Physalis  

Family: Solanacea  

Genus: Physalia  

Species: Angulata  

Common Names: Camapu, Joá-de-Capote, Saco de bode, Bucho-de-rã e Mata fome.  

Parts Used: Whole Plant, leaves and roots

General Information  

Physalis is a tropical indigenous annual herb from Amazon. It can be found on most continents in the tropics, including Africa and Asia. It grows up to one meter high with velvety, triangular, small, cream-colored flowers. Produces small, light yellowish-orange fruit (surrounded with a coat of protection), about the size of a cherry tomato, and like tomatoes, it contains many tiny edible seeds inside. The fruit can weight four to nine

grams per unit with a diameter of one to two centimeters.  

Physalis initiated the production of fruits in the fourth or fifth months after it is planted and it goes on a period of up to six months if the plantation is treated well. Each plant can produce two or five kilos of fruit. Very much rustic and easy to handle, it is possible to fit up to six thousands per acre.  

Traditional Uses  

Physalis has long held a place in natural medicine in the tropical countries where it grows and its edible sweet-tart fruits are enjoyed by many rainforest inhabitants. Indigenous tribes in the Amazon use a leaf infusion as a diuretic and for combating asthma. Colombian tribes believe physalis has an antiflammatory and disinfectant properties for skin diseases. Peruvian use the leaf juice for diseases like malaria, hepatitis, liver problems and rheumatism.  The fruit is also use by indigenous people for female disorders. Physalis is

decocted and taken internally to promote fertility.

Modern Uses  

In recent times PHYSALIS is very much appreciated by great chefs in worldwide cuisine. Of unique flavor, lightly acid and sweet, there is no comparison with any other fruit. It produces a delicious juice of unique taste and is also used in sweets, ice cream, jams and chocolate.  

Scientists of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in Ceará discovered a substance called "PHYSALINA" which works in the human immune system avoiding the rejection after organ transplants. The FioCruz and its scientists have filed for a patent for this discovery.  

Plant Chemicals  

Phytochemical studies on physalis reveal that it contains many types of biologically active, naturally occurring chemicals including flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids (some of which have never been seen before), vitamins A,C e D, ayanin, chlorogenic acid, choline, ixocarpanolide, myricetin, phygrine, physagulin A thru G, physalin A thru K, physangulide,

sitosterol, vamonolide.  

Physalis has been subject of recent clinical research showing that it is an effective immune stimulant and toxic agent to numerous types of cancer. The new steroids found in this fruit have been documented anti-cancerous. These extracted plant steroids called physalins, have show strong activity against cancer cells, including lung, colon, liver and brain. This cancer research began in the early 1990 and was performed at the University of Taiwan . Then in 2001 University of Houston also demonstrated the physalins effectiveness against leukemia.

Nutritional Info for 100g of Physalis:

Calories 49 Kcal

Proteins 1,5 g

Carbohydrates 11,0 g

Niacin 0,8 mg

Vitamin A 1.730 UI

Vitamin C 20 mg

Iron 1,7 mg

Fiber 0,4 g

Calcium 0,9 mg

Phosphorus 21 mg

Riboflavin 0,17 mg

Water 85,9 g  

Biological Activities  

In addition to physalis’s anticancerous and antileukemic actions, several research groups have confirmed physalis’s antibacterial and antiviral activity.  

Between 2000 and 2002, the fruit has demonstrated antiviral activity against Polio Virus I, Herpes Simplex I and HIV-I.  

Health Benefits

_ For bacterial infections of all kinds

_ For cancer and leukemia

_ For Mycoplasma and mycobacteria infections

_ For skin diseases (dermatitis, psoriasis, skin infections, rosaceae,

scleroderma, etc.)

_ For viral infections of all kinds

Traditional Preparation  

Depending on what it is employed for, generally one-half to one cup of a whole herb infusion 1-3 times daily or 1-2 ml of a 4:1 tincture twice daily is used. Two to 4 grams of powdered whole herb (depending on body weight) in tablets or capsules or stirred into water or juice twice daily can be substituted if desired (since the active sterol chemicals are completely water soluble).  

Contraindications  

One animal study indicates this plant may lower blood pressure and one test tube study demonstrated a blood anticoagulant activity. People with blood disorders such as hemophilia, those taking heart medications or blood thinners, or those with other heart problems such as low blood pressure should not use this plant without supervision and advice of a qualified health care practitioner.

References

_ Silva, M. T., et al. “Studies on antimicrobial activity, in vitro, of Physalis angulata L.

(Solanaceae) fraction and physalin B bringing out the importance of assay determination.”

Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz. 2005 Nov; 100(7): 779-82.

_ Otake, T., et al. “Screening of Indonesian plant extracts for anti-Human Immunodeficiency

Virus-Type 1 (HIV-1) Activity.” Phytother. Res. 1995; 9(1): 6–10.

_ Kurokawa, M., et al. “Antiviral traditional medicines against Herpes simplex virus (HSV-1),

polio virus, and measles virus in vitro and their therapeutic efficacies for HSV-1 infection in

mice." Antiviral Res. 1993; 22(2/3): 175–88.

_ Kuo, P. C., et al. "Physanolide A, a novel skeleton steroid, and other cytotoxic principles

from Physalis angulata." Org. Lett. 2006 Jul; 8(14): 2953-6.

_ Ichikawa , H., et al. "Withanolides potentiate apoptosis, inhibit invasion, and abolish

osteoclastogenesis through suppression of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation

and NF-kappaB-regulated gene expression." Mol. Cancer Ther. 2006; 5(6): 1434-45.  

NOTE: BEFORE you use this site: Please read our disclaimers. Your use of this site means that you have read and accepted the terms.