Guarana

Guarana ( Paullinia cupana )

Guarana ( Paullinia cupana ) is a species within the family of Soapberry ( Sapindaceae ). It is native to the Amazon basin. The name Guaraná refers to the South American indigenous people of the Guaraní. It has a long ethnobotanical tradition and is still used as a dietary supplement and additive in beverages.

• 5.1 effect
• 5.2 Side Effects and Risks

• 6.1 Notes and references

Description

Appearance and bark

Guarana is a woody plant; it grows as a shrub or liana rank, which can reach heights of growth of up to 12 meters to the tropical nature sites. The bark is initially soft and hairy brownish verkahlt soon. Only in Paullinia cupana var sorbilis tendrils are present, they are in the leaf axils.

Sheet

The alternate arranged leaves are divided 20 to 35 inches long and in petiole and leaf blade. Petiole and Blattrhachis are above channel-shaped, convex, and in between striped something. The leathery, bald, odd pinnate leaf blade contains five 10 to 20 cm long and 4.5 to 9 cm wide blade sections. The upper blade sections are elongated and the lower ovate. The terminal leaflet has a pointed or almost wedge-shaped base and the lateral leaflets, it is rounded to more or less stalk -shaped. The leaf margin is more or less distinctly serrated to hardly recognizable. The stipules are 2-3 millimeters long.

Inflorescence and flower

Guaraná is monoecious getrenntgeschlechtig ( monoecious ). Every few flowers are borne in part, terminated or initiated on the vines, racemose inflorescences. There may be an inflorescence stem. The axis of inflorescence ( rachis ) has a diameter of about 2 mm. The support leaves are pfriemförmig at a length of 1 to 1.5 mm. The 4 to 5 mm long flower stems are broken down below its middle.

The relatively small, unisexual flowers are zygomorphic and fünfzählig double perianth. The five free sepals are almost membranous and about 3 mm long. The five white petals are elongated with a length of about 5 mm. The eight stamens consist of a soft hairy stamens and anthers bald. It is a kind of nectar discus present at the base of the ovary. The bald ovary is dreikammerig.

Fruit and seeds

The fruit maturity at 6 to 8 mm long stalked, septizide, 2 to 3.5 cm long, deeply incised, dreifächerige capsule fruit turns orange when ripe, opens partially and only contains one to three seeds. The approximately 12 mm long, bare, black to greenish seeds have a white aril at the base. The cracked fruit with its seed in it acts like an eye, because legends of indigenous peoples make ..

Ecology

It is cross-pollination before ( allogamy ) and pollination is done by bees of the genera Melipona and Apis.

The seeds are spread out in a natural way by large birds. The seeds usually lose after three days their ability to germinate and survive not dehydration or freezing. The germination time can exceed 100 days.

Systematics and distribution

The first description of Paullinia cupana was made in 1821 by Karl Sigismund Kunth in Humboldt, Aimé Bonpland and Karl Sigismund Kunth: Nova Genera et Species Plantarum, 4th Edition, Volume 5, pp. 117-118. The information collected by Humboldt and Bonpland type material bears the inscription: " Crescit in ripa obumbrata Fluminis orinoci, prope S. Fernando de ATABAPO. Floret Majo ".

Paullinia cupana Kunth There are of two varieties:

• Paullinia cupana Kunth var cupana: It comes in Venezuela, Brazil (especially in Manaus and Parintins ) and Peru before.
• Paullinia cupanavar. sorbilis Ducke ( Syn: Paullinia sorbilis Mart. ): It occurs only in Peru.

Paullinia cupana var cupana has Paullinia cupana var unlike sorbilis no tendrils, the leaves are more lobed and the flowers and fruits are larger.

Use

Guaraná is known to the Indians in the Amazon region for centuries. Similarly, cocoa / chocolate the guarana paste was used. She was varied uses in folk medicine.

Today, guarana is grown as a climber in plantations in Brazil, Venezuela and Paraguay. The offspring from seeds is difficult.

The peeled and dried seeds are ground to a light brown powder, suspended in water and drunk sweetened with honey. The drink acts like coffee stimulates and dampens hunger.

Today from Guaranáextrakten of many Brazilian beverage manufacturers ( inter alia Antarctica, Brahma, KICOS, Kuat ) is made for a typical Brazil lemonade -like soft drink, which is synonymously referred to as guarana.

Widespread are chocolate, herbal and fruit teas, chewing gum, energy drinks and Lubricants with Guaranáanteil. However, the substance is also sold separately as a dietary supplement. The proportion of the tannin is from about 25 percent, delaying and prolonging the action of the caffeine. The products are called " stimulant " and " energizer " advertised. In addition, guarana products shall be in fitness circles and among bodybuilders as performance enhancing.

Guaraná has an extremely bitter to very bitter taste, so it is not consumed in the pure rule, but different foods, as the aforementioned added.

Paullinia cupana var The seeds of sorbilis be pulverized and mixed with cassava flour (Manihot esculenta Crantz ) mixed. This one is the so-called "pasta guarana ", which are dissolved at will in hot or cold water. The caffeine content of the "pasta guarana " is 3 to 6 %, of the tannin content of 2-3 %. The drink is astringent.

Ingredients

Her red fruits with bitter-tasting seeds are characterized by their high caffeine content of ( 4-8% of dry matter ).

Guaraná has the stimulating effect of coffee. Erroneously, the stimulating substance is often referred to as " Guarana "; such a substance does not exist, however. In guarana include: tannins (over 12 %) of which about 10% proanthocyanidins, caffeine ( 4-6% ), theophylline ( 0-0.25 %), theobromine ( 0.02-0.04 %), ( ) -catechin (6% ), ( -)- epicatechin (3%), saponins, starch, minerals (3-4 %) and water (6-8 %).

Effect

Guaraná is to act easily antipyretic and strengthen the stamina during physical weakness. Much like coffee, guarana has a stimulating effect on the cardiovascular system. It also dampens hunger and thirst feelings, which increases the risk of dehydration in athletes.

Side Effects and Risks

It can have the same side effects as with the excessive consumption of caffeine occur from other sources, such as increased irritability, insomnia, tachycardia, headache, tremor or muscle pain. When placing the products after longer-term use may lead to physical withdrawal symptoms. Unsuitable guarana products for people with high blood pressure and chronic headaches as well as for pregnant and breast-feeding.

As overdose in caffeine are usually seven to ten cups of coffee in a short period or 20 grams of pure guarana. Doctors recommend as an emergency measure in this case is to drink a large amount of water.

Swell

• Neglected Crops: 1492 from a Different Perspective. 1994 In: JE Hernándo Bermejo & J. Leon (Editor): Plant Production and Protection Series No.. 26, FAO, Rome, Italy. S. 223-228: E. Lleras: Species of Paullinia with economic potential description in hort.purdue.edu online at Purdue. (Sections Description and ecology)
• J. F. Macbride: Sapindaceae. 13 (3A / 2): 291-391, In; JF Macbride (Editor): Flora of Peru, 1956 Publ Field Mus.. Nat. Hist. , Bot Ser. Field Museum, Chicago. Paullinia cupana, pp. 334-335 scanned at biodiversitylibrary.org. (Sections description and use)
• Guarana ( Paullinia cupana ) - sheet at Raintree - Tropical Plant Database.