por We explain what pirul is, its therapeutic properties and possible side effects
What is the pirul?
He lollipop (Schinus molle) is a tall, evergreen tree native to the Peruvian Andes. Its bright pink fruits are often presented as «pink peppercorns.» However, this species is not related to the true pepper (Piper Nigrum).
Perhaps due to this similarity, it is also popularly known as Peruvian pepper, American pepper, tree pepper, or Californian pepper. It is also called Peruvian chile, escobilla, false pepper, molle, and Peruvian mastic. The tree is currently available in many parts of the world. Its wood is durable and resistant.
Historically, and still today, it has been appreciated for the manufacture of saddles. The tree is very resistant to drought; that property has now made it an invasive species in many countries. The dyeing of the leaves has been used to dye textiles in Peru since pre-Columbian times.
With the oil from the leaves, the Incas preserved and embalmed the dead. As a medicinal plant, antibacterial, antiseptic, analgesic, antidepressant and diuretic properties are attributed to it.
Pirul tree characteristics
The pirul is a fast-growing tree and reaches up to 15 meters in height. The diameter can vary from 25 to 45 cm in diameter. Of all the species of Schinusis the largest and probably the longest-lived.
The pinnate leaves of the tree are 8 to 25 cm long and 4 to 9 cm wide. They are made up of 19 to 41 alternate pinnae.
The upper branches of the tree tend to droop. The flowers are abundantly formed in panicles at the ends of the drooping branches; they are small and white.
It is a dioecious species; that is, the male and female flowers are produced on separate plants. The fruits are round drupes of 5 to 7 mm in diameter, and they generate clusters with hundreds of berries that can be forming all year.
The seeds change from green to red, pink or purple. The outer bark is light brown in color and has cracks.
The inner bark is homogeneous, pale pink in color and darkens to light brown when oxidized. May release a small amount of milky white latex. The bark, leaves, and berries are aromatic when crushed.
What is the pirul used for? Properties
The composition of the leaves and fruits of the tree explains many of its attributions in traditional medicine. Among these compounds are tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, sterols, terpenes, gums, resins, and essential oils.
Pirul essential oil is used as a flavoring agent in cosmetic and personal hygiene products, such as soaps, lotions, mouthwashes, and toothpaste.
culinary use
The fruit, due to its sugar content, can be used to make fermented drinks (chicha) and also vinegar. It is also used as an ingredient in the maceration of certain drinks to form liqueurs.
Although the species is not related to the commercial peppercorn, the berries are sold as pink peppercorns. In other cases, they are mixed with them and used as a flavoring in food.
Therapeutic use
The aqueous extract of the leaves is used in the treatment of menstrual disorders, such as amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea. The leaves have diuretic properties and are laxative or purgative. They are used as a digestive and chewed to harden the gums.
The leaves are used as an antirheumatic. These are lightly roasted to rub the affected part and placed as a poultice.
In skin diseases —such as inflammations, ulcers and sores— the bark resin is used topically. The ground leaves are applied locally as poultices. The infusion is also prepared to wash the affected area.
It presents stimulant and antidepressant action according to some research results. These suggest that the pepper extract shares some pharmacological effects with classic antidepressants, such as fluoxetine. This property has been found at the preclinical level.
antitumor
The essential oil has shown promising antioxidant and antitumor activity for non-solid tumors, such as leukemia. The cytotoxic effect of essential oil on breast carcinoma cells in mice, as well as human gastric carcinoma, has been demonstrated.
These observations suggest that it may also have a strong effect on solid tumors. In addition, it has analgesic properties. It has been used especially for the relief of toothache and acts as a hypotensive.
Repellent and insecticidal properties
The pirul is a natural product with insecticidal properties. The essential oil is used in moth preparations and as an insect repellent.
Currently there is a tendency to look for natural and safe alternatives to replace highly toxic chemical products used in pest control.
pepper foliage S.molle L. is traditionally used in Ethiopia as a house fly repellent Musca domestica L. This action was also found in laboratory bioassays using the volatile extracts of the leaves of S.molle.
The hexane extracts from the leaves and fruits of the pirul have repellent and insecticidal properties against Triatoma infestans. This insect is the most important vector of the Trypanosoma cruzithe parasite that causes Chagas disease.
antimicrobial properties
It has an antiseptic effect. The essential oil of the fresh leaves of Schinus molle was tested as antibacterial, demonstrating activity against the following species: Alcaligenes faecalis, Clostridium sporogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Leuconostoc cremoris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris and Enterobacter aerogenes.
It also works against Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter calcoacetica, Brochothrix thermosphacata, Citrobacter freundii, Beneckea natriegens, Bacillus subtilis and Serratia marcescens.
The following fungal species were also affected by the essential oil components: Aspergillus parasiticus, Aspergillus ochraceus, Alternaria alternata and Fusarium culmorum. The sensitivity of the species to the essential oil will depend on the concentration used.
Possible side effects
The fruit and leaves are potentially poisonous to poultry, pigs, and possibly calves. The extract is also toxic to fish.
There have been cases of children experiencing vomiting and diarrhea after eating the fruit. Its hypotensive effect indicates that it should be avoided by people with low blood pressure.