Cyclolepis genistoides D. Don

The aerial parts of Cyclolepis genistoides, commonly called “palo azul” or “matorro negro”, are widely used in folk medicine in Paraguay, Northern and central Argentina, as a diuretic and for the treatment of kidney diseases, urinary tract irritation, kidney pain, bone pain (analgesic). It is also used as an antipyretic, as a blood purifier, against liver diseases and as a hypotensive. The main metabolites identified in the chloroform extract of aerial parts are oleanolic, ursolic and betulinic acids and other closely related triterpenes along with the sesquiterpene lactones deacylcynaropicrin and its 11,13-dihydroderivative. Most of the uses of this plant could be justified by the known biological effects of above metabolites. Very little is known about the water-soluble metabolites of “palo azul”, and as such, research on the content of polyphenols, flavonoid glycosides, chlorogenic acid, dicaffeoylquinic acids and phenyletanoids are welcome.