Nucno pichana

Nucno Pichana (Scoparia dulcis L.): A Comprehensive Reference

1. Identity and Botanical Classification

1.1 Scientific Name and Taxonomy

The scientific name of Ñucño Pichana is Scoparia dulcis L., and it belongs to the family Scrophulariaceae. Some modern taxonomic treatments reclassify the family under Plantaginaceae; both designations appear in the scientific literature. Scoparia dulcis (Scrophulariaceae) is a perennial herb widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions.

1.2 Common Names and Vernacular Synonyms

The plant is known under a large number of vernacular names reflecting its broad geographic distribution. In Peru the plant is called Ñucñu pichana, Escobilla, Piqui pichana, and Tiatina; in Quechua it is known as Tiatina panga, Tsicta, and Nunpichana; in Piro as Bati matsoti and Kotsuje-kashanate; in Portuguese as Tupixaba and Vassourinha; in Amarakaeri as Berokepi; in Matsiguenga as Komayiripini; in Shipibo-Conibo as Mashin tarin rao and Bati matsoti; and in Surinam as Sisibiwiwiri. In English-speaking contexts the plant is commonly termed sweet broomweed. The name Vassourinha is used interchangeably with Ñucño Pichana, and Scoparia dulcis is identified as a species of flowering plant in the Plantain family.

1.3 Botanical Description

Ñucño Pichana is a medicinal plant that can grow up to 50 centimetres in height. It is an erect herb with glabrous stems; its leaves are oblanceolate, petiolate, obtuse at the apex, cuneate at the base, weakly pinnately veined, up to 2.5 × 1 cm, and serrated. Flowers appear 2–4 per node, with pedicels shorter than the subtending leaves and a white corolla. The fruit is globose, approximately 3 mm long. The whole plant is used medicinally.

The plant thrives in humid tropical forest, with a mean annual temperature of 18–24 °C and annual rainfall of 1,200–3,300 mm. It inhabits secondary forests, upland soils, both shaded and open environments, new clearings, and horticultural gardens. In Peru it is widely distributed in the departments of Loreto and Ucayali (Yarinacocha).

1.4 Non-Medicinal Uses

In addition to its medicinal applications, the plants are tied together and used as brooms in rural communities. This utilitarian use is reflected in the name escobilla (little broom) in Spanish.

2. Traditional and Historical Use

2.1 South America (Peru and Amazonian Cultures)

Ñucño Pichana has been a component of long-standing traditional botanical formulations in South America that have been empirically selected for their perceived effectiveness over many generations.

In the Peruvian Amazon, the plant has been recorded among multiple indigenous groups. For respiratory conditions and fevers, the traditional preparation involves crushing three or four whole plants together with verbena, adding the juice of a large lemon, pressing all the material, and adding a teaspoon of edible oil; one tablespoon per day is taken for three or four days. The preparation can cause vomiting and dizziness. For biliary colic, the juice of the liquefied leaves is taken.

Additional traditional applications documented in the Peruvian context include: asthma, as an astringent, for bronchitis, diarrhoea, as an emetic, for erysipelas, fever, helminthiasis, as a haemostatic, for urinary tract inflammation, ocular inflammation, common cold, skin rash, cough, as a vasoconstrictor, for control of vomiting, and as a vulnerary (wound-healing agent).

For haemorrhoids, sitz baths with an infusion of the plant's leaves are used; for helminthiasis, a decoction of the leaves is taken; for cough, the juice of the leaves is extracted and ingested. For bronchitis, a decoction of the leaves is taken; for vomiting, a tea made from the leaves is prepared.

2.2 Global Ethnomedicinal Use

S. dulcis is a medicinal botanical herb that has been widely used for generations in southern China, India, Brazil, Paraguay, and Nigeria. Traditional Chinese medicine regards S. dulcis as having stomachic, diuretic, antitussive, heat-clearing, and toxin-absorbing effects.

In numerous regions where the plant grows, fresh or dried S. dulcis plants have traditionally been used as remedies for stomach troubles, hypertension, diabetes, bronchitis, and as analgesic and anti-pyretic agents.

Scoparia has been used as a remedy for treating diabetes mellitus in India and hypertension in Taiwan. It is traditionally used in treatment of diabetes, dysentery, earache, fever, gonorrhoea, headaches, jaundice, snake bite, stomach problems, toothache, and warts.

Ethnomedical applications of the herb have been identified as treatment for jaundice, stomach problems, skin disease, fever, kidney stones, reproductive issues, and piles. In Nicaragua, extracts are used to treat malaria.

2.3 Traditional Preparations

The medicinal parts used are the leaves and the root, from which infusions can be prepared. Products in the international supplement marketplace are most commonly presented as liquid extracts derived from the whole plant, with formulations containing 35–40% organic alcohol in distilled water. The plant also appears as an ingredient in multiherbal Amazonian compound formulas, including preparations that combine it with other Amazonian botanicals and are extracted in distilled water with 40% organic grain alcohol.

3. Phytochemistry: Key Constituents and Active Compounds

3.1 Overview of Chemical Complexity

A comprehensive review of the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of S. dulcis has identified approximately 160 compounds from this plant, among which 115 compounds may be related to the treatment of metabolic syndrome.

Scientific literature reveals numerous chemical studies on the herb; isolated chemical constituents include coumarins, phenols, saponins, tannins, amino acids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and catecholamines. S. dulcis is rich in flavones, terpenes, and steroids.

3.2 Terpenoids (Diterpenoids and Triterpenoids)

The terpenoid fraction is considered the pharmacologically most significant class of compounds. A number of different principles — scoparic acid A, scoparic acid B, scopadulcic acid A and B, scopadulciol, and scopadulin — have been shown to contribute to the observed medicinal effects of the plant. These chemical compounds have various biological activities, including inhibition of the replication of herpes simplex virus, inhibition of proton pumps, potassium adenosine triphosphate (ATP)ase activation, and antitumour-promoting activity.

Compounds including scopadiol, scopadulcic acid A and B, scopadulciol, betulinic acid, scoparic acid A and B, scopadulin, and ammelin have been demonstrated to possess analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antitumour, antiviral, antidiabetic, antimalarial, antioxidant properties, and scavenging activity.

Phytochemical screening has confirmed that scopadulcic acid A (SDA), scopadulcic acid B (SDB), and semisynthetic analogues are pharmacologically active compounds. SDB has antiviral activity against Herpes simplex virus type 1, antitumour activity in various human cell lines, and direct inhibitory activity against porcine gastric H+,K+-ATPase. A methyl ester of scopadulcic acid B showed the most potent inhibitory activity against gastric proton pumps among 30 compounds tested in one study.

3.3 Flavonoids

Phytochemical screening of Scoparia dulcis extracts reveals the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, terpenoids, tannins, and saponins. The primary mechanisms of antidiabetic activity involve α-glucosidase inhibition, modulation of PPAR-γ, and increased secretion of insulin. Scoparic acid A, scoparic acid D, scutellarein, apigenin, luteolin, coixol, and glutinol are among the compounds identified as responsible for these mechanisms of action.

Chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, and sinapic acid have been determined from the 70% ethanol extract of S. dulcis. Chlorogenic acid can improve blood glucose and lipid levels by regulating gene expression and can lower blood pressure, with many pharmacological activities including liver protection, anti-inflammation, and cardiovascular protection. Sinapic acid has been confirmed to have antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and cardioprotective effects.

3.4 Catecholamines

High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of an aqueous fraction of S. dulcis revealed the presence of noradrenaline and adrenaline, which have sympathomimetic effects. The herb's terpenoids are responsible for numerous additional medicinal effects.

3.5 Triterpenoids and Anti-Inflammatory Compounds

The chemical composition of glutinol and glutinone, isolated from S. dulcis, provides potential anti-inflammatory effects. S. dulcis exerts anti-arthritic properties through its effect on cytokine levels, significantly reducing IFN-γ and IL-6 levels and elevating IL-10 levels.

4. Scientific Evidence by Area of Use

4.1 Antidiabetic / Antihyperglycaemic Activity

Preclinical (Animal and In Vitro) Evidence

Extracts of S. dulcis have effects of reducing fasting blood glucose level, increasing the plasma insulin level, and stimulating insulin secretion to treat diabetes. A 1943 study by Nath investigated the antidiabetic effect of Scoparia dulcis and obtained a glycoside, amellin, from the fresh plant, reporting that it brought relief in other complications accompanying diabetes — including pyorrhoea, retinopathy, joint pain, and susceptibility to cold — within a very short period.

Treatment of RINm5F pancreatic beta cells with streptozotocin (STZ) and plant extract completely abrogated STZ-induced apoptosis, and flow cytometric assessment confirmed that STZ-induced intracellular oxidative stress (46%) was suppressed by the extract (21%). The extract also reduced STZ-induced apoptosis from 72% to 33%, and the study confirmed both antihyperglycaemic effect and consistently strong antioxidant properties of Scoparia dulcis.

The primary mechanisms of action of the antidiabetic activity of the plant and its bioactive constituents operate through α-glucosidase inhibition, curbing of PPAR-γ, and increased secretion of insulin. Scoparic acid A, scoparic acid D, scutellarein, apigenin, luteolin, coixol, and glutinol are among the compounds identified as responsible for these mechanisms of action.

Human Clinical Evidence

A randomized crossover clinical trial enrolled 35 type 2 diabetic patients on medication with mild and moderate diabetes (fasting blood glucose 126–300 mg/dL, age 35–70 years). In the first study period, group 1 (test) consumed S. dulcis porridge while group 2 served as control; following a washout period, the groups were crossed over for a second study period. The test group consumed commercially produced S. dulcis porridge three days per week for three months, while the control group ate any other food.

This trial was designed to investigate the antidiabetic potential and toxic effects of a commercially produced herbal porridge. The dried leaf solid dose in the porridge (35 mg/kg body weight per serving; 15 mg/kg body weight per day, three packets per week) was 13–33 times lower than the doses of 250–500 mg/kg body weight used in previously reported preclinical studies. Despite this lower dosage, a reduction in fasting blood glucose was observed in both test groups — 8% reduction in study period 1, and 13% in study period 2 — compared to the respective control groups. This indicates that even a low dose of S. dulcis leaves could elicit significant antihyperglycaemic effects.

During the crossover clinical trial, HbA1c in group 1 decreased from 7.9 ± 0.5 to 6.5 ± 0.3 (p = 0.003), while HbA1c in group 2 decreased from 7.0 ± 0.3 to 6.7 ± 0.3 during the test period. Both test groups elicited a decrease in HbA1c compared to their respective control groups.

Evidence strength assessment: The single available randomized crossover clinical trial is small (n = 35), was conducted in patients already on antidiabetic medication, and did not assess S. dulcis in isolation from other dietary factors. It has been concluded that S. dulcis could be promoted as an alternative and complementary therapy for diabetes, provided further scientific studies on the toxicological and pharmacological aspects are carried out through either in vivo or clinical means. The clinical evidence is therefore preliminary and requires replication in larger, well-controlled trials.

4.2 Antihyperlipidaemic / Anti-Atherosclerotic Activity

Extracts of S. dulcis produce antihyperlipidaemic effects by increasing serum high-density lipoprotein levels, the anti-atherogenic index of plasma, and HMG-CoA reductase activity. These compounds can also reduce total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, and LDL-cholesterol and increase HDL-cholesterol to provide an anti-atherosclerotic effect. Evidence to date is derived entirely from preclinical (animal) studies; no human clinical trials specifically assessing lipid outcomes have been published.

4.3 Antiviral Activity

The antiviral activity of five diterpenoids isolated from Scoparia dulcis L. was examined in vitro against herpes simplex virus type 1. Among these compounds, only scopadulcic acid B was found to inhibit viral replication, with an in vitro therapeutic index of 16.7. The action of scopadulcic acid B was not due to a direct virucidal effect or inhibition of virus attachment to host cells; single-cycle replication experiments indicated that the compound interfered with considerably early events of virus growth. In a hamster model of primary corneal HSV-1 infection, scopadulcic acid B — when applied orally or intraperitoneally immediately after virus inoculation — effectively prolonged both the appearance of herpetic lesions and the survival time at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg per day.

A more recent study (2026) extended antiviral research to whole-plant extracts: this investigation of the phytochemical profile, cytotoxicity, and anti-herpetic activity of the hydroethanolic extract from S. dulcis aerial parts by mass spectrometry revealed the presence of 15 compounds. The extract showed low cytotoxicity in Vero cells, maintaining over 80% viability at concentrations up to 250 µg/mL. In vitro antiviral assays demonstrated that the extract significantly inhibited HSV-1 infectivity and increased cell protection at 25, 50, and 100 µg/mL. These results support the traditional medicinal use of S. dulcis and suggest its potential as a natural antiviral agent, with the presence of multiple active compounds possibly contributing to efficacy through synergistic effects.

Previous studies had demonstrated the antiviral activity of S. dulcis and its isolated compounds against other viruses. Diterpenoids such as scopadulic acid B and scopadulin have shown inhibitory effects on Epstein–Barr virus and HIV replication, while flavonoid glycosides and benzoxazinones isolated from this species have exhibited additional antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties.

Evidence strength assessment: Antiviral evidence is entirely preclinical — in vitro and animal model data. No human clinical trials have been conducted. Findings are mechanistically interesting but cannot be translated to clinical recommendations.

4.4 Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Activity

The chemical composition of glutinol and glutinone, isolated from S. dulcis, provides potential anti-inflammatory effects. S. dulcis exerts anti-arthritic properties through its effect on cytokine levels, significantly reducing IFN-γ and IL-6 levels and elevating IL-10 levels. These findings are from in vitro and animal studies.

S. dulcis has been shown to exhibit analgesic activity in preclinical models. All anti-inflammatory and analgesic evidence is preclinical; no human clinical trials have specifically evaluated these outcomes.

4.5 Hepatoprotective Activity

The extracts carry out hepatoprotective effects by preventing the descent of antioxidative enzymes of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GRd), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST).

Scoparia dulcis L. is widely used in the traditional system of medicine for treating liver ailments. In research assessing terpenoid fractions isolated from a petroleum ether/diethyl ether/methanol (1:1:1) extract, selected fractions were tested in vitro for DPPH radical scavenging activity and further tested for in vitro hepatoprotective activity against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes. Multiple fractions and the extract showed DPPH radical scavenging activity, and all these fractions and the PDM extract significantly prevented CCl4-induced changes in aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase levels (p < 0.05).

Evidence strength assessment: Hepatoprotective evidence is preclinical (in vitro and animal). No human clinical trials have assessed liver-protective outcomes. Evidence is preliminary.

4.6 Antimicrobial and Antifungal Activity

The antimicrobial and antifungal effects of different concentrations of chloroform/methanol fractions of Scoparia dulcis were investigated in vitro. The isolated fractions were tested against bacterial strains including Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Proteus vulgaris, and fungal strains including Alternaria macrospora, Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, and Fusarium oxysporum. The isolated fractions exhibited significant antimicrobial and antifungal activity against all tested organisms compared with respective reference drugs.

Hydroxamic acid isolated from dried roots and aerial parts exhibits insecticidal, antifungal, and antibacterial activity. Evidence is entirely in vitro; no human clinical data exist.

4.7 Sedative and Hypnotic Activity

Although S. dulcis has been well studied for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and hepatoprotective effects, scientific information on its neuropharmacological effects is limited. A study evaluated the sedative and hypnotic effects of the ethanolic extract of whole plants of Scoparia dulcis (EESD).

Sedative and hypnotic activity were investigated using hole cross, open field, hole-board, rota-rod, and thiopental sodium-induced sleeping time determination tests in mice at doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg of EESD, with diazepam at 1 mg/kg used as the reference drug.

The sedative and hypnotic activity were investigated in mice at the doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg of the ethanolic extracts of the plant. A significant dose-dependent inhibition of locomotor activity in both hole cross and open field tests was observed, suggesting that S. dulcis may possess sedative principles with potent hypnotic properties. The acute oral treatment with 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg of EESD significantly modified the latency to induce sleep as well as increasing duration of hypnosis induced by thiopental sodium. Similar effects were observed with diazepam at 1 mg/kg. Substantial evidence has revealed that CNS depressant barbiturates bind to the barbiturate binding site on the GABA-A receptor complex and potentiate GABA-mediated hyperpolarization of postsynaptic neurons.

Evidence strength assessment: All sedative/hypnotic evidence is from animal studies. No human clinical trials have been performed; findings cannot be translated to clinical use.

4.8 Antiulcer (Gastroprotective) Activity

The antiulcer activity of water extracts of S. dulcis was explored in Sprague-Dawley rats. For the first time, S. dulcis water extract was verified to possess gastroprotective activity as evidenced by its significant inhibition of the formation of ulcers induced by indomethacin. The aqueous extract of leaves of Scoparia dulcis was investigated for its anti-ulcer activity against pylorus ligation and ethanol-induced ulcer models in experimental rats at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight. Evidence is preclinical only.

4.9 Antimalarial Activity

Efficacy of scopadulcic acid A against Plasmodium falciparum in vitro was reported by Riel, Kyle, and Milhous in the Journal of Natural Products (2002; 65(4):614–5). Evidence is in vitro; no human trials have been conducted specifically for malaria.

4.10 Antioxidant Activity

Studies in diabetic rat models suggest a possible antiperoxidative role for Scoparia dulcis plant extract; in addition to antidiabetic effects, the plant possesses antioxidant potential that may be used for therapeutic purposes. Evidence is preclinical.

5. Body Systems and Health Areas Associated with Nucno Pichana

• Endocrine / Metabolic system: Activities documented include antidiabetic, anti-hyperlipidaemia, anti-inflammatory, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-arthritic, hepatoprotective, anti-oxidative, and anti-urolithiasis activities.
• Gastrointestinal system: The plant is used traditionally for stomach ailments and digestive conditions. Gastroprotective and antiulcer properties have been observed in animal models.
• Cardiovascular system: Antihyperlipidaemic effects include increasing serum HDL levels, the anti-atherogenic index of plasma, and HMG-CoA reductase activity.
• Immune system / Antimicrobial: Demonstrated in vitro activity against multiple bacterial and fungal pathogens, and antiviral activity against HSV-1 and other viruses.
• Hepatic system: Hepatoprotective effects mediated by maintenance of antioxidative enzymes demonstrated preclinically.
• Central nervous system: Preclinical sedative and hypnotic properties observed in animal models at doses of 50–200 mg/kg.
• Respiratory system: Used as a traditional remedy for bronchitis and cough across multiple cultures.
• Urinary tract: Traditional use for urinary tract inflammation, and preclinical evidence for anti-urolithiatic (anti-kidney stone) activity.

6. Dosage Forms and Reported Dosages

6.1 Traditional Preparations

The medicinal parts used are the leaves and root, from which infusions are prepared. Leaves and roots are dried for at least 3 days until brittle, then a small amount is ground and added to half a litre of boiling water by the tablespoon. Decoctions, fresh-plant juices, and sitz baths using leaf infusions are also documented preparation methods.

6.2 Liquid Extracts (Supplement Marketplace)

Commercial liquid extracts are made from the whole plant and typically contain 35–40% organic alcohol in distilled water. One marketed compound formula recommends 15–20 drops two to three times daily or as directed by a healthcare practitioner.

6.3 Dosages Reported in Scientific Studies

In the only published randomized crossover clinical trial in humans, the dried leaf solid dose in the porridge was 35 mg/kg body weight per serving and 15 mg/kg body weight per day (given three packets per week), which was 13–33 times lower than the doses of 250–500 mg/kg body weight used in previously reported preclinical studies.

In the animal study evaluating sedative and hypnotic activity, the ethanolic extract was administered at doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, with diazepam at 1 mg/kg used as the reference drug.

In a chronic toxicity study in Wistar rats, animals received varying doses of ethanolic leaf extract at 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg body weight for a period of fourteen weeks (100 days).

Anti-ulcer studies in rats used doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight by oral administration.

In the hamster antiviral model, scopadulcic acid B given orally or intraperitoneally prolonged the appearance of herpetic lesions and survival time at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg per day.

No standardized or pharmacopoeial dosage has been established for human use. All animal dosages above are presented solely as reported in the cited studies and should not be extrapolated to human clinical doses.

7. Safety Considerations and Interactions

7.1 Acute Toxicity

A study was undertaken to determine the chronic toxicity profile of oral administration of Scoparia dulcis ethanol leaf extract (SDELE) on the liver and kidney of Wistar rats. Animals were grouped and administered SDELE at doses of 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg body weight for fourteen weeks (100 days), alongside a distilled water control group. Acute toxicity, body weight, relative organ weight, hematological parameters, and biochemical markers of liver and kidney damage were monitored, and histopathology was performed. The LD50 of SDELE was found to be 1,131 mg/kg body weight.

There was a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in weight in rats administered 400 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg compared with controls.

7.2 Traditional Cautions

Traditional preparations of the whole plant have been noted to potentially cause vomiting and dizziness.

7.3 Sympathomimetic Potential

High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of an aqueous fraction of S. dulcis revealed the presence of noradrenaline and adrenaline, which have sympathomimetic effects. The presence of these catecholamines raises potential concerns regarding interactions with sympathomimetic drugs, antihypertensive agents, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors, though no formal drug–interaction studies have been published.

7.4 CNS-Depressant Activity

The doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg of the ethanolic extracts of the plant produced a significant dose-dependent inhibition of locomotor activity in mice, suggesting sedative principles with potent hypnotic properties. This preclinical observation suggests potential for additive CNS depression if co-administered with sedative, hypnotic, or anxiolytic drugs, though this has not been studied in humans.

7.5 Evidence Gaps in Human Safety Data

The leaf and whole plant of Scoparia dulcis L. have been used in the management of different disorders in Nigeria and other parts of the world without documented scientific evidence of its safety to humans. The current studies assessing acute and sub-chronic toxicity have been performed in Wistar rats. Formal human safety and pharmacokinetic studies have not been published. Further scientific studies on the toxicological and pharmacological aspects through either in vivo or clinical means are required before wider promotion as an alternative and complementary therapy.

7.6 Not Recommended for Certain Populations

Commercial product labelling for preparations containing Ñucño Pichana notes that the products are not intended for long-term use and are not intended for pregnant or nursing women, consistent with the absence of safety data in these populations.

8. Summary of Evidence Quality

The scientific literature on Scoparia dulcis is substantial in its breadth but predominantly preclinical. A 2021 comprehensive review of the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of S. dulcis has identified approximately 160 compounds, of which 115 may be related to the treatment of metabolic syndrome. Despite this phytochemical richness, further clinical and toxicological studies are needed to translate preclinical findings into validated therapeutic applications. Only one small randomized crossover clinical trial in humans — focused on antihyperglycaemic activity in type 2 diabetes — has been published to date. All other areas of investigated activity (antiviral, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, sedative, antiulcer, antimalarial, analgesic, anti-inflammatory) currently rest on in vitro or animal model data only.

References

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• Hepatotoxic and Nephrotoxic Effect of Ethanol Leaf Extract of Scoparia Dulcis (Linn) in Wistar Rats. European Journal of Biology and Biotechnology.
• Hepatocurative effect of aqueous extract of Scoparia dulcis root on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in albino rats. Comparative Clinical Pathology, Springer Nature, 2020.
• Ñucño Pichana – Descripción, nombres vernaculares y distribución. DePeru.com
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