Radix pareira bravae

In 1843 Maclagen (56) found two compounds of basic nature in Nectan-dra roots from British Guiana. One of these, an amorphous yellow powder, he named bebeerine (bebirine). Some time later a yellow powder was isolated from Buxus sempervirens L., whose fibers and leaves were used as a remedy for intermittant fever. This powder which was named buxin proved to be identical with bebeerine. Finally, the alkaloid known as pelosine which occurs in the roots of Cissampelos pareira L. and Radix pareira bravae was found to be identical with bebeerine (56, 59). Bebeerine also occurs in Chondodendron platyphyllum, Ch. microphyllum, Abula candicans Rich. Ch. candicans Sandwith) (68), and Pleogyne cunninghamii (136), as well as in the commerical powder known as bebeerum purum. 

Kupchan et al. [170] discuss the origin of the old drug radix pareirae bravae, and in view of the similarity in alkaloid composition of some forms of C. pareira to that of Chondrodendron microphyllum and Chondrodendron platiphyllum (q.v.) they suggest that C. pareira may have been a further source of the drug. However, the particular combination of alkaloids they encountered has not yet been found in material from Brazil. 

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