''Pilocarpus'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of about 13 species of plants belonging to the family

Rutaceae The Rutaceae is a family, commonly known as the rueRUTACEAE
in BoDD – Botanical Derm ...

, native to the

Neotropics The Neotropical realm is one of the eight biogeographic realms constituting Earth's land surface. Physically, it includes the tropics, tropical Ecoregion#Terrestrial, terrestrial ecoregions of the Americas and the entire South American temperat ...

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the southe ...

. Various species are important

pharmacologically Pharmacology is a branch of medicine, biology and pharmaceutical sciences concerned with drug or medication action, where a drug may be defined as any artificial, natural, or endogenous (from within the body) molecule which exerts a biochemica ...

as a source of the

parasympathomimetic A parasympathomimetic drug, sometimes called a cholinomimetic drug or cholinergic receptor stimulating agent, is a substance that stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS). These chemicals are also called cholinergic drugs because acet ...

alkaloid Alkaloids are a class of basic, naturally occurring organic compounds that contain at least one nitrogen atom. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even weakly acidic properties. Some synthetic compounds of similar ...

pilocarpine Pilocarpine is a medication used to reduce pressure inside the eye and treat dry mouth. As eye drops it is used to manage angle closure glaucoma until surgery can be performed, ocular hypertension, primary open angle glaucoma, and to bring abou ...

. Many of the species have the common name jaborandi.

Etymology

The

taxonomic Taxonomy is the practice and science of categorization or classification. A taxonomy (or taxonomical classification) is a scheme of classification, especially a hierarchical classification, in which things are organized into groups or types. ...

name ''Pilocarpus'' is derived from ancient Greek πῖλος wool, felt + καρπός fruit.

Species

;Selected species *''

Pilocarpus jaborandi ''Pilocarpus jaborandi'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Rutaceae, native to northeast Brazil. It is a source of the drug pilocarpine Pilocarpine is a medication used to reduce pressure inside the eye and treat dry mouth. As ey ...

'' (Pernambuco jaborandi) *''

Pilocarpus microphyllus ''Pilocarpus microphyllus'', the Maranham Jaborandi, is a plant species in the genus ''Pilocarpus'' found native to several states in northern Brazil. Commercial production of the alkaloid muscarinic receptor agonist pilocarpine is derived entir ...

'' (Maranham jaborandi) *''

Pilocarpus racemosus ''Pilocarpus'' is a genus of about 13 species of plants belonging to the family Rutaceae, native to the Neotropics of South America. Various species are important pharmacologically as a source of the parasympathomimetic alkaloid pilocarpine. Man ...

'' (Guadeloupe jaborandi) *''

Pilocarpus pennatifolius ''Pilocarpus'' is a genus of about 13 species of plants belonging to the family Rutaceae, native to the Neotropics of South America. Various species are important pharmacologically as a source of the parasympathomimetic alkaloid pilocarpine. Man ...

'' (Paraguay jaborandi) *''

Pilocarpus spicatus ''Pilocarpus'' is a genus of about 13 species of plants belonging to the family Rutaceae, native to the Neotropics of South America. Various species are important pharmacologically as a source of the parasympathomimetic alkaloid pilocarpine ...

'' (Aracati jaborandi)

References

External links

Germplasm Resources Information Network: ''Pilocarpus''
{{Taxonbar, from=Q429314 Zanthoxyloideae Taxa named by Martin Vahl Zanthoxyloideae genera