''Hebanthe erianthos'' (many

synonyms A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are all ...

, including ''Iresine erianthos'' and ''Pfaffia paniculata''), known as suma or Brazilian ginseng, is a species of plant in the family Amaranthaceae. The

specific epithet In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...

is also spelt "''eriantha''", although the

basionym In the scientific name of organisms, basionym or basyonym means the original name on which a new name is based; the author citation of the new name should include the authors of the basionym in parentheses. The term "basionym" is used in both botan ...

is ''Iresine erianthos''. The root of this rambling ground vine found in South America is used traditionally as a medicine and tonic. Nicknamed "para tudo" in Brasil, which means "for everything", suma is a traditional

herb In general use, herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables and other plants consumed for macronutrients, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal ...

al medicine. The indigenous peoples of the Amazon region have used suma root for generations for a wide variety of health purposes, including as a general tonic; as an energy, rejuvenating, and sexual tonic; a calming agent; to treat ulcers; and as a cure-all for at least 300 years. The root contains

phytochemical Phytochemicals are chemical compounds produced by plants, generally to help them resist fungi, bacteria and plant virus infections, and also consumption by insects and other animals. The name comes . Some phytochemicals have been used as poisons ...

s including

saponin Saponins (Latin "sapon", soap + "-in", one of), also selectively referred to as triterpene glycosides, are bitter-tasting usually toxic plant-derived organic chemicals that have a foamy quality when agitated in water. They are widely distributed ...

s ( pfaffosides),"Triterpenoids from Brazilian Ginseng, ''Pfaffia paniculata''" Jing Li, Atul N. Jadhav, Ikhlas A. Kha
Tropical Plant Database
pfaffic acid, beta-ecdysterone, glycosides, and nortriterpenes.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15591411 Amaranthaceae Flora of Brazil Flora of Ecuador Flora of Panama Flora of Paraguay Flora of Peru Flora of Venezuela Flora of the Amazon Flora of the Cerrado Medicinal plants of South America Plants described in 1813

See also

References