Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E
Maté
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Latin Name: Ilex paraguariensis
Pharmacopeial Name: Maté folium Other Names: yerba maté, kali chaye, Paraguay tea
Overview
Maté is an evergreen tree growing wild near streams in South America between latitudes 30° and 20° South, now cultivated and maintained as a bush in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay (Bruneton, 1995; Goldberg et al., 1997; Wichtl and Bisset, 1994) from whence the material of commerce is produced (BHP, 1996; Wichtl and Bisset, 1994).
Wild-collected maté has been used by Native Americans in Brazil and Paraguay since ancient times. It was first brought under cultivation by Jesuit missionaries (Hagemann, 1997). Like green and black tea (Camellia sinensis), maté is processed into both green and fermented forms. In much of South America it is used more commonly than coffee or tea as a daily stimulant. Its name maté derives from the name of the traditional vessel in which the tea is prepared with boiling water, lemon juice, and sweetener (Goldberg et al., 1997; Grieve, 1979; Hagemann, 1997; Wichtl and Bisset, 1994).In Paraguay, the ethnomedical uses of maté infusion (ka'a in Paraguayan) are as a stimulant, diuretic, and eupeptic tonic (Gupta, 1996). Commercial mat farming has caused the disappearance of rainforest understory, and middle strata flora and fauna. Few canopy birds remain where mat is cropped. Experiments with sustainable yerba maté production are being conducted to identify methods less destructive to local fauna, for example, inside the forest, without removing middle strata, sub-canopy, or canopy vegetation (Lowen et al., 1995). Its traditional uses in South American aboriginal medicines have spread to North America, Europe, and India. In northern India, maté grows in Lucknow. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia lists maté for psychogenic headache, fatigue, nervous depression, and rheumatic pains (Karnick, 1994). In Germany, maté leaf is used as a monopreparation in an aqueous infusion dosage form and also as a component of prepared bladder and kidney teas, headache teas, and laxative teas. Maté dry extract is found as a component of instant teas and the alcoholic tincture is used in compound fluid preparations. In the United States,maté is used in monopreparations and as a component of central nervous system stimulant dietary supplements for mental and physical fatigue, aqueous infusion, alcoholic tincture, and aqueous dry extract. Ethnic South Americans living in the United States prepare and use maté in its traditional manner as an aqueous infusion in a gourd (cuja) through a straw or tube with a sieve-like bottom (bombilla).
The approved modern therapeutic applications for maté are supportable based on its long history of use in well-established systems of traditional medicine, on phytochemical investigations, and in vitro studies and in vivo pharmacological experiments in animals. Pharmacopeial grade maté leaf is briefly cured by strong heating, then more gently dried. It must pass identification by macroscopic and microscopic authentication and by thin-layer chromatography (TLC). Quantitative standards include not less than 20% water-soluble extractive content (BHP, 1996; Erg.B.6, 1926; Wichtl and Bisset, 1994).
Description
Maté consists of the dried leaf and leaf stem of Ilex paraguariensis A. Saint-Hilaire [Fam. Aquifoliaceae], and their preparations in effective dosage. The herb contains caffeine.
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Maté leaf contains xanthene alkaloids (12% caffeine, 0.450.9% theobromine, 0.05% theophylline); tannin-like substances (416% caffeic and chlorogenic acids); the amines choline and trigonelline; amino acids; the flavonoids kaempferol, quercetin, and rutin; ursolic acid; vitamins B2, B6, C, niacin, and pantothenic acid; and volatile oil (Bruneton, 1995; Budavari et al., 1989; List and Hrhammer, 19731979; Newall et al., 1996; Wichtl and Bisset, 1994). The Commission E reported analeptic, diuretic, positively inotropic, positively chronotropic, glycogenolytic, and lipolytic properties. Maté is reported to have central nervous system stimulant, thymoleptic, diuretic, antirheumatic, and mild analgesic activities. The pharmaceutical use of mat can be attributed to caffeine (BHP, 1983 and 1990; Bruneton, 1995; Newall et al., 1996).
Uses
The Commission E approved the internal use of maté leaf for mental and physical fatigue. In France, maté leaf preparations are permitted for the treatment of asthenia, as an adjunctive treatment in weight loss programs orally and topically, and to increase the renal excretion of water (Bruneton, 1995). Maté is used for fatigue, nervous depression, rheumatic pains, psychogenic headache, and is specifically indicated for headache from fatigue (BHP, 1983 and 1990; Newall et al., 1996; Wichtl and Bisset, 1994).
Contraindications
None known.
Side Effects
None known.
Use During Pregnancy and Lactation
No restrictions known.
Interactions with Other Drugs
None known.
Dosage and Administration
Unless otherwise prescribed: 3 g per day of cut herb. Infusion: 2 g in 150 ml water, one to two times daily. Fluidextract 1:1 (g/ml): 2 ml, one to two times daily. Tincture 1:5 (g/ml): 10 ml, one to two times daily. Native dry extract 4.5-5.5:1 (w/w): 0.36-0.44 g, one to two times daily.
References
British Herbal Pharmacopoeia (BHP). 1996. Exeter, U.K.: British Herbal Medicine Association. 130131. . 1990. Bournemouth, U.K.: British Herbal Medicine Association. . 1983. Keighley, U.K.: British Herbal Medicine Association. Bruneton, J. 1995. Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants. Paris: Lavoisier Publishing. Budavari, S., M.J. O'Neil, A. Smith, P.E. Heckelman (eds.). 1989. The Merck Index: An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals, 11th ed. Rahway, N.J.: Merck & Co., Inc. Ergnzungsbuch zum Deutschen Arzneibuch, 6th ed. (Erg.B.6). 1953. Stuttgart: Deutscher Apotheker Verlag. Goldberg, A., P. Altaffer, M. Altaffer (eds.). 1997. Brazilian Botanical Monographs, 1st ed. Oakland: New World Enterprises, Inc. Grieve, M. 1979. A Modern Herbal. New York: Dover Publications, Inc. Gupta, M.P. (ed.). 1996. 270 Plantas Medicinales Iberoamericanas. CYTED Programa Iberoamericano de ciencia y tecnologia para el desarrollo. Subprograma de quimica fina farmaceutica: Convenio Andres Bello. 4647. Hagemann, R.C. (ed.). 1997. The Review of Natural Products. St. Louis: Facts and Comparisons. Karnick, C.R. 1994. Pharmacopoeial Standards of Herbal Plants, Vol. 1. Delhi: Sri Satguru Publications. 197198. List, P.H. and L. Hrhammer (eds.). 1973-1979. Hagers Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, Vols. 17. New York: Springer Verlag. Lowen, J.C., L. Bartrina, R.P. Clay, J.A. Tobias. 1995. Biological Surveys and Conservation Priorities in Eastern Paraguay. Itab, Paraguay: CSB Conservation Publications. 5561. Newall, C.A., L.A. Anderson, J.D. Phillipson. 1996. Herbal Medicines: A Guide for Health-Care Professionals. London: The Pharmaceutical Press. Wichtl, M. and N.G. Bisset (eds.). 1994. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals. Stuttgart: Medpharm Scientific Publishers.
Additional Resources
Barreto, R.C.R. 1956. Microbiological determination of choline in herba maté. Rev Quim Ind (Rio de Janeiro) 25(28):12. Bertoni, M.S. Medicina Guarani: CAP. XXI: Accion de la Yerba Maté. Civilizacion Guarani. Etnografia 462-490. British Pharmaceutical Codex (BPC). 1934. London: The Pharmaceutical Press. Council of Europe. 1981. Flavouring Substances and Natural Sources of Flavourings, 3rd ed. Strasbourg: Maisonneuve. Der Marderosian, A. (ed.). 1999. The Review of Natural Products. St. Louis: Facts and Comparisons. Duke, J.A. 1985. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. Boca Raton: CRC Press. . 1992. Handbook of Phytochemical Constituents of GRAS Herbs and Other Economic Plants. Boca Raton: CRC Press. 305-306. Fossati, C. 1976. Sulle virtu e sulle proprieta terapeutiche della 'yerba-maté' [On the virtue and therapeutic properties of 'yerba-maté']. (Ilex paraguayensis o paraguariensis, St. Hilaire 1838). Clin Ter 78(3):265-272. Gosmann, G. and E.P. Schenkel. 1989. A new saponin from maté (Ilex paraguariensis) leaf and beverage. Food Chem 35(1):13-21. Gosmann, G., D. Guillaume, A.T. Taketa, E.P. Schenkel. 1995. Triterpenoid saponins from Ilex paraguariensis. J Nat Prod 58(3):438-441. Gugliucci, A. and A.J. Stahl. 1995. Low density lipoprotein oxidation is inhibited by extracts of Ilex paraguariensis. Biochem Mol Biol Int 35(1):47-56. Gugliucci, A. 1996. Antioxidant effects of Ilex paraguariensis: induction of decreased oxidability of human LDL in vivo. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 224(2):338-344. Lust, J.B. 1974. The Herb Book. Simi Valley, CA: Benedict Lust Publications. 229. May, G. and G. Willuhn. 1978. [Antiviral activity of aqueous extracts from medicinal plants in tissues cultures] [In German]. Arzneimforsch 28(1):17. McGuffin, M., C. Hobbs, R. Upton, A. Goldberg. 1997. American Herbal Product Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton: CRC Press. Muccillo Baisch, A.L., K.B. Johnston, F.L. Paganini Stein. 1998. Endothelium-dependent vasorelaxing activity of aqueous extracts of Ilex paraguariensis on mesenteric arterial bed of rats. J Ethnopharmacol 60(2):133-139. No Borders Net Services. 1997. Yerba Maté: Chemical Features and Therapeutic Properties. Available at: www.noborders.net/mate/ingredients.html Ohem, N. and J. Holzl. 1988. Some new investigations on Ilex paraguariensis—Flavonoids and triterpenes. Planta Med 54:576. Pharmacope Franaise Xe dition (Ph.Fr.X.). 1983-1990. Moulins-les-Metz: Maisonneuve S.A. Reynolds, J.E.F. (ed.). 1993. Martindale: The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 30th ed. London: The Pharmaceutical Press. Schenkel, E.P., J.A. Montanha, G. Gosmann. 1996. Triterpene saponins from mat, Ilex paraguariensis. Adv Exp Med Biol 405:4756. Tenorio Sanz, M.D. and M.E. Torija Isasa. 1991. Elementos minerales en la yerba maté [Mineral elements in maté herb] (Ilex paraguariensis St. H.). Arch Latinoam Nutr 41(3):441454. Valduga, E. 1995. Chemical and anatomic characterization of Ilex paraguariensis Saint Hilaire leaf and some species used in adulterating Yerba Maté. [Post-graduation thesis presented at the University of Paran , Curitiba.] Vasquez, A. and P. Moyna. 1986. Studies on maté drinking. J Ethnopharmacol 18(3):267-272. Vera Garcia, R., I. Basualdo, I. Peralta, M. de Herebia, S. Caballero. 1997. Minerals content of Paraguayan yerba mat (Ilex paraguariensis, S.H.). Arch Latinoam Nutr 47(1):77-80. Wagner, H., S. Bladt, E.M. Zgainski. 1984. Plant Drug Analysis. Berlin-Heidelberg: Springer Verlag. 86. This material was adapted from The Complete German Commission E Monographs—Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. M. Blumenthal, W.R. Busse, A. Goldberg, J. Gruenwald, T. Hall, C.W. Riggins, R.S. Rister (eds.) S. Klein and R.S. Rister (trans.). 1998. Austin: American Botanical Council; Boston: Integrative Medicine Communications.
1) The Overview section is new information. 2) Description, Chemistry and Pharmacology, Uses, Contraindications, Side Effects, Interactions with Other Drugs, and Dosage sections have been drawn from the original work. Additional information has been added in some or all of these sections, as noted with references. 3) The dosage for equivalent preparations (tea infusion, fluidextract, and tincture) have been provided based on the following example: - Unless otherwise prescribed: 2 g per day of [powdered, crushed, cut or whole] [plant part]
- Infusion: 2 g in 150 ml of water
- Fluidextract 1:1 (g/ml): 2 ml
- Tincture 1:5 (g/ml): 10 ml
4) The References and Additional Resources sections are new sections. Additional Resources are not cited in the monograph but are included for research purposes. This monograph, published by the Commission E in 1994, was modified based on new scientific research. It contains more extensive pharmacological and therapeutic information taken directly from the Commission E.
Excerpt from Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs
Copyright 2000 American Botanical Council
Published by Integrative Medicine Communications
Available from the American Botanical Council.
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