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Espinheira santa contains a group of well known plant chemicals called maytansinoids including two important chemicals named maytansine and maytanprine. These plant chemicals have been studied since the early 1970's and are now developed into several chemotherapy drugs.* For more information about espinheira santa (Maytenus ilicifolia), please refer to the Database File for Espinheira Santa in the Tropical Plant Database. To see pictures of this plant, click here.

Traditional Uses:* for cancer (melanoma, carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, lymphoma, leukemia); for stomach disorders (ulcers, acid reflux, gastritis, dyspepsia, indigestion, and to tone, balance, and strengthen the gastric tract); as a menstrual stimulant and for estrogen hormonal balancing during menopause; for adrenal exhaustion and to support adrenal function; for detoxification (skin, blood, kidney, stomach, adrenals)

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: Animal studies suggests that water extracts of espinheira santa may have estrogenic effects and reduce fertility in females. Women seeking treatment for infertility, attempting to get pregnant, or those with estrogen positive cancers should not use this plant.
Drug Interactions: None reported.

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Third-Party Research on Espinheira Santa

All available third-party research on espinheira santa be found at PubMed/Medline. A partial listing of the third-party published research on espinheira santa updated through Feb 2019 is shown below:

Anticancerous & Antileukemic Actions:
Espinheira santa contains several chemicals with documented anticancerous actions including maytansine, pristimerin, and maytenin and other triterpene chemicals called cangorins. The anticancer activities of pristimerin have been illustrated in various cancer cell lines and animal models in recent research. It has been found to inhibit in vitro and in vivo proliferation, survival, angiogenesis and metastasis of tumor cells.
Sun, J., et al. "Induction of cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis in human cholangiocarcinoma cells by pristimerin." J. Cell Biochem. 2019 Mar 1.
Cevatemre, B., et al. "A promising natural product, pristimerin, results in cytotoxicity against breast cancer stem cells in vitro and xenografts in vivo through apoptosis and an incomplete autopaghy in breast cancer." Pharmacol. Res. 2018 Mar; 129: 500-514.
Zhang, Y., et al. "Pristimerin enhances the effect of cisplatin by inhibiting the miR 23a/Akt/GSK3β signaling pathway and suppressing autophagy in lung cancer cells." Int. J. Mol. Med. 2019 Mar; 43(3): 1382-1394.
Lee, Y., et al. "Combination of pristimerin and paclitaxel additively induces autophagy in human breast cancer cells via ERK1/2 regulation." Mol. Med. Rep. 2018 Nov; 18(5): 4281-4288.
Tu, Y., et al. "Pristimerin targeting NF-κB pathway inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells." Cell. Biochem. Funct. 2018 Jun; 36(4): 228-240.
Park J., and Kim, J. "Pristimerin, a naturally occurring triterpenoid, attenuates tumorigenesis in experimental colitis-associated colon cancer. Phytomedicine. 2018 Mar; 42: 164-171.
El-Agamy, D., et al. "Pristimerin protects against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity and
fibrosis through modulation of Nrf2 and MAPK/NF-kB signaling pathways." Cancer Manag. Res. 2018 Dec; 11: 47-61.
Mori, Y., et al. "Antitumor effects of pristimerin on human osteosarcoma cells in vitro and in vivo." Onco. Targets Ther. 2017 Nov; 10: 5703-5710.
Zhang, B., et al. "Pristimerin effectively inhibits the malignant phenotypes of uveal melanoma cells by targeting NF κB pathway." Int. J. Oncol. 2017 Sep; 51(3): 887-898.
Yan, Y., et al. "Degradation of P-glycoprotein by pristimerin contributes to overcoming ABCB1-mediated chemotherapeutic drug resistance in vitro." Oncol. Rep. 2017 Jan; 37(1): 31-40.
Yousef, B., et al. "Anticancer potential and molecular targets of pristimerin: A mini- review. Curr. Cancer Drug Targets. 2017; 17(2): 100-108.
Liu, Y., et al. "Anticancer agent pristimerin inhibits IL-2 induced activation of T lymphocytes. J. Exp. Ther. Oncol. 2016 Jul; 11(3): 181-188.
Lee, S., et al. "Anti-cancer effect of pristimerin by inhibition of HIF-1α involves the SPHK-1 pathway in hypoxic prostate cancer cells." BMC Cancer. 2016 Aug; 16: 701.
Xie, G., et al. "Pristimerin overcomes adriamycin resistance in breast cancer cells through suppressing Akt signaling." Oncol. Lett. 2016 May; 11(5): 3111-3116.
Yousef, B., et al. "Pristimerin inhibits proliferation, migration and invasion, and induces apoptosis in HCT-116 colorectal cancer cells." Biomed. Pharmacother. 2016 Apr; 79: 112-9.
Zhao, H., et al. "Pristimerin triggers AIF-dependent programmed necrosis in glioma cells via activation of JNK." Cancer Lett. 2016 Apr; 374(1): 136-148.
Yousef, B., et al. "Pristimerin demonstrates anticancer potential in colorectal cancer cells by inducing G1 phase arrest and apoptosis and suppressing various pro-survival signaling proteins." Oncol. Rep. 2016 Feb; 35(2): 1091-100.
Huang, S., et al. "Pristimerin inhibits prostate cancer bone metastasis by targeting PC-3 stem cell characteristics and VEGF-induced vasculogenesis of BM-EPCs." Cell. Physiol. Biochem. 2015; 37(1): 253-68.
Bukhari, S., et al. "Effects of plants and isolates of Celastraceae family on cancer pathways." Anticancer Agents Med. Chem. 2015; 15(6): 681-93. Review.
Deeb, D., et al. "Inhibition of hTERT/telomerase contributes to the antitumor activity of pristimerin in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells." Oncol. Rep. 2015 Jul; 34(1): 518-24.
Gao, X., et al. "Anticancer activity of pristimerin in ovarian carcinoma cells is mediated through the inhibition of prosurvival Akt/NF-κB/mTOR signaling." J. Exp. Ther. Oncol. 2014; 10(4): 275-83.
Liu, Y., et al. "Ubiquitin-proteasomal degradation of antiapoptotic survivin facilitates induction of apoptosis in prostate cancer cells by pristimerin." Int. J. Oncol. 2014 Oct; 45(4): 1735-41. Araújo Júnior, R., "Maytenus ilicifolia dry extract protects normal cells, induces apoptosis and regulates Bcl-2 in human cancer cells." Exp. Biol. Med. 2013 Nov; 238(11): 1251-8.
Liu, Y., et al. "Pristimerin induces apoptosis in prostate cancer cells by down-regulating Bcl-2 through ROS-dependent ubiquitin-proteasomal degradation pathway." J. Carcinog. Mutagen. 2013 Nov 5; Suppl 6:005.
Deeb, D., et al. "Pristimerin, a quinonemethide triterpenoid, induces apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells through the inhibition of pro-survival Akt/NF-κB/mTOR signaling proteins and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2." Int. J. Oncol. 2014 May; 44(5): 1707-15.
Guo, Y., et al. "Triterpenoid pristimerin induced HepG2 cells apoptosis through ROS-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction." J. BUON. 2013 Apr-Jun; 18(2): 477-85.
Yan, Y., et, al. "The triterpenoid pristimerin induces U87 glioma cell apoptosis through reactive oxygen species-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction." Oncol. Lett. 2013 Jan; 5(1): 242-248.
Wang, Y., et al. "Pristimerin causes G1 arrest, induces apoptosis, and enhances the chemosensitivity to gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer cells." PLoS One. 2012; 7(8): e43826.
Mu, X., et al. "Pristimerin inhibits breast cancer cell migration by up- regulating regulator of G protein signaling 4 expression." Asian Pac. J. Cancer Prev. 2012; 13(4): 1097-104.
Mu, X., et al. "Pristimerin, a triterpenoid, inhibits tumor angiogenesis by targeting VEGFR2 activation." Molecules. 2012 Jun; 17(6): 6854-68.
Yadav, V., et al. "Targeting inflammatory pathways by triterpenoids for prevention and treatment of cancer." Toxins (Basel). 2010 Oct; 2(10): 2428-66.
Lu, Z., et al. "Pristimerin induces apoptosis in imatinib-resistant chronic myelogenous leukemia cells harboring T315I mutation by blocking NF-kappaB signaling and depleting Bcr-Abl." Mol. Cancer. 2010 May 19; 9: 112.
Petronelli, A., et al. "Triterpenoids as new promising anticancer drugs." Anticancer Drugs. 2009 Nov; 20(10): 880-92
Byun, J., et al. "Reactive oxygen species-dependent activation of Bax and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 is required for mitochondrial cell death induced by triterpenoid pristimerin in human cervical cancer cells." Mol Pharmacol. 2009 Oct; 76(4): 734-44.
Tiedemann, R., et al. "Identification of a potent natural triterpenoid inhibitor of proteosome chymotrypsin-like activity and NF-kappaB with antimyeloma activity in vitro and in vivo." Blood. 2009 Apr; 113(17): 4027-37.
Costa, P., et al. "Antiproliferative activity of pristimerin isolated from Maytenus ilicifolia (Celastraceae) in human HL-60 cells." Toxicol In Vitro. 2008 Jun; 22(4): 854-63.
Liu Z, et al. "Metabolism studies of the anti-tumor agent maytansine and its analog ansamitocin P-3 using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry." J. Mass. Spectrom. 2005; 40(3): 389-99.
Nakao, H., et al. "Cytotoxic activity of maytanprine isolated from Maytenus diversifolia in human leukemia K562 cells." Biol. Pharm. Bull. 2004; 27(8): 1236-40.
Cassady, J. M., et al. "Recent developments in the maytansinoid antitumor agents." Chem. Pharm. Bull. 2004; 52(1): 1-26.
Ohsaki, A., et al. "Four new triterpenoids from Maytenus ilicifolia." J. Nat. Prod. 2004; 67(3): 469-71.
Horn, R. C., et al. "Antimutagenic activity of extracts of natural substances in the Salmonella/microsome assay." Mutagenesis. 2003 Mar; 18(2): 113-8.
Buffa Filho, W., et al. "Quantitative determination for cytotoxic Friedo-nor-oleanane derivatives from five morphological types of Maytenus ilicifolia (Celastraceae) by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography." Phytochem. Anal. 2002 Mar-Apr; 13(2): 75-8.
Miura, N. et al. "Protective effects of triterpene compounds against the cytotoxicity of cadmium in HepG2 cells." Mol. Pharm. 1999; 56(6); 1324-28.
Liu, C., et al. "Eradication of large colon tumor xenografts by targeted delivery of maytansinoids." Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 1996 Aug; 93(16): 8618-23.
Shirota, O., et al. "Cytotoxic aromatic triterpenes from Maytenus ilicifolia and Maytenus chuchuhuasca." J. Nat. Prod. 1994; 57(12): 1675-81.
Itokawa, H., et al. "Cangorins F-J, five additional oligo-nicotinated sesquiterpene polyesters from Maytenus ilicifolia." J. Nat. Prod. 1994; 57(4): 460-70.
Arisawa, M., et al. "Cell growth inhibition of KB cells by plant extracts." Natural Med. 1994; 48(4): 338-347.
Itokawa, H., et al. "Oligo-nicotinated sesquiterpene polyesters from Maytenus ilicifolia." J. Nat. Prod. 1993; 56(9); 1479-1485.
Itokawa, H., et al. "Antitumor substances from South American plants." Pharmacobio. Dyn. 1992; 15(1): S
Fox, B. W. "Medicinal plants in tropical medicine. 2. Natural products in cancer treatment from bench to the clinic." Trans. R. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg. 1991; 85(1): 22-5.
Ravry, M. J., et al. "Phase II evaluation of maytansine (NSC 153858) in advanced cancer. A Southeastern Cancer Study Group trial." Am. J. Clin. Oncol. 1985 Apr; 8(2): 148-50.
Suffnes, M. J., et al. "Current status of the NCI plant and animal product program." J. Nat. Prod. 1982; 45: 1-14.
Cabanillas, F., et al. "Phase I study of maytansine using a 3-day schedule." Cancer Treatment Reports. 1976; (60): 1127-39.
Chabner, B. A., et al. "Initial clinical trials of mayansine, an antitumor plant alkaloid." Cancer Treatment Reports. 1978; (62): 429-33.
O'Connell, M. J., et al. "Phase II trial of maytansine in patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma." Cancer Treatment Reports. 1978 (62); 1237-38.
Wolpert-Defillipes, M. K., et al. "Initial studies on the cytotoxic action of maytansine, a novel ansa macrolide." Biochemical Pharmacology. 1975; 24: 751-54.
Melo, A. M., et al. "First observations on the topical use of primin, plumbagin and maytenin in patients with skin cancer." Rev. Inst. Antibiot. 1974 Dec.
Monache, F. D., et al., "Maitenin: A new antitumoral substance from Maytenus sp." Gazetta Chimica Italiana 1972; 102: 317-20.
de Santana, C. F., et al. "Primeiras observacoes sobre o emprego da maitenina em pacientes cancerosos." Rev. Inst. Antibiot. 1971; 11: 37-49.
Hartwell, J. L. "Plants used against cancer: A survey." Lloydia. 1968; 31: 114.

Anti-ulcer, Antacid & Gastroprotective Actions:
Tabach, R., et al. "Pharmacological and toxicological study of Maytenus ilicifolia leaf extract. Part I - Preclinical studies." Phytother. Res. 2017 Jun; 31(6): 915-920.
Tabach, R., et al. "Pharmacological and toxicological study of Maytenus ilicifolia leaf extract Part II-Clinical study (Phase I).: Phytother. Res. 2017 Jun; 31(6): 921-926
Dutra, R., et al. "Medicinal plants in Brazil: Pharmacological studies, drug discovery, challenges and perspectives." Pharmacol. Res. 2016 Oct; 112: 4-29.
da Silva, L., "Evidence of gastric ulcer healing activity of Maytenus robusta Reissek: In vitro and in vivo studies." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2015 Dec; 175: 75-85.
Baggio, C., et al. "In vivo/in vitro studies of the effects of the type II arabinogalactan isolated from Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. ex Reissek on the gastrointestinal tract of rats." Z. Naturforsch C. 2012 Jul-Aug; 67(7-8): 405-10.
Baggio, C., et al. "Muscarinic-dependent inhibition of gastric emptying and intestinal motility by fractions of Maytenus ilicifolia Mart ex. Reissek." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2009 Jun; 123(3): 385-91.
Baggio, C., et al. "Flavonoid-rich fraction of Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. ex. Reiss protects the gastric mucosa of rodents through inhibition of both H+,K+ -ATPase activity and formation of nitric oxide." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2007 Sep; 113(3): 433-40.
de Andrade, S., et al. "Evaluation of the antiulcerogenic activity of Maytenus robusta (Celastraceae) in different experimental ulcer models." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2007 Sep; 113(2): 252-7.
Cipriani, T., et al. "A polysaccharide from a tea (infusion) of Maytenus ilicifolia leaves with anti-ulcer protective effects." J. Nat. Prod. 2006; 69(7): 1018-21.
Ferreira, P., et al. "A lyophilized aqueous extract of Maytenus ilicifolia leaves inhibits histamine-mediated acid secretion in isolated frog gastric mucosa." Planta Med. 2004 Jun; 219(2): 319-24.
Jorge, R., et al. "Evaluation of antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antiulcerogenic activities of Maytenus ilicifolia." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Sep; 94(1): 93-100.
Tabach, R., et al. "Evaluation of the anti-ulcerogenic activity of a dry extract of Maytenus ilicifolia Martius ex. Reiss produced by a jet spouted bed dryer." Pharmazie. 2003 Aug; 58(8): 573-6.
Leite, J., et al. "Isolation and HPLC quantitative analysis of flavonoid glycosides from Brazilian beverages (Maytenus ilicifolia and M. aquifolium)." J. Agric. Food Chem. 2001; 49(8): 3796-801.
Queiroga, C., et al. "Evaluation of the antiulcerogenic activity of friedelan-3beta-ol and friedelin isolated from Maytenus ilicifolia (Celastraceae)."J. Ethnopharmacol. 2000 Oct; 72(3): 465-8.
Souza-Formigoni, M., et al. "Antiulcerogenic effects of two Maytenus species in laboratory animals." J. Ethnopharmacol. August 1991.

Anti-inflammatory, Pain-Relieving & Muscle-Relaxant Actions:
Veloso, C., et al. "Tingenone, a pentacyclic triterpene, induces peripheral antinociception due to cannabinoid receptors activation in mice." Inflammopharmacology. 2018 Feb; 26(1): 227-233.
Wonfor, T., et al. "Anti-inflammatory properties of an extract of M. ilicifolia in the human intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cell line." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2017 Sep; 209: 283-287.
Jin, Y., et al. "Pristimerin attenuates ovalbumin-induced allergic airway inflammation in mice." Immunopharmacol. Immunotoxicol. 2016 Jun; 38(3): 221-7.
Hui, B., et al. "Pristimerin, a natural anti-tumor triterpenoid, inhibits LPS-induced TNF-α and IL-8 production through down-regulation of ROS-related classical NF-κB pathway in THP-1 cells." Int. Immunopharmacol. 2014 Aug; 21(2): 501-8.
Kim, H., et al. "Anti-inflammatory effect of pristimerin on lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory responses in murine macrophages." Arch. Pharm. Res. 2013 Apr; 36(4): 495-500.
Jorge, R., et al. "Evaluation of antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antiulcerogenic activities of Maytenus ilicifolia." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Sep; 94(1): 93-100.
Hnatyszyn, O., et al. "Argentinian plant extracts with relaxant effect on the smooth muscle of the corpus cavernosum of guinea pig." Phytomedicine. 2003 Nov; 10(8): 669-74.

Cellular Protective & Antioxidant Actions:
El-Agamy, D., et al. "Pristimerin protects against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity and fibrosis through modulation of Nrf2 and MAPK/NF-kB signaling pathways." Cancer Manag. Res. 2018 Dec; 11: 47-61.
El-Agamy, D., et al. "Pristimerin as a novel hepatoprotective agent against experimental autoimmune hepatitis." Front. Pharmacol. 2018 Mar; 9: 292.
Shaaban, A., et al. "Protective effect of pristimerin against LPS-induced acute lung injury in mice." Int. Immunopharmacol. 2018 Jun; 59: 31-39.
Yousef, B., et al. "Pristimerin exhibits in vitro and in vivo anticancer activities through inhibition of nuclear factor-кB signaling pathway in colorectal cancer cells." Phytomedicine. 2018 Feb; 40: 140-147.
Hui, B., et al. "Pristimerin inhibits LPS-triggered neurotoxicity in BV-2 microglia cells through modulating IRAK1/TRAF6/TAK1-mediated NF-κB and AP-1 signaling pathways in vitro." Neurotox. Res. 2018 Feb; 33(2): 268-283.
Cansian, R., et al. "Antioxidant and genotoxic properties of Maytenus dasyclada: a comparative study in relation to Maytenus reference species." Braz. J. Biol. 2015 May; 75(2): 471-6.
Baggio, C., et al. "In vivo/in vitro studies of the effects of the type II arabinogalactan isolated from Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. ex Reissek on the gastrointestinal tract of rats." Z. Naturforsch C. 2012 Jul-Aug; 67(7-8): 405-10.
dos Santos, V., et al. "Evaluation of antioxidant capacity and synergistic associations of quinonemethide triterpenes and phenolic substances from Maytenus ilicifolia (Celastraceae)." Molecules. 2010 Oct; 15(10): 6956-73.
Vellosa, J., et al. "Antioxidant activity of Maytenus ilicifolia root bark." Fitoterapia. 2006 Apr; 77(3): 243-4.
Soares, L., et al. "Development and validation of a LC-method for determination of catechin and epicatechin in aqueous extractives from leaves of Maytenus ilicifolia." J. Pharm. Biomed. Anal. 2004 Nov; 36(4): 787-90.
Corsino, J., et al. "Antioxidant flavan-3-ols and flavonol glycosides from Maytenus aquifolium." Phytother. Res. 2003 Sep; 17(8) :913-6.
 
Anti-Autoimmune Actions:
El-Agamy, D., et al. "Pristimerin as a novel hepatoprotective agent against experimental autoimmune hepatitis." Front. Pharmacol. 2018 Mar; 9: 292.
Liu, Y., et al. "Anticancer agent pristimerin inhibits IL-2 induced activation of T lymphocytes. J. Exp. Ther. Oncol. 2016 Jul; 11(3): 181-188.
Deng, Q., et al. "Pristimerin inhibits angiogenesis in adjuvant-induced arthritic rats by suppressing VEGFR2 signaling pathways." Int. Immunopharmacol. 2015 Dec; 29(2): 302-313.
Tong, L., et al. "Pristimerin, a naturally occurring triterpenoid, protects against autoimmune
arthritis by modulating the cellular and soluble immune mediators of inflammation and tissue damage." Clin. Immunol. 2014 Dec; 155(2): 220-30.
Hui, B., et al. "Pristimerin, a natural anti-tumor triterpenoid, inhibits LPS-induced TNF-α and IL-8 production through down-regulation of ROS-related classical NF-κB pathway in THP-1 cells." Int. Immunopharmacol. 2014 Aug; 21(2): 501-8.
                                                                                                
Hypotensive & Vasorelaxant Actions:
Leme Tdos, S., Prando "Role of prostaglandin/cAMP pathway in the diuretic and hypotensive effects of purified fraction of Maytenus ilicifolia Mart ex Reissek (Celastraceae)." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2013 Oct; 150(1): 154-61.
Crestani, S., et al. "A potent and nitric oxide-dependent hypotensive effect induced in rats by semi-purified fractions from Maytenus ilicifolia." Vascul. Pharmacol. 2009 Jul; 51(1): 57-63.
Rattmann, Y., et al. "Nitric oxide-dependent vasorelaxation induced by extractive solutions and fractions of Maytenus ilicifolia Mart ex Reissek (Celastraceae) leaves." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2006 Apr; 104(3): 328-35.

Antimicrobial & Anti-parasitic Actions:
Brandelli, C., et al. "Medicinal plants used by a Mbyá-Guarani Tribe against infections: Activity on KPC-producing isolates and biofilm-forming bacteria." Nat. Prod. Commun. 2015 Nov; 10(11): 1847-52.
Dos Santos, V., "Antiprotozoal activity of quinonemethide triterpenes from Maytenus ilicifolia (Celastraceae)." Molecules. 2013 Jan; 18(1): 1053-62.
Kohn, L., et al. "In vitro antiviral activity of Brazilian plants (Maytenus ilicifolia and Aniba rosaeodora) against bovine herpesvirus type 5 and avian metapneumovirus." Pharm Biol. 2012 Oct; 50(10): 1269-75.
Gullo, F., et al. "Antifungal activity of maytenin and pristimerin." Evid. Based Complement. Alternat. Med. 2012; 2012: 340787
Santos, V., et al. "Antiprotozoal sesquiterpene pyridine alkaloids from Maytenus ilicifolia." J. Nat. Prod. 2012 May; 75(5): 991-5.
Melo, S., et al. "Effect of the Cymbopogon citratus, Maytenus ilicifolia and Baccharis genistelloides extracts against the stannous chloride oxidative damage in Escherichia coli." Mutat. Res. 2001 Sep; 496(1-2): 33-8.
de Lima, O., et al. "Antimicrobial substances from higher plants. XXXVI. On the presence of maytenin and pristimerine in the cortical part of the roots of Maytenus ilicifolia from the south of Brazil." Rev. Inst. Antibiot. 1971 Jun.
de Lima, O., et al. "Substabcias antimicrobiano de plantas superiores. Comunicacao XXXI. Maitenina, novo antimicrobiano con acao antineoplastica, isolade de celastracea de pernambuco." Revista do Instituto de Antibioticos 1969; (9): 17-25.

Hormonal & Antifertility Actions:
Mannowetz, N., et al. "The plant triterpenoid pristimerin inhibits calcium influx into human spermatozoa via CatSper." Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci 2018 Jan; 115(3): E347-E348.
Cunha-Laura, A., "Effects of Maytenus ilicifolia on reproduction and embryo-fetal development in Wistar rats." Genet. Mol. Res. 2014 May; 13(2): 3711-20.
Montanari, T., et al. "Effect of Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. on pregnant mice." Contraception. 2002 Feb; 65(2): 171-75.
Montanari, T., et al. "Effect of Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. Ex. Reiss on spermatogenesis." Contraception. 1998; 57(5): 335-39.
Bingel, A. S., et al. "Antifertility screening of selected plants in female rats." Lloydia. 1976: 39(6): 475C.

Safety Studies / Non-Toxic Effect:
Ecker, A., et al. "Safety evaluation of supratherapeutic dose of Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. ex Reissek extracts on fertility and neurobehavioral status of male and pregnant rats." Regul. Toxicol. Pharmacol. 2017 Nov; 90: 160-169.

Possible Drug Interactions:
Hao, X., et al. "In vitro inhibitory effects of pristimerin on human liver cytochrome P450 enzymes." Xenobiotica. 2018 Dec; 48(12): 1185-1191

Constitutents Identified:
Alves, T., et al. "Friedelin in Maytenus ilicifolia is produced by friedelin synthase isoforms." Molecules. 2018 Mar; 23(3).
Souza-Moreira, T., "Friedelin synthase from Maytenus ilicifolia: leucine 482 plays an essential role in the production of the most rearranged pentacyclic triterpene." Sci Rep. 2016 Nov; 6: 36858.
Tiberti, L., et al. "Identification of flavonols in leaves of Maytenus ilicifolia and M. aquifolium (Celastraceae) by LC/UV/MS analysis." J. Chromatogr. B. Analyt. Technol. Biomed. Life Sci. 2006 Sep 29;
Cipriani, T., et al. "An arabinogalactan isolated from the medicinal plant Maytenus ilicifolia." J. Nat. Prod. 2004; 67(4): 703-6.
Leite. J., et al. "Isolation and HPLC quantitative analysis of flavonoid glycosides from Brazilian beverages (Maytenus ilicifolia and M. aquifolium)." J. Agric. Food Chem. 2001; 49(8): 3796-801.