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.
How does Swietenia mahagoni work to lower blood pressure?
Swietenia mahagoni seeds contain active limonoids, specifically swietenine and swietenolide, which are believed to be the primary agents responsible for its antihypertensive effects. These compounds appear to function through calcium channel blocking mechanisms, helping to relax vascular smooth muscles and dilate blood vessels. This action reduces peripheral resistance, allowing for improved blood flow and lowered blood pressure. Additionally, the herb's flavonoid content provides antioxidant support that may protect blood vessel walls from damage. Current evidence for these specific mechanisms is primarily derived from animal and in vitro studies (Evidence Level C).
Can I take Swietenia mahagoni with my blood pressure medication?
You should exercise significant caution when taking Swietenia mahagoni alongside prescription antihypertensive drugs. Because the herb naturally lowers blood pressure, combining it with medications such as ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, or calcium channel blockers may result in additive effects, potentially causing hypotension (abnormally low blood pressure). Symptoms of this interaction can include dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting. It is crucial to consult a healthcare provider before adding this herb to your regimen, as your medication dosage may require adjustment to prevent adverse events.
What is the recommended dosage for Swietenia mahagoni seed extract?
The standard adult dosage for Swietenia mahagoni seed extract typically ranges from 200mg to 400mg daily. This amount is often divided into two doses taken throughout the day to maintain consistent levels in the body. Users should look for standardized extracts to ensure consistent potency of active limonoids. Because individual responses can vary, it is advisable to start with a lower dose to assess tolerance before increasing to the full therapeutic range. Always follow specific product labeling instructions or consult a qualified herbalist.
Is Swietenia mahagoni safe to use during pregnancy?
No, Swietenia mahagoni is considered unsafe for use during pregnancy. The seeds contain potent bioactive compounds, including swietenine, which may stimulate uterine contractions and potentially lead to miscarriage or premature labor. Additionally, there is insufficient safety data regarding the effects of these compounds on fetal development. Due to these risks, pregnant women should strictly avoid this herb. Women who are breastfeeding should also refrain from use, as the safety profile for infants has not been established.
Is there scientific evidence that Swietenia mahagoni helps with diabetes?
Swietenia mahagoni has a strong tradition of use for blood sugar control, but clinical evidence in humans remains limited (Evidence Level C). Preliminary animal studies suggest that swietenine and other limonoids may improve insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism. While these results are promising, the lack of robust human clinical trials means that the herb cannot be recommended as a standalone treatment for diabetes. Patients with diabetes should consult their doctor before use, as the herb may interact with glucose-lowering medications.
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 30 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Swietenia mahagoni is a medicinal plant used traditionally for diabetes, malaria, and diarrhea [PMID:24666674], with demonstrated antidiabetic and antimicrobial properties in experimental models [PMID:20731547, PMID:20237441].
Background
Swietenia mahagoni (L.) Jacq., also known as West Indian mahogany, is a medium to large evergreen tree native to tropical America, including Southern Florida, Cuba, The Bahamas, Hispaniola, and Jamaica [PMID:20731547, PMID:22557521].
Traditional uses
It has been used since ancient times in India and some African countries for treating malaria, diabetes, and diarrhea [PMID:24666674]. Other traditional applications include use as an anti-pyretic, bitter tonic, astringent [PMID:22557521, PMID:24666674], and treatment for hypertension, amoebiasis, cough, chest pain, and intestinal parasitism [PMID:21808570]. In The Bahamas, it is used for diabetes, anemia, inflammation, dermatological issues, backaches, cold, flu, and gastrointestinal problems [PMID:39660368].
Active compounds
Phytochemical screening of leaves has identified alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, phenols, triterpenoids, glycosides, and tannins [PMID:35705723]. Specific active compounds include limonoids (such as swietenolide, swietmanins A-J, and swiemagalins A-C) [PMID:30502629, PMID:19902967, PMID:41486151], diterpenoids (nemoralisins H and I) [PMID:24660137], and flavonoids (catechin and quercetin-3-O-glucoside) [PMID:24366058]. Seed oil contains unsaturated fatty acids including linoleic, linolenic, oleic, palmitic, and arachidic acids [PMID:38882293].
Mechanism of action
Leaf extracts induce apoptosis in human leukemic cell lines via the mitochondrial intrinsic pathway, involving the release of cytochrome c and activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3 [PMID:24366058]. Certain limonoids exhibit anti-neuroinflammatory activity by inhibiting nitric oxide (NO) release in LPS-induced murine microglial BV-2 cells [PMID:30502629]. Tetranortriterpenoids from seeds inhibit platelet-activating factor (PAF)-induced platelet aggregation [PMID:2062958].
Clinical evidence
Evidence DDiabetes Mellitus
Methanol extract of bark (25 and 50 mg/kg) and ethanolic extract of seeds (1000 mg/kg) significantly reduced blood glucose levels in diabetic rat models [PMID:20731547, PMID:23923404].
Evidence DNeuropathic Pain
Methanolic leaf extract demonstrated antinociceptive effects on acrylamide-induced painful neuropathy in rats [PMID:23719848].
Evidence DHypercholesterolemia
Leaf aqueous extract (250 and 500 mg/kg) was evaluated for antihypercholesterolemic potential in diet-induced hypercholesterolemic rats [PMID:27818794].
Evidence DLeukemia
Leaf extract inhibited growth and metabolic activity of U937, K562, and HL-60 human leukemic cell lines [PMID:24366058].
Evidence DBacterial/Fungal Infections
Methanolic seed extracts showed inhibitory effects against Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Streptococcus faecalis, and Proteus mirabillase [PMID:20237441].
Safety & adverse effects
Toxicological studies on plant extracts have generally found insignificant side effects [PMID:24666674]. Acute oral toxicity studies in mice for crude methanolic seed extract showed an LD50 greater than 5000 mg/kg [PMID:21808570]. However, Swietenia mahagoni may cause skin sensitisation in some individuals [PMID:35771736].
Evidence summary
The evidence is primarily based on in vitro studies and animal models (Level D), with some systematic reviews (Level C) summarizing these findings. There is no provided evidence from human clinical trials (Level B) or meta-analyses (Level A).
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 32190758 (2020) — The recent use of Swietenia mahagoni (L.) Jacq. as antidiabetes type 2 phytomedicine: A systematic review. · Heliyon
2.PMID: 35705723 (2022) — Chemical characterization, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic potentials of Swietenia mahagoni. · AMB Express
3.PMID: 24666674 (2014) — Pharmacological effects and active phytoconstituents of Swietenia mahagoni: a review. · Journal of integrative medicine
5.PMID: 24366058 (2014) — Cytotoxic and apoptogenic effect of Swietenia mahagoni (L.) Jacq. leaf extract in human leukemic cell lines U937, K562 and HL-60. · Environmental toxicology and pharmacology
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: 21808570 (2010) — Brine shrimp lethality and acute oral toxicity studies on Swietenia mahagoni (Linn.) Jacq. seed methanolic extract. · Pharmacognosy research
7.PMID: 22557521 (1986) — Pharmacognosy of swietenia mahagoni bark drug. · Ancient science of life
8.PMID: 39660368 (2025) — A Narrative Review of Moringa oleifera Lam., Moringaceae, Swietenia mahagoni L. Jacq., Meliaceae, and Momordica charantia L., Cucurbitaceae Plants Found in The Bahamas as Antidiabetes Phytomedicine. · Journal of medicinal food
9.PMID: 23719848 (2015) — Pharmacological evaluation of methanolic leaf extract of Swietenia mahagoni on acrylamide-induced neuropathic pain in rats. · Toxicology and industrial health
10.PMID: 30502629 (2019) — Nitric oxide inhibitory limonoids as potential anti-neuroinflammatory agents from Swietenia mahagoni. · Bioorganic chemistry
11.PMID: 36629829 (2022) — Cryopreservation of seeds of the highly valued tropical timber species Swietenia mahagoni. · Cryo letters
12.PMID: 20731547 (2010) — Antidiabetic and antioxidant activity of Swietenia mahagoni in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. · Pharmaceutical biology
13.PMID: 24660137 (2014) — Diterpenoids and Limonoids from the Leaves and Twigs of Swietenia mahagoni. · Natural products and bioprospecting
14.PMID: 23923404 (2013) — Comparative study of the effect of ethanolic extract of Swietenia mahagoni seeds with rosiglitazone on experimentally induced diabetes mellitus in rats. · Bangladesh Medical Research Council bulletin
15.PMID: 27818794 (2016) — In Vivo Antihypercholesterolemic Potential of Swietenia mahagoni Leaf Extract. · Cholesterol
16.PMID: 20237441 (2009) — Phytochemical and antimicrobial activity of Swietenia mahagoni crude methanolic seed extract. · Tropical biomedicine
17.PMID: 29428514 (2018) — Target and non-target response of Swietenia Mahagoni Jacq. chemical constituents against tobacco cutworm Spodoptera litura Fab. and earthworm, Eudrilus eugeniae Kinb. · Chemosphere
18.PMID: 35771736 (2022) — Comparison between patch test results of natural dyes and standard allergens in batik workers with occupational contact dermatitis. · Cutaneous and ocular toxicology
19.PMID: 19902967 (2009) — Structurally diverse limonoids from the fruits of Swietenia mahagoni. · Journal of natural products
20.PMID: 2062958 (1991) — Platelet aggregation inhibitors from the seeds of Swietenia mahagoni: inhibition of in vitro and in vivo platelet-activating factor-induced effects of tetranortriterpenoids related to swietenine and swietenolide. · Planta medica
21.PMID: 41486151 (2026) — Swiemagalins A-C: three new phragmalins from the stem barks of Indonesian Swietenia mahagoni and cytotoxic activities. · Natural product research
22.PMID: 18726560 (2009) — Antibacterial activity of two limonoids from Swietenia mahagoni against multiple-drug-resistant (MDR) bacterial strains. · Journal of natural medicines