used for its aromatic leaves, considered medicinal and brewed as a tea.