Catuaba
Encyclopedia
The name catuaba is used for the infusions of the bark
of a number of trees native to Brazil
. The most widely used barks are derived from the trees Trichilia
catigua and Erythroxylum
vacciniifolium. Other catuaba preparations use the bark of trees from the following genera or families : Anemopaegma
, Ilex, Micropholis
, Phyllanthus
, Secondatia, Tetragastris
and species from the Myrtaceae
.
It is often claimed that catuaba is derived from the tree Erythroxylum catuaba, but this tree has been described only once, in 1904, and it is not known today to what tree this name referred. E. catuaba is therefore not a recognised species (Kletter et al.; 2004).
Local synonyms are Chuchuhuasha, Tatuaba, Pau de Reposta, Piratancara and Caramuru. A commercial liquid preparation, Catuama, contains multiple ingredients, one of these being catuaba from Trichilia catigua.
An infusion
of the bark is used in traditional Brazilian medicine as an aphrodisiac
and central nervous system
stimulant. These claims have not been confirmed in scientific studies, but a journalist
for the Discovery Channel
claims that "reports in scientific journal
s and at conferences have supported[catuaba's] use for sexual enhancement. In catuaba, a group of three alkaloids dubbed catuabine
A, B and C are believed to enhance sexual function by stimulating the nervous system".
A study by Manabe et al. (1992) showed that catuaba extracts from Trichilia catigua were useful in preventing potentially lethal bacteria
l infection
s and HIV
infection in mice
.
Catuaba bark and preparations are sold as aphrodisiacs and remedies for erectile dysfunction
in health food store
s and through online retailers.
Catuaba extract is also used as a food flavouring in the British
"traditional" cola
drink manufactured by Fentimans
, Fentiman's Curiosity Cola
.
In Patric O'Neil's book Sideways: Travels with Kafka, Hunter S. & Kerouac he ingests Catuaba, producing an aphrodisiac effect.
Bark
Bark is the outermost layers of stems and roots of woody plants. Plants with bark include trees, woody vines and shrubs. Bark refers to all the tissues outside of the vascular cambium and is a nontechnical term. It overlays the wood and consists of the inner bark and the outer bark. The inner...
of a number of trees native to Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. The most widely used barks are derived from the trees Trichilia
Trichilia
Trichilia is a flowering plant genus in the family Meliaceae. These plants are particularly diverse in sub-Saharan Africa and tropical South America....
catigua and Erythroxylum
Erythroxylum
Erythroxylum is a genus of tropical flowering plants in the family Erythroxylaceae. Many species contain the drug cocaine; Erythroxylum coca, a native of South America, is the main commercial source of cocaine and of the mild stimulant coca tea...
vacciniifolium. Other catuaba preparations use the bark of trees from the following genera or families : Anemopaegma
Anemopaegma
Anemopaegma chamberlaynii An evergreen vigorous climber from tropical South America, with leaves of two leaflets to 16 cm long and sometime a terminal tendril; flower funnel-form 6–8 cm long, in pendant clusters of yellow tubular flowers, the tube constricted near base. It prefers a...
, Ilex, Micropholis
Micropholis
Micropholis is flowering plant genus in the family Sapotaceae, containing 38 species. These trees occur mainly in tropical South America, and most locally known as "cafetos", literally meaning "coffee plants"...
, Phyllanthus
Phyllanthus
Phyllanthus is the largest genus in the flowering plant family Phyllanthaceae. Estimates of the number species in this genus vary widely, from 750 to 1200. Phyllanthus has a remarkable diversity of growth forms including annual and perennial herbs, shrubs, climbers, floating aquatics, and...
, Secondatia, Tetragastris
Tetragastris
Tetragastris is a genus of plant in family Burseraceae. It contains the following species :* Tetragastris tomentosa, D.M. Porter...
and species from the Myrtaceae
Myrtaceae
The Myrtaceae or Myrtle family are a family of dicotyledon plants, placed within the order Myrtales. Myrtle, clove, guava, feijoa, allspice, and eucalyptus belong here. All species are woody, with essential oils, and flower parts in multiples of four or five...
.
It is often claimed that catuaba is derived from the tree Erythroxylum catuaba, but this tree has been described only once, in 1904, and it is not known today to what tree this name referred. E. catuaba is therefore not a recognised species (Kletter et al.; 2004).
Local synonyms are Chuchuhuasha, Tatuaba, Pau de Reposta, Piratancara and Caramuru. A commercial liquid preparation, Catuama, contains multiple ingredients, one of these being catuaba from Trichilia catigua.
An infusion
Infusion
An infusion is the outcome of steeping plants with desired chemical compounds or flavors in water or oil.-History:The first recorded use of essential oils was in the 10th or 11th century by the Persian polymath Avicenna, possibly in The Canon of Medicine.-Preparation techniques:An infusion is very...
of the bark is used in traditional Brazilian medicine as an aphrodisiac
Aphrodisiac
An aphrodisiac is a substance that increases sexual desire. The name comes from Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of sexuality and love. Throughout history, many foods, drinks, and behaviors have had a reputation for making sex more attainable and/or pleasurable...
and central nervous system
Central nervous system
The central nervous system is the part of the nervous system that integrates the information that it receives from, and coordinates the activity of, all parts of the bodies of bilaterian animals—that is, all multicellular animals except sponges and radially symmetric animals such as jellyfish...
stimulant. These claims have not been confirmed in scientific studies, but a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
for the Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
claims that "reports in scientific journal
Scientific journal
In academic publishing, a scientific journal is a periodical publication intended to further the progress of science, usually by reporting new research. There are thousands of scientific journals in publication, and many more have been published at various points in the past...
s and at conferences have supported
Catuabine
Catuabines are a group of tropane alkaloids, isolated from Erythroxylum vacciniifolium, which are used in the preparation of the drug Catuaba. While catuabine A, B and C were isolated and characterized by Graf and Lude , catuabine D was recently isolated by Zanolari et al...
A, B and C are believed to enhance sexual function by stimulating the nervous system".
A study by Manabe et al. (1992) showed that catuaba extracts from Trichilia catigua were useful in preventing potentially lethal bacteria
Bacteria
Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
l infection
Infection
An infection is the colonization of a host organism by parasite species. Infecting parasites seek to use the host's resources to reproduce, often resulting in disease...
s and HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
infection in mice
Mouse
A mouse is a small mammal belonging to the order of rodents. The best known mouse species is the common house mouse . It is also a popular pet. In some places, certain kinds of field mice are also common. This rodent is eaten by large birds such as hawks and eagles...
.
Catuaba bark and preparations are sold as aphrodisiacs and remedies for erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is sexual dysfunction characterized by the inability to develop or maintain an erection of the penis during sexual performance....
in health food store
Health food store
A health food store is a type of grocery store that primarily sells health food, organic foods, local produce, and often nutritional supplements...
s and through online retailers.
Catuaba extract is also used as a food flavouring in the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
"traditional" cola
Cola
Cola is a carbonated beverage that was typically flavored by the kola nut as well as vanilla and other flavorings, however, some colas are now flavored artificially. It became popular worldwide after druggist John Pemberton invented Coca-Cola in 1886...
drink manufactured by Fentimans
Fentimans
- History :Thomas Fentiman, an iron worker from West Yorkshire, acquired a recipe for botanically brewed ginger beer in 1905 when a fellow tradesman approached Fentiman for a loan but never repaid it. The firm became a door-to-door ginger beer sales company. During the mid-1960s the company ran...
, Fentiman's Curiosity Cola
Fentiman's Curiosity Cola
Fentimans Curiosity Cola is a botanically brewed carbonated cola soft drink. It is produced in the UK. The brewing process used gives the drink an alcohol content of up to 0.5%, but this small amount still allows it to be sold as a soft drink...
.
In Patric O'Neil's book Sideways: Travels with Kafka, Hunter S. & Kerouac he ingests Catuaba, producing an aphrodisiac effect.