Diesel Trees

Copaifera of the Neotropics: A Review of the Phytochemistry and Pharmacology

“…Copaiba has a wide range of ethnopharmacological indications, including for the treatment of: cystitis, urinary incontinence, gonorrhea, and syphilis; respiratory ailments, including bronchitis, strep throat, hemoptysis, pneumonia, and sinusitis; infections in the skin and mucosa, such as dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, and wounds; ulcers and lesions of the uterus; leishmaniasis and leucorrhea; anemia; headaches; and snake bites. It is also used for its aphrodisiac, stimulant, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, anti-tetanus, antirheumatic, antiherpetic, anthelminthic, anticancer, antitumor (prostate tumors), and antiparalytic properties [ 4 , 6 , 26 , 38 , 40 ]. Copaifera species are used by people of Igarapé Miri (Pará state) for healing wounds [ 41 ].…”

“…L. [ 3 ]. There are more than 70 Copaifera species distributed throughout the world, with widespread occurrence in Central and South America; there are also four species found in Africa and one species found on the island of Borneo, situated in the Pacific Ocean [ 4 ]. Brazil is the country with the greatest biodiversity of Copaifera with 26 species and 8 varieties [ 5 ].…”

“…The vernacular name copaíba probably originated from the Tupi-Guarani and alludes to the names used by indigenous peoples, copaíva and copahu (kupa’iwa and kupa’u, respectively), which refers to the tree exudate, in reference to the oil stored in its interior [ 6 ]. Sixteenth-century records produced by chroniclers during the Brazilian colonization report the widespread use of copaiba oil among the natives as anti-inflammatory and healing agents, and also for esoteric purposes, such as aphrodisiac and contraceptive [ 4 , 6 , 7 ]. This natural product is known and valued to the present day, mainly in the Amazon region, where the rural population has little access to industrialized pharmaceutical products and public health care [ 6 , 8 ].…”