Common Name:

General Information

Himatanthus sucuuba is an evergreen tree with a narrowly pyramidal crown; it can grow 8 - 16 metres tall. The straight, more or less cylindrical bole can be 30 - 40cm in diameter[].
The plant is a well respected and widely used medicine in herbal systems in the Amazon and South America. It has a long history of use among the indigenous peoples and was widely adopted by the Europeans when they arrived in S. America. It is commonly harvested from the wild for medicinal use and also provides a timber for local use. The plant is gaining some recognition outside of the South America and a handful of bark extract and latex extract products can now be found for sale in the United States and Europe. An ornamental tree with white, perfumed flowers, it could be used in landscaping[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas; C. America - Panama.

Habitat

Rainforests, in both dense primary and the more open, secondary growth areas; favouring deep, well-drained sandy or loamy soils and avoiding areas subject to periodic inundation[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	12.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Grows best in a sunny position[]. Requires a well-drained soil[]. Grows best in a deep, sandy to loamy soil[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
Young plants have a moderate rate of growth[].
The plant can flower all year round[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Himatanthus sucuuba is a well respected and widely used medicinal plant in herbal medicine systems in the Amazon and South America; many of its traditional uses have been explained and verified by research. It is mainly used for treating pain and inflammation related to many conditions; cancerous tumours, and as a broad spectrum antimicrobial for various internal and external infections[]. Although toxic in larger doses, toxicity studies indicate that the use of the plant at traditional dosages is non-toxic. There have been no toxic, abortive, or birth defects reported[].
The plant contains several medically active compounds. An antitumor iridoid compound and two depsides showing inhibitory activity of monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) have been isolated from the bark[]. In addition, two iridoid chemicals called plumericin and isoplumericin have been found in the bark and the latex. These two chemicals have been reported with cytotoxic, anticancer, antifungal and antibacterial actions in laboratory research[].
An extract of the bark has been shown to provide significant protection from ulcers and to reduce gastric hypersecretion through several novel mechanisms of actions[].
The latex has shown significant anti-inflammatory and pain relieving actions. The latex can exert anti-inflammatory effects even in the acute phase of the inflammatory process. This action has been attributed to the cinnamate chemicals that are found in the latex and bark.
The bark has been shown to be significantly cytotoxic to five different human cancer cell lines, which may help explain why the tree has been used against cancer and tumours for many years in South America. This anti-cancerous action is probably related to the iridoids and triterpenoids in the tree bark[].
Research has shown that the bark has a greater antifungal effect than a control drug (nistatin) that was used - this action has been attributed to the triterpenic esters found in the bark[].
The plants effectiveness in treating infected wounds, candida, tuberculosis, syphilis, and even mange might be explained by the documented antimicrobial actions of the bark and latex[].
The plant's use in the treatment of asthma might be explained by the smooth-muscle relaxant actions documented in 2005 by Brazilian researchers working with a bark extract[].

The bark and the latex are considered analgesic, antiinflammatory, antirheumatic, antitumor, antifungal, anthelmintic, aphrodisiac, astringent, blood purifier, emmenagogue, emollient, febrifuge, laxative, purgative, tonic, vermifuge and vulnerary[, ].

A decoction of the bark is taken internally in the treatment of rheumatism, stomach aches and body aches and pain.
Applied externally, the powdered tree bark is sprinkled directly onto stubborn wounds and sores.

The latex is placed in warm water which is used to bathe the part of the body suffering from arthritis, pain and/or inflammation[]. The latex is also put directly onto abscesses, sores, wounds, rashes and skin ulcers. It is rubbed on to bot-fly bites in order to suffocate and kill the larvae under the skin (in both animals and humans)[, ].

Both bark and latex are also used in the treatment of lymphatic gland diseases and inflammation; female disorders such as endometriosis, uterine fibroid tumours, menstrual irregularities and pain, ovarian cysts and ovarian inflammation; cancerous tumours and skin cancers; digestion problems such as indigestion, stomach aches, bowel inflammation and gastric ulcers; coughs, fevers, headaches, asthma and other lung disorders[, ].

Other Uses

A latex is obtained from wounds in the bark and stems[]. Although toxic, it is used medicinally in small quantities[].

The wood is medium-textured, moderately heavy, soft, with poor mechanical properties and not very durable. Easy to work with, it is used for various internal purposes including scantlings, beams, laths and various kinds of boards for partitions; it is also used for making boxes, tool handles and toys[].
The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a sunny position in a nursery seedbed. When the seedlings are 4 - 6cm tall, pot them up into individual containers[].

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