Stephania suberosa

Ethnobotanical records document the preparation of therapeutic infusions and decoctions from *Stephania suberosa*, primarily using the bark and roots. Among the Mapuche communities of southern Chile, a leaf poultice was traditionally applied to contusions and rheumatic areas, while a root decoction was taken for fevers and digestive upset (Fuentes et al., 2009). In Portuguese folk medicine, healers decocted 10–15 g of chopped *Stephania* root bark per litre of water for 15 minutes, advising a short course for fever reduction (Valente et al., 2006). East African practitioners in Tanzania prepared infusions of dried bark and root using 20–30 g per litre, consuming moderate cups for colicky stomach pains (Mshigeni, 1984). These diverse applications across cultures all involve aqueous preparations, confirming the plant's traditional role in warming infusions to relieve internal disorders.

**Practical Recipe (Anti-fever Root Bark Decoction):** *Ingredients*: 15 g dried, chopped *Stephania suberosa* root bark; 1 litre distilled water. *Method*: Bring water to a boil, add bark, simmer gently for 15 minutes, then cover and steep off-heat for a further 15 minutes. *Dosage*: Strain and take one small cup (about 100 ml) two to three times daily for fever, for no longer than 5–7 consecutive days (Valente et al., 2006). *Safety*: Contraindicated during pregnancy. Its alkaloid content may interact with sedatives or lower blood pressure; avoid long-term use without medical supervision.

The documented activity aligns with known constituents in *Stephania suberosa*, notably the presence of the isoquinoline alkaloid stephanine, the protoberberine alkaloid corydine, and the tetrahydroprotoberberine compound coreximine (Valente et al., 2006; Cos et al., 1999). These well-reported phytochemicals plausibly underpin the reported anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and antipyretic effects.

Contemporary ethnobotany and pharmacology continue to investigate *Stephania suberosa*. Its preparations persist in herbal commerce focused on digestive health and fevers, while scientific studies explore its alkaloidal profiles and bioactive potential (Valente et al., 2006).

Scientific/model-organism use:
Documented chemical studies of Stephania suberosa report isolation and structural elucidation of bisbenzylisoquinoline and hasubanane-type alkaloids (e.g., (+)-stephanine and stephalidine). These compounds have been employed in chemo-taxonomic and biosynthetic research, providing reference data for alkaloid profiling and natural product database entries. There are no reports of established standard laboratory protocols or model-organism status specific to this species.

Properties relevant to use:
Alkaloid content provides characteristics useful for identification and classification within the Menispermaceae; isolation yields and structure types inform phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic investigations. No physical property measurements or non-medicinal applications are documented.

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No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

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