Details Top

Internal ID UUID643ff5c75b31a488989712
Scientific name Maytenus laevis
Authority Reissek
First published in Fl. Bras. 11(1): 27 (1861)

Ethnobotanical Use Top

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General Uses Top

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Common products:
- Sawn timber and poles used in construction, furniture, tool handles, and flooring.
- Dried leaves and bark consumed as herbal infusions and used in flavoring (e.g., mate-like teas).
- Hydrodistilled essential oil used in fragrance compositions and flavor blends.
- Cut and split wood used as fuel and in carbonization (charcoal/activated carbon).

Industrial and craft applications:
- High-density, fine-grained heartwood suitable for cabinetry, turning, and decorative inlay.
- Natural durability and extractives yield good performance for outdoor carpentry and structural components.
- Wood waste and biomass valorized for energy (fuelwood) and carbonization (charcoal and activated carbon applications).

Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
- Leaves and bark used to prepare mate-style infusions and flavorings; occasional use in liqueurs and bitters formulations.
- Essential oil employed as a natural flavoring agent within permitted limits (e.g., FEMA/IFRA guidance) for beverages and confectionery.

Colorants and tanning:
- No documented use as a dye or tannin source.

Wood and fiber:
- Hardwood characterized by dense, fine texture and reddish-brown heartwood; the wood’s natural extractives and anatomy underpin durability and workability suitable for fine carpentry, flooring, and tool handles.
- No recognized bast/leaf fiber use.

Fragrance and cosmetics:
- Leaf and branch essential oil contains sesquiterpenes and triterpenes, providing a characteristic aroma suitable for fragrance (e.g., creams, soaps, detergents) and flavor use; specific compositions are studied for their potential in perfumery.
- Non-medicinal cosmetic applications include scent conferral in soaps and creams, not for therapeutic claims.

Properties relevant to use:
- High wood density and extractive content support durability, stability, and finishing quality; lignin/cellulose ratio and anatomical features favor fine woodworking applications.
- Essential oil composition (e.g., β-caryophyllene, elemol, spathulenol) contributes odor profile and oxidative stability suitable for fragrance systems.

Standards and regulation:
- Timber and wood products governed by grading rules and moisture standards; essential oil and flavor use subject to FEMA/IFRA safety and usage levels.

Sustainability and sourcing:
- Collected from the wild across Andean regions; targeted management plans are advised to mitigate harvesting pressure and ensure continued availability.

Synonyms Top

Scientific name Authority First published in
Maytenus sapotiformis Reissek Fl. Bras. 11(1): 27 (1861)
Maytenus jauaensis Steyerm. Bol. Soc. Venez. Ci. Nat. 32: 346 (1976)
Monteverdia laevis (Reissek) Biral Syst. Bot. 42(4): 689 2017 [18 Dec 2017]
Monteverdia sapotiformis (Reissek) Biral Syst. Bot. 42(4): 690 2017 [18 Dec 2017]

Common names Top

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Language Common/alternative name
Spanish capinuri
Spanish chuchuguasi
Spanish chuchuguaza
Spanish chuchuhuasha
Spanish chuchuhuasi
Spanish chuchuhuazo
Quechua chuchuwasu

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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Germination/Propagation Top

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Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
  • Southern America
    • Brazil
      • Brazil North
    • Northern South America
      • Guyana
      • Venezuela
    • Western South America
      • Colombia

Links to other databases Top

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Database ID/link to page
World Flora Online wfo-0000375144
Tropicos 6600166
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:161953-1
The Plant List kew-2370131
IPNI 161953-1
GBIF 3792454
EOL 8679698
USDA GRIN 444602
CMAUP NPO14242

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

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Scientific Literature Top

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Phytochemical Profile Top

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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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Name PubChem ID Canonical SMILES MW Found in Proof
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids
[1R-[1alpha(R*),2beta,4abeta,8aalpha]]-2-hydroxy-alpha,2,5,5,8a-pentamethyl-alpha-vinyldecahydronaphthalene-1-propan-1-ol 7093249 Click to see CC1(CCCC2(C1CCC(C2CCC(C)(C=C)O)(C)O)C)C 308.50 unknown via CMAUP database
Lambertic acid 13370049 Click to see CC(C)C1=C(C=C2C(=C1)CCC3C2(CCCC3(C)C(=O)O)C)O 316.40 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids
(1R,4S,5R,8S,11R,13R,14S,17R,18S,21R,24R)-21-hydroxy-5,8,11,14,17,24-hexamethyl-22-oxahexacyclo[19.2.1.01,18.04,17.05,14.08,13]tetracosane-11-carboxylic acid 44576111 Click to see 472.70 unknown via CMAUP database
(2R,4aS,6aR,6aS,6bR,8aR,10S,12aR,14bS)-10-hydroxy-2,4a,6a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-2-carboxylic acid 636467 Click to see 456.70 unknown via CMAUP database
(2S,4R,4aR,6aR,6aS,6bR,8aR,10S,12aR,14bR)-4,10-dihydroxy-2,4a,6a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-2-carboxylic acid 44575702 Click to see 472.70 unknown via CMAUP database
3|A,22|A-Dihydroxyolean-12-en-29-oic acid 11784738 Click to see 472.70 unknown via CMAUP database
Abruslactone A 44575701 Click to see 454.70 unknown via CMAUP database
Canophyllol 7330581 Click to see CC1C(=O)CCC2C1(CCC3C2(CCC4(C3(CCC5(C4CC(CC5)(C)C)CO)C)C)C)C 442.70 unknown via CMAUP database
Maytenfolic Acid 21594203 Click to see 472.70 unknown via CMAUP database
Triptocallic Acid A 44575704 Click to see CC1C(CC(C2(C1C3=CCC4C5(CCC(C(C5CCC4(C3(CC2)C)C)(C)C)O)C)C)O)C(=O)O 472.70 unknown via CMAUP database
triptocallic acid D 44575705 Click to see CC1(C2CCC3(C(C2(CCC1O)C)CC=C4C3(CCC5(C4CC(CC5O)(C)C(=O)O)C)C)C)C 472.70 unknown via CMAUP database
Wilforlide A 158477 Click to see 454.70 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives
(-)-beta-Sitosterol 222284 Click to see 414.70 unknown via CMAUP database
Stigmasterol 5280794 Click to see 412.70 unknown via CMAUP database
> Organoheterocyclic compounds / Naphthofurans
Tetrachyrin 121596713 Click to see 300.40 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Coumaric acids and derivatives
Isoacteoside 6476333 Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C(C(OC(C2O)OCCC3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)O)COC(=O)C=CC4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)O)O)O)O)O 624.60 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Biflavonoids and polyflavonoids
Ourateaproanthocyanidin A 9808627 Click to see 592.50 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins
Epicatechin 3',4'-dimethyl ether 14732293 Click to see COC1=C(C=C(C=C1)C2C(CC3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O)OC 318.32 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins / Epigallocatechins
(2R,3S)-2-(3,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-3,5,7-trihydroxy-2,3-dihydrochromen-4-one 11244528 Click to see 334.28 unknown via CMAUP database
4'-Methyl-epigallocatechin 176920 Click to see 320.29 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones
Luteolin 5280445 Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O)O 286.24 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones / Flavonols
Mearnsetin 10359384 Click to see COC1=C(C=C(C=C1O)C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O)O 332.26 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 3-O-methylated flavonoids
3-Methoxyluteolin 5280681 Click to see COC1=C(OC2=CC(=CC(=C2C1=O)O)O)C3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)O 316.26 unknown via CMAUP database

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