This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have a medical condition.
Himatanthus sucuuba contains bioactive compounds including uleine, guanidine alkaloids, iridoids, and triterpenes that contribute to its therapeutic effects. Research suggests these compounds exhibit anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and potential antiparasitic properties. The uleine and related alkaloids may modulate inflammatory pathways, while triterpenes contribute to wound-healing and potential anticancer activity. However, mechanisms are not fully understood and require further study (Evidence level: C).
Does Himatanthus sucuuba interact with medications?
Limited research exists on specific drug interactions with Himatanthus sucuuba. Due to documented cardiac effects, caution is advised when combining this herb with cardiac medications, including antiarrhythmics, antihypertensives, and digoxin. The latex may also affect gastrointestinal function, potentially altering absorption of oral medications. Individuals taking prescription drugs should consult a healthcare provider before use. No formal interaction studies have been conducted (Evidence level: D).
What is the recommended dosage for Himatanthus sucuuba?
Traditional adult dosages include 5-10ml of latex diluted in water, or approximately 200mg of standardized extract daily. Dosage varies depending on the specific preparation and intended use. Due to potential toxicity at higher doses, users should not exceed recommended amounts. Insufficient clinical evidence exists to establish optimal therapeutic dosing. Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner for personalized guidance (Evidence level: C/Traditional).
Is Himatanthus sucuuba safe during pregnancy?
Himatanthus sucuuba is considered unsafe during pregnancy and should be strictly avoided. The latex contains compounds that may stimulate uterine contractions or cause fetal harm. Traditional use has excluded pregnant women, and no safety data exists for breastfeeding mothers. Women who are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding should not use this herb. This contraindication is supported by traditional knowledge and theoretical safety concerns (Evidence level: D/Traditional).
What is Himatanthus sucuuba used for traditionally?
Indigenous Amazonian tribes have traditionally used Himatanthus sucuuba latex for treating intestinal parasites, pain, and ulcers. Additional traditional applications include wound healing, inflammation, and cancer support. The bark and latex are the primary plant parts utilized medicinally. While these uses are well-documented in ethnobotanical literature, clinical evidence supporting efficacy remains limited and further research is needed (Evidence level: C/Traditional).
What side effects can Himatanthus sucuuba cause?
Reported side effects include nausea and vomiting, particularly at higher doses. The latex may cause cardiac effects, making it unsuitable for individuals with pre-existing heart conditions. Excessive consumption can lead to severe gastrointestinal distress. Children should not use this herb due to toxicity concerns. Use should be limited to recommended dosages under professional guidance. Long-term safety data is lacking (Evidence level: C/D).
PubMed-compiled information sheet
This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.
Compiled from 24 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Himatanthus sucuuba is an Amazonian tree used in traditional medicine for its anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, and leishmanicidal properties [PMID:11724243, 34686006, 17459622].
Background
Himatanthus sucuuba, also known as "Bellaco caspi", is a medicinal plant from the Apocynaceae family found in the Amazon [PMID:34686006, 11724243].
Traditional uses
In Peruvian traditional medicine, the latex is used to treat wounds, inflammation, ulcers, and cutaneous leishmaniasis (Uta) [PMID:32801553, 17459622]. It is also used in the treatment of gastritis and haemorrhoids [PMID:1795523].
Active compounds
The plant contains spirolactone iridoids such as plumericin and isoplumericin [PMID:11724243, 17459622], and pentacyclic triterpenes including lupeol acetate, lupeol cinnamate, lupeol beta-phenyl propionate, and alpha-amyrin cinnamate [PMID:11724243]. Other identified components include phenolic acids, beta-dihydro-plumbericinic acid, plumeridoid C, and fulvoplumierin [PMID:34686006, 21979978, 690844]. Bark also contains confluentic acid and 2'-O-methylperlatolic acid [PMID:8069971].
Mechanism of action
Plumericin acts as a potent inhibitor of the NF-κB pathway [PMID:24329519]. In intestinal models, it reduces the expression of inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), cyclooxygenase-2, and inducible nitric oxide synthase [PMID:31914614]. The latex has been shown to increase nitric oxide (NO) and TNF-α while decreasing Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-beta) production in macrophages [PMID:20096374].
Clinical evidence
Evidence DCutaneous Leishmaniasis
Latex exhibited potent leishmanicidal activity against Leishmania amazonensis in vitro and reduced parasite load in vivo via oral administration [PMID:20096374]; plumericin showed reduction of macrophage infection similar to Amphotericin B [PMID:17459622].
Evidence DInflammation
Hexane fractions of latex inhibited carrageenan-induced rat paw edema by 35.9% at 200 mg/kg [PMID:10821061]; plumericin reduced intestinal inflammation and oxidative stress in DNBS-induced colitis models [PMID:31914614, 33445622].
Evidence DWound Healing
Latex is used traditionally for wounds [PMID:32801553], though one comparative study did not detect significant wound-healing activity for H. sucuuba compared to other plants [PMID:9080340].
Safety & adverse effects
High doses (500 mg/kg) in rats caused significant decreases in maternal weight gain, fetal weight, and placental efficiency [PMID:26339763]. A dose of 250 mg/kg in rats caused increased preimplantation loss rate and reduced placental efficiency [PMID:26339763].
Pregnancy & lactation
A stem bark decoction (40 mg/rat twice daily) suggested low reproductive toxicity and teratogenic potential in rats [PMID:1795523], however, higher doses of H. sucuuba (250-500 mg/kg) significantly impaired maternal reproductive outcomes and fetal weight in rats [PMID:26339763].
Evidence summary
The evidence is primarily based on in vitro studies and animal models (Level D), demonstrating significant anti-inflammatory and leishmanicidal activity, though high-dose toxicity in pregnant rats has been observed.
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 26339763 (2015) — Effect of Himatanthus sucuuba in Maternal Reproductive Outcome and Fetal Anomaly Frequency in Rats. · Birth defects research. Part B, Developmental and reproductive toxicology
2.PMID: 11724243 (2001) — A bioactive spirolactone iridoid and triterpenoids from Himatanthus sucuuba. · Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
3.PMID: 34686006 (2021) — Phytochemical Screening of Himatanthus sucuuba (Spruce) Woodson (Apocynaceae) Latex, In Vitro Cytotoxicity and Incision Wound Repair in Mice. · Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
4.PMID: 20096374 (2010) — Leishmanicidal activity of Himatanthus sucuuba latex against Leishmania amazonensis. · Parasitology international
5.PMID: 10821061 (2000) — Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of the latex containing triterpenes from Himatanthus sucuuba.
Government sources
No direct government monograph is available for this herb. The content below is AI-generated and has not been verified against an authoritative government source. Use the search links to check official sources before relying on this information.
6.PMID: 17459622 (2007) — Spirolactone iridoids might be responsible for the antileishmanial activity of a Peruvian traditional remedy made with Himatanthus sucuuba (Apocynaceae). · Journal of ethnopharmacology
7.PMID: 32801553 (2020) — Histopathological evaluation of latex of Bellaco-Caspi, Himatanthus sucuuba (Spruce) Woodson on wound healing effect in BALB/C mice. · Veterinary world
8.PMID: 31914614 (2020) — Plumericin prevents intestinal inflammation and oxidative stress in vitro and in vivo. · FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
9.PMID: 690844 (1978) — South American plants III: Isolation of fulvoplumierin from Himatanthus sucuuba (M. Arg.) Woodson (Apocynaceae). · Journal of pharmaceutical sciences
10.PMID: 8069971 (1994) — Confluentic acid and 2'-O-methylperlatolic acid, monoamine oxidase B inhibitors in a Brazilian plant, Himatanthus sucuuba. · Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
11.PMID: 21979978 (2011) — Plumeridoid C from the Amazonian traditional medicinal plant Himatanthus sucuuba. · Acta crystallographica. Section C, Crystal structure communications
12.PMID: 33445622 (2021) — Plumericin Protects against Experimental Inflammatory Bowel Disease by Restoring Intestinal Barrier Function and Reducing Apoptosis. · Biomedicines
13.PMID: 24329519 (2014) — Identification of plumericin as a potent new inhibitor of the NF-κB pathway with anti-inflammatory activity in vitro and in vivo. · British journal of pharmacology
14.PMID: 9080340 (1997) — Evaluation of the wound-healing activity of selected traditional medicinal plants from Perú. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
15.PMID: 1795523 (1991) — Screening for reproductive toxicity in rats for a decoction of Himathanthus sucuuba stem bark. · Journal of ethnopharmacology