Capraria biflora
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID64400f41458ea774823786 |
| Scientific name | Capraria biflora |
| Authority | L. |
| First published in | Sp. Pl. : 628 (1753) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Capraria biflora, known as “hierba de guinea,” “té guaycura,” or “capraria,” is widely used in infusion or decoction across northern South America and the Caribbean. In Venezuela and the Guianas, herbalists prepare an aqueous extract of the aerial parts—especially the leaves—for colds, coughs, and bronchial complaints; popular folk formulas simply boil the leaves in water and sip the strained liquid (Gupta, 1995). In Brazil, Amazonian users make a decoction of the leaves to relieve fever and digestive upset, treating it like a mild bitter tonic; ethnobotanical surveys have recorded the same leaf infusions for flu-like symptoms and as an after-meal stomachic (Mors et al., 2000). In northern Brazil and the Amazon basin, a leaf decoction is also taken to ease colic and digestive discomfort (Alonso, 1998). In the Dominican Republic and Haiti, herbalists recommend a capraria leaf tea as a household remedy for colds and throat irritation, often sweetened to improve palatability (Liogier, 1990). In Paraguay, early medicinal plant compilations list leaf teas and decoctions for fevers, bronchial inflammation, and dyspepsia, sometimes specifying that the preparation be kept mild and taken in small cups throughout the day (Arguedas, 1953).
For practical use, a mild leaf tea is the simplest starting point. Measure 3–5 grams of dried capraria leaves (about 2 to 3 heaping teaspoons) per cup of freshly boiled water, cover and steep for 8 to 12 minutes, then strain and sip warm. As with many bitter teas, start with one cup a day and observe tolerance; the same leaf infusion is used in traditional households in Venezuela and the Guianas as a cold and cough remedy (Gupta, 1995). If a tincture is preferred, a folk strength of about 1:5 (leaf to ethanol by weight) macerated in 45–60% alcohol for several weeks can be used; commercially, such tinctures are sold in the Caribbean for winter infections, but dosing should follow product labels (Aronson, 2009).
Pharmacologically, the leaves contain phenylethanoid glycosides such as verbascoside and forsythoside B, which have documented anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, along with flavonoids like luteolin and quercetin that may account for the expectorant and antipyretic reputation of the leaf infusions (Kawano et al., 2002). The bitter iridoids and their derivatives also contribute to the plant’s digestive-tonic reputation (Liogier, 1990).
Today, capraria leaf tea remains available in markets and herbal stores in northern Brazil, Venezuela, and the Caribbean, while recent pharmacological work on its phenylethanoids has renewed interest in its role in supporting cough relief and mild febrile care (Gupta, 1995; Mors et al., 2000; Alonso, 1998).
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Xuarezia semiserrata | Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 469 (1891) |
| Xuarezia hirsuta | Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 469 (1891) |
| Xuarezia biflora | Ruiz & Pav. | Fl. Peruv. 2: 13 (1799) |
| Capraria biflora f. hirta | Loes. | Bull. Herb. Boissier , sér. 2, 3: 284 (1903) |
| Capraria biflora var. pilosa | Griseb. | Fl. Brit. W. I. : 427 (1861) |
| Capraria hirsuta | Kunth | Nov. Gen. Sp. 2: 355 (1818) |
| Capraria lanceolata | Vahl | Eclog. Amer. 2: 47. 1798 |
| Capraria semiserrata | Vahl | Eclog. Amer. 2: 47 (1798) |
| Capraria semiserrata var. berterii | A.DC. ex Benth. | Prodr. 10: 429 (1846) |
| Capraria semiserrata | Willd. | Sp. Pl. 3: 325 1800 |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | goatweed |
| Chinese | 双花羊芙蓉 |
| Chinese | 雙花羊芙蓉 |
Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Capraria biflora subsp. biflora | Unknown | |
| Capraria biflora subsp. havanensis | Tzvelev | Bot. Zhurn. (Moscow & Leningrad) 72: 1663 (1987) |
Germination/Propagation Top
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No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
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Africa click to expand
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Macaronesia
- Cape Verde
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West Tropical Africa
- Benin
- Ghana
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Western Indian Ocean
- Mauritius
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Macaronesia
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Northern America click to expand
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Mexico
- Mexico Central
- Mexico Gulf
- Mexico Northeast
- Mexico Northwest
- Mexico Southeast
- Mexico Southwest
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Southeastern U.S.A.
- Florida
-
Mexico
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Southern America click to expand
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Brazil
- Brazil North
- Brazil Northeast
- Brazil Southeast
- Brazil West-central
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Caribbean
- Aruba
- Bahamas
- Bermuda
- Cayman Islands
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Haiti
- Jamaica
- Leeward Islands
- Netherlands Antilles
- Puerto Rico
- Southwest Caribbean
- Trinidad-Tobago
- Turks-caicos Islands
- Venezuelan Antilles
- Windward Islands
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Central America
- Belize
- Central American Pacific
- Costa Rica
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Nicaragua
- Panamá
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Northern South America
- French Guiana
- Guyana
- Suriname
- Venezuela
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Southern South America
- Argentina Northeast
- Argentina Northwest
- Paraguay
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Western South America
- Bolivia
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Galápagos
- Peru
-
Brazil
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000585310 |
| Florida Plant Atlas | 2292 |
| USDA Plants | CABI13 |
| Tropicos | 29200704 |
| INPN | 629262 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:800773-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-2697734 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 820861 |
| Observations.org | 198594 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 255867 |
| Nature Serve | 2.138940 |
| IPNI | 800773-1 |
| iNaturalist | 159826 |
| GBIF | 3171842 |
| EPPO | CPRBI |
| EOL | 47154392 |
| Elurikkus | 369831 |
| USDA GRIN | 449983 |
| CMAUP | NPO8493 |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
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Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Aminobenzoic acids and derivatives / Aminobenzoic acids | |||||
| 2-Amino-3-chlorobenzoic acid | 80807 | Click to see | 171.58 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Benzenoids / Naphthalenes / Naphthoquinones | |||||
| NAPHTHO(1,8-bc)PYRAN-7,8-DIONE, 6,9-DIMETHYL-3-(4-METHYL-3-PENTENYL)- | 57525 | Click to see | 308.40 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1248/BPB.30.1416 https://doi.org/10.1002/MRC.1295 |
| > Benzenoids / Phenols / Benzenediols / Resorcinols | |||||
| Resorstatin | 198749 | Click to see | 264.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / Phenolic glycosides | |||||
| Biflorin | 441959 | Click to see | 354.31 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/MRC.1295 |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Diazanaphthalenes / Benzodiazines / Quinoxalines / Phenazines and derivatives | |||||
| 1-Methoxyphenazine | 76137 | Click to see COC1=CC=CC2=NC3=CC=CC=C3N=C21 | 210.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 1-Phenazinecarboxylic acid | 95069 | Click to see | 224.21 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 1,6-Phenazinedicarboxylic acid | 193025 | Click to see | 268.22 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 2-Methoxyphenazine | 235279 | Click to see | 210.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 2,3-Dimethoxy-1-phenazinecarboxylic acid methyl ester | 21856883 | Click to see COC1=CC2=NC3=CC=CC=C3N=C2C(=C1OC)C(=O)OC | 298.29 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 2,3-Dimethoxyphenazine | 21679909 | Click to see COC1=CC2=NC3=CC=CC=C3N=C2C=C1OC | 240.26 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 2,3,7-Trimethoxyphenazine | 21856873 | Click to see COC1=CC2=NC3=CC(=C(C=C3N=C2C=C1)OC)OC | 270.28 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 6-Methoxy-1-phenazinecarboxylic acid methyl ester | 12318570 | Click to see | 268.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Dimethyl 2,3,7-trimethoxyphenazine-1,6-dicarboxylate | 21856884 | Click to see | 386.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Dimethyl Phenazine-1,6-dicarboxylate | 10756325 | Click to see | 296.28 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Methyl 2-methoxyphenazine-1-carboxylate | 12318580 | Click to see | 268.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Methyl 2,3,4-trimethoxyphenazine-1-carboxylate | 21856881 | Click to see | 328.32 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Methyl 2,6-dimethoxyphenazine-1-carboxylate | 101289916 | Click to see | 298.29 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Methyl 4-methoxyphenazine-1-carboxylate | 21679906 | Click to see | 268.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Methyl phenazine-1-carboxylate | 602126 | Click to see COC(=O)C1=CC=CC2=NC3=CC=CC=C3N=C21 | 238.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Dihydrofurans / Furanones / Butenolides | |||||
| (2R)-4-[(Z)-hex-1-enyl]-2-methyl-2H-furan-5-one | 11321306 | Click to see CCCCC=CC1=CC(OC1=O)C | 180.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Indoles and derivatives / Indolyl carboxylic acids and derivatives | |||||
| 7-Chloro-indole-1-acetic acid | 67082699 | Click to see | 209.63 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Indoles and derivatives / Indolyl carboxylic acids and derivatives / Indole-3-acetic acid derivatives | |||||
| 2-(7-Chloro-1H-indol-3-yl)acetic acid | 3083739 | Click to see | 209.63 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Lactones / Gamma butyrolactones | |||||
| (3R,5R,9R)-7-(furan-3-yl)-3,9-dimethyl-1-oxaspiro[4.5]dec-6-en-2-one | 10800445 | Click to see CC1CC(=CC2(C1)CC(C(=O)O2)C)C3=COC=C3 | 246.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP000280W |
| (3S,5R,9R)-7-(3-furyl)-3,9-dimethyl-1-oxaspiro[4.5]dec-6-en-2-one | 642917 | Click to see | 246.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP000280W |
| 7-(Furan-3-yl)-3,9-dimethyl-1-oxaspiro[4.5]dec-6-en-2-one | 78201176 | Click to see CC1CC(=CC2(C1)CC(C(=O)O2)C)C3=COC=C3 | 246.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP000280W |
| Caprariolide A | 10634166 | Click to see | 246.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP000280W |
| caprariolide B | 10610434 | Click to see CC1CC(=CC2(C1)CC(C(=O)O2)C)C3=COC=C3 | 246.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP000280W |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Pyrroles / Substituted pyrroles / Phenylpyrroles | |||||
| 2,3-Dichloro-4-(2-nitro-3-chlorophenyl)pyrrole | 367486 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C(=C1)Cl)[N+](=O)[O-])C2=CNC(=C2Cl)Cl | 291.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 3-Chloro-4-(3-chloro-4-fluoro-2-nitrophenyl)-1H-pyrrole | 13024187 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C(=C1C2=CNC=C2Cl)[N+](=O)[O-])Cl)F | 275.06 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 4-(2-amino-3-chlorophenyl)-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid | 121223548 | Click to see | 236.65 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Pyrrolnitrin | 13916 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C(=C1)Cl)[N+](=O)[O-])C2=CNC=C2Cl | 257.07 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Stilbenes | |||||
| 12-Methyl-8-[2-[12-methyl-4-(4-methylpent-3-enyl)-10,11-dioxo-2-oxatricyclo[7.3.1.05,13]trideca-1(12),3,5(13),6,8-pentaen-8-yl]ethyl]-4-(4-methylpent-3-enyl)-2-oxatricyclo[7.3.1.05,13]trideca-1(12),3,5(13),6,8-pentaene-10,11-dione | 162966773 | Click to see | 614.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/MRC.1295 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |