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Mutamba is a favorite natural remedy among Central and South American health practitioners and the indigenous peoples of the Amazon. It is often turned to first for upper respiratory infections as it can quiet coughs, reduce fever, as well as provides antiviral and antibacterial actions.* For more information about mutamba (Guazuma ulmifolia), please refer to the Database File for Mutamba in the Tropical Plant Database. To see pictures of mutamba, click here.

Traditional Uses: as a topical hair remedy for hair loss and baldness; as a digestive aid for stomachache, ulcers, diarrhea, dysentery, and stomach inflammation; as an external skin remedy for wounds, rashes, skin parasites, dermatitis, fungal infections and leprosy; for viral and bacterial infections (including syphilis, gonorrhea, upper respiratory viruses, and kidney infections); as an astringent to stop bleeding

Suggested Use: This plant is best prepared as a decoction. Use one teaspoon of powder for each cup of water. Bring to a boil and gently boil in a covered pot for 20 minutes. Allow to cool and settle for 10 minutes and strain warm liquid into a cup (leaving the settled powder in the bottom of the pan). It is traditionally taken in 1 cup dosages, 2-3 times daily. For more complete instructions on preparing herbal decoctions see the Methods for Preparing Herbal Remedies Page.

Contraindications:

• 1. Mutamba bark has been documented in animal studies to have uterine stimulant activity and it should not be taken during pregnancy.
• 2. Mutamba bark has been documented in an animal study to lower blood pressure. In vitro studies indicate that it can inhibit angiotensin II. People with low blood pressure should use with caution while monitoring their blood pressure accordingly.

Drug Interactions: None published; however, mutamba bark may potentiate the action of certain antihypertensive drugs.

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Published Research on Mutamba

All available third-party research on mutamba be found at PubMed. A partial listing of the third-party published research on mutamba is shown below:

Antimicrobial Actions:
Jacobo-Salcedo Mdel, R., et al. "Antimicrobial and cytotoxic effects of Mexican medicinal plants." Nat Prod Commun. 2011 Dec;6(12):1925-8.
Kaneria, M., et al. "Determination of antibacterial and antioxidant potential of some medicinal plants from saurashtra region, India." Indian J Pharm Sci. 2009 Jul;71(4):406-12.
Felipe, A. M., et al. "Antiviral effect of Guazuma ulmifolia and Stryphnodendron adstringens on Poliovirus and Bovine Herpesvirus." Biol. Pharm. Bull. 2006; 29(6): 1092-5.
Camporese, A., et al. "Screening of anti-bacterial activity of medicinal plants from Belize (Central America)." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2003 Jul; 87(1): 103-7.
Navarro, M. C., et al. "Antibacterial, antiprotozoal and antioxidant activity of five plants used in Izabal for infectious diseases." Phytother. Res. 2003; 17(4): 325-9.
Caceres, A., et al. "Anti-gonorrhoeal activity of plants used in Guatemala for the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases." J. Ethnopharmacol. 1995; 48(2): 85-88.
Hattori, M., et al. "Inhibitory effects of various Ayurvedic and Panamania medicinal plants on the infection of Herpes simplex virus-1 in vitro and in vivo." Phytother. Res. 1995; 9(4): 270-76.
Caceres, A., et al. "Plants used in Guatemala for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. 3. Confirmation of activity against enterobacteria of 16 plants." J. Ethnopharmacol. 1993; 38(1): 31-38.
Caceres, A., et al. "Plants used in Guatemala for the treatment of respiratory diseases. 2: Evaluation of activity of 16 plants against gram-positive bacteria." J. Ethnopharmacol. 1993; 39(1): 77-82.
Heinrich, M., et al. "Parasitological and microbiological evaluation of Mixe Indian medicinal plants." (Mexico) J. Ethnopharmacol. 1992; 36(1): 81-85.
Caceres, A., et al. "Plants used in Guatemala for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. 1. Screening of 84 plants against enterobacteria." J. Ethnopharmacol. 1990; 30(1): 55-73.
Caceres, A., et al. "Screening of antimicrobial activity of plants popularly used in Guatemala for the treatment of dermatomucosal diseases." J. Ethnopharmacol. 1987; 20(3): 223-37.

Anticancerous Actions:
Maldini, M., et al. "Flavanocoumarins from Guazuma ulmifolia bark and evaluation of their affinity for STAT1." Phytochemistry. 2012 Nov 14. doi:pii: S0031-9422(12)00467-0. 10.1016/j.phytochem.2012.10.011. [Epub ahead of print]
Jacobo-Salcedo Mdel, R., et al. "Antimicrobial and cytotoxic effects of Mexican medicinal plants." Nat Prod Commun. 2011 Dec;6(12):1925-8.
Cuca, L, et al. "Cytotoxic effect of some natural compounds isolated from Lauraceae plants and synthetic derivatives." Biomedica. 2011 Jul-Sep;31(3):335-43.
Hueso-Falcón, I., et al. "Synthesis and induction of apoptosis signaling pathway of ent-kaurane derivatives." Bioorg Med Chem. 2010 Feb 15;18(4):1724-35.
Cavalcanti, B., et al. "Kauren-19-oic acid induces DNA damage followed by apoptosis in human leukemia cells." J Appl Toxicol. 2009 Oct;29(7):560-8.
Seigler, D. S. "Cyanogenic glycosides and menisdaurin from Guazuma ulmifolia, Ostrya virgininana, Tiquilia plicata and Tiquilia canescens." Phytochemistry. 2005 Jul; 66(13): 1567-80.
Ito, H., et al. "Antitumor activity of compounds isolated from leaves of Eriobotrya japonica." J. Agric. Food Chem. 2002; 50(8): 2400-3.
Kashiwada, Y., et al. "Antitumor agents, 129. Tannins and related compounds as selective cytotoxic agents." J. Nat. Prod. 1992; 55(8): 1033-43.
Nascimento, S. C., et al. "Antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities in plants from Pernambuco, Brazil." Fitoterapia. 1990; 61(4): 353-55.

Actions on Hair Growth:
Kamimura, A., et al. "Procyanidin oligomers counteract TGF-beta1- and TGF-beta2-induced apoptosis in hair epithelial cells: an insight into their mechanisms." Skin Pharmacol. Physiol. 2006; 19(5): 259-65.
Kamimura, A., et al. "Procyanidin B-2, extracted from apples, promotes hair growth: A laboratory study." Br. J. Dermatol. 2002; 146(1): 41-51.
Takahashi, T., et al. "The first clinical trial of topical application of procyanidin B-2 to investigate its potential as a hair growing agent." Phytother. Res. 2001; 15(4): 331-36.
Takahashi, T., et al. "Several selective protein kinase C inhibitors including procyanidins promote hair growth." Skin Pharmacol. Appl. Skin Physiol. 2000 May-Aug; 13(3-4): 133-42.
Takahashi, T., et al. "Toxicological studies on procyanidin B-2 for external application as a hair growing agent." Food Chem. Toxicol. 1999; 37(5): 545-52.
Takahashi, T., et al. "Procyanidin oligomers selectively and intensively promote proliferation of mouse hair epithelial cells in vitro and activate hair follicle growth in vivo." J. Invest. Dermatol. 1999; 112(3): 310-6.

Anti-ulcer Actions:
Berenguer, B., et al. "The aerial parts of Guazuma ulmifolia Lam. protect against NSAID-induced gastric lesions." J Ethnopharmacol. 2007 Nov 1;114(2):153-60.
Heinrich, M. "Ethnobotany and natural products: the search for new molecules, new treatments of old diseases or a better understanding of indigenous cultures?" Curr. Top. Med. Chem. 2003; 3(2): 141-54.
Hor, M., et al. "Proanthocyanidin polymers with antisecretory activity and proanthocyanidin oligomers from Guazuma ulmifolia bark." Phytochemistry. 1996; 42(1): 109-19.
Hor, M., et al. "Inhibition of intestinal chloride secretion by proanthocyanidins from Guazuma ulmifolia." Planta Med. 1995; 61(3): 208-12.

COX-2 Inhibitory Actions:
Zhang, W. Y.,et al. "Procyanidin dimer B2 [epicatechin-(4beta-8)-epicatechin] suppresses the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in endotoxin-treated monocytic cells." Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 2006 Jun; 345(1): 508-15.

Antioxidant Actions:
Kaneria, M., et al. "Determination of antibacterial and antioxidant potential of some medicinal plants from saurashtra region, India." Indian J Pharm Sci. 2009 Jul;71(4):406-12.
Sakano, K., et al. "Procyanidin B2 has anti- and pro-oxidant effects on metal-mediated DNA damage." Free Radic. Biol. Med. 2005 Oct; 39(8): 1041-9.
Saito, A., et al. "Systematic synthesis of galloyl-substituted procyanidin B1 and B2, and their ability of DPPH radical scavenging activity and inhibitory activity of DNA polymerases." Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2005 Apr; 13(8): 2759-71.

Hypotensive Actions:
Magos, G., et al. "Hypotensive and vasorelaxant effects of the procyanidin fraction from Guazuma ulmifolia bark in normotensive and hypertensive rats." J Ethnopharmacol. 2008 Apr 17;117(1):58-68
Caballero-George, C., et al. "In vitro inhibition of [3H]-angiotensin II binding on the human AT1 receptor by proanthocyanidins from Guazuma ulmifolia bark." Planta Med. 2002; 68(12): 1066-71.

Antidiabetic & Anti-cholesterol Actions:
Alonso-Castro, A., et al. "The anti-diabetic properties of Guazuma ulmifolia Lam are mediated by the stimulation of glucose uptake in normal and diabetic adipocytes without inducing adipogenesis." J Ethnopharmacol. 2008 Jul 23;118(2):252-6.
Chen, D. M., et al. "Inhibitory effects of procyanidin B(2) dimer on lipid-laden macrophage formation." J. Cardiovasc. Pharmacol. 2006 Aug; 48(2): 54-70.
Alarcon-Aguilara, F. J., et al. "Study of the anti-hyperglycemic effect of plants used as antidiabetics." J. Ethnopharmacol. 1998; 61(2): 101-10.

Uterine Stimulant Actions:
Barros, G. S. G., et al. "Pharmacological screening of some Brazilian plants." J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 1970; 22: 116.