11 CHONDRODENDRON TOMENTOSUM 



Official Part and Name. PAREIR^E RADIX ; tlie dried root of Cis- 

 sampelos Pareira, Linn. (B. P.). The dried root (Pareira Radix) 

 (I. P.). PAEEIRA. Pareira Brava ; tlie root of Cissampelos 

 Pareira (U. S. P.). 



General Characters. True Pareira Brava that is, the one 

 derived from Chondrodendron tomentosum (the official plant having 

 been proved, by Hanbury, to produce a very different root) is in 

 long, branched or unbranched, more or less twisted or serpen- 

 tine pieces, varying in thickness from \ inch to 2 or more 

 inches ; and marked externally with deep, irregular, longitudinal 

 furrows, and numerous transverse elevations and cracks. It is 

 covered by a dark blackish-brown bark, within which the wood, 

 which is of a light yellowish or dull greenish-brown colour, and 

 loose fibrous texture, is arranged in evident concentric, or some- 

 times eccentric circles, divided into wedge-shaped portions by 

 large medullary rays, and the zones of wood are also separated 

 from one another by a crenated or wavy ring of waxy substance, 

 which is of a pale colour at first, but becomes darker by keeping 

 and exposure to the air. The root presents a coarse fibrous 

 fracture, although when cut it appears of a waxy nature. It has 

 no evident odour, but a well-marked bitter taste. 



The stems are sometimes imported and sold as Pareira Brava. 

 They may be distinguished by presenting a small, although 

 evident pith, and by their lighter colour externally. In taste they 

 resemble the root, and are probably but little inferior to it. 



Substitutes. The original Pareira Brava had almost disappeared 

 from commerce, until Hanbury called particular attention to this 

 drug in 1873; its place being supplied by spurious roots and 

 stems, and commonly very inferior in medicinal properties to the 

 true root. The principal of these have been described by Han- 

 bury, under the names of White Pareira Brava, from Abutarufescens, 

 Aublet ; Yellow Pareira Brava, from, it is presumed, Abuta amara 

 of Aublet ; and the Common False Pareira Brava, the botanical 

 source of which is unknown, although evidently from a plant of 

 the order Menispermaceae. It is this spurious drug which has 

 been the ordinary Pareira Brava of commerce for many years 



