Patha

Patha, also known as Cissampelos pareira, is a plant from the Menispermaceae family that occurs in tropical and subtropical regions. It has been used for centuries within various traditions of traditional medicine, among them Ayurveda, for example, but above all also South American traditional medicine. Because of its potentially healing properties, Patha is regarded in many cultures as a versatile plant that can be used for the most diverse health problems.

What benefits does Patha provide?

Patha is traditionally used to treat a wide variety of complaints, among them fever, inflammation, digestive disorders and respiratory infections. The potential benefits of the plant have so far been examined in some animal and human studies; more research is nevertheless needed before definitive statements can be made. To date, Patha has been associated with the following properties:

  • Anti-inflammatory effect: Some studies suggest that Patha has a potentially anti-inflammatory effect. This property could be helpful in the treatment of conditions such as arthritis and other inflammatory states (1,2).
  • Antimicrobial properties: Patha is used in traditional medicine to treat infections, since it contains a range of antimicrobial compounds that could be effective against bacteria, viruses and fungi (3,4).
  • Blood-sugar-lowering: Initial research findings suggest that Patha may possibly have a blood-sugar-lowering effect, which could make it a potential candidate for the supportive treatment of diabetes (5).

How Patha works

Its effect is attributed to a range of bioactive compounds contained in the plant, in particular alkaloids and flavonoids.

Intake recommendation

There is no standardized dosage for Patha, and the plant has so far not been researched sufficiently for a well-founded recommendation to be given. For this reason, and because the plant is available in various forms, among them powder, tea and extract, it is advisable to consult a doctor before taking it.

What risks and side effects can Patha cause?

So far there are only few scientific studies on the side effects of Patha. There are, however, reports that the plant can have a toxic effect in high doses. Possible complications can arise in specific population groups. Pregnant and breastfeeding women as well as people with liver or kidney disease should exercise particular caution. Since Patha has a potentially blood-sugar-lowering effect, interactions with various medications also have to be considered.

Conclusion

Patha (Cissampelos pareira) is a plant that finds versatile application in traditional medicine. Its potential anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and blood-sugar-lowering properties make it a promising candidate for further research. Before the effects and active compounds of the plant have been examined more closely, taking it should be refrained from, or a doctor should in any case be consulted beforehand.

Sources:

  1. Amresh, G., Reddy, G. D., Rao, C.hV., & Singh, P. N. (2007). Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of Cissampelos pareira root in rats. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 110(3), 526–531. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2006.10.009
  2. Amresh, Gupta & Singh, P. & Rao, Ch. (2007). Antinociceptive and antiarthritic activity of Cissampelos pareira roots. Journal of ethnopharmacology. 111. 531-6. 10.1016/j.jep.2006.12.026.
  3. Muema, J. M., Mutunga, J. M., Obonyo, M. A., Getahun, M. N., Mwakubambanya, R. S., Akala, H. M., Cheruiyot, A. C., Yeda, R. A., Juma, D. W., Andagalu, B., Johnson, J. L., Roth, A. L., & Bargul, J. L. (2023). Isoliensinine from Cissampelos pariera rhizomes exhibits potential gametocytocidal and anti-malarial activities against Plasmodium falciparum clinical isolates. Malaria journal, 22(1), 161. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-023-04590-7
  4. Sood R, Raut R, Tyagi P, Pareek PK, Barman TK, Singhal S, et al. (2015) Cissampelos pareira Linn: Natural Source of Potent Antiviral Activity against All Four Dengue Virus Serotypes. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 9(12): e0004255. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0004255
  5. Kumar, Ankit & Semwal, Ravindra & Chauhan, Ashutosh & Semwal, Ruchi & Chandra, Subhash & Sircar, Debabrata & Roy, Partha & Semwal, Deepak. (2022). Evaluation of antidiabetic effect of Cissampelos pareira L. (Menispermaceae) root extract in streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced diabetic rats via targeting SGLT2 inhibition. Phytomedicine Plus. 2. 100374. 10.1016/j.phyplu.2022.100374.
  6. Surekha Kumari, Anmol, Vinod Bhatt, Patil Shivprasad Suresh, Upendra Sharma,Cissampelos pareira L.: A review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 274, 2021, 113850, ISSN 0378-8741, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2021.113850.
  7. Singh, A., Duggal, S., Singh, J., & Katekhaye, S. (2010). An inside preview of ethnopharmacology of Cissampelos pareira Linn. International Journal of Biological Technology, 1(1), 114-120.
  8. Dwuma-Badu, D., Ayim, J.S.K., Mingle, C.A., Tackie, A.N., Slatkin, D.J, Knapp, J.E., and Schiff, P.L.J., 1975. Alkaloids of Cissampelos pareira. Phytochemistry., 14:2520-2521.
  9. Ramírez, I., Carabot, A., Meléndez, P., Carmona, J., Jimenez, M., Patel, A. V., Crabb, T. A., Blunden, G., Cary, P. D., Croft, S. L., & Costa, M. (2003). Cissampeloflavone, a chalcone-flavone dimer from Cissampelos pareira. Phytochemistry, 64(2), 645–647. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0031-9422(03)00241-3