''Cissampelos'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family

Menispermaceae Menispermaceae (botanical Latin: 'moonseed family' from Greek ''mene'' 'crescent moon' and ''sperma'' 'seed') is a family (biology), family of flowering plants. The alkaloid tubocurarine, a neuromuscular blocker and the active ingredient in the ...

. Various species of this genus have a history of use in various traditions of

herbal medicine Herbal medicine (also called herbalism, phytomedicine or phytotherapy) is the study of pharmacognosy and the use of medicinal plants, which are a basis of traditional medicine. Scientific evidence for the effectiveness of many herbal treatments ...

. Moreover, many of these plants were used as

curare Curare ( or ; or ) is a common name for various alkaloid arrow poisons originating from plant extracts. Used as a paralyzing agent by indigenous peoples in Central and South America for hunting and for therapeutic purposes, curare only ...

applied as arrow poison during hunting. '' Cissampelos pareira'' is used in

Chinese herbology Chinese herbology () is the theory of traditional Chinese herbal therapy, which accounts for the majority of treatments in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). A ''Nature'' editorial described TCM as "fraught with pseudoscience", and said that t ...

. The species is also known as abuta in

Ayurvedic medicine Ayurveda (; ) is an alternative medicine system with historical roots in the Indian subcontinent. It is heavily practised throughout India and Nepal, where as much as 80% of the population report using ayurveda. The theory and practice of ayur ...

. The

Maasai people The Maasai (;) are a Nilotic peoples, Nilotic ethnic group inhabiting northern, central and southern Kenya and northern Tanzania, near the African Great Lakes region.

of Kenya use ''

Cissampelos mucronata ''Cissampelos'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Menispermaceae. Various species of this genus have a history of use in various traditions of herbal medicine. Moreover, many of these plants were used as curare applied as arrow poison ...

'' as a

forage Forage is a plant material (mainly plant leaves and stems) eaten by grazing livestock. Historically, the term ''forage'' has meant only plants eaten by the animals directly as pasture, crop residue, or immature cereal crops, but it is also used m ...

for their cattle.

Selected species

21 accepted species + 1 newly discovered species * '' Cissampelos andromorpha'' DC. * '' Cissampelos arenicola'' Ortiz RdC, MH Nee. 2014 New speciesNew Species of Sand-Dwelling Plant Discovered in Bolivia, Paraguay
/ref> * '' Cissampelos capensis'' L.f. * '' Cissampelos fasciculata'' Benth. * ''

Cissampelos friesiorum ''Cissampelos'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Menispermaceae. Various species of this genus have a history of use in various traditions of herbal medicine. Moreover, many of these plants were used as curare applied as arrow poison ...

'' Diels * ''

Cissampelos glaberrima ''Cissampelos'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Menispermaceae. Various species of this genus have a history of use in various traditions of herbal medicine. Moreover, many of these plants were used as curare applied as arrow poison ...

'' A.St.-Hil. * ''

Cissampelos grandifolia ''Cissampelos'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Menispermaceae. Various species of this genus have a history of use in various traditions of herbal medicine. Moreover, many of these plants were used as curare applied as arrow poison ...

'' Triana & Planch. * ''

Cissampelos hirta ''Cissampelos'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Menispermaceae. Various species of this genus have a history of use in various traditions of herbal medicine. Moreover, many of these plants were used as curare applied as arrow poison ...

'' Klotzsch * '' Cissampelos hispida'' Forman * '' Cissampelos laxiflora'' Moldenke * ''

'' A.Rich. * ''

Cissampelos nepalensis ''Cissampelos'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Menispermaceae. Various species of this genus have a history of use in various traditions of herbal medicine. Moreover, many of these plants were used as curare applied as arrow poison ...

'' Rhodes * '' Cissampelos nigrescens'' Diels * '' Cissampelos ovalifolia'' DC. * '' Cissampelos owariensis'' P.Beauv. ex DC. * '' Cissampelos pareira'' L. * '' Cissampelos rigidifolia'' (Engl.) Diels * '' Cissampelos sympodialis'' Eichler * '' Cissampelos tenuipes'' Engl. * '' Cissampelos torulosa'' E.Mey. ex Harv. & Sond. * '' Cissampelos tropaeolifolia'' DC. * '' Cissampelos verticillata'' Rhodes

References

External links

*https://web.archive.org/web/20131105201226/http://www.africamuseum.be/prelude/prelude_pic/Cissampelos_mucronata2.jpg - plant image Menispermaceae Menispermaceae genera Plants used in traditional Chinese medicine {{Menispermaceae-stub