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Preliminary research has confirmed Pedra hume caá's long history of use in South America for diabetes.* For more information about pedra hume caá (Myrcia salicifolia), please refer to the Database File for Pedra Hume Caá in the Tropical Plant Database. To see pictures of pedra hume caá, click here.

Traditional Uses: for diabetes; as a preventative to diabetic neuropathy and macular degeneration; for hypertension and as a heart tonic (tones, balances, strengthens the heart); for enteritis, diarrhea and dysentery; as an astringent to stop bleeding and hemorrhages

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 cup amounts, 2-3 times daily. For more complete instructions on preparing herbal infusions see the Methods for Preparing Herbal Remedies Page.

Contraindications: Pedra hume caá has been documented to lower blood sugar levels in animal and human studies. It is contraindicated in those with hypoglycemia. Diabetics who wish to use this plant should monitor their blood sugar levels carefully as medications may need adjustments.

Drug Interactions: Will potentiate antidiabetic medications and insulin drugs. May potentiate antihypertensive medications.

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Published Research on Pedra Hume caá

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

Antidiabetic & Hypoglycemic Actions:
Figueiredo-González, M., et al. "α-Glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitors from Myrcia spp.: a stronger alternative to acarbose? J. Pharm. Biomed. Anal. 2016 Jan; 118: 322-327.
de Oliveira, A., et al. "Inhibition of alpha-amylase by "insulin plant" (Myrcia sphaerocarpa DC) extracts: an alternative for the treatment of diabetes mellitus?" J. Appl. Pharma. Sci. 2015 May; 5: 89-93.
Cascaes, M., et al. "Constituents and pharmacological activities of Myrcia (Myrtaceae): A review of an aromatic and medicinal group of plants." Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2015 Oct; 16(10): 23881-904.
Vareda, P., et al. "Myrcia bella leaf extract presents hypoglycemic activity via PI3k/Akt insulin signaling pathway." Evid. Based Complement. Alternat. Med. 2014; 2014: 543606.
Funke, I., et al. "Traditionally used plants in diabetes therapy - phytotherapeutics as inhibitors of α-amylase activity." Braz. J. Pharmacog. 2006 Jan/Mar; 16(1) :1-5.
Zucchi, O., et al. "Characterization of hypoglycemiant plants by total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry." Biol. Trace Elem. Res. 2005; 103(3): 277-90.
Matsuda, H., et al. "Structural requirements of flavonoids and related compounds for aldose reductase inhibitory activity." Chem. Pharm. Bull. (Tokyo). 2002; 50(6):788-95.
Matsuda, H. "Antidiabetic principles of natural medicines. V. Aldose reductase inhibitors from Myrcia multiflora DC. (2): Structures of myrciacitrins III, IV, and V." Chem. Pharm. Bull. 2002; 50(3): 429-31.
Yoshikawa, M., et al. "Antidiabetic principles of natural medicines. II. Aldose reductase and alpha-glucosidase inhibitors from Brazilian natural medicine, the leaves of Myrcia multiflora DC (myrtaceae): structures of myrciacitrins I and II and myrciaphenones A and B." Chem. Pharm. Bull. 1998; 46(1): 113-19.
Pepato, M. T., et al. "Assessment of the antidiabetic activity of Myrcia uniflora extracts in streptozotocin diabetic rats." Diabetes Res. 1993; 22(2): 49-57.
Russo, E. M., et al. "Clinical trial of Myrcia uniflora and Bauhinia forficata leaf extracts in normal and diabetic patients." Braz. J. Med. Biol. Res. 1990; 23(1): 11-20.
Schmeda-Hirschmann, G., et al. "Preliminary pharmacological studies on Eugenia uniflora leaves: xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity." J. Ethnopharmacol. 1987; 21(2): 183-86.
Chaudhry, P. S., et al. "Inhibition of human lens aldose reductase by flavonoids, sulindac and indomethacin." Biochem. Pharmacol. 1983; 32(13): 1995-98.
Grune, U., et al. "Sobre o principio antidiabetico da pedra-hume-caá, Myrcia multiflora (Lam)." Thesis 1979; Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
Brune, U., et al. "Myrcia spaerocarpa, D.C., planta diabetica." V Simposio de Plantas Medicinais do Brasil, Sao Paulo-SP, Brazil, 1978; 74 (September 4-6).
Mendes dos Reis Arruda, L., et al. "[Hypoglycemic effect induced by extract of the roots of Myrcia citrifolia (pedra-hume-caa), preliminary pharmacological study]." V Simposio de Plantas Medicinais do Brasil, Sao Paulo-SP, Brazil, 1978; 74 (September 4-6).
Varma, S. D., et al. "Flavonoids as inhibitors of lens aldose reductase." Science 1975; 188(4194): 1215-16.
Coutinho, A. B. Tese de Catedra. Faculdade de Medicina de Recife. Recife, Brazil, 1938.
Martins de Toledo, O. Tese de Doutoramento. Faculdade de Medicina de Sao Paulo. Sao Paulo, Brazil, 1929.

Anti-Obesity Actions:
Ferreira, E., et al. "The 2',4',6'-trihydroxyacetophenone isolated from Myrcia multiflora has antiobesity and mixed hypolipidemic effects with the reduction of lipid intestinal absorption." Planta Med. 2011 Sep; 77(14): 1569-74.
Ferreira, A. "[Hypolipidemic and hepatoprotective effect of 2',4',6'-trihydroxyacetophenone isolated in Myricia multiflora]." (Thesis) 2010. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Brazil.

Antioxidant Actions:
Pontes, F., et al. "Antifungal and antioxidant activities of mature leaves of Myrcia splendens (Sw.) DC." Braz. J. Biol. 2019 Jan-Mar; 79(1): 127-132.
Gao, J., et al. "Myricitrin ameliorates ethanol-induced steatosis in mouse AML12 liver cells by activating AMPK, and reducing oxidative stress and expression of inflammatory cytokines." Mol. Med. Rep. 2018 May; 17(5): 7381-7387.
Qi, S., et al. "Myricitrin modulates NADPH oxidase-dependent ROS production to inhibit endotoxin-mediated inflammation by blocking the JAK/STAT1 and NOX2/p47phox pathways." Oxid. Med. Cell. Longev. 2017; 2017: 9738745.
Lei, Y. "Myricitrin decreases traumatic injury of the spinal cord and exhibits antioxidant and anti inflammatory activities in a rat model via inhibition of COX 2, TGF β1, p53 and elevation of Bcl 2/Bax signaling pathway." Mol. Med. Rep. 2017 Nov; 16(5): 7699-7705.
Xhang, B., et al. "Myricitrin attenuates high glucose-induced apoptosis through activating Akt-Nrf2 signaling in H9c2 cardiomyocytes." Molecules. 2016 Jul; 21(7): E880.
Cascaes, M., et al. "Constituents and pharmacological activities of Myrcia (Myrtaceae): A review of an aromatic and medicinal group of plants. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2015 Oct; 16(10): 23881-904.
Moresco, H., "Myricitrin as the main constituent of two species of Myrcia." J. Appl. Pharma. Sci. 2014 Feb; 4(2): 1-7.
Vareda, P., et al. "Hypoglycemic effect of the extract of Myrcia bella Cambess. through modulation of protein expression involved on glucose metabolism in liver of streptozotocin diabetic mice." Planta Med. 2014; 80 - SL23.
Salvador, M., et al. "Antioxidant capacity and phenolic content of four Myrtaceae plants of the south of Brazil." Nat. Prod. Commun. 2011 Jul; 6(7): 977-82.

Liver-Protective Actions:
Ferreira, E., et al. "Potent hepatoprotective effect in CCl(4)-induced hepatic injury in mice of phloroacetophenone from Myrcia multiflora." Libyan J. Med. 2010 Jun 8; 5.
Ferreira, A. "[Hypolipidemic and hepatoprotective effect of 2'4'6' -trihidroxiacetofenona isolated in Myricia multiflora]." (Thesis) 2010. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Brazil.

Anti-Thyroid Actions:
Ferreira, A. C., et al. "Inhibition of thyroid peroxidase by Myrcia uniflora flavonoids." Chem. Res. Toxicol. 2006 Mar; 19(3): 351-5.

Antitumor Actions:
Ramalho, S., et al. "Evaluation of flavonols and derivatives as human cathepsin B inhibitor." Nat. Prod. Res. 2015; 29(23): 2212-4.