Hebanthe erianthos
| Suma | |
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| Species: | H. eriantha
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| Binomial name | |
| Hebanthe eriantha (Poir.) Pedersen
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Hebanthe eriantha (Pfaffia paniculata, suma or Brazilian ginseng) is a species of plant in the Amaranthaceae family.
The root of this rambling ground vine found in South America is used traditionally as a medicine and tonic. Nicknamed "para tudo" which means "for all," suma is a traditional herbal medicine.[citation needed]
Nutritionally, suma root contains 19 different amino acids, a large number of electrolytes, trace minerals, iron, magnesium, zinc, vitamins A, B1, B2, E, K, and pantothenic acid. Its high germanium content probably accounts for its properties as an oxygenator at the cellular level; its high iron content may account for its traditional use for anemia. The root also contains novel phytochemicals including saponins (pfaffosides),[1] pfaffic acid, beta-ecdysterone, glycosides, and nortriterpenes.[2]
References
- Vieira, Roberto F. (1999) Conservation of medicinal and aromatic plants in Brazil. p. 152–159. In: J. Janick (ed.), Perspectives on new crops and new uses. ASHS Press, Alexandria, VA.
Notes
- ^ "Triterpenoids from Brazilian Ginseng, Pfaffia paniculata" Jing Li, Atul N. Jadhav, Ikhlas A. Khan Tropical Plant Database
- ^ "The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs" by Leslie Taylor, 2005 quoted by Tropical Plants Database: [1]