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In current herbal medicine systems in Brazil, guaco is well known and well regarded as an effective natural bronchodilator, expectorant and cough suppressant employed for all types of upper respiratory problems including bronchitis, pleurisy, colds and flu, coughs, and asthma; as well as for sore throats, laryngitis, and fever.* For more information about guaco (Mikania guaco), please refer to the Database File for Guaco in the Tropical Plant Database. To see pictures of guaco, click here.

Traditional Uses:* for upper respiratory problems (coughs, bronchitis, colds/flu, asthma, allergies, etc.); for various internal and external bacterial and protozoal infections; for Candida and yeast infections; for snakebite and insect bites and stings; as an analgesic (pain-reliever) and anti-inflammatory for arthritis, rheumatism, intestinal inflammation, and ulcers

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 1/2 cup amounts, 3-4 times daily. For more complete instructions, see the Preparation of Herbal Remedies article.

Contraindications: Guaco contains a significant amount of coumarin which is the plant chemical coumadin drugs are derived from. Coumarin/coudamin has an anti-coagulant and blood thinning effect and the use of guaco may demonstrate anticoagulant effects due to the coumarin content. Consult with your physician before taking this plant if you are taking coumadin drugs or if coumadin anticoagulant type drugs are contraindicated for your condition.

Drug Interactions: Will potentiate or enhance the effect of Warfarin® and other coumadin drugs.

Other Observations: In large dosages (three times or more the suggested use above) guaco has been reported to cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

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Published Research on Guaco

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

Anti-Allergy, Cough Suppressant, Bronchodilator, & Expectorant Actions:
Possebon, L., et al. "Anti-inflammatory actions of herbal medicines in a model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease induced by cigarette smoke." Biomed. Pharmacother. 2018 Mar; 99: 591-597.
Gasparetto, J., et al. "A kinetic study of the main guaco metabolites using syrup formulation and the identification of an alternative route of coumarin metabolism in humans." PLoS One. 2015 Mar; 10(3): e0118922.
Soares, L., et al. "Preparation of dry extract of Mikania glomerata Sprengel (Guaco) and determination of its coumarin levels by spectrophotometry and HPLC-UV." Molecules. 2012 Aug; 17(9): 10344-54.
Gasparetto, J., et al. "Development and validation of two methods based on high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for determining 1,2-benzopyrone, dihydrocoumarin, o-coumaric acid, syringaldehyde and kaurenoic acid in guaco extracts and pharmaceutical preparations." J. Sep Sci. 2011 Apr; 34(7): 740-8 .
Freitas, T., et al. "Effects of Mikania glomerata Spreng. and Mikania laevigata Schultz Bip. ex Baker (Asteraceae) extracts on pulmonary inflammation and oxidative stress caused by acute coal dust exposure." J. Med. Food. 2008 Dec; 11(4): 761-6.
Graca, C., et al. "In vivo assessment of safety and mechanisms underlying in vitro relaxation induced by Mikania laevigata Schultz Bip. ex Baker in the rat trachea." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2007 Jul; 112(3): 430-9.
dos Santos, S., et al. "LC characterisation of guaco medicinal extracts, Mikania laevigata and M. glomerata, and their effects on allergic pneumonitis." Planta Med. 2006 Jun; 72(8): 679-84.
Soares de Moura, R., et al. "Bronchodilator activity of Mikania glomerata Sprengel on human bronchi and guinea-pig trachea." J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 2002; 54(2): 249-56.
Fierro, I., et al. "Studies on the anti-allergic activity of Mikania glomerata." J. Ethnopharmacol. 1999; 66(1): 19-24.
Leite, M., et al. "Actividade bronchodilatora de Mikania glomerata, Justicia pectoralis e Torresea cearensis." Simposio de Plantas Medicinais do Brazil. December 1992. Curitiba. Resumos. p. 21.
Oliveira, F., et al. "Caraterizacao cromatograpfica do extracto fluido de Mikania glomerata Sprengel." Simposio de Plantas Medicinais do Brazil. December 1992. Curitiba. Resumos. p. 96.

Anti-ulcer Actions:
Pinto, M., et al. "Obtaining a dry extract from the Mikania laevigata leaves with potential for antiulcer activity." Pharmacogn. Mag. 2017 Jan-Mar; 13(49): 76-80.
Bighetti, A., et al. "Antiulcerogenic activity of a crude hydroalcoholic extract and coumarin isolated from Mikania laevigata Schultz Bip." Phytomedicine. 2005 Jan; 12(1-2): 72-7.
Paul, R., et al. "Antiulcer activity of Mikania cordata." Fitoterapia. 2000 Dec; 71(6): 701-3.
Mosaddik, M., et al. "The anti-ulcerogenic effect of an alkaloidal fraction from Mikania cordata on diclofenac sodium-induced gastrointestinal lesions in rats." J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 2000 Sep; 52(9): 1157-62.
Bishayee, A., et al. "Protective effects of Mikania cordata root extract against physical and chemical factors-induced gastric erosions in experimental animals." Planta Med. 1994 Apr; 60(2): 110-3.

Anti-inflammatory, Pain-Relieving, & Fever Reducing Actions:
Della Pasqua, C., et al. "Pharmacological study of anti-inflammatory activity of aqueous extracts of Mikania glomerata (Spreng.) and Mikania laevigata (Sch. Bip. ex Baker)." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2019 Mar; 231: 50-56.
Siddiqui, S., et al. "Evaluation of anti-nociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic potential of Mikania cordata (Burm. f.) Robinson in experimental animal model." Saudi J. Biol Sci. 2018 Sep; 25(6): 1049-1055.
Possebon, L., et al. "Anti-inflammatory actions of herbal medicines in a model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease induced by cigarette smoke." Biomed. Pharmacother. 2018 Mar; 99: 591-597.
Kim, K., et al. "Kaurenoic acid activates TGF-β signaling." Phytomedicine. 2017 Aug 15; 32: 8-14.
Silva, J., et al. "Effects of kaurenoic acid and arginine on random skin flap oxidative stress, inflammation, and cytokines in rats." Aesthetic Plast. Surg. 2015 Dec; 39(6): 971-7.
Ríos, E., et al. "Sesquiterpene lactones from Mikania micrantha and Mikania cordifolia and their cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory evaluation." Fitoterapia. 2014 Apr; 94: 155-63.
Benatti, B., et al. "Effects of a Mikania laevigata extract on bone resorption and RANKL expression during experimental periodontitis in rats." J. Appl. Oral Sci. 2012 May-Jun; 20(3): 340-6.
Mizokami, S., "Kaurenoic acid from Sphagneticola trilobata inhibits inflammatory pain: effect on cytokine production and activation of the NO-cyclic GMP-protein kinase G-ATP-sensitive potassium channel signaling pathway." J. Nat. Prod. 2012 May; 75(5): 896-904.
Napimoga, M., et al. "Scientific evidence for Mikania laevigata and Mikania glomerata as a pharmacological tool." J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 2010 Jul; 62(7): 809-20.
Alves, C., et al. "Anti-inflammatory activity and possible mechanism of extract from Mikania laevigata in carrageenan-induced peritonitis." J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 2009 Aug; 61(8): 1097-104.
Freitas, T., et al. "Effects of Mikania glomerata Spreng. and Mikania laevigata Schultz Bip. ex Baker (Asteraceae) extracts on pulmonary inflammation and oxidative stress caused by acute coal dust exposure." J. Med Food. 2008 Dec; 11(4): 761-6.
Suyenaga, E., et al. "Antiinflammatory investigation of some species of Mikania." Phytother. Res. 2002; 16(6): 519-23.
Ahmed, M., et al. "Analgesic sesquiterpene dilactone from Mikania cordata." Fitoterapia. 2001 Dec; 72(8): 919-21.
Peluso, G., et al. "Studies on the inhibitory effects of caffeoylquinic acids on monocyte migration and superoxide ion production." J. Nat. Prod. 1995; 58(5): 639-46.
Leite, M., et al. "Actividade bronchodilatora de Mikania glomerata, Justicia pectoralis e Torresea cearensis." Simposio de Plantas Medicinais do Brazil. December 1992. Curitiba. Resumos. p. 21
Oliveira, F., et al. "Caraterizacao cromatograpfica do extracto fluido de Mikania glomerata Sprengel." Simposio de Plantas Medicinais do Brazil. December 1992. Curitiba. Resumos. p. 96
Ruppelt, B. M., et al. "Pharmacological screening of plants recommended by folk medicine as anti-snake venom--I. Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities." Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz. 1991; 86 Suppl 2:203-5.

Antioxidant, Cancer Preventative (antimutagenic) & Anticancerous Actions:
Cardoso, P., et al. "Effect of diterpenoid kaurenoic acid on genotoxicity and cell cycle progression in gastric cancer cell lines." Biomed. Pharmacother. 2017 May; 89: 772-780.
Ríos, E., et al. "Sesquiterpene lactones from Mikania micrantha and Mikania cordifolia and their cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory evaluation." Fitoterapia. 2014 Apr; 94: 155-63.
Miraballes, M., et al. "Sensory characteristics of antioxidant extracts from Uruguayan native plants: influence of deodorization by steam distillation." Food Sci. Technol. Int. 2013 Dec; 19(6): 485-92.
Medeiros Mazzorana, D., et al. "Influence of Mikania laevigata extract over the genotoxicity induced by alkylating agents." ISRN. Toxicol. 2013 Mar; 2013: 521432.
Rufatto, L., et al. "Mikania laevigata: chemical characterization and selective cytotoxic activity of extracts on tumor cell lines." Phytomedicine. 2013 Jul; 20(10): 883-9.
Lizarte Neto, F., et al. "Kaurene diterpene induces apoptosis in U87 human malignant glioblastoma cells by suppression of anti-apoptotic signals and activation of cysteine proteases." Braz. J. Med. Biol. Res. 2013 Jan; 46(1): 71-78.
Barbosa, L., et al. "Mikania glomerata Sprengel (Asteraceae) influences the mutagenicity induced by doxorubicin without altering liver lipid peroxidation or antioxidant levels." J. Toxicol. Environ. Health A. 2012; 75(16-17): 1102-9.
Costa Rde, J., et al. "In vitro study of mutagenic potential of Bidens pilosa Linné and Mikania glomerata Sprengel using the comet and micronucleus assays." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2008 Jun; 118(1): 86-93.
Murat, B., et al."Protective effects of coumarin and coumarin derivatives against carbon tetrachloride-induced acute hepatotoxicity in rats." Exp. Toxicol. Pathol. 2011 May; 63(4): 325-30.
Fernandes, J., et al. "Mutagenic and antimutagenic potential of the medicinal plants M. laevigata and C. xanthocarpa." Phytother. Res. 2003; 17(3): 269-73.
Bishayee, A, "Anticarcinogenic biological response of Mikania cordata: reflections in hepatic biotransformation systems." Cancer Lett. 1994 Jun; 81(2): 193-200.

Anti-Anxiety Actions:
Santana, L., et al. "Mikania glomerata: Phytochemical, pharmacological, and neurochemical study." Evid. Based Complement. Alternat. Med. 2014; 2014: 710410.

Blood Thinning Actions:
Biavatti, M., et al. "Coumarin content and physicochemical profile of Mikania laevigata extracts." Z. Naturforsch. 2004; 59(3-4): 197-200.
Cabral, L., et al. "Development of a profitable procedure for the extraction of 2-H-1- benzopyran-2-one (coumarin) from Mikania glomerata." Drug. Dev. Ind. Pharm. 2001; 27 (1): 103-6.
Oliveira, F., et al. "Isolation and identification of chemical components of Mikania glomerata Sprengel and Mikania laevigata Schultz Bib ex Baker." Rev. Rarm. Bioquim. 1984; 20(2): 169-83.

Antivenin Actions:
Mourão, V., et al. "Anti-hemorrhagic effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of the leaves of Mikania glomerata in lesions induced by Bothrops jararaca venom in rats." Acta Cir. Bras. 2014 Jan; 29(1): 30-7.
Collaço Rde, C., et al. "Protection by Mikania laevigata (guaco) extract against the toxicity of Philodryas olfersii snake venom." Toxicon. 2012 Sep; 60(4): 614-22.
Floriano, R., et al. "Effect of Mikania glomerata (Asteraceae) leaf extract combined with anti-venom serum on experimental Crotalus durissus (Squamata: Viperidae) envenomation in rats." Rev. Biol. Trop. 2009 Dec; 57(4): 929-37.
Maiorano, V., et al. "Antiophidian properties of the aqueous extract of Mikania glomerata." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Dec; 102(3): 364-70.
Ruppelt, B., et al. "Pharmacological screening of plants recommended by folk medicine as anti-snake venom--I. Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities." Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz. 1991; 86 Suppl 2: 203-5.

Antimicrobial Actions:
Jia, C., et al. "Antifungal activity of coumarin against Candida albicans is related to apoptosis." Front Cell. Infect. Microbiol. 2019 Jan; 8: 445.
Martins, C., et al. "Kaurenoic acid and its sodium salt derivative: antibacterial activity against Porphyromonas gingivalis and their mechanism of action." Future Microbiol. 2018 Nov; 13: 1585-1601.
Moreti, D., et al. "Mikania glomerata Sprengel extract and its major compound ent-kaurenoic acid display activity against bacteria present in endodontic infections." Anaerobe. 2017 Oct; 47: 201-208.
Song, P., et al. "Evaluation of antifungal activities and structure-activity relationships of coumarin derivatives." Pest Manag. Sci. 2017 Jan; 73(1): 94-101.
Moreira, M., et al. "ent-Kaurenoic acid-rich extract from Mikania glomerata: In vitro activity against bacteria responsible for dental caries." Fitoterapia. 2016 Jul; 112: 211-6.
Li, Y., et al. "Antimicrobial constituents of the leaves of Mikania micrantha H. B. K." PLoS One. 2013 Oct; 8(10): e76725.
Jeong, S., "Kaurenoic acid from Aralia continentalis inhibits biofilm formation of Streptococcus mutans." Evid. Based Complement. Alternat. Med. 2013; 2013: 160592.
Ushimaru, R., et al. "In vitro antibacterial activity of medicinal plant extracts against Escherichia coli strains from human clinical specimens and interactions with antimicrobial drugs." Nat. Prod. Res. 2012; 26(16): 1553-7.
de Andrade, B., et al. "Evaluation of ent-kaurenoic acid derivatives for their anticariogenic activity." Nat. Prod. Commun. 2011 Jun; 6(6): 777-80.
Laurella, L., et al. "In vitro evaluation of antiprotozoal and antiviral activities of extracts from Argentinean Mikania species." Scientific World Journal. 2012; 2012: 121253.
Benatti, B., et al. "Effects of a Mikania laevigata extract on bone resorption and RANKL expression during experimental periodontitis in rats." J. Appl. Oral Sci. 2012 May-Jun; 20(3): 340-6.
Facy, P., et al. "The antibacterial activities of mikanolide and its derivatives." West Indian Med. J. 2010 Jun; 59(3): 249-52.
Montagner, C., et al. "Antifungal activity of coumarins." Z. Naturforsch C. 2008 Jan-Feb; 63(1-2): 21-8.
dos Santos, S., et al. "LC characterisation of guaco medicinal extracts, Mikania laevigata and M. glomerata, and their effects on allergic pneumonitis." Planta Med. 2006 Jun; 72(8): 679-84.
Betoni, J., et al. "Synergism between plant extract and antimicrobial drugs used on Staphylococcus aureus diseases." Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz. 2006 Jun; 101(4): 387-90.
Yatsuda, R., et al. "Effects of Mikania genus plants on growth and cell adherence of Mutans streptococci." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2005; 97(2): 183-9.
Duarte, M., et al. "Anti-Candida activity of Brazilian medicinal plants." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2005; 97(2): 305.
Cotoras, M., et al. "Characterization of the antifungal activity on Botrytis cinerea of the natural diterpenoids kaurenoic acid and 3beta-hydroxy-kaurenoic acid." J. Agric. Food Chem. 2004 May; 52(10): 2821-6.
Holetz, F. "Screening of some plants used in the Brazilian folk medicine for the treatment of infectious diseases." Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz. 2002 Oct; 97(7): 1027-31.
Rungeler, P., et al. "Germacranolides from Mikania guaco." Phytochemistry 2001; 56(5): 475-89.
Facey, P., et al. "Investigation of plants used in Jamaican folk medicine for anti-bacterial activity." J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 1999 Dec; 51(12): 1455-60.
Davino, S., et al. "Antimicrobial activity of kaurenoic acid derivatives substituted on carbon-15." Braz. J. Med. Biol. Res. 1989; 22(9): 1127-9.

Insecticidal, Antimalarial & Antiprotozoal Actions:
Puente, V., et al. "Primary targets of the sesquiterpene lactone deoxymikanolide on Trypanosoma cruzi." Phytomedicine. 2018 Oct; 56: 27-34.
Laurella, L., et al. "Assessment of sesquiterpene lactones isolated from Mikania plants species for their potential efficacy against Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania sp." PLoS Negl. Trop. Dis. 2017 Sep; 11(9): e0005929.
Miranda, M., et al. "Kaurenoic acid possesses leishmanicidal activity by triggering a NLRP12/IL-1β/cNOS/NO pathway." Mediators Inflamm. 2015; 2015: 392918.
Laurella, L., et al. "In vitro evaluation of antiprotozoal and antiviral activities of extracts from Argentinean Mikania species." Scientific World Journal. 2012; 2012: 121253.
Botsaris, A. "Plants used traditionally to treat malaria in Brazil: the archives of Flora Medicinal." J. Ethnobiol. Ethnomed. 2007 May; 3: 18.
Muelas-Serrano, S., "In vitro screening of American plant extracts on Trypanosoma cruzi and Trichomonas vaginalis." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2000; 71(1-2): 101-7.
Rojas de Arias A., et al. "Mutagenicity, insecticidal and trypanocidal activity of some Paraguayan Asteraceae." J. Ethnopharmacol. 1995; 45(1): 35-41.

Fertility Actions:
Graca, C., et al. "Mikania laevigata syrup does not induce side effects on reproductive system of male Wistar rats." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2007 Apr; 111(1): 29-32.

Chemical Constituents:
Costa, V., "Comparison of the morphology, anatomy, and chemical profile of Mikania glomerata and Mikania laevigata." Planta Med. 2018 Feb; 84(3): 191-200.

Toxicity Studies:
Gouvêa, M., et al. "Erratum: Decontamination of Mikania glomerata leaves by Gamma irradiation: coumarin determination by HPLC-DAD, Microbiological control and genotoxicological studies." Planta Med. 2018 Jan; 84(1): E1.
Fulanetti, F., et al. "Toxic effects of the administration of Mikania glomerata Sprengel during the gestational period of hypertensive rats." Open Vet. J. 2016; 6(1): 23-9.
Costa Rde, J., et al. "In vitro study of mutagenic potential of Bidens pilosa Linné and Mikania glomerata Sprengel using the comet and micronucleus assays." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2008 Jun; 118(1): 86-93.
Graca, C., et al. "In vivo assessment of safety and mechanisms underlying in vitro relaxation induced by Mikania laevigata Schultz Bip. ex Baker in the rat trachea." .J Ethnopharmacol. 2007 Jul; 112(3): 430-9.

Harvesting & Manufacturing:
Passari, L., et al. "Seasonal changes and solvent effects on fractionated functional food component yields from Mikania laevigata leaves." Food Chem. 2019 Feb; 273: 151-158.
Agostini-Costa, T., et al. "Effect of accessions and environment conditions on coumarin, o-coumaric and kaurenoic acids levels of Mikania laevigata." Planta Med. 2016 Nov; 82(16): 1431-1437.
Passari, L., et al. "Experimental designs characterizing seasonal variations and solvent effects on the quantities of coumarin and related metabolites from Mikania laevigata." Anal. Chim. Acta. 2014 Apr; 821: 89-96.
Bertolucci, S., et al. "Isolation and HPLC quantitation of kaurane-type diterpenes and cinnamic acid derivatives of long-term stored leaves of Mikania laevigata and Mikania glomerata." An. Acad. Bras. Cienc. 2013 Apr-Jun; 85(2): 473-85.
Bertolucci, S., et al. "Seasonal variation on the contents of coumarin and kaurane-type diterpenes in Mikania laevigata and M. glomerata leaves under different shade levels." Chem. Biodivers. 2013 Feb; 10(2): 288-95.
Soares de Silva, L., et al. "Preparation of dry extract of Mikania glomerata Sprengel (Guaco) and determination of its coumarin levels by spectrophotometry and HPLC-UV." Molecules. 2012 Aug; 17(9): 10344-54.