A Paradoxically Significant Medicinal Plant Carapichea ipecacuanha: A Review

Background: Carapichea ipecacuanha (Brot.) L. Andersson is the botanical source of Ipecac drug and contains major alkaloids emetine, cephaline that are pharmaceutically used against bronchitis associated with cough in children, severe diarrhea (amoebic dysentery) and also cancer. Ipecac serves as an expectorant to thin mucous and easy coughing. Low doses are used to enhance appetite and it is administered orally to cause vomiting after suspected poisoning. Materials and Methods: The review highlights the taxonomy, nomenclature, distribution, medicinal uses and major pharmacological activities including side effects of Ipecac drug reported in recent years consulting various published papers dealing with Ipecac. Results and Conclusion: The species is rarely distributed due to disturbances in their habitats in natural growing condition. Further studies are required to scientifically evaluate the traditional uses of this plant through extraction and identification of their active ingredients and the mechanisms and mode of action that would serve as a source of collective information on this plant.