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Macela has been the subject of western research and many of its long-time uses in herbal medicine have been validated by scientists.* In animal studies with mice and rats, macela demonstrated pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory, and smooth-muscle (gastrointestinal) relaxant properties internally without toxicity, in addition to anti-inflammatory and pain-relief actions externally.* This plant has two Latin names (Achyrocline satureoides and Egletes viscosa), however both names refer to the same plant. For more information about macela (Achyrocline satureoides), please refer to the Database File for Macela in the Tropical Plant Database. To see pictures of macela, click here.

Traditional Uses:* applied externally for pain and inflammation; for respiratory problems (asthma, bronchitis, flu, and upper respiratory bacterial and viral infections); for arteriosclerosis; for viral infections (hepatitis, HIV, herpes, etc.); for gallbladder and liver disorders

Suggested Use:* This plant is best prepared as an infusion (tea): Use one teaspoon of powder for each cup of water. Pour boiling water over herb in cup and allow to steep 10 minutes. Strain tea (or allow settled powder to remain in the bottom of cup) and drink warm. It is traditionally taken in 1 cup dosages, 2-3 times daily. For more complete instrutions on preparing herbal infusions see the Methods for Preparing Herbal Remedies Page.

Contraindications: Not to be used during pregnancy or while breast feeding.

Drug Interactions: None reported.

Other Observations:

• 1. One study demonstrated barbiturate potentiation activity when a hot water extract of macela was injected in mice; it remains unclear if this effect is evident when taken orally. In herbal medicine systems, the plant is used as a sedative. Therefore this plant might enhance or increase the action of sedatives and barbiturates. Use with caution when taking other prescription sedatives and pain-killers.
• 2. A chemical in this plant has been documented with hypoglycemic effects in animal studies. People with hypoglycemia and/or diabetes should use with caution while monitoring blood glucose levels for this possible effect.

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Third-Party Published Research on Macela

Available third-party documentation and clinical research on macela can be found at PubMed. A partial listing of published research on macela is shown below:

Pain-Relieving, Anti-inflammatory, & Muscle Relaxant Actions:
Calou, I., et al. "Topically applied diterpenoids from Egletes viscosa (Asteraceae) attenuate the dermal inflammation in mouse ear induced by tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate- and oxazolone." Biol Pharm Bull. 2008 Aug;31(8):1511-6.
De Souza, K., et al. "Influence of excipients and technological process on anti-inflammatory activity of quercetin and Achyrocline satureioides (Lam.) D.C. extracts by oral route." Phytomedicine. 2007 Feb;14(2-3):102-8.
Melo, C. M., et al. "12-Acetoxyhawtriwaic acid lactone, a diterpene from Egletes viscosa, attenuates capsaicin-induced ear edema and hindpaw nociception in mice: possible mechanisms." Planta Med. 2006 Jun; 72(7): 584-9.
Hnatyszyn, O., et al. "Flavonoids from Achyrocline satureioides with relaxant effects on the smooth muscle of guinea pig corpus cavernosum." Phytomedicine. 2004; 11(4): 366-9.
Rao. V. S., et al. "Ternatin, an anti-inflammatory flavonoid, inhibits thioglycolate-elicited rat peritoneal neutrophil accumulation and LPS-activated nitric oxide production in murine macrophages." Planta Med. 2003; 69(9): 851-3.  
Guedes, M. M., et al. "Antinociceptive and gastroprotective effects of diterpenes from the flower buds of Egletes viscosa." Planta Med. 2002; 68(11): 1044-6.
Lima, M. A., et al. "Biologically active flavonoids and terpenoids from Egletes viscosa." Phytochemistry. 1996; 41(1): 217-23.
Souza, M. F., et al. "Anti-anaphylactic and anti-inflammatory effects of ternatin, a flavonoid isolated from Egletes viscosa Less." Braz. J. Med. Biol. Res. 1992; 25(10): 1029-32.
Simoes, C. M., "Anti-inflammatory action of Achyrocline satureoides extracts applied topically." Fitoterapia. 1988; 59(5): 419-21.
Simoes, C. M., et al. "Pharmacological investigations on Achyrocline satureoides (Lam). D.C., Compositae." J. Ethnopharmacol. 1988 Apr; 22(3): 281-93.

Anti-microbial Actions:
Casero, C., et al. "Achyrofuran is an antibacterial agent capable of killing methicillin-resistant vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus in the nanomolar range." Phytomedicine. 2012 Dec 4. doi:pii: S0944-7113(12)00406-0.
Joray, M., et al. "Understanding the interactions between metabolites isolated from Achyrocline satureioides in relation to its antibacterial activity." Phytomedicine. 2012 Nov 30. doi:pii: S0944-7113(12)00381-9
Joray, M., et al. "Antibacterial activity of extracts from plants of central Argentina--isolation of an active principle from Achyrocline satureioides." Planta Med. 2011 Jan;77(1):95-100.
Sabini, M., et al. "Evaluation of antiviral activity of aqueous extracts from Achyrocline satureioides against Western equine encephalitis virus." Nat Prod Res. 2012;26(5):405-15.
Gonzales, M., et al. "Antibacterial activity of water extracts and essential oils of various aromatic plants against Paenibacillus larvae, the causative agent of American Foulbrood." J Invertebr Pathol. 2010 Jul;104(3):209-13.
Vogt, V., et al. "Fungitoxic effects of Achyrocline satureioides (marcela) on plant pathogens." IDECEFYN vol 21 January-April 2010, 109-112
Bueno-Sánchez J., et al. "Anti-tubercular activity of eleven aromatic and medicinal plants occurring in Colombia." Biomedica. 2009 Mar;29(1):51-60.
Brandelli, C., et al. "Indigenous traditional medicine: in vitro anti-giardial activity of plants used in the treatment of diarrhea." Parasitol Res. 2009 Jun;104(6):1345-9.
Calvo, D., et al. "Achyrocline satureioides (LAM.) DC (Marcela): antimicrobial activity on Staphylococcus spp. and immunomodulating effects on human lymphocytes." Rev Latinoam Microbiol. 2006 Jul-Dec;48(3-4):247-55.
Bettega, J. M., et al. "Evaluation of the antiherpetic activity of standardized extracts of Achyrocline satureioides." Phytother. Res. 2004; 18(10): 819-23.
Zanon, S. M., et al. "Search for antiviral activity of certain medicinal plants from Cordoba, Argentina." Rev. Latinoamer. Microbiol. 1999; 41(2): 59-62.
Abdel-Malek, S., et al. "Drug leads from the Kallawaya herbalists of Bolivia. 1. Background, rationale, protocol and anti-HIV activity." J. Ethnopharmacol. 1996; 50: 157-22.
Anesini, C., et al. "Screening of plants used in Argentine folk medicine for antimicrobial activity." J. Ethnopharmacol. 1993; 39(2): 119-28.
Vargas, V., et al. "Genotoxicity of plant extracts." Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz 1991; 86(11): 67-70.
Vargas, V., et al. "Mutagenic and genotoxic effects of aqueous extracts of Achyrocline satureoides in prokaryotic organisms." Mutat. Res. 1990; 240(1): 13-18.
de Souza, C. P., et al. "Chemoprophylaxis of schistosomiasis: molluscicidal activity of natural products." An. Acad. Brasil. Cienc. 1984; 56(3): 333-38.

Anti-Ulcer & Gastroprotective Actions:
Santini, J., et al. "Antiulcer effects of Achyrocline satureoides (Lam.) DC (Asteraceae) (Marcela), a folk medicine plant, in different experimental models." J Ethnopharmacol. 2010 Jul 20;130(2):334-9.
Guedes, M. et al. "Gastroprotective mechanisms of centipedic acid, a natural diterpene from Egletes viscosa LESS." Biol Pharm Bull. 2008 Jul;31(7):1351-5.

Cellular protective & Antioxidant Actions:
Blasina, M., et al. "Differentiation induced by Achyrocline satureioides (Lam) infusion in PC12 cells." Phytother Res. 2009 Sep;23(9):1263-9.
Morquio, A, et al. "Photoprotection by topical application of Achyrocline satureioides ('Marcela'). Phytother. Res. 2005; 19(6): 486-90.
Rivera, F., et al. "Toxicological studies of the aqueous extract from Achyrocline satureioides (Lam.) DC (Marcela)." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Dec; 95(2-3): 359-62.
Polydoro, M., et al. "Antioxidant, a pro-oxidant and cytotoxic effects of Achyrocline satureioides extracts." Life Sci. 2004 Apr; 74(23): 2815-26.
Vieira, M. M., et al. "Ternatin, a flavonoid, prevents cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide-induced hemorrhagic cystitis in rats." Phytother. Res. 2004; 18(2): 135-41.
Gugliucci, A., et al. "Three different pathways for human LDL oxidation are inhibited in vitro by water extracts of the medicinal herb Achyrocline satureoides." Life Sci. 2002; 71(6): 693-705.
Kadarian, C., et al. "Hepatoprotective activity of Achyrocline satureioides (Lam.) D.C." Pharmacol. Res. 2002; 45(1): 57-61.
Souza, M.F., et al. "Inhibition by the bioflavonoid ternatin of aflatoxin B1-induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver." J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 1999; 51(2):125-9.
Desmarchelier, C., et al. "Antioxidant and free radical scavenging effects in extracts of the medicinal herb Achyrocline satureioides (Lam.) D.C. (marcela)." Braz. J. Med. Biol. Res. 1998; 31(9): 163-70.
Desmarchelier, C., et al. "Antioxidant and prooxidant activities in aqueous extracts of Argentine Plants." Int. J. Pharmacog. 1997; 35(2): 116-20.
Rao, V. S., et al. "Investigations on the gastroprotective and antidiarrhoeal properties of ternatin, a tetramethoxyflavone from Egletes viscosa." Planta Med. 1997 Apr; 63(2): 146-9.
Lima, M. A., et al. "Biologically active flavonoids and terpenoids from Egletes viscosa." Phytochemistry. 1996; 41(1): 217-23.
Rao, V. S., et al. "Protective effect of ternatin, a flavonoid isolated from Egletes viscosa Less., in experimental liver injury." Pharmacology. 1994; 48(6): 392-7.

Cytotoxic & Anticancerous Actions:
Carini, J., et al. "Development, Optimisation and Validation of a Stability-Indicating HPLC Method of Achyrobichalcone Quantification using Experimental Designs." Phytochem Anal. 2012 Sep 15. doi: 10.1002/pca.2399.
Polydoro, M., et al. "Antioxidant, a pro-oxidant and cytotoxic effects of Achyrocline satureioides extracts." Life Sci. 2004 Apr; 74(23): 2815-26.
Arredondo, M. F., et al. "Cytoprotection by Achyrocline satureioides (Lam) D.C. and some of its main flavonoids against oxidative stress." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Mar; 91(1): 13-20.
Ruffa, M. J., et al. "Cytotoxic effect of Argentine medicinal plant extracts on human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2002; 79(3): 335-39.
Pessoa, C., et al. "Antiproliferative effects of compounds derived from plants of Northeast Brazil." Phytother. Res. 2000 May; 14(3): 187-91.
Rojas De Arias, A., et al. "Mutagenicity, insecticidal and trypanocidal activity of some Paraguayan Asteraceae." J. Ethnopharmacol. 1995; 45(1): 35-41.
Arisawa, M. "Cell growth inhibition of KB cells by plant extracts." Nat. Med. 1994; 48(4): 338-47.
Gonzalez, A., et al. "Biological screening of Uruguayan medicinal plants." J. Ethnopharmacol. 1993; 39(3): 217-20.

Immunostimulant Actions:
Cosentino, M., et al. "Immunomodulatory properties of Achyrocline satureioides (Lam.) D.C. infusion: a study on human leukocytes." J Ethnopharmacol. 2008 Mar 28;116(3):501-7.
Santos, A. L., et al. "Immunomodulatory effect of Achyrocline satureioides (Lam.) D.C. aqueous extracts." Phytother. Res. 1999; 13(1):65-66.
Puhlmann J, et al. "Immunologically active metallic ion-containing polysaccharides of Achyrocline satureioides." Phytochemistry. 1992; 31(8): 2617-21.
Wagner, H., et al. "Immunostimulating polysaccharides (heteroglycanes) of higher plants." Arzneimforsch. 1985; 35(7): 1069-75.
Wagner, H., et al. "Immunostimulating polysaccharides (heteroglycanes) of higher plants/preliminary communication." Arzneimforsch. 1984; 34(6): 659-61.

Antidiabetic & Hypoglycemic Actions:
Espiña D., et al. "A more accurate profile of Achyrocline satureioides hypocholesterolemic activity." Cell Biochem Funct. 2012 Jun;30(4):347-53.
Gugliucci, A., et al. "The botanical extracts of Achyrocline satureoides and Ilex paraguariensis prevent methylglyoxal-induced inhibition of plasminogen and antithrombin III." Life Sci. 2002 Dec 6; 72(3): 279-92.
Carney, J. R., et al. "Achyrofuran, a new antihyperglycemic dibenzofuran from the South American medicinal plant Achyrocline satureioides." J. Nat. Prod. 2002; 65(2): 203-5.

Non-Toxic Effect:
Sabini, M., et al. "Evaluation of cytogenotoxic effects of cold aqueous extract from Achyrocline satureioides by Allium cepa L test." Nat Prod Commun. 2011 Jul;6(7):995-8.

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