Parastrephia lucida (Meyen) Cabrera

MARÍA INÉS ISLA; IRIS CATIANA ZAMPINI ; ANA SOLEDAD CUELLO

Medicinal, Aromatic Plants of World, Vol. 7, Ákos Máthé and Arnaldo Bandoni (Eds): Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of South America Vol. 2

Springer

Año: 2021; p. 399 - 410

Parastrephia lucida, known as “romero”, “tola” o “t’hola”, “chachakoa”, “tola de río”, “tola de agua”, is a medicinal plant found in large areas in the semiarid Puna of Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru. It is part of the landscape called “tolar”, with other species of Parastrephia, Baccharis, and Fabiana. The “tolares” have been a very important fuel source and sometimes the only one available. Currently its use as firewood is limited for greater access. Although its resources are protected by both legal and police protection measures, still it is occasionally used as firewood. P. lucida is a plant species resistant to cold, high ultraviolet radiation, drought and salinity. Since ancient times, P. lucida is widely used as medicine by the local communities of the Puna region, mainly for dislocations, traumatism, pain, as anti-inflammatory, febrifuge, antibiotic, acaricide, among others. Progress has been made in the scientific validation of its medicinal properties and in the knowledge of the chemistry of this plant, demonstrating that hydroalcoholic extracts could be used as antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, potent antibiotics, and acaricide. Furthermore, the infusion showed potent antioxidant capacity. No toxic, mutagenic nor pro-mutagenic effects were described to P. lucida. Although in vivo studies would be necessary to fully demonstrate the safety of the extracts, prolonged traditional use by local communities would support their safety to be ingested or used locally. The use of native plant species from South America as an alternative to more common and commercial plant species would have a positive impact on local communities’ economies.