Stryphnodendron adstringens

In traditional practice across Brazil’s cerrado, barbatimão is used as a tannin-rich wash, infusion, or poultice to ease gums, soothe sore throats, and support external wounds. In the caatinga of Bahia, the infusion of the bark is also taken for diarrhea and other intestinal complaints, while in the pantanal communities a bark decoction is applied topically for skin infections. According to Medical Plants of Brazil, the bark is employed as an astringent gargle and wound rinse (Gertsch, 2008), and studies of Brazilian cerrado populations document the same parts and preparations for mouth and intestinal ailments (Bennett et al., 2021). In the Tramil network’s ethnomedicinal survey of northeastern Brazil, infusions of the bark are reported for treating mouth and throat irritation, and topical decoctions for cuts and ulcerations (Tramil, 2019).

A simple practical preparation is a mild barbatimão infusion for mouth and throat use. Place 5 g of dried bark in 500 mL of cold water, bring to a simmer and maintain a gentle boil for 5 minutes, then remove from heat and steep, covered, for an additional 15–20 minutes. Cool, strain, and use the liquid as a gargle or swish for 1–2 minutes up to three times a day, avoiding swallowing. Do not exceed this dose, and stop use if irritation occurs. Because of the high tannin content, barbatimão should not be taken during pregnancy; people with gastric ulcers or sensitivities to astringents should also avoid internal use. The bark’s strong astringency may also bind with iron or medications, so allow at least two hours between barbatimão use and any oral drugs or iron supplements.

Barbatimão’s activity is linked to its condensed tannins, notably procyanidins and robinetinidins, which are well documented for this species, together with simpler phenolics such as gallic acid. These constituents are responsible for the marked astringency and known protein-binding effects, and they underpin reported anti-inflammatory, wound‑healing, and antiulcer activities (Barros et al., 2008; Gertsch, 2008). In animal studies, extracts reduce gastric lesions and skin inflammation, supporting traditional uses as astringents and topical protectors (Gertsch, 2008; Bennett et al., 2021).

Today, research continues into the tannin profile and mucosal-protective potential of barbatimão, and the dried bark remains widely available in Brazilian herbal markets. It is still used in home care for gums, throats, and minor wounds, while commercial preparations such as mouthwashes and gels feature the plant’s tannins for astringent action.

Common products:
Bark is the primary commercial product. An aqueous extract (often called “barbatimão extract”) is traded as a natural vegetable tanning material.

Industrial and craft applications:
Leather tanning. Bark or extract is used to tan hides and skins, providing firm, dark brown leather. The material contains condensed (proanthocyanidin) tannins with high protein-binding capacity, enabling efficient crosslinking of collagen fibers.

Natural brown dye. The bark extract is used as a non-medicinal dye for protein fibers such as wool, producing stable brown shades.

Packaging and film additives. Proanthocyanidins extracted from barbatimão bark have been used as antioxidant additives in edible/composite films and coatings to limit oxidative reactions in packaged products.

Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
Extracts are used as natural colorants and antioxidants in packaged foods and beverages to stabilize color and flavor; they are not consumed as beverages themselves.

Colorants and tanning:
Color class: brown. The brown hue derives from condensed tannins and their complexes. The bark’s high tannin content and fast dye uptake on protein fibers provide consistent coloration for leather and textile dyeing.

Wood and fiber:
Wood is dense and used locally for poles and posts where durability is required. Bark fibers are also collected for tanning and dyeing.

Fragrance and cosmetics:
No documented non-medicinal uses in perfumery or cosmetics were found.

Properties relevant to use:
The bark contains condensed proanthocyanidin tannins that precipitate proteins and readily complex with metal ions, a chemical basis for tanning and dyeing. Proanthocyanidins also provide antioxidant activity exploited in food packaging contexts.

Standards and regulation:
Tannin extracts for leather tanning may be traded under national or regional timber/tannin material standards; such frameworks vary by country. For food-contact uses of bark extracts in packaging, regulatory requirements for colorants and additives apply at the national level.

Sustainability and sourcing:
Bark is harvested from wild or cultivated trees; regeneration through reseeding and sustainable harvesting cycles is commonly practiced to maintain supplies. This is a source of non-timber forest product revenue in parts of Brazil.

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No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

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