Paullinia

Guarana (Paullinia cupana). Reprinted from Culbreth DMR. (1927). Materia Medica and Pharmacognosy, 7th ed. Philadelphia Lea Febiger. 

Tricetin 4 -methyl ether 7-Apiosyl(l 2)(6"-acetylglucoside) Paullinia pinnata leaves Sapindaceae 123... 

Caffeine Caffeine [l,3,7-trimethyl-l//-purine-2,6(3/7,7//)-dione], molecular formula C8H10N4O2, is a xanthine (purine) alkaloid, found mainly in tea leaves Camellia sinensis) and coffee beans (Coffea arabica). Caffeine is sometimes called guaranine when found in guarana (Paullinia cupana), mateine when found in mate (Ilex paraguariensis) and theine when found in tea. Caffeine is found in a number of other plants, where it acts as a natural pesticide. It is odourless white needles or powder. Apart from its presence in the tea and coffee that we drink regularly, caffeine is also an ingredient of a number of soft drinks. 

The seeds of the Brazilian plant Paullinia cupana (Sapindaceae) are used to make a stimulant drink. Crushed seeds are mixed with water to a paste, which is then sun dried. Portions of this are then boiled with hot water to provide a refreshing drink. The principal constituent, previously called guaranine, has been shown to be identical to caffeine, and the seeds may contain 3-5%. Small amounts of theophylline (0-0.25%) and theobromine (0.02-0.06%) are also present. Guarana is widely available as tablets and capsules, or as extracts, in health food shops where it is promoted to relieve mental and physical fatigue. Labels on such products frequently show the active constituent to be guaranine, but may not indicate that this is actually caffeine. 

Baumann TW, Schulthess BH and Hanni K (1995) Guarana (Paullinia cupana) rewards seed dispersers without intoxicating them by caffeine. Phytochemistry 39, 1063-1070. 

Curare (Woorara) is a vegetable extract obtained from various members of the Strychnos family, as well as from Paullinia curare and other plants. In South America, it is known by the names Caroval and Vao. Its active principle is the very poisonous alkaloid curarine, c18h35n. 

GUARANA -- Paullinia cupana HBK. Family Sapindaceae (Soapberry family). 

Bydlowski, S.P., D Amico, E.A., and Chamone, D.A. 1991. An aqueous extract of guarana (Paullinia cupana) decreases platelet thromboxane synthesis. Braz. J. Med. Biol. Res. 24, 421-424. 

Methyl derivatives of xanthine (2,3-dioxypurine) namely caffeine (1,3,7-trimethyl-xanthine), theobromine (3,7-dimethylxanthine) and theophylline (1,3-dimethylxanthine) (Section 1, Appendix) are variously found in plants used for stimulatory drinks such as Ilex paraguayensis (mate) (Aquifoliaceae), Coffea species (coffee) (Rubiaceae), Paullinia cupana (guarana) (Sapindaceae), Cola acuminata (cola) and Theabroma cacao (cocoa) (Sterculiaceae) and Camellia sinensis (tea) (Theaceae). These methylxanthines are variously active as inhibitors of... 

Ilex paraguayensis (mate) (Aquifoliaceae), Coffea arabica, Coffea spp. (coffee) (Rubiaceae) [coffee bean], Paullinia cupana (guarana) (Sapindaceae),... 

Coffeine Guaranine Coffea spp. (Rubiaceae), Paullinia cGMP PDE, ryanodine R)... 

Ilex paraguayensis (Aquifoliaceae), Paullinia cupana (Sapindaceae), Cola acuminata, Theobroma cacao (Sterculiaceae), Camellia sinensis (Theaceae)... 

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