Life plant (Kalanchoe pinnata).Note: this name can also refer to: Mala madre. Distinguishing feature: bruja leaves are shorter than those of mala madre.Plant Part Used: Leaf.Dominican Medicinal Uses: The leaves are traditionally heated until wilted and squeezed to extract the juice from inside the leaf which is applied topically for earache. The bruised, fresh leaves are also applied topically for headache, and the fresh leaves or leaf juice are taken orally for stomach ache and ulcers.Safety: In a clinical case report, the leaf extract (30 g fresh leaves per day taken orally for 14 days) did not show any signs of toxicity or adverse effects in one adult female patient. The leaf orally administered to mice for 30 days did not show signs of toxicity to the liver, heart or kidney.Contraindications: No information has been identified in the available literature on the safety of this plant in children or during pregnancy or lactation.Clinical Data: In one clinical case report the leaf extract was investigated for its potential in treating leishmaniasis.Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In animal studies the leaf extract has shown antitumor effects and the leaf juice has shown hepatoprotective activity. In vitro, the leaf extract or constituents have demonstrated antitumor and uterine stimulant effects.* See entry for Bruja in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.
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