[ Pau Darco and cancer

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Common Names

 

LaPacho, Ipe Roxo, Taheboo tree

 

 

 

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Overview

 

 

Pau d'arco, or the inner bark of the Tabebuia avellanedae tree, is native to

Brazil, where it is used traditionally to treat a wide range of conditions

including pain, arthritis, inflammation of the prostate gland (prostatitis),

fever, dysentery, boils and ulcers, and various cancers. Preliminary

laboratory research examining the properties of pau d'arco is beginning to

suggest that the traditional uses may have scientific merit. Such laboratory

studies have shown that pau d'arco has pain killing, diuretic,

anti-inflammatory, anti-infectious, anti-psoriatic, and anti-cancer

abilities. Taking this early data, combined with information collected about

traditional uses, herbalists may recommend pau d'arco to treat or prevent a

number of conditions, including candidiasis (a yeast infection of the

vaginal or oral areas), herpes simplex virus, influenza, parasitic diseases

such as schistosomiasis, bacterial infections such as brucellosis, and

inflammation of the cervix (cervicitis) or the vagina (vaginitis). Pau d

arco may also reduce inflammation of the joints associated with arthritis.

 

 

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Plant Description

 

The Tabebuia evergreen tree grows in the warm parts of Central and South

America. Most pau d'arco comes from a tree in the Amazon rain forest called

Tabebuia avellanedae. It is a broad-leaf evergreen that grows to a height of

125 feet and is distinguished by pink to violet colored flowers. Its

extremely hard wood makes it resistant to disease and decay. In recent years

however, there has been an increasing demand for pau d'arco and, as a

result, the trees are in danger of becoming extinct.

 

 

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What's It Made Of?

 

Most of the chemical research on pau d'arco has been done on the wood and

not the bark, although it is in fact the inner bark that has been used

traditionally for medicinal purposes. In addition, there are a variety of

Tabebuia species that have been tested for anti-infectious and anti-cancer

properties, not only avellanedae. Therefore, it is difficult to know at this

point what findings apply specifically to pau d'arco and which apply to

other species of this plant. The heartwood of Tabebuia avellanedae contains

chemical compounds called naphthoquinones such as lapachol, as well as

significant amounts of the antioxidant quercetin.

 

 

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Available Forms

 

Pau d'arco is sold as dried bark tea, alcohol extract, and nonalcohol

(usually glycerin) extract. Most pau d'arco products are not standardized,

however, therefore, it is not possible to determine whether or not they

contain a consistent or appropriate amount of these active substances.

Some herbal teas that are labeled with pau d'arco are not actually made from

Tabebuia trees. It is important to carefully read the label to make sure

that the product actually contains Tabebuia avellanedae as an ingredient.

 

 

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How to Take It

 

Pediatric

There are no known scientific reports on the pediatric use of pau d'arco.

Therefore, this herb is not currently recommended for children.

Adult

• Decoction (tea): Using 1 tsp of pau d'arco loose dried bark per 1 cup

water, boil for 5 to 15 minutes. Drink 1 cup of this tea two to eight times

a day.

• Extract: Follow the directions on the product label.

• Tincture (1:5): Solution made from herb and alcohol, or herb, alcohol,

and water—take 20 to 30 drops, two to three times per day.

• Capsules: 1,000 mg three times per day.

 

 

 

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Precautions

 

The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and

treating disease. Herbs, however, contain active substances that can trigger

side effects and interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For

these reasons, herbs should be taken with care, under the supervision of a

practitioner knowledgeable in the field of botanical medicine.

It is generally safe to drink pau d'arco tea and take pau d'arco extract at

the recommended dosages. Too much, however, may cause nausea.

 

 

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Possible Interactions

 

There are no reports in the scientific literature to suggest that pau d'arco

interacts with any conventional medications.

 

 

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Supporting Research

 

Anesini C, Perez C. Screening of plants used in Argentine folk medicine for

antimicrobial activity. J Ethnopharmacol. 1993;39:119–128.

Colman de Saizarbitoria T, Anderson JE, Alfonso D, McLaughlin JL.Bioactive

furonaphtoquinones from Tabebuia barbata (Bignoniaceae). Acta Cient Venez.

1997;48(1):42-46.

Dinnen RD, Ebisuzaki K. The search for novel anticancer agents: a

differentiation-based assay and analysis of a folklore product. Anticancer

Res. 1997;(2A):1027–1033.

Kinghorn AD, Balandrin MA, eds. American Chemical Symposium Series. Human

Medicinal Agents from Plants. Washington, DC: American Chemical Society;

1992:16–17.

Miranda FG, Vilar JC, Alves IA, Cavalcanti SC, Antoniolli AR.

Antinociceptive and antiedematogenic properties and acute toxicity of

Tabebuia avellanedae Lor. ex Griseb. inner bark aqueous extract. BMC

Pharmacol. 2001;1(1):6.

Muller K, Sellmer A, Wiegrebe W. Potential antipsoriatic agents: lapacho

compounds as potent inhibitors of HaCaT cell growth. J Nat Prod. 1999

62(8):1134-1136.

Pinto CN, Dantas AP, De Moura KC, et al. Chemical reactivity studies with

naphthoquinones from Tabebuia with anti-trypanosomal efficacy.

Arzneimittelforschung. 2000;50(12):1120-1128.

Pizzorno JE, Murray MT. Textbook of Natural Medicine. New York: Churchill

Livingstone; 1999:967-974.

Portillo A, Vila R, Freixa B, Adzet T, Canigueral S. Antifungal activity of

Paraguayan plants used in traditional medicine. J Ethnopharmacol .2001

76(1):93-98.

Robbers JE, Tyler VE. Herbs of Choice: The Therapeutic Use of

Phytomedicinals. New York, NY: The Haworth Herbal Press; 1999:246-247.

Ueda S, Umemura T, Dohguchi K, et al. Production of anti-tumour-promoting

furanonaphthoquinones in Tabebuia avellanedae cell cultures. Phytochemistry.

1994;36:323–325.

 

 

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Review Date

 

April 2002

 

 

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Reviewed By

 

Participants in the review process include: Jacqueline A. Hart, MD,

Department of Internal Medicine, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Harvard

University and Senior Medical Editor Integrative Medicine, Boston, MA; Gary

Kracoff, RPh (Pediatric Dosing section February 2001), Johnson Drugs, Natick

MA; Steven Ottariono, RPh (Pediatric Dosing section February 2001), Veteran

s Administrative Hospital, Londonderry, NH; R. Lynn Shumake, PD, Director,

Alternative Medicine Apothecary, Blue Mountain Apothecary & Healing Arts,

University of Maryland Medical Center, Glenwood, MD; David Winston,

Herbalist (April 1999), Herbalist and Alchemist, Inc., Washington, NJ; Tom

Wolfe, P.AHG (April 1999), Smile Herb Shop, College Park, MD. All

interaction sections have also been reviewed by a team of experts including

Joseph Lamb, MD (July 2000), The Integrative Medicine Works, Alexandria, VA

Enrico Liva, ND, RPh (August 2000), Vital Nutrients, Middletown, CT; Brian T

Sanderoff, PD, BS in Pharmacy (March 2000), Clinical Assistant Professor,

University of Maryland School of Pharmacy; President, Your Prescription for

Health, Owings Mills, MD; Ira Zunin, MD, MPH, MBA (July 2000), President and

Chairman, Hawaii State Consortium for Integrative Medicine, Honolulu, HI.