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KRAMERIACEAE

25 species in one genus are found in warm regions of America. The fruits are covered with bristles or spines, often barbed.

[Summary yet to be added]

Krameria

(syn. Ratanhia)

25 species are found from the Southern United States to Chile.

Krameria argentea Mart.

Brazilian Rhatany, Para

Krameria triandra Ruíz & Pavón

Peruvian Rhatany

Wren (1975) notes that a preparation of the root is useful as an application to spongy and bleeding gums. Stuart (1979) refers to perhaps the same traditional use of K. triandra in Peru as a preserver / fixative for teeth (see also Potentilla erecta Räuschel, fam. Rosaceae). Tincture of Krameria produced cheilitis and stomatitis (Zakon et al. 1947). A preparation containing Krameria caused dermatitis of the anogenital skin. Positive patch test reactions to the preparation were observed. Sensitisation to Krameria was produced experimentally in 86% of 37 individuals (Grolnick 1938a, 1938b). Mibelli (1929) and Lewith & Langecker (1930) refer to other cases of dermatitis.

One of 12 patients contact sensitive to balsam of Peru (from Myroxylon balsamum Harms var pereirae Harms, fam. Leguminosae) showed a positive patch test reaction to the tincture (Hjorth 1961).

References

• Grolnick, M. (1938a) Studies in contact dermatitis. III. Active sensitization with Krameria in man. J. Invest. Dermat. 1: 179.
• Grolnick, M. (1938b) Dermatitis due to haemorrhoidal ointment containing krameria and oil of cade. J. Am. Med. Ass. 110: 951.
• Hjorth, N. (1961) Eczematous Allergy to Balsams. Munksgaard, International Booksellers and Publishers Ltd., Copenhagen.
• Lewith, R. and Langecker, H. (1930) Uber einen Fall von Ratanhia-dermatitis (Idiosynkrasie gegen Ratanhiagerbsaure). Derm. Wschr. 90: 477, cited by Touton (1932).
• Mibelli, A. (1929) Sull'impiego dell'estratto di ratania in dermatol. Arch. Ital. Dermat. 4: 281, cited by Touton 1932.
• Stuart M (1979) Reference section. In: Stuart M (Ed.) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism. pp. 141-283. London: Orbis Publishing
• Touton, K. (1932) Hauterkrankungen durch phanerogamische Pflanzen und ihre Produkte (Toxicodermia et Allergodermia phytogenes), in Barnewitz, J. et al. Angeborene Anomalien, Lichtdermatosen, Pflanzengifte, Thermische Schadigungen, Einfluss Innerer Storungen auf die Haut. Berlin, Verlag von Julius Springer.
• Wren RC (1975) Potter's New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations (re-edited and enlarged by Wren RW). Bradford, Devon: Health Science Press

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