MEDICINAL PLANT: MATICO

Scientific Name: Piper Aduncum, Piper angustifolium, Piper acutifolium

Other Names: Cordoncillo, hierba soldado, achotlín, matico de la altura, matico-mocco-mocco, moho-moho, monkey-pepper, spiked pepper

    Piper aduncum L is a native shrub of tropical regions in Central and South America. In South America, Piper aduncum is found throughout Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Peru. Moreover, matico was introduced during the 19th century to Asia where it is considered an invasive species. Matico essential oils are important as traditional medicine for ameliorate diarrhea caused by Escherichia coli and for inducing wound healing. Matico essential oils has traditional uses in herbal medicine and agriculture

Foto: Jardín Botanico de Plantas Medicinales del Centro Nacional de Salud Intercultural

    Matico is an evergreen shrub or small tree of the pepper family. It can reach from four to seven meters in height. Its stems are green, with knots of the intersection of the leaves quite swollen. Alternate leaves have a narrow lanceolate shape of up to 20 centimeters long and five to nine cm wide. Matico leaves have a short petiole of nine to 12 centimeters long. Leaves display a network of five veins scabrous on the upper surface and pubescent -smooth hairs- on the underside. Axillary or terminal inflorescence in spikes of up to 15 cm; small sessile and imperceptible flowers to the naked eye. The fruits are berries with small black seeds. Matico has a characteristic peppery smell.

    Matico is traditionally use as herbal medicine to treat several health conditions in different countries. For example, in Jamaica for treating stomach aches, in Colombia for treating dysentery, and in Peru for treating diarrhea. Peruvian traditional herbal medicine uses matico infusion for treating symptomatic diarrhea due to its antimicrobial, astringent, diuretic, stimulant, and stomachic properties. Furthermore, matico is known for treating wounds due to its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties in ethnobotanical Brazilian and Papua New Guinean natural medicine.

Foto: Jardín Botanico de Plantas Medicinales del Centro Nacional de Salud Intercultural

Biochemical principles:

    The biological activities are related to arylpropanoids dillapiole; the most important compound of the leaves' essential oils. However, according to the literature, there seems to be a chemical diversity in the composition of essential oil depending on the environmental conditions during plant development or the age of the plant. For example, ethanolic extracts of Peruvian Matico showed flavonoid compounds as the predominant compounds in the plant. Moreover, according to recent studies, matico essential oils have strong antimicrobial activity against many common microorganisms that infect wounds.

Herbal medicine uses:    

    Matico herbal medicinal uses comprehend several health conditions such as treating kidney disorders, stomachache, ulcers, rheumatism,  gynecological diseases, liver ailment, and skin infections. Matico's medical uses are for internal and external bleeding in cases of falls, throat inflammation, diarrhea, dysentery, bruises, bumps, tumors of the matrix, vaginitis, bronchitis, herpes, urinary infections, etc. 

Directions:

Infusion:
- Internal use: Boil one liter of water, turn off heat and pour 20 grams of leaves matico. for stomach ulcers, gallstones, kidney stones and ulcer healing.

Cooking:
- External use: In a liter of water, add 30-40 grams of dried matico. With the liquid obtained is fomentations, irrigations, lotions, enemas and gargle.

Essencial Oils