MULLACA

Family: Solanaceae

Genus: Physalis

Species: angulata

Synonyms: Physalis capsicifolia, Physalis lanceifolia, Physalis ramosissima

Common names: Mullaca, camapu, bolsa mullaca, cape gooseberry, wild tomato, winter cherry, juá-de-capote, capulí cimarrón, battre-autour, k’u chih, ‘urmoa batoto bita, cecendet, dumadu harachan, hog weed, nvovo, polopa, saca-buche, thongtheng, tino-tino, topatop, wapotok

Price: £22.50 – 1lb / 454 gm Bag

Parts Used: Whole plant, leaves, roots

From The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs:

Mullaca is an annual herb indigenous to many parts of the tropics, including the Amazon. It can be found on most continents in the tropics, including Africa, Asia, and the Americas. It grows up to 1 m high, bears small, cream-colored flowers, and produces small, light yellowish-orange, edible fruit sometimes referred to as cape gooseberry. The fruit is about the size of a cherry tomato, and like tomatoes, it contains many tiny edible seeds inside. Mullaca propagates easily from the many seeds the fruit contains; spontaneous clumps of plants can be found along river banks and just about anywhere the soil is disturbed and the canopy is broken (allowing enough sunlight to promote its rapid growth).

TRIBAL AND HERBAL MEDICINE USES

Mullaca has long held a place in natural medicine in the tropical countries where it grows. Its use by rainforest Indians in the Amazon is well documented, and its edible sweet-tart fruits are enjoyed by many rainforest inhabitants, animal and human alike. Indigenous tribes in the Amazon use a leaf infusion as a diuretic. Some Colombian tribes believe the fruits and leaves have narcotic properties and also decoct them as an anti-inflammatory and disinfectant for skin diseases; others use a leaf tea for asthma. Indigenous peoples in the Peruvian Amazon use the leaf juice internally and externally for worms and the leaves and/or roots for earache, liver problems, malaria, hepatitis, and rheumatism. Indigenous tribes in the Brazilian Amazon use the sap of the plant for earaches and the roots for jaundice. Mullaca has also been used by indigenous peoples for female disorders. In the Solomon Islands, the fruit of mullaca is decocted and taken internally to promote fertility. A tea is made of the entire plant and/or the leaves in the West Indies and Jamaica to prevent miscarriages. In Peru the leaf is infused and used to treat postpartum infections.

Mullaca is employed in herbal medicine systems today in both Peru and Brazil. In Peruvian herbal medicine the plant is called mullaca or bolsa mullaca. To treat diabetes, the roots of three mullaca plants are sliced and macerated in 1/4 liter of rum for seven days. Honey is added, and 1/2 glass of this medicine is taken twice daily for 60 days. In addition, an infusion of the leaves is recommended as a good diuretic, and an infusion of the roots is used to treat hepatitis. For asthma and malaria, the dosage is 1 cup of tea made from the aerial parts of the plant. In Brazilian herbal medicine the plant is employed for chronic rheumatism, for skin diseases and dermatitis, as a sedative and diuretic, for fever and vomiting, and for many types of kidney, liver, and gallbladder problems.

PLANT CHEMICALS

Phytochemical studies on mullaca reveal that it contains many types of biologically active, naturally occurring chemicals including flavonoids, alkaloids, and many different types of plant steroids, some of which have never before been seen in science. Mullaca has been the subject of recent clinical research (which is still ongoing), based on the preliminary studies showing that it is an effective immune stimulant, is toxic to numerous types of cancer and leukemia cells, and that it has antimicrobial properties. The new steroids found in mullaca have received the most attention, and many of the documented anti-cancerous, anti-tumorous and anti-leukemic actions are attributed to these steroids.

Various extracts of mullaca, as well as these extracted plant steroids called physalins, have shown strong in vitro and in vivo (mice) activity against numerous types of human and animal cancer cells including lung, colon, nasopharynx, liver, cervix, melanoma and glioma (brain) cancer cells. This cancer research began in the early 1980s with researchers in Thailand and the U.S. and was verified with research performed at the University of Taiwan in 1992 (where they demonstrated a significant effect against five human cancer cell lines and three animal cancer cell lines). Then in 2001, researchers at the University of Houston isolated yet another new chemical in mullaca which demonstrated remarkable toxicity against nasopharynx cancer cells, lung (adenocarcinoma) cancer cells as well as leukemia in mice. The same Taiwanese researchers had already published a separate study on mullaca’s other anti-leukemic phytochemicals in 1992, reporting that two physalin chemicals inhibited the growth of five types of acute leukemia, including lymphoid (T & B), promyelocytic, myeloid and monocytic.

Other researchers in China and Russia independently demonstrated significant immunomodulatory effects against blastogenesis (a process triggered in leukemia) while boosting other immune functions which might account for the anti-leukemic effects in mice seen by other researchers. With tumor cells, research suggests that several of the steroidal chemicals in mullaca act on an enzyme level to arrest the normal cell cycle in cancer cells as well as cause DNA damage inside of cancer cells (making them unable to replicate).

The main plant chemicals isolated in mullaca thus far include: ayanin, chlorogenic acid, choline, ixocarpanolide, myricetin, phygrine, physagulin A thru G, physalin A thru K, physangulide, sitosterol, vamonolide, withaminimin, withangulatin A, withanolide D, withanolide T, and withaphysanolide.

BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES AND CLINICAL RESEARCH

In addition to mullaca’s anticancerous and antileukemic actions, several research groups have confirmed mullaca’s antibacterial and antiviral activity. Most recently in 2002 and 2000, mullaca was shown to be active in vitro against several strains of mycobacteriums and mycoplasmas (both very stubborn types of bacteria which are not widely susceptible to standard antibiotics). In addition to these actions, mullaca has demonstrated effective antibacterial properties in vitro against numerous types of gram positive and gram negative bacteria, including Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus. Other research groups in Japan have been focusing on mullaca’s antiviral actions and preliminary studies show that it is active in vitro against Polio virus I, Herpes simplex virus I, the measles virus, and HIV-I – demonstrating reverse transcriptase inhibitory effects.

Mullaca has also been reported to reduce spasms in guinea pigs, lower blood pressure in cats and to contract isotonic muscles in toads. In the test tube, mullaca was shown to have an anticoagulant effect. Western scientists did somewhat validate the indigenous use for diabetes when they reported a mild hypoglycemic effect in mice fed a water extract of the root. One must wonder what the results would have been if they had followed native customs and employed an alcohol extract instead.

CURRENT PRACTICAL USES

Interestingly enough, much of the clinical research has ignored the local and indigenous uses of the plant; thus, many of its effective uses in herbal medicine remain unexplained. Its tested antibacterial properties could validate its use as a antiseptic and disinfectant for skin diseases and its use to treat gonorrhea. Its antiviral properties could well explain its long history of use for hepatitis, although scientists have not tested it specifically against hepatitis. Possibly the antispasmodic and muscle contractive properties documented for mullaca might explain its widespread use for asthma and female disorders as well. Yet its widespread use throughout the rainforests for malaria and fevers remains unexplained by science.

Herbal practitioners in both South and North America today rely on mullaca for various bacterial and viral infections as well as a complementary therapy for cancer and leukemia. Although not widely available here in the U.S., it is found as an ingredient in various herbal formulas and in bulk supplies. The animal studies conducted to date indicate no toxicity at any of the dosages used indicating that is a safe natural remedy.

Traditional Preparation: Depending on what it is employed for, generally one-half to one cup of a whole herb infusion 1-3 times daily or 1-2 ml of a 4:1 tincture twice daily is used. Two to 4 grams of powdered whole herb (depending on body weight) in tablets or capsules or stirred into water or juice twice daily can be substituted if desired (since the active sterol chemicals are completely water soluble).

Contraindications: One animal study indicates this plant may lower blood pressure and one test tube study demonstrated a blood anticoagulant activity. People with blood disorders such as hemophilia, those taking heart medications or blood thinners, or those with other heart problems such as low blood pressure should not use this plant without supervision and advice of a qualified health care practitioner.

Drug Interactions: None reported; however, see above contraindications.

The above text has been printed from The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs by Leslie Taylor, copyrighted © 2005

All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, including websites, without written permission.

A complete Technical Data Report is available for this plant.

† The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information contained in this plant database file is intended for education, entertainment and information purposes only. This information is not intended to be used to diagnose, prescribe or replace proper medical care. The plant described herein is not intended to treat, cure, diagnose, mitigate or prevent any disease. Please refer to our Conditions of Use for using this plant database file and web site.

Third-Party Published Research on Mullaca

Available third-party documentation and research on mullaca be found at PubMed. A partial listing of the third-party published research on mullaca is shown below: Antimicrobial Actions (antiviral, antibacterial, antimycoplasmal, antimycobacterial):

Silva, M. T., et al. “Studies on antimicrobial activity, in vitro, of Physalis angulata L. (Solanaceae) fraction and physalin B bringing out the importance of assay determination.” Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz. 2005 Nov; 100(7): 779-82.

Hwang, J. K., et al. “Anticariogenic activity of some tropical medicinal plants against Streptococcus mutans.” Fitoterapia. 2004 Sep; 75(6): 596-8.

Pietro, R. C., et al. “In vitro antimycobacterial activities of Physalis angulata L.” Phytomedicine 2000; 7(4): 335–38.

Januario, A. H., et al. “Antimycobacterial physalins from Physalis angulata L. (Solanaceae).” Phytother. Res. 2002; 16(5): 445-48.

Hussain, H., et al. “Plants in Kano ethnomedicine; screening for antimicrobial activity and alkaloids.” Int. J. Pharmacol. 1991; 29(1): 51–56.

Otake, T., et al. “Screening of Indonesian plant extracts for anti-Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Type 1 (HIV-1) Activity.” Phytother. Res. 1995; 9(1): 6–10.

Kurokawa, M., et al. “Antiviral traditional medicines against Herpes simplex virus (HSV-1), polio virus, and measles virus in vitro and their therapeutic efficacies for HSV-1 infection in mice.” Antiviral Res. 1993; 22(2/3): 175–88.

Kusumoto, I. T., et al. “Screening of some Indonesian medicinal plants for inhibitory effects on HIV-1 protease.” Shoyakugaku Zasshi 1992; 46(2): 190-93.

Ogunlana, E. O., et al. “Investigations into the antibacterial activities of local plants.” Planta Med. 1975; 27: 354.

Cytotoxic, Anticancerous & Antileukemic Actions:

Ausseil, F., et al. “High-throughput bioluminescence screening of ubiquitin-proteasome pathway inhibitors from chemical and natural sources.” J. Biomol. Screen. 2006 Dec 14;

Kuo, P. C., et al. “Physanolide A, a novel skeleton steroid, and other cytotoxic principles from Physalis angulata.” Org. Lett. 2006 Jul; 8(14): 2953-6.

Ichikawa, H., et al. “Withanolides potentiate apoptosis, inhibit invasion, and abolish osteoclastogenesis through suppression of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation and NF-kappaB-regulated gene expression.” Mol. Cancer Ther. 2006; 5(6): 1434-45.

Magalhaes, H. I., et al. “In-vitro and in-vivo antitumour activity of physalins B and D from Physalis angulata.” J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 2006; 58(2): 235-41.

Jacobo-Herrera, N. J., et al. “Physalins from Witheringia solanacea as modulators of the NF-kappaB cascade.” J. Nat. Prod. 2006; 69(3): 328-31.

Magalhaes, H. I., et al. “In-vitro and in-vivo antitumour activity of physalins B and D from Physalis angulata.” J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 2006 Feb; 58(2): 235-41.

Hsieh, W. T., et al. “Physalis angulata induced G2/M phase arrest in human breast cancer cells.” Food Chem Toxicol. 2006; 44(7): 974-83.

Lee, C. C., et al. “Cytotoxicity of plants from Malaysia and Thailand used traditionally to treat cancer.” J. Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Sep; 100(3): 237-43.

Wu, S. J., et al. “Antihepatoma activity of Physalis angulata and P. peruviana extracts and their effects on apoptosis in human Hep G2 cells.” Life Sci. 2004 Mar; 74(16): 2061-73.

Leyon, P. V., et al. “Effect of Withania somnifera on B16F-10 melanoma induced metastasis in mice.” Phytother. Res. 2004; 18(2): 118-22.

Kawai, M., et al. “Cytotoxic activity of physalins and related compounds against HeLa cells.” Pharmazie 2002; 57(5): 348–50.

Ismail, N., et al. “A novel cytotoxic flavonoid glycoside from Physalis angulata.” Fitoterapia. 2001 Aug. 72(6):676–79.

Lee, Y. C., et al. “Integrity of intermediate filaments is associated with the development of acquired thermotolerance in 9L rat brain tumor cells.” J. Cell. Biochem. 1995; 57(1): 150–62.

Perng, M. D., et al. “Induction of aggregation and augmentation of protein kinase-mediated phosphorylation of purified vimentin intermediate filaments by withangulatin A.” Mol. Pharmacol. 1994; 46(4): 612–17.

Chiang, H., et al. “Antitumor agent, physalin F from Physalis angulata L.” Anticancer Res. 1992; 12(3): 837–43.

Chiang, H., et al. “Inhibitory effects of physalin B and physalin F on various human leukemia cells in vitro.” Anticancer Res. 1992; 12(4): 1155–62.

Kusumoto, I., et al. “Inhibitory effect of Indonesian plant extracts on reverse transcriptase of an RNA tumour virus (I).” Phytother. Res. 1992; 6(5): 241–44.

Lee, W. C., et al. “Induction of heat-shock response and alterations of protein phosphorylation by a novel topoisomerase II inhibitor, withangulatin A, in 9L rat brain tumor cells.” Cell Physiol. 1991; 149(1): 66-67.

Chen, C. M., et al. “Withangulatin A, a new withanolide from Physalis angulata.” Heterocycles. 1990; 31(7):1371–75.

Basey, K., et al. “Phygrine, an alkaloid from Physalis species.” Phytochemistry. 1992; 31(12): 4173–76.

Juang, J. K., et al. “A new compound, withangulatin A, promotes type II DNA topoisomerasemediated DNA damage.” Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 1989; 159(3): 1128–34.

Anon. “Biological assay of antitumor agents from natural products.” Abstr.: Seminar on the Development of Drugs from Medicinal Plants Organized by the Department of Medical Science Department at Thai Farmer Bank, Bangkok, Thailand 1982; 129.

Antoun, M. D., et al. “Potential antitumor agents. XVII. physalin B and 25,26-epidihydrophysalin C from Witheringia coccoloboides.” J. Nat. Prod. 1981; 44(5): 579–85.

Immunomodulatory Actions:

Soares, M. B., et al. “Physalins B, F and G, seco-steroids purified from Physalis angulata L., inhibit lymphocyte function and allogeneic transplant rejection.” Int. Immunopharmacol. 2006; 6(3): 408-14.

Garcia, E. S., et all. “Trypanosoma rangeli: effects of physalin B on the immune reactions of the infected larvae of Rhodnius prolixus.” Exp. Parasitol. 2006; 112(1): 37-43.

Soares, M. B., et al. “Inhibition of macrophage activation and lipopolysaccaride-induced death by seco-steroids purified from Physalis angulata L.” Eur. J. Pharmacol. 2003; 459(1): 107-12.

Lin, Y. S., et al. “Immunomodulatory activity of various fractions derived from Physalis angulata L. extract.” Amer. J. Chinese Med. 1992; 20(3/4): 233–43.

Shingu, K., et al. “Three new withanolides, physagulins E, F and G from Physalis angulata L.” Chem. Pharm. Bull. 1992; 40(9): 2448–51.

Sakhibov, A. D., et al. “Immunosuppressive properties of vitasteroids.” Dokl. Akad. Nauk. Uzb. SSR. 1990; 1:43–45.

Pain-relieving, Antispasmodic, & Anti-inflammatory Actions:

Bastos, G. N., et al. “Antinociceptive effect of the aqueous extract obtained from roots of Physalis angulata L. on mice.” J. Ethnopharmacol. 2006 Jan; 103(2): 241-5.

Vieira, A.T., et al. “Mechanisms of the anti-inflammatory effects of the natural secosteroids physalins in a model of intestinal ischaemia and reperfusion injury.” Br. J. Pharmacol. 2005 Sep; 146(2): 244-51.

Choi, E. M., et al. “Investigations of anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of Piper cubeba, Physalis angulata and Rosa hybrida.” J. Ethnopharmacol. 2003 Nov; 89(1): 171-5.

Cox, P. A. “Pharmacological activity of the Samoan ethnopharmacopoeia.” Econ. Bot. 1989; 43(4): 487–97.

Neuroprotective & Neuro-repairing Actions:

Tohda, C., et al. “Search for natural products related to regeneration of the neuronal network.” Neurosignals. 2005; 14(1-2): 34-45.

Kuboyama, T., et al. “Neuritic regeneration and synaptic reconstruction induced by withanolide A.” Br. J. Pharmacol. 2005 Apr; 144(7): 961-71.

Anti-cholesterol & Antioxidant Actions:

Choi, E.M., et al. “Effect of some medicinal plants on plasma antioxidant system and lipid levels in rats.” Phytother. Res. 2005; 19(5): 382-6.

Anticoagulant Actions:

Kone-Bamba, D., et al. “Hemostatic activity of 216 plants used in traditional medicine in the Ivory Coast.” Plant Med. Phytother. 1987; 21(2): 122–30.

Antiparasitic & Antimalarial Actions:

Abe, F., et al. “Trypanocidal constituents in plants 6. 1) Minor withanolides from the aerial parts of Physalis angulata.” Chem. Pharm. Bull. 2006; 54(8): 1226-8.

Choudhary, M. I., et al. “Antileishmanial physalins from Physalis minima.” Chem. Biodivers. 2005 Sep; 2(9):1164-73.

Choudhary, M. I., et al. “Biotransformation of physalin H and leishmanicidal activity of its transformed products.” Chem. Pharm. Bull. 2006; 54(7): 927-30.

Garcia, E. S., et al. “Trypanosoma rangeli: effects of physalin B on the immune reactions of the infected larvae of Rhodnius prolixus.” Exp. Parasitol. 2006; 112(1): 37-43.

Nagafuji, S., et al. “Trypanocidal constituents in plants 4. Withanolides from the aerial parts of Physalis angulata.” Biol. Pharm. Bull. 2004; 27(2): 193-7.

Ankrah, N. A., et al. “Evaluation of efficacy and safety of a herbal medicine used for the treatment of malaria.” Phytother Res. 2003; 17(6): 697-701.

dos Santos, J. A., et al. “Molluscicidal activity of Physalis angulata L. extracts and fractions on Biomphalaria tenagophila (d’Orbigny, 1835) under laboratory conditions.” Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz. 2003 Apr; 98(3): 425-8.

Ingredients: 100% pure mullaca (Physalis angulata) whole herb (root, leaf, stem and flowers). No binders, fillers or additives are used. This product is non-irradiated and non-fumigated. It is a wild harvested product—grown naturally in the Brazilian Amazon without any pesticides or fertilizers.

Suggested Use: This plant is best prepared as an infusion (tea): Use one teaspoon of powder for each cup of water. Pour boiling water over herb in cup and allow to steep 10 minutes. Strain tea (or allow settled powder to remain in the bottom of cup) and drink warm. It is traditionally taken in ½ to 1 cup dosages, 2-3 times daily. For more complete instructions on preparing herbal infusions see the Methods for Preparing Herbal Remedies Page.

Contraindications:

One animal study indicates this plant may lower blood pressure and one test tube study demonstrated a blood anticoagulant activity. This plant is contraindicated for people with hemophilia, and those with low blood pressure should monitor their blood pressure accordingly.

Drug Interactions: None reported.