Cephaelis ipecacuanha A. Richard (Brazilian Ipecac): Micropropagation and the Production of Emetine and Cephaeline

Abstract

The genus Cephaelis (family Rubiaceae) is comprised of about 100 species and is native to the tropics of the Americas, Africa, and Asia. Its species are mostly evergreen shrubs or small trees with opposite, undivided leaves and small flowers in terminal heads with an involucre of bracts. The plant generally starts flowering in the second year from germination, and the flowers have a five-toothed calyx, a five-lobed corolla, five stamens, and a two-branched style (Fig. 1). The fruits are small, usually two-seeded, berry-like drupes and their production becomes maximum three to four years after germination (Everett 1981; Chatterjee et al. 1982).