noun
- A tropical South American shrub (genus Pilocarpus) whose leaves yield pilocarpine, an alkaloid used in medicine.
- Pilocarpine or a preparation derived from jaborandi leaves, historically used to treat glaucoma and promote sweating.
Usage: botanical term; also refers to the dried leaves of this plant used medicinally
Usage: pharmaceutical/medical use; less common in modern practice
Examples
- Jaborandi leaves have been used in traditional medicine for centuries.
- The active compound in jaborandi is pilocarpine, which stimulates sweat glands.
- Early ophthalmologists prescribed jaborandi extract to reduce intraocular pressure.
- Jaborandi grows naturally in the rainforests of Brazil and Peru.
- Modern pharmaceutical companies have largely replaced jaborandi with synthetic pilocarpine.