Guettarda angelica
Mart. ex Müll.Arg.
Rubiaceae
Matthiola angelica (Mart. ex Müll.Arg.) Kuntze
Common Name:
General Information
Guettarda angelica is an evergreen shrub when growing in exposed positions, becoming a tree in more sheltered sites.
The roots are a popular herbal medicine in Brazil, where they are often gathered from the wild. When large enough, the wood is harvested from the wild for local use.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
S. America - northern and eastern Brazil.
Habitat
Forests in arid areas.
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Shrub |
| Height | 0.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
A plant of the 'Caatinga' dry forest region of northeast Brazil. The climate is hot and dry, there are usually 6 to 11 months without rain each year. The mean annual rainfall varies from 250 - 1,000mm, and the mean annual temperature is from 24 - 26°c.
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The root is astringent and vulnerary[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
]. An infusion, or a decoction, is used in the treatment of menstrual spasms, constipation and fevers[
583- Title
- Medicinal and poisonous diversity of the flora of 'Cariri Paraibano', Brazil.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Agra M.F. Et al
- Website
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2006.12.007
- Publisher
- Journal of Ethnopharmacology
- Year
- 2007
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An article from the Journal of Ethnopharmacy, available as a PDF document on the Internet. Brief details of some medicinal plants from an area of Brazil.
]. The root is also used in veterinary medicine to treat diarrhoea[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
].
The wood, the bark and the root bark are abortifacient, aromatic, febrifuge, stomachic and tonic. They are recommended for use in the treatment of puerperal fever and delayed menstruation[
739- Title
- Medicinal Plants of Brazil
- Publication
-
- Author
- Mors W.B.; Rizzini C.T.; Pereira N.A.
- Publisher
- Reference Publications; Michigan.
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 0-917256-42-5
- Description
- An extremely concise book, listing approximately 1,500 species and varieties of plants with their botanical name, common name in Brazil, regions in Brazil where the plant is found, a brief list of uses and any medically active compounds in the plant.
].
Triterpenoids have been isolated from the plant[
739- Title
- Medicinal Plants of Brazil
- Publication
-
- Author
- Mors W.B.; Rizzini C.T.; Pereira N.A.
- Publisher
- Reference Publications; Michigan.
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 0-917256-42-5
- Description
- An extremely concise book, listing approximately 1,500 species and varieties of plants with their botanical name, common name in Brazil, regions in Brazil where the plant is found, a brief list of uses and any medically active compounds in the plant.
].
Other Uses
The wood is fairly resistant to insect attach[
528- Title
- Indicador de Madeiras e Plantas Uteis do Brasil.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Fonseca E. T. De
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Officinas graphicas Villas-Boas & Co.; Rio de Janeiro
- Year
- 1922
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief details of some of the uses of Brazilian plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. It is used in general and naval constructions, cabinet making, turnery etc[
528- Title
- Indicador de Madeiras e Plantas Uteis do Brasil.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Fonseca E. T. De
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Officinas graphicas Villas-Boas & Co.; Rio de Janeiro
- Year
- 1922
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief details of some of the uses of Brazilian plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
