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In South American medicine systems today, manacá is considered to be an abortive, a lymph and blood cleanser, a topical anesthetic, diuretic, menstrual promoter, laxative, sweat promoter, and narcotic.* For more information manacá (Brunfelsia uniflora), please refer to the Database File for manacá in the Tropical Plant Database. To see pictures of manacá, click here.

Traditional Uses:* for arthritis and rheumatism (internal and external) and general painful and inflammatory conditions; to cleanse and stimulate the lymphatic system (and for swollen lymph glands); to relieve menstrual pain and cramps; for colds, flu, and fevers; for venereal diseases

Suggested Use: This plant is best prepared as a decoction. Use one teaspoon of powder for each cup of water. Bring to a boil and gently boil in a covered pot for 20 minutes. Allow to cool and settle for 10 minutes and strain warm liquid into a cup (leaving the settled powder in the bottom of the pan). It is traditionally taken in 1/2 cup amounts twice daily. For more complete instructions on preparing herbal decoctions, see the Methods for Preparing Herbal Remedies Page.

Contraindications:

• 1. Not to be taken while pregnant or breast-feeding.
• 2. Avoid dosages higher than the suggested use indicates.
• 3. Those allergic to aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) should avoid using manacá. Manacá contains salicylate and several of its derivatives.
• 4. Manacá root contains coumarins - plant chemicals known to thin the blood. Those taking blood-thinning medications such as coumadin should use manacá only under the direction and supervision of a qualified healthcare practitioner to monitor these effects.

Drug Interactions: None reported; however, manacá may enhance the effect blood-thinning medications such as Warfarin® and heparin.

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Third-Party Published Research on Manacá

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

Anti-inflammatory, Pain-Relieving, & Fever Reducing Actions:
Choi, R., et al. "Scopoletin supplementation ameliorates steatosis and inflammation in diabetic mice." Phytother. Res. 2017 Nov; 31(11): 1795-1804.
Nascimento, M., "Inhibition of the NF-κB and p38 MAPK pathways by scopoletin reduce the inflammation caused by carrageenan in the mouse model of pleurisy." Immunopharmacol. Immunotoxicol. 2016 Oct; 38(5): 344-52.
Sengupta, R., et al. "Analgesic and anti-inflammatory plants: An updated review." Int. J. Pharm. Sci. Rev. Res. 2012 Jan-Feb; 12(2): 114-119.
Santos, C., et al. "Antinociceptive and antioxidant activities of phytol in vivo and in vitro models." Neurosci J. 2013: 949452.
Moon, P., et al. "Use of scopoletin to inhibit the production of inflammatory cytokines through inhibition of the IkappaB/NF-kappaB signal cascade in the human mast cell line HMC-1." Eur. J. Pharmacol. 2007 Jan; 555(2-3): 218-25.
Rollinger, J., et al. "Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of scopolin and scopoletin discovered by virtual screening of natural products." J. Med. Chem. 2004 Dec 2; 47(25): 6248-54.
Park, J., et al. "Antiinflammatory activity of Synurus deltoides." Phytother. Res. 2004; 18(11): 930-3.
Kim, H., et al. "Scopoletin suppresses pro-inflammatory cytokines and PGE2 from LPS-stimulated cell line, RAW 264.7 cells." Fitoterapia. 2004 Jun; 75(3-4): 261-6.
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: 203-5.
Iyer, R., et al. "Brunfelsia hopeana I: Hippocratic screening and antiinflammatory evaluation." Lloydia. 1977; 40(4): 356-60.
de Costa, A. "A pharmacologic study of manacá (Brunfelsia hopeana)." Bol. Assoc. Bras. Pharm. 1933; 14: 295-99.

Liver Protective Actions:
Kang, S., et al. "Hepatoprotective activity of scopoletin, a constituent of Solanum lyratum." Arch. Pharm. Res. 1998; 21(6): 718-22.

Cellular Protective & Antioxidant Actions:
Jorge, L, et al. "Antioxidant activity and chemical composition of oleoresin from leaves and flowers of Brunfelsia uniflora." Genet. Mol. Res. 2017 Aug 17 ;16(3).
Queiroz, G. "[Analysis of steroids in herbal extracts and preliminary phytochemical and biological study of Brunfelsia uniflora]." (Thesis) 2009 Nov; 45 pgs. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópol, Brazil.
Barreiro Arcos, M., et al. "Tilia cordata Mill. Extracts and scopoletin (isolated compound): differential cell growth effects on lymphocytes." Phytother. Res. 2006; 20(1): 34-40.
Kim, E., et al. "Scopoletin induces apoptosis in human promyeloleukemic cells, accompanied by activations of nuclear factor kappaB and caspase-3." Life Sci. 2005; 77(7): 824-36.
Ma, J., et al. "A coumarin from Mallotus resinosus that mediates DNA cleavage." J. Nat. Prod. 2004; 67(9): 1614-6.
Shaw, C., et al. "Antioxidant properties of scopoletin isolated from Sinomonium acutum. " Phytother. Res. 2003 Aug; 17(7): 823-5.
Liu, X., et al. "Effect of scopoletin on PC(3) cell proliferation and apoptosis." Acta. Pharmacol. Sin. 2001; 22(10): 929-33.
Wall, M., et al. "Plant antimutagenic agents, 1. General bioassay and isolation procedures." J. Nat. Prod. 1988; 51(5): 866-73.
Iyer, R. P., et al. "Brunfelsia hopeana—Pharmacologic screening: isolation and characterization of hoppeanine." Diss. Abstr. Int. B. 1978; 39: 761.

Anti-convulsant & Anti-spasmodic Actions:
Costa, J., et al. "Anticonvulsant effect of phytol in a pilocarpine model in mice." Neurosci. Lett. 2012; 523: 115-118.
Oliveira, E., et al. "Intracellular calcium mobilization as a target for the spasmolytic action of scopoletin." Planta Med. 2001; 67: 605-8.
Chiou, L., et al. "Chinese herb constituent beta-eudesmol alleviated the electroshock seizures in mice and electrographic seizures in rat hippocampal slices." Neurosci. Lett. 1997; 231(3): 171-74.

Antimicrobial Actions:
Thiesen, L., et al. "Antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of Brunfelsia uniflora flower oleoresin extracted by supercritical carbon dioxide." Genet. Mol. Res. 2017 Apr; 16(2).
Martins, R., et al. "[Anatomical, chemical and antibacterial characterization of leaves of Brunfelsia uniflora (manacá) present in the Atlantic Forest]." Rev. Bras. Pharmacog. 2009; 9(1): 106-114.
Queiroz, G. "[Analysis of steroids in herbal extracts and preliminary phytochemical and biological study of Brunfelsia uniflora]." (Thesis) 2009 Nov; 45 pgs. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópol, Brazil.
Kloucek, P., et al. "Antibacterial screening of some Peruvian medicinal plants used in Calleria District." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Jun; 99(2): 309-12.
Carpinella, M., et al. "Antifungal synergistic effect of scopoletin, a hydroxycoumarin isolated from Melia azedarach L. fruits." J. Agric. Food Chem. 2005 Apr 20; 53(8): 2922-7.
Kayser, O., et al. "Antibacterial activity of extracts and constituents of Pelargonium sidoides and Pelargonium reniforme." Planta Med. 1997; 63(6): 508-10.

Insecticidal Actions:
Heal, R., et al. "A survey of plants for insecticidal activity." Lloydia 1950; 13 1: 89-162.