Due to it long history of use and its incredible effectiveness, there has been much clinical interest in determining why Chuchuhuasi works. In the 1960's, an American pharmaceutical company discovered it's potent immune stimulating properties, finding that it dramatically increased phagocytosis in mice.⁽⁸⁾ Later, Italian researchers in the mid-1970's studying a chuchuhuasi extract used effectively to treat skin cancers, identified its anti-tumor properties.⁽⁹⁾ It's anti-inflammatory properties were discovered in the 1980's by another Italian research group. They discovered that its anti-inflammatory, radiation protectant action and anti-tumor properties were at least partially linked to triterpenes and anti-oxidants issolated in the trunk bark.⁽¹⁰⁾ In 1993, a Japanese research group issolated a group of novel alkaloids in Chuchuhuasi which may be responsible for its effectiveness in treating arthritis and rheumatism.⁽¹¹⁾ In the U.S. a pharmaceutical company studying its anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic properties has determined that these alkaloids in Chuchuhuasi can effectively inhibit enzyme production of protein kinase C (PKC).⁽¹²⁾ PKC inhibitors have been of much interest world wide because there is evidence that too much of this enzyme is involved in a wide variety of disease processes including arthritis, asthma, brain tumors, cancer and cardiovascular disease.⁽¹³⁾ It is expected that if the constituents in chuchuhausi which are responsible for inhibiting PKC can be synthesized, a money1 arthritis drug will be developed. Meantime, the natural bark extract of this important Amazon Rainforest tree will continue to be the most effective natural remedy for arthritis as it has for centuries.

17 "Tourist shops selling tribal artifacts were opening everywhere, and many of the better bars were beginning to serve some jungle drinks, especially chuchuwasi. That is probably the best known of all jungle remedies, in Colo mbia as well as Peru. It is also a favorite drink, second only to aguardiente in popularity among men living along the rivers.
Chuchuwasi is prepared by chopping the root bark of a very large tree, Maytenus ebenfolia (Celastraceae), and letting it steep for a week in aguardiente or white rum. The resulting infusion is one of numerous jungle potions known as "aphrodisiacs." Thes e are reputed to cure male impotence, whether due to age or illness, and to enhance the virility of the healthy. But more important are the claims made for its ability to cure all types of rheumatism, and to act as a general tonic for women as well as m en. I have seen it restore to good health two women who had each, for some months, been in a very debilitated state of health from some undiagnosed illness. And I know many people who insist that it is the best of all anti-rheumatic medicines. I have a lso heard reports of its curing cancer and, after several months' dosage, restoring to normal activity an arm paralyzed by long contact with a toxic insecticide."

21 "CELASTRACEAE
Staff Tree Family, Spindle Tree Family
The Celastraceae has 800 species in about 50 genera. The members are trees and shrubs, sometimes climbers; they are widely distributed in both hemispheres. Reviews of the chemical constituents (Bruening 1978), the alkaloids (Yamada, 1980), the constituents of the genus Celastrus (Bandyukova, 1977), as well as the distribution of lupanes (Dantanarayana, 1983) and maytansinoids in the family (Smith, 1984) ha ve all been published.
Maytenus
This genus has 200 species of evergreen trees and shrubs distributed in temperate and tropical regions of South America and the West Indies. Several are cultivated in parks in warm countries.
Maytenus laevis Reissek, Martius, Fl. Bras. 11, pt. 1 (18 61) 19.
coemeni (Kubeo); chuchuhuasca, chuchuguache, chuchuguaza (Col, Peru); SRS 24266; Le Cointe, (1934); Garcia-Barriga (1974-5); Acero, (1979)
The bark of this tree is famous in the western Amazonia as a medicinal for a number of ailments. It is soaked usually overnight in aguardiente which is then drunk as a pain killer-almost always in connection with rheumatism-and as a stimulant. This use is most frequent amongst people living in urban societies; Indians not commonly in communication with more advanced inhabitants usually do not consider this plant to be such an important medicine. However, a species of Maytenus from the Rio Ica in Braz il contains in its aril 0.85% caffeine and is used locally as a diuretic (Fiese, 1935).
According to Garcia-Barriga, the Sionas boil a 5 cm piece of the trunk in two liters of water and reduce the liquid to one liter. This decoction is taken thrice daily over a week-one small cupful each time-to "cure" rheumatism and arthritis. It is also valuable as a stimulant.
REFERENCES
Acero D., L. E. Principales Plantas Utiles de la Amazonia Colombiana, Proyecto Radar grametrico del Amazonas, Bogota (1979).
Bandyukova, V. A. and N. V.Sergeeva, Rastit. Resur. 13 (1977) 560 (C. A. 87:148619a).
Dantanarayana, A. I., V. S. Kumar et al., Phytochemistry 22 (1983) 473.
Fiese, F. W., Pharm. Zentralhalle 76 (1935) 704.
Garcia-Barriga, H., Flora Medicinal de Colombia, Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Bogota (1974-5).
Le Cointe, P., Arvores e Plantas Uteis da Amazonia Brasileira, Livraria Classica, Belem (1934).
Smith, C. R. Jr. and R. G. Powell, Alkaloids: Chemical and Biological Perspectives 2 (1984) 149.
Yamada, K., Kagaku no Ryoiki Zokan (1980) 57 (C. A. 93:46229y)."22 "Chuchuhuasi (Maytenus macrocarpa (R. & P.) Briq.) is the bark of the trunk or root of a large extremely strong tree that grows in many parts of the Amazon. Several botanical names are given for the same tree (M. macrocarpa=M. laevis=M. ebenifolia). ³³

Chuchuhuasi means "trembling back," a name that may refer to its most prevalent uses.⁴⁸ The bark is commonly soaked in aguardiente rum and taken as a cure for arthritis and rheumatism, and as an aphrodisiac.^27,33