Plumeria sucuuba
Himatanthus sucuuba

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

Himatanthus sucuuba is an evergreen tree with a narrowly pyramidal crown and a straight, cylindrical bole of up to 40 cm in diameter. It grows about 8-16 m tall and can be found across South America where it is a known medicinal plant. It is used for pain and inflammation, cancerous tumors, ulcers, wounds, candida, tuberculosis, syphilis, etc. However, it is toxic in consumed in large doses. Latex can be obtained from the bark and stems. The wood is soft and not durable but easy to work. It is used for internal purposes, different kinds of boards for partition, boxes, tool handles, toys, etc.

Himatanthus sucuuba is an evergreen Tree growing to 12 m (39ft) by 10 m (32ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Height (m): 12

Where it is found

Rainforests, in both dense primary and the more open, secondary growth areas; favouring deep, well-drained sandy or loamy soils and avoiding areas subject to periodic inundation.

S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas; C. America - Panama.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

Medicine

Rating: 4

Himatanthus sucuuba is a well respected and widely used medicinal plant in herbal medicine systems in the Amazon and South America; many of its traditional uses have been explained and verified by research. It is mainly used for treating pain and inflammation related to many conditions; cancerous tumours, and as a broad spectrum antimicrobial for various internal and external infections. Although toxic in larger doses, toxicity studies indicate that the use of the plant at traditional dosages is non-toxic. There have been no toxic, abortive, or birth defects reported. The plant contains several medically active compounds. An antitumor iridoid compound and two depsides showing inhibitory activity of monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) have been isolated from the bark. In addition, two iridoid chemicals called plumericin and isoplumericin have been found in the bark and the latex. These two chemicals have been reported with cytotoxic, anticancer, antifungal and antibacterial actions in laboratory research. An extract of the bark has been shown to provide significant protection from ulcers and to reduce gastric hypersecretion through several novel mechanisms of actions. The latex has shown significant anti-inflammatory and pain relieving actions. The latex can exert anti-inflammatory effects even in the acute phase of the inflammatory process. This action has been attributed to the cinnamate chemicals that are found in the latex and bark. The bark has been shown to be significantly cytotoxic to five different human cancer cell lines, which may help explain why the tree has been used against cancer and tumours for many years in South America. This anti-cancerous action is probably related to the iridoids and triterpenoids in the tree bark. Research has shown that the bark has a greater antifungal effect than a control drug (nistatin) that was used - this action has been attributed to the triterpenic esters found in the bark. The plants effectiveness in treating infected wounds, candida, tuberculosis, syphilis, and even mange might be explained by the documented antimicrobial actions of the bark and latex. The plant's use in the treatment of asthma might be explained by the smooth-muscle relaxant actions documented in 2005 by Brazilian researchers working with a bark extract. The bark and the latex are considered analgesic, antiinflammatory, antirheumatic, antitumor, antifungal, anthelmintic, aphrodisiac, astringent, blood purifier, emmenagogue, emollient, febrifuge, laxative, purgative, tonic, vermifuge and vulnerary. A decoction of the bark is taken internally in the treatment of rheumatism, stomach aches and body aches and pain. Applied externally, the powdered tree bark is sprinkled directly onto stubborn wounds and sores. The latex is placed in warm water which is used to bathe the part of the body suffering from arthritis, pain and/or inflammation. The latex is also put directly onto abscesses, sores, wounds, rashes and skin ulcers. It is rubbed on to bot-fly bites in order to suffocate and kill the larvae under the skin (in both animals and humans). Both bark and latex are also used in the treatment of lymphatic gland diseases and inflammation; female disorders such as endometriosis, uterine fibroid tumours, menstrual irregularities and pain, ovarian cysts and ovarian inflammation; cancerous tumours and skin cancers; digestion problems such as indigestion, stomach aches, bowel inflammation and gastric ulcers; coughs, fevers, headaches, asthma and other lung disorders.

Analgesic: Relieves pain.

Anthelmintic: Expels parasites from the gut.

Antiarthritic: Treats arthritis.

Antiasthmatic: Treats asthma.

Antibacterial: Kills bacteria.

Antifungal: An agent that inhibits or destroys fungi. Used in the treatment of various fungal problems such as candida.

Antiinflammatory: Reduces inflammation of joints, injuries etc.

Antirheumatic: Treats rheumatism.

Antitumor: Preventing, or effective against, tumors, it is used in the treatment of cancer. Probably synonymous with Cytotoxic.

Aphrodisiac: Increases the sexual appetite.

Astringent: Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.

Blood purifier: Purifies the blood.

Cancer: Used in the treatment of cancer.

Emmenagogue: Promotes or increases the menstrual flow. In early stages of pregnancy it can induce an abortion.

Emollient: Softens the skin, causing warmth and moisture.

Febrifuge: Reduces fevers.

Laxative: Stimulates bowel movements in a fairly gentle manner.

Purgative: A drastic laxative causing a cleansing or watery evacuation of the bowels, usually with a griping pain.

Skin: Plants used in miscellaneous treatments for the skin.

Tonic: Improves general health. Slower acting than a stimulant, it brings steady improvement.

Vermifuge: Expels and kills internal parasites.

Vulnerary: Promotes the healing of wounds.

Other

Rating: 2

Other Uses: A latex is obtained from wounds in the bark and stems. Although toxic, it is used medicinally in small quantities. The wood is medium-textured, moderately heavy, soft, with poor mechanical properties and not very durable. Easy to work with, it is used for various internal purposes including scantlings, beams, laths and various kinds of boards for partitions; it is also used for making boxes, tool handles and toys. The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal.

Charcoal: Used for fuel, drawing, deodorant, filter, fertilizer etc.

Fuel: Usually wood, plant materials that have been mentioned as being a good fuel.

Latex: A source of rubber.

Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.

How it is grown

Grows best in a sunny position. Requires a well-drained soil. Grows best in a deep, sandy to loamy soil. Established plants are drought tolerant. Young plants have a moderate rate of growth. The plant can flower all year round.

Propagating it: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a sunny position in a nursery seedbed. When the seedlings are 4 - 6cm tall, pot them up into individual containers.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Medium

Soil: Light (sandy), medium

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Plumeria sucuuba, apach, bellaco kaspi.

Synonyms

Plumeria sucuuba Spruce ex M?ll.Arg.