Annul herb 5-40 cm in height, erect, glabrous; Stems quadrangular, sub-alate, dichotomously branching; Leaves opposite, sessile, entire. Inferior leaves oblong-lancoelate or oval, acute, 1-3 cm long by 0.5-2 cm wide; Superior leaves smaller, linear or narrowly lanceolate; Inflorescence drooping panicles or terminal cymes, usually dichotomous; Flowers intense pink, peduncles 1-4 mm length; Tubular calyx 5-10 mm long with 4-5 laciniae longer than the calyx tube, sublinear, acute; Hypocrateriform corolla, tube 8-12 mm long, limb 3-6 mm long, 4-5 lobed, lobes elliptical-oblongate, obstuse. Stamens 4-5, opposite to petals, adnate to the corolla; Filaments simple; Anthers oblong, linear, spiral after flowering; Ovary oblong; Style filiform; Stigma bi-lamellate; Fruit in membranous capsule, veined, linear-oblong up to 1.2 cm long; Seeds numerous, oval, rough, sub-alate, 0.2-0.3 mm long.
Cachanlahuen, Cachanlagua, Cachen cachanlaui, Kachan-l-lawen, German: Tausendgüldenkraut
All plant parts have therapeutic properties
C. cachanlahuen has been widely used for its therapeutic qualities and is well known as a febrifuge and hypotensor. The leaves are antihelmintic (taken on an empty stomach), anti-rheumatic, blood purifying and useful in skin complaints (Hoffmann, 2001). According to Murillo et al., 1889, it is used in chronic rheumatism, pleurodynia, amenorrhea, and in patients recovering from pneumonia or pleurisy.
In the Mapuche pharmacy ‘Makelawen’, an extract of C. cachanlahuen is sold for US$ 3.68. In Peru it is sold as a powdered herb for US$ 20 per 50 g, as a whole dried herb for US$ 5 per 50 g and as capsules for US$ 20 for 100 capsules.
Wild
This species is an annual herb. It is endemic to Chile and has a distribution between Atacama and Valdivia, from the Andes Mountains to the coast. It is also present in the Juan Fernández Archipelago.
Crude and semi-processed. Powdered, dried and encapsulated homeopathic preparations.
None reported
No data available regarding the cultivation of this species. It is reported to be easily propagated from seed sown directly in seed trays (Hoffmann, 1992).
The material should be kept in storage places, dried and packed.
Natusalub Canchanlagua, Medicinal Plants (powdered, dried and encapsulated).
Av. Alfredo Mendiola Cdra 17 / S.M.P. Centro Comercial FIORI 227 - A 2do Piso E-mail: ventas@natusalub.com
In the Mapuche pharmacy ‘Makelawen’, a homeopathic preparation of C. cachanlahuen is made.
This species has been well known for its medicinal properties for centuries. The name cachanlahuen is mapudungun- the language of the Mapuche. It is a compound word which comes from the word “kacán”, which means “side ache” and “lawen” which means remedy; and literally translated means “side ache remedy” (Gungkel, 1960). This ancestral knowledge has translated into the modern use of this herb against Pleurodynia. A study realized in the Mapuche community of Currihuinca, (near San Martín de los Andes, Argentina) regarding medicinal plant knowledge showed that C. cachanlahuen was a species of great value to the community, with 27% of the people interviewed using the plant. Additionally C. cachanlahuen is used with a high degree of consistency (69%) as an anti-inflammatory-analgesic, and as the third in importance (Estorba et al., 2004).
The Gentianaceae family contains many species with interesting phytochemical properties. They have been widely used in traditional medicine and as constituents in bitters and similar concoctions. For this reason members of this family have been well studied (Jensen and Schripsema, 2002). C. cachanlahuen contains xanthones, which are known to have anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antibacterial properties (Muñoz et al., 1999).
Insunza et al., 2001 reported that the whole plant extract had nematocide activity on Xiphinema americanum, an economically important vineyard pathogen.
Chemical studies of C. cachanlahuen have led to the isolation of swertiaperenine, swerchirine, decusatine, 1,8-dihidroxy-2,3,4,6-tetrametoxy-9H-xanthone. It was also found to contain oleanolic acid and bitter substances such as iridoids, particularly sweroside (Versluys et al., 1982).
According to regulations imposed by MERCOSUR, C. cachanlahuen is registered as a condiment of botanical origin. It is used as a fruit or for its properties as an aromatizer or flavouring and consequently there are no restrictions regarding those plant parts which are used in normal consumption.
None known
An infusion can be prepared using a pinch of the herb in one cup of boiling water. Drink two cups a day as a stimulant, emmenagogue, hipotensor and diaphoretic. Alternatively soak one teaspoon of the dried herb in a cup of cold water overnight. Drink on an empty stomach as a depurative, tonic, to alleviate intercostal neuritis and in convalescence.