The Healing Power of Rainforest Plants
The Tropical Plant Database
Pau d'Arco
Genus: Tabebuia
Species: impetiginosa
Synonyms: Tabebuia avellanedae, T. ipe, T. nicaraguensis, T. schunkeuigoi, T. serratifolia, T. altissima, T. palmeri, Gelseminum avellanedae, Handroanthus avellanedae, H. impetiginosus, Tecoma adenophylla, Tecoma avellanedae, Tecoma eximia, Tecoma impetiginosa, Tecoma integra, Tecoma ipe
Common Names: Pau d'arco, ipê, ipê roxo, lapacho, tahuari, taheebo, trumpet tree, ipê-contra-sarna, tabebuia ipê, tajy
Part Used: Bark, wood
The following text has been reprinted from: The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs © 2005 by Leslie Taylor.
MAIN ACTIONS | OTHER ACTIONS | STANDARD DOSAGE |
| Bark, Heartwood | ||
| Decoction: 1/2 cup 2-4 | ||
| times daily | ||
| Tincture: 2-3 ml 2-3 | ||
| times daily | ||
| Capsules: Not recommended | ||
Pau d'arco is a huge canopy tree native to the Amazon rainforest and other tropical parts of South and Latin America. It grows to 30 m high and the base of the tree can be 2-3 m in diameter. The Tabebuia genus includes about 100 species of large, flowering trees that are common to South American cities' landscapes for their beauty. The tree also is popular with timber loggers—its high-quality wood is some of the heaviest, most durable wood in the tropics. Pau d'arco wood is widely used in the construction of everything from houses and boats to farm tools. The common name pau d'arco (as well as its other main names of commerce, ipê roxo and lapacho) is used for several different species of Tabebuia trees that are used interchangeably in herbal medicine systems. T. impetiginosa is known for its attractive purple flowers and often is called "purple lapacho." It has been the preferred species employed in herbal medicine. It is often referred to by its other botanical name, Tabebuia avellanedae; both refer to the same tree. Other pau d'arco species produce pink (T. heptaphylla), yellow (T. serratifolia and T. chrysantha) or white (T. bahamensis) flowers. Though many of these species may have a similar phytochemical makeup, they are different species of trees.
TRIBAL AND HERBAL MEDICINE USES
Pau d'arco has a long and well-documented history of use by the indigenous peoples of the rainforest. Indications imply that its use may actually predate the Incas. Throughout South America, tribes living thousands of miles apart have employed it for the same medicinal purposes for hundreds of years. Several Indian tribes of the rainforest have used pau d'arco wood for centuries to make their hunting bows; their common names for the tree mean "bow stick" and "bow stem." The Guarani and Tupi Indians call the tree tajy, which means "to have strength and vigor." They use the bark to treat many different conditions and as a tonic for the same strength and vigor it puts into their bows. Pau d'arco is recorded to be used by forest inhabitants throughout the Amazon for malaria, anemia, colitis, respiratory problems, colds, cough, flu, fungal infections, fever, arthritis and rheumatism, snakebite, poor circulation, boils, syphilis, and cancer.
Pau d'arco also has a long history in herbal medicine around the world. In South American herbal medicine, it is considered to be astringent, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, and laxative; it is used to treat ulcers, syphilis, urinary tract infections, gastrointestinal problems, candida and yeast infections, cancer, diabetes, prostatitis, constipation, and allergies. It is used in Brazilian herbal medicine for many conditions including cancer, leukemia, ulcers, diabetes, candida, rheumatism, arthritis, prostatitis, dysentery, stomatitis, and boils. In North American herbal medicine, pau d'arco is considered to be analgesic, antioxidant, antiparasitic, antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and laxative, as well as to have anticancerous properties. It is used for fevers, infections, colds, flu, syphilis, urinary tract infections, cancer, respiratory problems, skin ulcerations, boils, dysentery, gastrointestinal problems of all kinds, arthritis, prostatitis, and circulation disturbances. Pau d'arco also is employed in herbal medicine systems in the United States for lupus, diabetes, ulcers, leukemia, allergies, liver disease, Hodgkin's disease, osteomyelitis, Parkinson's disease, and psoriasis, and is a popular natural remedy for candida and yeast infections. The recorded uses in European herbal medicine systems reveal that it is used in much the same way as in the United States, and for the same conditions.
PLANT CHEMICALS
The chemical constituents and active ingredients of pau d'arco have been well documented. Its use with (and reported cures for) various types of cancers fueled much of the early research in the early 1960s. The plant contains a large amount of chemicals known as quinoids, and a small quantity of benzenoids and flavonoids. These quinoids (and, chiefly, anthraquinones, furanonaphthoquinones, lapachones, and naphthoquinones) have shown the most documented biological activity and are seen to be the center of the plant's efficacy as an herbal remedy. In the 1960s, plant extracts of the heartwood and bark demonstrated marked antitumorous effects in animals, which drew the interest of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Researchers decided that the most potent single chemical for this activity was a naphthoquinone chemical named lapachol and they concentrated solely on this single chemical in their subsequent cancer research. In a 1968 study, lapachol demonstrated highly significant activity against cancerous tumors in rats.
By 1970, NCI-backed research already was testing lapachol in human cancer patients. The institute reported, however, that their first Phase I study failed to produce a therapeutic effect without side-effects - and they discontinued further cancer research shortly thereafter. These side-effects were nausea and vomiting (very common with chemotherapy drugs) and anti-vitamin K activity (the main concerns over which caused anemia and an anticoagulation effect). Interestingly, other chemicals in the whole plant extract (which, initially, showed positive antitumor effects and very low toxicity) demonstrated positive effects on vitamin K and, conceivably, compensated for lapachol's negative effect. Once again, instead of pursuing research on a complex combination of at least 20 active chemicals in a whole plant extract (several of which had antitumor effects and other positive biological activities), research focused on a single, patentable chemical-and it didn't work as well. Despite NCI's abandonment of the research, another group developed a lapachol analog (which was patentable) in 1975. One study reported that this lapachol analog increased the life span of mice inoculated with leukemic cells by over 80%. In a small, uncontrolled, 1980 study of nine human patients with various cancers (liver, kidney, breast, prostate, and cervix), pure lapachol was reported to shrink tumors and reduce pain caused by them - and three of the patients realized complete remissions.
The phytochemical database housed at the U.S. Department of Agriculture has documented lapachol as being antiabscess, anticarcinomic, antiedemic, anti-inflammatory, antimalarial, antiseptic, antitumorous, antiviral, bactericidal, fungicidal, insectifugal, pesticidal, protisticidal, respiratory depressant, schistosomicidal, termiticidal, and viricidal. It's not surprising that pau d'arco's beneficial effects were seen to stem from its lapachol content. But another chemical in pau d'arco, beta-lapachone, has been studied closely of late-and a number of recent patents have been filed on it. It has demonstrated in laboratory studies to have activities similar to lapachol (antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, antitumorous, antileukemic, and anti-inflammatory), with few side-effects. In one of these studies on beta-lapachone and other quinones in pau d'arco, researchers reported: "Because of their potent activity against the growth of human keratinocytes, some lapachol-derived compounds appear to be promising as effective antipsoriatic agents." In a 2002 U.S. patent, beta-lapachone was cited to have significant anticancerous activity against human cancer cell lines including: promyelocytic leukemia, prostate, malignant glioma, colon, hepatoma, breast, ovarian, pancreatic, multiple myeloma cell lines and drug-resistant cell lines. In yet another U.S. patent, beta-lapachone was cited with the in vivo ability to inhibit the growth of prostate tumors.
The main plant chemicals in pau d'arco include: acetaldehydes, alpha-lapachone, ajugols, anisic acid, anthraquinones, benzoic acids, benzenes, beta-lapachone, carboxaldehydes, chromium, chrysanthemin, dehydro-alpha-lapachone, dehydroisolapachone, deoxylapachol, flavonoids,furanonaphthoquinones, hydrochlorolapachol, 2-hydroxy-3-methyl-quinone, 6-hydroxy-mellein, iso-8-hydroxy-lariciresinol, kigelinone, lapachenol, lapachenole, lapachol, lapachones, menaquinones, 4-methoxyphenol, naphthoquinones, paeonidin-3-cinnamyl-sophoroside, phthiolol, quercetin, tabebuin, tectoquinone, vanillic acid, vanillin, veratric acid, veratric aldehyde, and xyloidone.
BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES AND CLINICAL RESEARCH
In addition to its reported antitumor and antileukemic activities, pau d'arco clearly has demonstrated broad spectrum actions against a number of disease-causing microorganisms, which supports its wide array of uses in herbal medicine. Antimicrobial properties of many of pau d'arco's active phytochemicals were demonstrated in several clinical studies, in which they exhibited strong in vitro activity against bacteria, fungi, and yeast (including Candida, Aspergillus, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Helicobacter pylori, Brucella, tuberculosis, pneumonia, and dysentery). In addition to its isolated chemicals, a hot water extract of pau d'arco demonstrated antibacterial actions against Staphylococcus aureus, Helicobacter pylori (the bacteria that commonly causes stomach ulcers), and Brucella. A water extract of pau d'arco was reported (in other in vitro clinical research) to have strong activity against 11 fungus and yeast strains. Pau d'arco and its chemicals also have demonstrated in vitro antiviral properties against various viruses, including Herpes I and II, influenza, polio virus, and vesicular stomatitis virus. Its antiparasitic actions against various parasites (including malaria, schistosoma, and trypanosoma) have been confirmed as well. Finally, bark extracts of pau d'arco have demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity and have shown success against a wide range of induced inflammation in mice and rats.
CURRENT PRACTICAL USES
Pau d'arco is an important resource from the rainforest with many applications in herbal medicine. Unfortunately, its popularity and use have been controversial due to varying results obtained with its use. For the most part, these seem to have been caused by a lack of quality control—and confusion as to which part of the plant to use and how to prepare it. Many species of Tabebuia, as well as other completely unrelated tree species exported today from South America as "pau d'arco," have few to none of the active constituents of the true medicinal species. Pau d'arco lumber is in high demand in South America. The inner bark shavings commonly sold in the U.S. are actually by-products of the timber and lumber industries. Even mahogany shavings from the same sawmill floors in Brazil are swept up and sold around the world as "pau d'arco" (due to the similarity in color and odor of the two woods). In 1987, a chemical analysis of 12 commercially-available pau d'arco products revealed only one product containing lapachol—and only in trace amounts. As lapachol concentration typically is 2-7% in true pau d'arco, the study surmised that the products were not truly pau d'arco, or that processing and transportation had damaged them. Most pau d'arco research has centered on the heartwood of the tree.
Most of the commercially-available products, though, contain the inner and outer bark of the tree—which is stripped off at sawmills when the heartwood is milled into lumber for construction materials. Additionally, at least 10 species of Tabebuia are logged commercially in South America for lumber purposes alone. When these logs arrive at lumber mills, the identifying leaves and flowers (which distinguish the tree species) are long gone—it's all just "pau d'arco." This may explain varying species of pau d'arco bark being sold as herbal products—and their resulting (diminished) quality. Finally, many consumers and practitioners are unaware that, for the best results when extracting these particular active chemicals (even after obtaining the correct species), the bark and/or wood must be boiled at least 8-10 minutes—rather than brewed as a simple tea or infusion (lapachol and the other quinoids are not very water soluble).
It is therefore not surprising that consumers and practitioners are experiencing spotty results with commercially-available pau d'arco products. With its many effective applications, however, it would behoove consumers to take the time to learn about the available products and suppliers, and find a reliable source for this important medicinal plant from the rainforest. Relatively new in the marketplace are standardized extracts of pau d'arco (that guarantee the amount of lapachol and/or naphthoquinones). In such a product, it would be unclear if other active quinones have been extracted (and to what extent) in these chemically-altered products. Although the natural wood and bark are quite effective when the correct species is used and prepared properly, the new standardized extracts may be the safer (although more expensive) purchase for most laypersons and general consumers concerned about quality but which don't have the time to research each product.
There have been no reports of human toxicity when a whole-bark decoction or tincture of pau d'arco is used. The oral LD50 dosage for lapachol is reported to be 1.2-2.4 g/kg (body weight) in rats and 487-621 mg/kg in mice. Good quality pau d'arco (Tabebuia impetiginosa) contains an average of 4% lapachol (or 40 mg of lapachol per gram of pau d'arco bark/wood).
|
Main Preparation Method: tincture or decoction
Main Actions (in order): Main Uses:
analgesic (pain-reliever), antibacterial, anticancerous, anticandidal, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antileukemic, antimalarial, antiparasitic, antitumorous, antiviral, insecticidal Other Properties/Actions Documented by Traditional Use: Cautions: In excessive amounts, it may cause gastrointestinal upset or nausea. | |
Traditional Preparation: One-half to one cup bark and/or heartwood decoction taken orally 2-4 times daily. (Do not prepare an infusion/tea for this plant-it will not be as effective.) This decoction also is employed traditionally as a douche for yeast infections (use once daily for three consecutive days) and is used topically on the skin for skin fungi (such as nail fungus and athlete's foot).
Contraindications: There have been no reports in the literature of contraindications when a whole-bark decoction or tincture is used. However, at least one isolated phytochemical in pau d’arco (lapachol) has demonstrated abortifacient properties in animal studies. As there are no studies confirming the safety of traditional bark decoctions used by pregnant women (nor is there indication in traditional medicine systems using this plant during pregnancy), the use of pau d'arco during pregnancy is not recommended.
Large single dosages of pau d'arco decoctions (more than one cup) may cause gastrointestinal upset and/or nausea. Do not use in high doses unless under the advice of a qualified health practitioner; reduce dosage if nausea occurs.
| | |
| Country | Uses |
| Amazonia | for colds, cough, fever, flu, leishmaniasis, sores, urinary tract infections |
| Argentina | for diarrhea, respiratory infections, urinary tract infections |
| Bahamas | for backaches, gonorrhea, incontinence, toothache, urinary disorders |
| Brazil | for allergies, arthritis, asthma, athlete's foot, bacterial infections, bed-wetting, blood builder, boils, bursitis, cancer, cancer pain, candida, circulation (poor), colds, colitis, constipation, cystitis, diabetes, dysentery, eczema, fever, flu, fungal infections, gastritis, gingivitis, gonorrhea, hernia, hemorrhoid, hemorrhages, herpes, Hodgkin's disease, immune disorders, impetigo, inflammation, itch, leishmaniasis, leukemia, liver disorders, malaria, parasites, prostatitis, psoriasis, respiratory problems, rheumatism, ringworm, scabies, skin problems, snakebite, sore throat, stomatitis, stomach problems, syphilis, throat (sore), tendonitis, ulcers, urinary tract infections, uterine disorders, vaginal discharge, varicose veins, warts, wounds, and as a astringent, diuretic, pain-reliever and tonic |
| Costa Rica | for cancer, colds, fever, headaches, snakebites |
| Mexico | for anemia, fever |
| South America | for allergies, anemia, arthritis, bacterial infections, boils, cancer, candida, circulation problems, colitis, colds, constipation, cough, cystitis, diabetes, diarrhea, dysentery, fever, flu, fungal infections, gastritis, gastrointestinal problems, inflammation, malaria, pharyngitis, prostatitis, respiratory diseases, snakebites, syphilis, ulcers, urinary disorders |
| United States | for allergies, anti-inflammatory, arthritis, bacterial infections, boils, cancer, candida, circulation disturbances, colds, constipation, diabetes, dysentery, fevers, flu, fungal infections, gastrointestinal problems, Hodgkin's disease, inflammation, leukemia, liver disease, lupus, osteomyelitis, parasites, Parkinson's disease, prostatitis, psoriasis, respiratory problems, skin ulcerations, syphilis, ulcers, urinary tract infections, viral infections, warts, and as a pain-reliever, and antioxidant |
The above text has been printed from The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs by Leslie Taylor, copyrighted © 2005. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, including websites, without written permission.
Referenced Quotes on Pau d'arco
1. "Pau d' Arco has been revered by the Rainforest Indians for centuries. It is one of the most useful Brazilian herbs. It is called the "divine tree." It is helpful in rheumatism and arthritic inflammation, prostatitis, cystitis, and beneficial for controlling fungus and yeast overgrowth in the body. This multi-purpose herb helps prevent tumor formation and is thought to eliminate toxins and purify the blood. Pau d' Arco became very popular in 1967 after Dr. Walter Accorsi of the Municipal Hospital in Santo Andre talked to a magazine reporter who printed his story. He said:- "From my first experiments with Ipe Roxo (Pau d'Arco), I learned two important things which, greatly encouraged me in regards to cancer: First, that it eliminates the pain caused by the disease; and second, that it multiplies the number of red blood cells." This bark is used to treat stomatitis (swelling of the mucus membranes in the mouth), ulcers in the throat, gastric ulcers, syphilitic chancres, itchiness, wounds, eczema, and boils."
2. "Brazilians call pau d'arco the "divine tree." It helps to increase red blood cell production and helps respiratory disorders, ulcers, candida excess, and athlete's foot. Pau d'arco can fortify the blood, helps to dissolve phlegm and is an antifungal. Research in both the United States and South America shows that pau d'arco has ingredients found to be effective against some forms of cancer and parasites. It helps lower blood sugar levels and promotes digestion. Lapachol, from pau d'arco, was recently listed by Purdue University as among the most important antitumor agents from plants."
3. "ACTIONS: Fortifies blood, Antifungal activity, Combats Candida overgrowth. TRADITIONAL USE: Pau D'Arco tea has been revered by the Indians for centuries as one of the most useful Brazilian herbs. They call it the "Divine Tree'. It has been the subject of experiments with encouraging results. Dr. Walter Accorsi, in an article March 1967, states it multiplies the amount of red corpuscles. Experiments have been conducted at the Municipal Hospital at Santo Andre, Sao Paulo using Pau D'Arco in the treatment of respiratory problems, ulcers and a variety of other ailments. Pau D'Arco is highly regarded for its effectiveness in controlling Candida excess. MERIDIAN INDICATIONS: Disperses damp, Dissolves phlegm, Aids regulation of Lung / Stomach, Relieves stagnation in all meridians. EVA POINTS: Liver, Kidney, Large and Small Intestine."
5. "Bitter herb that contains a natural antibacterial agent, has a healing effect, and cleans the blood. Good for candidiasis, smoker's cough, warts, all types of infection, diabetes, ulcers, rheumatism, allergies, tumors, AIDS, leukemia, cancer, and liver disease. NOTE: Resistant strains of Candida develop rapidly due to genetic mutation. Rotating treatment programs will be beneficial."
8. "Brazilian uses and Folklore: If you stop any Brazilian on the street and ask him "What is Ipe Roxo?"... not only will he know immediately what you are talking about, he will begin to explain enthusiastically the wonders and uses of the tea made from the inner bark. Ipe Roxo is undoubtedly one of the most valued and useful of all Brazilian herbs. Used as a health tonic and revered by the Indians for centuries, Ipe Roxo first came to the attention of botanists and doctors about 100 years ago. Since then, the uses and wonders of this tree have been studied and prescribed. In March of 1967 "O Cruzeiro" magazine published an article about the results doctors were getting with the tea at the municipal hospital in Santo Andre, Sao Paulo. The article quotes Dr. Walter Accorsi, as stating: "From my first experiments with it [IPE ROXO], I learned two important things which greatly encouraged me in regard to cancer: Firstly, Pau D'Arco eliminates the pain caused by the disease; and secondly, it multiplies the amount of red corpuscle. Our amazement grew: This bark cured everything! Ulcers, diabetes, and rheumatism - the medicine cleared them all up".After the publication of this article, the demand for Ipe Roxo grew tenfold and today Ipe Roxo bark, extract and homeopathic mother tincture are to be found in health food stores, drugstores and pharmacies all over Brazil. Ipe Roxo can be taken alone, or with other herbal teas for which it acts as a catalyst. Uses:Influential in the treatment of symptoms of: cancer, diabetes, respiratory problems, ulcers, colitis, arthritis, rheumatism, poor circulation, prostatitis, cystitis, constipation."
11. "Pau d' Arco is thought to eliminate toxins in the body and purify the blood, and it has anti-fungal properties. In an original weight loss research study performed in Chicago in 1992, I found that women's chronic yeast infections cleared up promptly when Pau d'Arco was added to the formula. Pau d'Arco also has anti-inflammatory characteristics, making it useful in the treatment of arthritis and other inflammatory diseases. Some researchers report its ability to increase red blood cell counts and eliminate some symptoms associated with cancer."
13. "During the past century, LaPacho has come under scientific scrutiny. The first active constituent to be studied was lapachol; however, it is interesting to note that many of the studies show significantly better results with the whole extract and diminishing effectiveness as the extracts are refined or individual chemicals are tested."
14. "The native Indians of Brazil, northern Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia and other South American countries have used lapacho [T. impetiginosa] for medicinal purposes for thousands of years; there are indication that its use may actually antedate the Incas. Lapacho is applied externally and internally for the treatment of fevers, infections, colds, flu, dysentery, gastrointestinal problems of all kinds, debilitating conditions such as arthritis and prostatitis, and circulatory disturbances. Other conditions reportedly cured with lapacho include lupus, diabetes, Hodgkin's disease, osteomyelitis, Parkinson's disease and psoriasis...
Independent of Meyer, a Physician in Brazil, about 1960, after hearing a tale of its miraculous curative powers, used lapacho to treat his brother who was lying in a Santa Andre, Brazil hospital, dying of cancer. His brother recovered, and the physician, Dr. Orlando dei Santi, began to use the herb to treat cancer patients at the hospital. other physicians joined the team and after a few months, several cures were recorded. In the typical case, pain disappeared rapidly and sometimes complete remission was achieved in as little as four weeks. Because of the work at the Municipal Hospital of Santo Andre, lapacho has become a standard form of treatment for some kinds of cancer and for all kinds of infections in medical establishments throughout Brazil. It should be noted that after the first reports of "miraculous" herbal cures appeared in Brazil, the national government ordered a blackout of any more public statements by doctors involved in the research. The silence was finally broken by Alec De Montmorency, who in 1981 published a lengthy review of the ongoing clinical work in Brazil. This report succeeded in stimulating worldwide interest in the plant."
21. "Tabebuia
Tabebuia has approximately 100 species of evergreen trees or shrubs native to the warmer parts of the Americas. Several chemical compounds have been identified in the genus; lapachol is common (Paredes, 1975). The constituents of the following species have been summarized: T. guyacan (Manners, 1977), T pallida (Prakash, 1980a; Prakash, 1980), T. rosea (Nair, 1982) and T. chrysantha (Wasicky, 1967). Naphtho- and anthraquinones have been isolated from tissue cultures of T. lepidota (Cuellar-C., 1979), T. argentea (Inouye, 1982), T. pentaphylla (Rohatgi, 1983) and T. cassinoides (Rao, 1982). Iridoid glycosides have been reported from T. heptaphylla (Bianco, 1983). Antiinflammatory, antimicrobial and antineoplastic activities have been reported for extracts of T. avellanedae (Goncalves de Lima, 1971; Oga, 1969)."
Published Research on Pau d'arco
All available third-party research on pau d'arco can be found at PubMed/Medline. A partial listing of the third-party published research on pau d'arco updated through Feb 2019 is shown below:
Antimicrobial Actions (fungi, yeast, bacteria, and virus):
Pau d'arco contains a plant chemical named lapachol which has documented antimalarial,
antiseptic, antiviral, bactericidal, fungicidal, insecticidal, pesticidal, schistosomicidal,
termiticidal, and viricidal actions. Another chemical in the bark, beta-lapachone, has been
demonstrated in laboratory studies to have antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral actions.
Antimicrobial properties of many of pau d'arco's other active phytochemicals were
demonstrated in several laboratory studies, in which they exhibited strong in vitro activity
against bacteria, fungi, and yeast (including Candida, Aspergillus, Staphylococcus,
Streptococcus, Helicobacter pylori, Brucella, tuberculosis, pneumonia, and dysentery). In
addition to its isolated chemicals, a hot water extract of pau d'arco demonstrated antibacterial
actions against Staphylococcus aureus, Helicobacter pylori, and Brucella. In other in vitro
clinical research an extract of the bark was shown to have strong activity against 11 fungal
and yeast strains. Pau d'arco and its chemicals also have demonstrated in vitro antiviral
properties against various viruses, including Herpes I and II, influenza, polio virus, and
vesicular stomatitis virus.
Moraes, D., et al. "ß-lapachone and a-nor-lapachone modulate Candida albicans viability and
virulence factors." J. Mycol. Med. 2018 Jun; 28(2): 314-319.
Bleve, G., et al. "In vitro activity of antimicrobial compounds against Xylella fastidiosa, the
causal agent of the olive quick decline syndrome in Apulia (Italy)." FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 2018
Mar; 365(5).
Macedo, L., et al. "β-Lapachone activity in synergy with conventional antimicrobials against
methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains." Phytomedicine. 2013 Dec; 21(1): 25-9.
Souza, M., et al. "The antimicrobial activity of lapachol and its thiosemicarbazone and
semicarbazone derivatives." Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz. 2013 May; 108(3).
Hofling, J., et al. "Antimicrobial potential of some plant extracts against Candida species." Braz.
J. Biol. 2010 Nov; 70(4): 1065-8.
Melo e Silva, F., et al. "Evaluation of the antifungal potential of Brazilian Cerrado medicinal
plants." Mycoses. 2009 Nov; 52(6): 511-7.
Pereira, E., et al. "Tabebuia avellanedae naphthoquinones: activity against methicillin-resistant
staphylococcal strains, cytotoxic activity and in vivo dermal irritability analysis." Ann. Clin.
Microbiol. Antimicrob. 2006 Mar; 5: 5.
Park, B., et al. "Antibacterial activity of Tabebuia impetiginosa Martius ex DC (Taheebo) against
Helicobacter pylori." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2006 Apr; 105(1-2): 255-62.
Park, B., et al. "Selective growth-inhibiting effects of compounds identified in Tabebuia
impetiginosa inner bark on human intestinal bacteria." J. Agric. Food Chem. 2005 Feb; 23;53(4):
1152-7.
Park, B., et al. "Antibacterial activity of Tabebuia impetiginosa Martius ex DC (Taheebo) against
Helicobacter pylori." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Dec;
Machado, T., et al. "In vitro activity of Brazilian medicinal plants, naturally occurring
naphthoquinones and their analogues, against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus." Int.
J. Antimicrob. Agents. 2003; 21(3): 279-84.
Portillo, A., et al. "Antifungal activity of Paraguayan plants used in traditional medicine." J.
Ethnopharmacol. 2001; 76(1): 93-8.
Nagata, K., et al. "Antimicrobial activity of novel furanonaphthoquinone analogs." Antimicrobial
Agents Chemother. 1998; 42(3): 700-2.
Binutu, O., et al. "Antimicrobial potentials of some plant species of the Bignoniaceae family."
Afr. J. Med. Sci. 1994; 23(3): 269-73.
Giuraud, P., et al. "Comparison of antibacterial and antifungal activities of lapachol and b-lapachone." Planta Med. 1994; 60: 373-74.
Li, C. J., et al. "Three inhibitors of type 1 human immunodeficiency virus long terminal repeat-directed gene expression and virus replication." Proc. Nat’l. Acad. Sci. USA 1993; 90(5): 1839-42.
Anesini, C., et al. "Screening of plants used in Argentine folk medicine for antimicrobial
activity." J. Ethnopharmacol. 1993; 39(2): 119-28.
Lagrota, M., et al. "Antiviral activity of lapachol." Rev. Microbiol. 1983; 14: 21-6.
Gershon, H., et al. "Fungitoxicity of 1,4-naphthoquinonoes to Candida albicans and
Trichophyton menta grophytes." Can. J. Microbiol. 1975; 21: 1317-21.
Linhares, M., et al. "Estudo sobre of efeito de substancias antibioticas obitdas de Streptomyces e
vegatais superiores sobre o herpesvirus hominis." Revista Instituto Antibioticos, Recife 1975; 15:
25-32.
Anticancerous & Antileukemic Actions:
In the 1960s, extracts of pau d'arco demonstrated marked antitumorous effects in animals,
which drew the interest of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Researchers decided that the
most potent single chemical for this activity was a naphthoquinone chemical named lapachol
and they concentrated solely on this single chemical in their subsequent cancer research. In a
1968 study, lapachol demonstrated highly significant activity against cancerous tumors in
rats. By 1970, NCI-backed research already was testing lapachol in human cancer patients.
The institute reported, however, that their first Phase I study failed to produce a therapeutic
effect without side effects—and they discontinued further cancer research shortly thereafter.
These side effects were nausea and vomiting and anti-vitamin K activity. Interestingly, other
chemicals in the whole plant extract (which, initially, showed positive antitumor effects at very
low toxicity) demonstrated positive effects on vitamin K and, conceivably, compensated for
lapachol's negative effect. Once again, instead of pursuing research on a complex
combination of at least 20 active chemicals in a whole plant extract (several of which had anti-tumor effects and other positive biological activities), research focused on a single, patentable
chemical—and it didn't work as well. Despite NCI's abandonment of the research, another
group developed a lapachol analog (which was patentable) in 1975. One study reported that
this lapachol analog increased the life span of mice inoculated with leukemic cells by over
80%. In a small, uncontrolled, 1980 study of nine human patients with various cancers (liver,
kidney, breast, prostate, and cervix), pure lapachol was reported to shrink tumors and reduce
pain caused by them—and three of the patients realized complete remissions.
Another chemical in pau d'arco, beta-lapachone, has been studied closely of late and a
number of recent patents have been filed on it. It has demonstrated in laboratory studies to
have activities similar to lapachol (antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, antitumorous,
antileukemic, and anti-inflammatory), with few side effects. Research published from 2003 to
2005 provides important new insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity of beta-lapachone specifically against prostate, colon, pancreatic, and lung
cancers. In a 2002 U.S. patent, beta-lapachone was cited to have significant anticancerous
activity against human cancer cell lines including: melanoma, promyelocytic leukemia,
prostate, malignant glioma, colon, hepatoma, breast, ovarian, pancreatic, multiple myeloma
cell lines and drug-resistant cell lines. In yet another U.S. patent, beta-lapachone was cited
with the in vivo ability to inhibit the growth of prostate tumors.
Panda, S., et al. "Stem extract of Tabebuia chrysantha induces apoptosis by targeting sEGFR in
Ehrlich ascites carcinoma." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2019 Feb; 235: 219-226.
Dias, R., et al. "β-Lapachone and its iodine derivatives cause cell cycle arrest at G(2)/M phase
and reactive oxygen species-mediated apoptosis in human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells."
Free Radic. Biol. Med. 2018 Oct; 126: 87-100.
Shankar, B., et al. "Lapachol inhibits glycolysis in cancer cells by targeting pyruvate kinase M2."
PLoS One. 2018 Feb; 13(2): e0191419.
Hussain, H., and Green, I. "Lapachol and lapachone analogs: a journey of two decades of patent
research (1997-2016)." Expert Opin. Ther. Pat. 2017 Oct; 27(10): 1111-1121.
Kee, J., et al. "β-lapachone inhibits lung metastasis of colorectal cancer by inducing apoptosis of
CT26 cells." Integr. Cancer Ther. 2017 Dec; 16(4): 585-596.
Kee, J., et al. "β-Lapachone suppresses the lung metastasis of melanoma via the MAPK signaling
pathway." PLoS One. 2017 May; 12(5): e0176937.
Beg, M., et al. "Using a novel NQO1 bioactivatable drug, beta-lapachone (ARQ761), to enhance
chemotherapeutic effects by metabolic modulation in pancreatic cancer." J. Surg. Oncol. 2017
Jul; 116(1): 83-88.
Bang, W., et al. "β-lapachone suppresses the proliferation of human malignant melanoma cells
by targeting specificity protein 1." Oncol Rep. 2016 Feb; 35(2): 1109-16.
Xu, H., et al. "Inhibitory effects of lapachol on rat C6 glioma in vitro and in vivo by targeting
DNA topoisomerase I and topoisomerase II." J. Exp. Clin. Cancer Res. 2016 Nov; 35(1): 178.
Pires, T., et al. "Bioactive properties of Tabebuia impetiginosa-based phytopreparations and
Phytoformulations: a comparison between extracts and dietary supplements." Molecules. 2015
Dec; 20(12): 22863-71.
Jeon, Y., et al. "Downregulation of Sp1 is involved in β-lapachone-induced cell cycle arrest and
apoptosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma." Int. J. Oncol. 2015; 46(6): 2606-12.
Kung, H., etal. "Sulindac compounds facilitate the cytotoxicity of β-lapachone by up-regulation
of NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase in human lung cancer cells." PLoS One. 2014 Feb; 9(2):
e88122.
Sunassee, S., et al. "Cytotoxicity of lapachol, β-lapachone and related synthetic
1,4-naphthoquinones against oesophageal cancer cells." Eur. J. Med. Chem. 2013 Apr; 62:
98-110.
Oliveira Silva, E., et al. "Cytotoxicity of lapachol metabolites produced by probiotics." Lett.
Appl. Microbiol. 2014 Jul; 59(1): 108-14.
Lamberti, M., et al. "Synergistic enhancement of antitumor effect of β-Lapachone by
photodynamic induction of quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1)." Phytomedicine. 2013 Aug; 20(11):
1007-12.
Inagaki, R., et al. "Synthesis and cytotoxicity on human leukemia cells of furonaphthoquinones
isolated from Tabebuia plants." Chem. Pharm. Bull. 2013; 61(6): 670-3.
Costa, W., et al. "Lapachol as an epithelial tumor inhibitor agent in Drosophila melanogaster
heterozygote for tumor suppressor gene wts." Genet. Mol. Res. 2011 Dec; 10(4): 3236-45.
Sichaem, J., et al. "Tabebuialdehydes A-C, cyclopentene dialdehyde derivatives from the roots of
Tabebuia rosea." Fitoterapia. 2012 Dec; 83(8): 1456-9.
Garkavtsev, I., et al. "Dehydro-alpha-lapachone, a plant product with antivascular activity." Proc.
Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 2011 Jul; 108(28): 11596-601.
Higa, R., et al. "Study of the antineoplastic action of Tabebuia avellanedae in carcinogenesis
induced by azoxymethane in mice." Acta Cir. Bras. 2011 Apr; 26(2): 125-8.
Moon, D., et al. "Beta-lapachone (LAPA) decreases cell viability and telomerase activity in
leukemia cells: suppression of telomerase activity by LAPA." J. Med. Food. 2010 Jun; 13(3):
481-8.
Mukherjee, B., et al. "Growth inhibition of estrogen receptor positive human breast cancer cells
by Taheebo from the inner bark of Tabebuia avellandae tree." Int. J. Mol. Med. 2009 Aug; 24(2):
253-60.
Yamashita, M., et al. "Synthesis and evaluation of bioactive naphthoquinones from the Brazilian
medicinal plant, Tabebuia avellanedae." Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2009 Sep; 17(17): 6286-91.
de Sousa, N., et al. "Modulatory effects of Tabebuia impetiginosa (Lamiales, Bignoniaceae) on
doxorubicin-induced somatic mutation and recombination in Drosophila melanogaster" Genet.
Mol. Biol. 2009 Apr-Jun; 32(2): 382–388.
Queiroz, M., et al. "Comparative studies of the effects of Tabebuia avellanedae bark extract and
beta-lapachone on the hematopoietic response of tumour-bearing mice." J. Ethnopharmacol.
2008 May; 117(2): 228-35.
Kim, S., et al. "Induction of Egr-1 is associated with anti-metastatic and anti-invasive ability of
beta-lapachone in human hepatocarcinoma cells." Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem. 2007 Sep; 71(9):
2169-76.
Larsson, D., et al. "Identification and evaluation of potential anti-cancer drugs on human
neuroendocrine tumor cell lines." Anticancer Res. 2006 Nov-Dec; 26(6B): 4125-9.
Bey, E., et al. "Mornings with Art, lessons learned: feedback regulation, restriction threshold
biology, and redundancy govern molecular stress responses." J. Cell Physiol. 2006 Dec; 209(3):
604-10.
Kung, H., et al. "Involvement of NO/cGMP signaling in the apoptotic and anti-angiogenic effects
of beta-lapachone on endothelial cells in vitro." J. Cell Physiol. 2006 Dec 27;
Bentle, M., et al. "Calcium-dependent modulation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 alters
cellular metabolism and DNA repair." J. Biol. Chem. 2006 Nov; 281(44): 33684-96.
Sun, X., et al. "Selective induction of necrotic cell death in cancer cells by beta-lapachone
through activation of DNA damage response pathway." Cell Cycle. 2006 Sep; 5(17): 2029-35.
Woo, H., et al. "Beta-lapachone, a quinone isolated from Tabebuia avellanedae, induces
apoptosis in HepG2 hepatoma cell line through induction of Bax and activation of caspase." J.
Med. Food. 2006 Summer; 9(2): 161-8.
Suzuki, M., et al. "Synergistic effects of radiation and beta-lapachone in DU-145 human prostate
cancer cells in vitro." Radiat. Res. 2006; 165(5): 525-31.
Lee, J., et al. "Beta-lapachone induces growth inhibition and apoptosis in bladder cancer cells by
modulation of Bcl-2 family and activation of caspases." Exp. Oncol. 2006 Mar; 28(1): 30-5.
Lee, J., et al. "Down-regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 and telomerase activity by beta-lapachone in
human prostate carcinoma cells." Pharmacol. Res. 2005; 51(6): 553-60.
Reinicke, K., et al. "Development of beta-lapachone prodrugs for therapy against human cancer
cells with elevated NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 levels." Clin. Cancer Res. 2005 Apr;
11(8): 3055-64.
Woo, H., et al. "Growth inhibition of A549 human lung carcinoma cells by beta-lapachone
through induction of apoptosis and inhibition of telomerase activity." Int. J. Oncol. 2005; 26(4):
1017-23.
Park, H., et al. "Heat-induced up-regulation of NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase potentiates
anticancer effects of beta-lapachone." Clin. Cancer Res. 2005 Dec; 11(24 Pt 1): 8866-71.
Balassiano, I., et al. "Demonstration of the lapachol as a potential drug for reducing cancer
metastasis. Oncol. Rep. 2005; 13(2): 329-33.
Ough, M., et al. "Efficacy of beta-lapachone in pancreatic cancer treatment: exploiting the novel,
therapeutic target NQO1." Cancer Biol. Ther. 2005 Jan; 4(1): 95-102.
Park, H., et al. "Susceptibility of cancer cells to beta-lapachone is enhanced by ionizing
radiation." Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. 2005 Jan; 61(1): 212-9.
Kumi-Diaka, J., et al. "Potential mechanism of phytochemical-induced apoptosis in human
prostate adenocarcinoma cells: Therapeutic synergy in genistein and beta-lapachone combination
treatment." Cancer Cell Int. 2004 Aug; 4(1): 5.
Choi, B., et al. "Beta-Lapachone-induced apoptosis is associated with activation of caspase-3 and
inactivation of NF-kappaB in human colon cancer HCT-116 cells." Anticancer Drugs. 2003 Nov;
14(10): 845-50.
Renou, S., et al. "Monoarylhydrazones of alpha-lapachone: synthesis, chemical properties and
antineoplastic activity." Pharmazie. 2003 Oct; 58(10): 690-5.
Choi, Y. H., et al. "Suppression of human prostate cancer cell growth by beta-Lapachone via
down-regulation of PRB phosphorylation and induction of Cdk Inhibitor p21(WAF1/CIP1)." J.
Biochem. Mol. Biol. 2003 Mar; 36(2): 223-9.
Pardee, A., et al, "Cancer therapy with beta-lapachone." Curr. Cancer Drug Targets. 2002 Sep;
2(3): 227-42.
Colman de Saizarbitoria, T., et al. "Bioactive furonaphtoquinones from Tabebuia barbata
(Bignoniaceae)." Acta Cient. Venez. 1997; 48(1): 42-6.
Ueda, S., et al. "Production of anti-tumour-promoting furanonaphthoquinones in Tabebuia
avellanedae cell cultures." Phytochemistry. 1994 May; 36(2): 323-5.
Schuerch, A., et al. "B-Lapachone, an inhibitor of oncornavirus reverse transcriptase and
eukarotic DBA Polymerase-A. Inhibitory effect, thiol dependency and specificity." Eur. J.
Biochem. 1978; 84: 197-205.
Linardi, M., et al. "A lapachol derivative active against mouse lymphocyte leukemia P-388." J.
Med. Chem. 1975; 18(11): 1159-62.
Block, J., et al. "Early clinical studies with lapachol (NSC-11905)." Cancer Chemother. Rep.
1974; 4: 27-8.
Santana, C., et al. "Preliminary observation with the use of lapachol in human patients bearing
malignant neoplasms." Revista do Instituto de Antibioticos 1971; 20: 61-8.
Rao, K., et al. "Recognition and evaluation of lapachol as an antitumor agent." Canc. Res. 1968;
28: 1952-54.
Anti-Autoimmune Actions:
Park, H., et al. "Oral administration of taheebo (Tabebuia avellanedae Lorentz ex Griseb.) water
extract prevents DSS-induced colitis in mice by up-regulating type II T helper immune
responses." BMC Complement. Altern. Med. 2017 Sep; 17(1): 448.
Peres, R., et al. "Lapachol, a compound targeting pyrimidine metabolism, ameliorates
experimental autoimmune arthritis." Arthritis Res. Ther. 2017 Mar; 19(1): 47.
Xu, J., et al. "Beta-Lapachone ameliorization of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis." J.
Neuroimmunol. 2013 Jan; 254(1-2): 46-54.
Anti-inflammatory, Immunomodulatory, Anti-Allergy, & Pain-Relieving Actions:
Park, J., et al. "Tabetri™ (Tabebuia avellanedae ethanol extract) ameliorates atopic dermatitis
symptoms in mice." Mediators Inflamm. 2018 Mar; 2018: 9079527.
Ma, S., et al. "Taheebo polyphenols attenuate free fatty acid-induced inflammation in murine and
human macrophage cell lines as inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-2." Front. Nutr. 2017 Dec; 4:63.
Erratum in: Front. Nutr. 2018 Jan; 5:2.
Beg, M., et al. "Using a novel NQO1 bioactivatable drug, beta-lapachone (ARQ761), to enhance
chemotherapeutic effects by metabolic modulation in pancreatic cancer." J. Surg. Oncol. 2017
Jul; 116(1): 83-88.
Park, H., et al. "Oral administration of taheebo (Tabebuia avellanedae Lorentz ex Griseb.) water
extract prevents DSS-induced colitis in mice by up-regulating type II T helper immune
responses." BMC Complement. Altern. Med. 2017 Sep; 17(1): 448.
Park, J., et al. "Tabetri™ (Tabebuia avellanedae ethanol extract) ameliorates osteoarthritis
symptoms induced by monoiodoacetate through its anti-inflammatory and chondroprotective
activities." Mediators Inflamm. 2017; 2017: 3619879.
Suo, M., et al. "Iridoid Glycosides from Tabebuia avellanedae." Chem. Biodivers. 2016 Dec;
13(12): 1611-1616.
Zhang, L., et al. "Iridoid esters from Tabebuia avellanedae and their in vitro anti-inflammatory
activities. Planta Med. 2017 Jan; 83(1-02): 164-171.
Park, J., et al. "Syk and IRAK1 contribute to immunopharmacological activities of
anthraquinone-2-carboxlic acid." Molecules. 2016 Jun; 21(6).
Wang, Q., et al. "Veratric acid inhibits LPS-induced IL-6 and IL-8 production in human gingival
fibroblasts." Inflammation. 2016 Feb; 39(1): 237-242.
Zhang, L., et al. "Anti-inflammatory cyclopentene derivatives from the inner bark of Tabebuia
avellanedae." Fitoterapia. 2016 Mar; 109: 217-23.
Richter, M., et al. "Pau d'arco activates Nrf2-dependent gene expression via the
MEK/ERK-pathway." J. Toxicol. Sci. 2014 Apr; 39(2): 353-61.
Lee, M., et al. "Analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects in animal models of an ethanolic extract
of Taheebo, the inner bark of Tabebuia avellanedae." Mol. Med. Report. 2012 Oct; 6(4): 791-6.
Suo, M., et al. "Anti-inflammatory constituents from Tabebuia avellanedae." Fitoterapia. 2012
Dec; 83(8): 1484-8.
Byeon, S., et al. "In vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory effects of taheebo, a water extract from
the inner bark of Tabebuia avellanedae." J Ethnopharmacol. 2008 Sep; 119(1): 145-52.
Bohler, T., et al. "Tabebuia avellanedae extracts inhibit IL-2-independent T-lymphocyte
activation and proliferation." Transpl. Immunol. 2008 Feb; 18(4): 319-23.
Awale, S., et al. "Nitric oxide (NO) production inhibitory constituents of Tabebuia avellanedae
from Brazil." Chem. Pharm. Bull. 2005; 53(6): 710-3.
Lee, J. H., et al. "Down-regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 and telomerase activity by beta-lapachone in human prostate carcinoma cells." Pharmacol. Res. 2005; 51(6): 553-60.
Tzeng, H., et al. "Beta-Lapachone reduces endotoxin-induced macrophage activation and lung
edema and mortality." Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2003 Jul; 168(1): 85-91.
de Miranda, F. G., et al. "Antinociceptive and antiedematogenic properties and acute toxicity of
Tabebuia avellanedae Lor. ex Griseb. inner bark aqueous extract." BMC. Pharmacol. 2001; 1(1):
6.
Oga, S., et al. "Toxicidade e atividade anti-inflamatoria de Tabebuia avellanedae Lorentz (‘Ipe
Roxo’)." Rev. Fac. Farm. Bioquim. 1969; 7: 4.
Anti-Obesity & Cholesterol Lowering Actions:
Iwamoto, K., et al. "The anti-obesity effect of Taheebo (Tabebuia avellanedae Lorentz ex
Griseb) extract in ovariectomized mice and the identification of a potential anti-obesity
compound." Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 2016 Sep; 478(3): 1136-40.
Choi, W., et al. "Ethanolic extract of Taheebo attenuates increase in body weight and fatty liver
in mice fed a high-fat diet." Molecules. 2014 Oct; 19(10): 16013-23.
Kiage-Mokua, B., et al. "Lapacho tea (Tabebuia impetiginosa) extract inhibits pancreatic lipase
and delays postprandial triglyceride increase in rats." Phytother. Res. 2012 Dec; 26(12): 1878-83.
Antipsoriatic & Anti-melanogenesis (skin whitening) Actions:
Kim, J., et al. "Melanogenesis inhibition of β-lapachone, a natural product from Tabebuia
avellanedae, with effective in vivo lightening potency." Arch. Dermatol Res. 2015 Apr; 307(3):
229-38.
Muller, K., et al. "Potential antipsoriatic agents: lapacho compounds as potent inhibitors of
HaCaT cell growth." J. Nat. Prod. 1999; 62(8): 1134-36.
Enhanced Endurance Actions:
Yada, K., et al. "Single dose administration of taheebo polyphenol enhances endurance capacity
in mice." Sci. Rep. 2018 Oct; 8(1): 14625.
Antidepressant Actions:
Freitas, A., et al. "NMDA receptors and the L-arginine-nitric oxide-cyclic guanosine
monophosphate pathway are implicated in the antidepressant-like action of the ethanolic extract
from Tabebuia avellanedae in mice." J. Med. Food. 2013 Nov; 16(11): 1030-8.
Freitas, A., et al. "Antidepressant-like action of the bark ethanolic extract from Tabebuia
avellanedae in the olfactory bulbectomized mice." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2013 Feb; 145(3): 737-45.
Freitas, A., et al. "Antidepressant-like action of the ethanolic extract from Tabebuia avellanedae
in mice: evidence for the involvement of the monoaminergic system." Prog.
Neuropsychopharmacol. Biol. Psychiatry. 2010 Mar; 34(2): 335-43.
Neuroprotective Actions:
Park, J., et al. "Neuroprotective effect of β-lapachone in MPTP-induced Parkinson's disease
mouse model: involvement of astroglial p-AMPK/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways." Biomol. Ther.
2019 Feb 8.
Lee, M., et al. "Amelioration of Huntington's disease phenotypes by Beta-Lapachone is
associated with increases in Sirt1 expression, CREB phosphorylation and PGC-1a
deacetylation." PLoS One. 2018 May; 13(5): e0195968.
Lee, E., et al. "β-Lapachone suppresses neuroinflammation by modulating the expression of
cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases in activated microglia." J. Neuroinflammation. 2015 Jul;
12: 133.
Anti-Ulcer & Gastroprotective Actions:
Park, H., et al. "Oral administration of taheebo (Tabebuia avellanedae Lorentz ex Griseb.) water
extract prevents DSS-induced colitis in mice by up-regulating type II T helper immune
responses." BMC Complement. Altern. Med. 2017 Sep; 17(1): 448.
Giacomelli, I., et al. "Oral lapacho-based medication: an easy, safe, and feasible support to
prevent and/or reduce oral mucositis during radiotherapy for head and neck cancer." Nutr.
Cancer. 2015; 67(8): 1247-53.
Theoduloz, C., et al. "Potential gastroprotective effect of novel cyperenoic acid/quinone
derivatives in human cell cultures." Planta Med. 2012 Nov; 78(17): 1807-12.
Pereira, I., et al. "Antiulcer effect of bark extract of Tabebuia avellanedae: activation of cell
proliferation in gastric mucosa during the healing process." Phytother Res. 2013 Jul; 27(7): 1067-73.
Twardowschy, A., et al. "Antiulcerogenic activity of bark extract of Tabebuia avellanedae,
Lorentz ex Griseb." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2008 Aug; 118(3): 455-9.
Wound-Healing Actions:
Coelho, J., et al. "[Effects of silver sulfadiazine, ipê roxo (Tabebuia avellanedae) extract and
barbatimão (Stryphnodendron adstringens) extract on cutaneous wound healing in rats]." Rev.
Col. Bras. Cir. 2010 Feb; 37(1): 45-51.
Kung, H., et al. "In vitro and in vivo wound healing-promoting activities of beta-lapachone." Am.
J. Physiol. Cell. Physiol. 2008 Oct; 295(4): C931-43.
Anti-Osteoporosis Actions:
Gu, D., et al."The inhibitory effect of beta-lapachone on RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis."
Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 2017 Jan; 482(4): 1073-1079.
Antioxidant & Cellular Protective Actions:
Garzón-Castaño, S., et al. "Nrf2-mediated antioxidant activity of the inner bark extracts obtained
from Tabebuia rosea (Bertol) DC and Tabebuia chrysantha (JACQ) G. Nicholson." Version 2.
F1000Res. 2018 Dec 16 [revised 2019 Jan 1]; 7: 1937.
Panda, S., et al. "Stem extract of Tabebuia chrysantha induces apoptosis by targeting sEGFR in
Ehrlich ascites carcinoma." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2019 Feb; 235: 219-226.
Yada, K., et al. "Single dose administration of taheebo polyphenol enhances endurance capacity
in mice." Sci. Rep. 2018 Oct; 8(1): 14625.
Lee, K., et al. "A study of facial wrinkles improvement effect of veratric acid from cauliflower
mushroom through photo-protective mechanisms against UVB irradiation." Arch. Dermatol. Res.
2016 Apr; 308(3): 183-92.
Saravanakumar, M.,et al. "Oral administration of veratric acid, a constituent of vegetables and
fruits, prevents cardiovascular remodelling in hypertensive rats: a functional evaluation." Br. J.
Nutr. 2015 Nov; 114(9): 1385-94.
Pires, T., et al. "Bioactive properties of Tabebuia impetiginosa-based phytopreparations and
phytoformulations: a comparison between extracts and dietary supplements." Molecules. 2015
Dec; 20(12): 22863-71.
Ran, X., et al. "Protective effect of veratric acid on lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury
in mice." Eur. J. Pharmacol. 2014 Oct; 740: 227-32.
Suo, M., et al. "Bioactive phenylpropanoid glycosides from Tabebuia avellanedae." Molecules.
2013 Jun; 18(7): 7336-45.
Park, B., et al. "Antioxidant activity and characterization of volatile constituents of Taheebo
(Tabebuia impetiginosa Martius ex DC)." J. Agric. Food Chem. 2003; 51(1): 295-300.
Antivenin Actions:
Strauch, M., et al. "Lapachol and synthetic derivatives: in vitro and in vivo activities against
Bothrops snake venoms." PLoS One. 2019 Jan; 14(1): e0211229.
Malange, K., et al. "Tabebuia aurea decreases hyperalgesia and neuronal injury induced by snake
venom." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2019 Apr; 233: 131-140.
Nunez, V., et al. "Neutralization of the edema-forming, defibrinating and coagulant effects of
Bothrops asper venom by extracts of plants used by healers in Colombia." Braz. J. Med. Biol.
Res. 2004; 37(7): 969-77.
Otero, R., et al. "Snakebites and ethnobotany in the northwest region of Colombia. Part III:
neutralization of the haemorrhagic effect of Bothrops atrox venom." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2000
Nov; 73(1-2): 233-41.
Otero, R., et al. "Snakebites and ethnobotany in the northwest region of Colombia: Part II:
neutralization of lethal and enzymatic effects of Bothrops atrox venom." J. Ethnopharmacol.
2000 Aug; 71(3): 505-11.
Anti-Parasitic, Larvicidal & Anti-Malarial Actions:
Cunha Araújo, I., et al. "Efficacy of lapachol on treatment of cutaneous and visceral
leishmaniasis." Exp. Parasitol. 2019 Feb 21.
Mata-Santos, T., "Anthelmintic activity of lapachol, β-lapachone and its derivatives against
Toxocara canis larvae." Rev. Inst. Med. Trop. 2015 May-Jun; 57(3): 197-204.
Kim, M., et al. "Larvicidal activity of the active constituent isolated from Tabebuia avellanedae
bark and structurally related derivatives against three mosquito species." J. Agric. Food Chem.
2013 Nov; 61(45): 10741-5.
González-Coloma, A., et al. "Antileishmanial, antitrypanosomal, and cytotoxic screening of
ethnopharmacologically selected Peruvian plants." Parasitol. Res. 2012 Apr;110(4):1381-92.
Silva, T., et al. "Molluscicidal activities of six species of Bignoniaceae from north-eastern Brazil,
as measured against Biomphalaria glabrata under laboratory conditions." Ann. Trop. Med.
Parasitol. 2007 Jun; 101(4): 359-65.
Ferreira, V. F., et al. "Trypanocidal agents with low cytotoxicity to mammalian cell line: a
comparison of the theoretical and biological features of lapachone derivatives." Bioorg. Med.
Chem. 2006 Aug; 14(16): 5459-66.
Silva, R. S., et al. "Synthesis of naphthofuranquinones with activity against Trypanosoma cruzi."
Eur. J. Med. Chem. 2006 Apr; 41(4): 526-30.
Menna-Barreto, R. F., et al. "Effect of a beta-lapachone-derived naphthoimidazole on
Trypanosoma cruzi: identification of target organelles." J. Antimicrob. Chemother. 2005 Dec;
56(6): 1034-41.
Perez-Sacau, E., et al. "Antiplasmodial activity of naphthoquinones related to lapachol and beta-lapachone." Chem. Biodivers. 2005; 2(2): 264-74.
Lima, N. M., et al. "Antileishmanial activity of lapachol analogues." Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz.
2004 Nov; 99(7): 757-61.
de Andrade-Neto, V. F., et al. "Antimalarial activity of phenazines from lapachol, beta-lapachone
and its derivatives against Plasmodium falciparum in vitro and Plasmodium berghei in vivo."
Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2004 Mar; 14(5): 1145-9.
Pinto, C. N., et al. "Chemical reactivity studies with naphthoquinones from Tabebuia with anti-trypanosomal efficacy." Arzneimittelforschung. 2000; 50(12): 1120-8.
Austin, F. R. "Schistosoma mansoni chemoprophylaxis with dietary lapachol." Am. J. Trop. Med.
Hyg. 1979; 23: 412-19.
Gilbert, B., et al. "Schistosomiasis. Protection against infection by terpenoids." An. Acad. Brasil.
Cienc. 1970; 2 (Suppl): 397-400.
Toxicity Studies:
Lemos, O., et al. "Genotoxic effects of Tabebuia impetiginosa (Mart. Ex DC.) Standl. (Lamiales,
Bignoniaceae) extract in Wistar rats." Genet. Mol. Biol. 2012 Apr-Jun; 35(2): 498–502.
de Sousa, N., et al. "Modulatory effects of Tabebuia impetiginosa (Lamiales, Bignoniaceae) on
doxorubicin-induced somatic mutation and recombination in Drosophila melanogaster" Genet.
Mol. Biol. 2009 Apr-Jun; 32(2): 382–388.