Bellaco-caspi is a tropical rainforest tree growing 8-16 m in height with a tall, narrow, pyramidal crown. The trunk is 30-40 cm in diameter with rough mottled bark. The tree produces white perfumed flowers and a 20 cm seed pod with numerous winged seeds inside. The leaves are bright green and about 25 - 30 cm long by 3-5 cm wide. When the leaves are broken off their stems, and the stems are broken from the branches, a milky white latex is exuded. Wounding the tree bark will also exude the latex.

There are 7 to 8 species of Himatanthus trees that can be found from Central America to Northern South America—most indigenous to the Amazon are medium to large trees found in the moist and flooded forests at lower elevations (below 500 m).

TRIBAL AND HERBAL MEDICINE USES

The bark and the latex of bellaco-caspi has a long history of use among the Indians in the Amazon. The Karijonas powder the tree bark and sprinkle it directly onto stubborn wounds and sores. The Shipibo-Conibo Indians in Peru prepare a decoction of the bark and take it internally for rheumatism and body aches and pain. They also put the latex in warmed baths and bathe the part of the body suffering from arthritis, pain and/or inflammation, as well as put the latex directly onto abscesses, sores, and skin ulcers. The Ka'apor Indians in the Brazilian Amazon take a bark decoction for stomachaches and use the decoction topically for dog mange and feed it to dogs who are sick and skinny. The Tikuna Indians also apply the latex topically to treat wounds and the Waoranis rub the latex on bot-fly bites to suffocate and kill the larvae under the skin (in animals and humans).

Bellaco-caspi is also popular as a natural remedy in Peruvian herbal medicine systems. It is considered a pain-reliever, blood cleanser, fever-reducer, astringent, anti-inflammatory and laxative. It is often employed for arthritis, rheumatism and back pain; cancer and tumors; skin issues such as wounds, abscesses, ulcers, boils, rashes and sores; gastric ulcers, intestinal and skin parasites (worms); and for tuberculosis and fevers.

In Brazilian herbal medicine, bellaco-caspi is considered analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antitumoral, antifungal, anthelmintic (against worms), aphrodisiac, emmenogogue (menstrual stimulant), emollient, febrifuge (reduces fevers), purgative, tonic, vermifuge (kills parasites), and vulnerary (heals wounds). Practitioners and herbalists in Brazil recommend it for lymphatic gland diseases and inflammation; female disorders such as endometriosis, uterine fibroid tumors, menstrual irregularities and pain, ovarian cysts and ovarian inflammation; cancerous tumors and skin cancers; digestion problems such as indigestion, stomachaches, bowel inflammation and gastric ulcers; general pain and inflammation (arthritis, rheumatism, and fractures); coughs, fevers, headaches, asthma and other lung disorders, and various skin issues such as wounds, ulcers, and rashes.

Bellaco-caspi is found in The Dispensatory of the United States of America which was published in 1918 and asserted febrifuge, anthelmintic and emmenagogue actions to the tree.

PLANT CHEMICALS

A review of some of the chemicals found in bellaco-caspi might explain some of the many traditional uses of this tropical rainforest tree. An antitumor iridoid compound and two depsides showing inhibitory activity of monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) have been isolated from bellaco-caspi bark. In addition, two iridoid chemicals called plumericin and isoplumericin have been found in the tree bark and the latex. These two chemicals have been reported with cytotoxic, anticancerous, antifungal and antibacterial actions in laboratory research. The latex also contains a polymeric material called cis-polyisoprene as well as calcium, magnesium, arabinose, glucose, xylose, rhamnose and glalctose.

Chemical reported in bellaco-caspi bark thus far include: 2'-O-methyl-perlatolic acid, 4-hydroxy-benzoic acid, amyrin, alpha-amyrin, alpha-amyrin cinnamate, beta-dihydro-plumbericinic acid, beta-phenyl-propionate lupeol, cis-polyisoprene, confluentic acid, demetho-oxy-aspidospermine, fulvoplumierin, iso-plumericin, iso-uleine, lupeol acetate, lupeol cinnamate, para-coumaric acid, plumericin, plumeride, uleine, and vanillic acid.

BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES AND CLINICAL RESEARCH

Many of bellaco-caspi's traditional uses are being verified in preliminary studies and laboratory research. In 2005, Brazilian researchers verified bellaco-caspi's traditional use for stomach ulcers and digestion problems. They reported that an extract of the bark significantly protected rats from lab-induced ulcers and reduced gastric hypersecretion through several novel mechanisms of actions. The tree's long standing use for healing wounds was verified by Peruvian researchers in an animal study published in 1997. Brazilian researchers confirmed in 2000 that the latex evidenced significant anti-inflammatory and pain relieving actions in laboratory animals which confirmed earlier anti-inflammatory research in 1978. They reported that bellaco-caspi could exert anti-inflammatory effects even in the acute phase of the inflammatory process and attributed these effects to the cinnamate chemicals found in the latex and bark.

In 2001, researchers in the United States reported that the bark of bellaco-caspi was significantly cytotoxic in vitro to 5 different human cancer cell lines which may help explain why the tree has been used against cancer and tumors for many years in South America. They related this anti-cancerous action to the iridoids and triterpenoids in the tree bark. It also passed a brine shrimp assay which predicts anti-tumor activitiy in 2003.

Bellaco-caspi's uses for infected wounds, tuberculosis, syphilis, and even mange might be explained by the tree's documented antimicrobial actions. In 1998, researchers in Brazil reported that the bark evidenced a greater antifungal effect than the control drug that was used (nistatin) and related this action to the triterpenic esters found in the bark. Research published in Brazil in 2006 and 2004 also reported in vitro antimicrobial effects of the bark against, candida, E. coli, Staphylococcus, Bacillus, Mycobacterium phlei, and other Gram (+) and Gram (-) pathogenic bacteria. The latex was also documented with in vitro actions against Bacillus and Pseudomonas. Its use for asthma might be explained by the smooth-muscle relaxant actions documented in 2005 by Brazilian researchers working with a bark extract.

Toxicity studies in laboratory animals indicate that the use of bellaco-caspi at traditional dosages is non-toxic. Even when a bark extract was given to pregnant rats, there were no toxic, abortive, or birth defects reported.

CURRENT PRACTICAL USES

Bellaco-caspi is a well respected and widely used medicinal plant in herbal medicine systems in the Amazon and South America. With many of its traditional uses being explained and verified by research, it is sure to remain an important plant in the naturopathic and herbal medicine practitioner's treasure chest of natural remedies. It 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. It is mainly used for pain and inflammation related to many conditions (including female reproductive organ conditions), cancerous tumors (internal and external), and as a broad spectrum antimicrobial for various internal and external infections.

Traditional Preparation: In traditional Indian medicine systems the bark is prepared as a decoction or infusion and the straight latex is applied to the skin topically and ingested in a small amount of water. In herbal medicine systems in the cities of South America, various tinctures, fluid extracts, and capsules are sold in the market place for easier use and longer storage.

Contraindications: None reported.

Drug Interactions: None reported.