Tabebuia avellanedae Lorentz.
Lapacho is an evergreen tree that grows in rainforests and mountainous forests, in Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil and also in those of Bolivia and Peru, it can be said to be widespread somewhat throughout South America. Scholars all agree that the variety most suitable for therapeutic purposes, and manifesting the most interesting pharmacological action, is the one with pink-purple flowers, named Tabebuia avellanadae 1. Indians who had been using it for centuries used the bark of the branches for infectious and degenerative diseases, intestinal or respiratory tract inflammation, snakebite and bacterial and protozoal infections (malaria) both as an analgesic and antioxidant. It is thanks to two botanists Prof. Walter Accorsi and Dr. Teodoro Meyer if the widespread use for therapeutic purposes of lapacho especially as an anti-inflammatory and anticancer drug has been brought to the attention of the world audience with interesting scientific studies2. The drug consists of the inner part of the cortical cylinder which constantly regenerates while the old parts of the bark are pushed outward thus protecting the plant2. This strategy implemented by the plant also offers the advantage to the harvester from the point of view of respecting the environment and the natural forest growth cycle.
The most important constituents are 18 different quinones, comprising both naphthoquinones (N-factors) that anthraquinones (A-factors) such as tabebuine. The naphthoquinones lapachol, b-lapachone, and xyloidone (dihedro-a-lapachone) are considered to be the most important biologically active ingredients (2-7% of content). The presence of both of these components(N and A) should be highlighted as a rather unique fact, since in nature these components are rarely found together in the same plant. Many of the important properties of Lapacho may be due to a probable synergy between these factors. Lapachol is a veritable treasure chest containing a precious treasure for humans: the most powerful and totally bioavailable antioxidant and antidegenerative system existing in nature. This antioxidant power developed over centuries of adaptation gives us those plant substances and essential trace elements, an enzyme system unique in nature, which through an infinite number of intermediate steps enables the plant to resist oxidative attacks by ozone and the formation of free radicals.
Also reported is the presence of quercetin, vanillin, l'vanillic acid (4-hydroxymethoxybenzoic acid) and theanisic acid (4-methoxybenzoic acid), a topical anti-inflammatory compound and tyrosinase inhibitor, also found in aniseed (Pimpinella anisum). Also identified was theveratric acid (3,4-dimethoxybenzoic acid) and the veratraldehyde, with weak stimulating activity in granulocyte phagocytosis and considerable stimulating activity in lymphocyte proliferation. Also present is the valuable carnosol, a powerful antioxidant. Significant concentrations also of Coenzyme Q (ubiquinone), this antioxidant molecule is present in almost all organisms and functions as an electron transporter for the electron transport chain in the mitochondria. It is a terpenoid quinone derived from 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (41): it enhances macrophage action and strengthens and protects the cardiovascular system. Other components are. lapachenol, garden acids e para-hydroxybenzoic, salicylic acid, Steroidal saponins, alkaloids as a tecomine, indoles, tannins, various flavonoids, various vitamins such as vitamin K2 (menaquinone) and in lower concentration vitamin K3 (menadione) (1).
calcium, iron, chromium, magnesium, silicon, phosphorus, manganese, molybdenum, copper, potassium, sodium, cobalt, boron, gold, silver, strontium, barium. The catechins in inhibiting lipid oxidation are 5 times more potent than vitamin E; compared with other bioflavonides (rutin, esculin, hesperidin) they are more active in reducing abnormal bleeding and capillary fragility. The saponins improve the availability of the active constituents in herbs, accentuating their water solubility and absorption in the digestive tract.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Choi WH, Um MY, Ahn J, et al. Ethanolic extract of Taheebo attenuates increase in body weight and fatty liver in mice fed a highfat diet. Molecules. 2014 Oct 8; 19(10): 16013-23
Suo, Maorong & Ohta, Tomihisa & Takano, Fumihide & Jin, Shouwen. (2013). Bioactive Phenylpropanoid Glycosides from Tabebuia avellanedae. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland). 18. 7336-7345. 10.3390/molecules18077336.
Taylor L., Lapacho. In: The healing power of rainforest herbs, ed. Square One Publishers Ny. (2005)
Natacha V., et al, 2-phenyl--lapachone can affect mitochondrial function by radox cycling madiated oxidation, Arch. Biochem. Biophiys, 432, 129-135 (2004)
Awale S. et al, Nitric Oxide (NO) production inhibitory constituents of Tabebuia avellanadae from Brazil, Chem. Pharm. Bull, Tokyo, 53, 710-713 (jun 2005).
Byeon SE, Chung JY, Lee YG,et al. In vitro and in vivo antiinflammatory effects of taheebo, a water extract from the inner bark of Tabebuia avellanedae. J Ethnopharmacol. 2008 Sep 2; 119 (1): 145- 52.
Melegari M., Lapacho: from folk medicine to current phytotherapeutic perspectives, Herbalist Tomorrow, 52-57 (July1996).
Mowry D., Lapacho. In: Ancient herb, modern miracle, Mountainwest institute of Herbal Sciences, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Kenneth J., Pau d'arco immune power from the rainforest. In: Ipe manual, Ed: Hearling Art Press, Toronto Canada, 54-8 (1995)
