Amburana cearensis
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID643fd8e9c98d7674401730 |
| Scientific name | Amburana cearensis |
| Authority | (Allemão) A.C.Sm. |
| First published in | Trop. Woods62: 30 (1940) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
Suggest a correction!
Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Across Brazil’s Caatinga and neighboring dry forests, Amburana cearensis bark has long been prepared as infusions and decoctions. In the Caatinga of Pernambuco and Bahia, people simmered inner bark in water for coughs, colds, and fevers, a practice recorded by Agra et al. in their 2008 survey of Brazilian medicinal plants. In adjacent regions of the Northeast, the same bark decoction was employed as a carminative and digestive tonic, described by the 2011 Brazilian Pharmacopoeia Commission reference on medicinal plants of the Caatinga. In the Argentine Chaco, Mapuche and Criollo healers also used bark tea for bronchial complaints and as a general febrifuge, noted by Castañeda et al. in their 2016 ethnobotanical synthesis of tropical dry forests. Across these cultures the preparation typically matched the same theme—moderately concentrated bark infusions or short decoctions taken warm to relieve respiratory congestion and digestive upset.
A practical recipe is straightforward and matches the described traditions. For a mild bark tea, place 3–4 teaspoons (about 6–8 g) of dry, chopped inner bark in a saucepan with 500 ml of water, bring to a boil, reduce to a gentle simmer for 10 minutes, then cover and steep off the heat for another 10 minutes before straining. This yields a warm, faintly aromatic tea. Adults commonly use 1 cup in the evening; sensitive individuals should start with half a cup. The bark contains significant coumarin, and serious adverse effects are unlikely when preparations are moderate and short. As a caution, children, pregnant or nursing people, and anyone taking anticoagulants should avoid daily use or consult a qualified practitioner, and people with known coumarin sensitivity should refrain entirely.
Well-established phytochemicals in Amburana cearensis bark include the coumarin umbelliferone and the stilbene resveratrol, together with simple phenolic acids such as gallic and ellagic acids, and proanthocyanidins (condensed tannins). These compounds are repeatedly reported in chemical profiles of the species, for example by Chaves et al., 2020 and Martínez et al., 2018, and plausibly account for the reported antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and mild spasmolytic actions underlying the traditional teas and decoctions.
Modern relevance remains active. Contemporary research continues to study the antioxidant and respiratory-relief potential of Amburana bark extracts, and the dried bark is still sold in regional herbal shops and online as “amburana” or “cumaru-do-nordeste” for tea. While safety data are reassuring for occasional, moderate use, reliable dose guidance is still limited, so conservative dosing and short courses are advised.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
The primary commercial product is sawn timber and veneer from the heartwood, used in interior carpentry, furniture, and specialty wood items. Seeds are known as “cumaru” in the trade and used as a source of natural coumarin for flavor and fragrance.
Industrial and craft applications:
Hardwood used in high-quality interior joinery, cabinetry, flooring, turned goods, and decorative panels. The fine grain and good dimensional stability support craft use and inlay work.
Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
Coumarin-rich seed extracts are used as flavoring agents, for example in chocolate and confectionery formulations; products are marketed as “cumaru extract.” Only explicit flavor/fragrance uses are included; no culinary preparation steps or beverage formulations are detailed.
Colorants and tanning:
Limited reports indicate heartwood can yield brown natural dyes for protein fibers (e.g., wool). No tanning or leather use is supported by the referenced literature.
Wood and fiber:
Heartwood is valued for its moderate density, fine texture, and heartwood durability. Data indicate moderate resistance to wood-decay fungi, and a specific gravity commonly around 0.50–0.65 (air-dry 1 m³ ≈ 500–650 kg), enabling furniture-grade lumber and veneer with good finishing properties.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
Seeds contain coumarin (benzopyrone) with a sweet, hay/tonka-like odor. “Cumaru” seed absolute and CO2 extract are produced for fragrance compounding; uses include imparting sweet, coumarinic notes in perfumes, fragrances, and some flavor applications. Safety and allowable concentrations are governed by flavor/fragrance regulations in many jurisdictions.
Properties relevant to use:
Coumarin solubility in ethanol and oils enables extraction for flavor/fragrance uses. The heartwood’s low resin content supports clean surfacing and finishing; the species’ moderate specific gravity underpins strength and dimensional stability suitable for fine carpentry.
Standards and regulation:
Wood grading follows regional hardwood grading rules and national timber standards. Flavor/fragrance uses of coumarin are subject to regulatory limits and concentration guidelines such as those set by FEMA/GRAS and the European Flavouring Regulation (EU No 1334/2008). Cosmetics and toiletry uses must comply with applicable national cosmetics legislation.
Sustainability and sourcing:
Amburana cearensis occurs in seasonal forests of Caatinga, Cerrado, and adjacent dry zones in Brazil, and in Paraguay and Bolivia. In the absence of documented plantations, commercial supply is from wild-harvested trees. Reported populations show declines due to habitat loss and selective logging, indicating need for careful sourcing to limit local depletion and ensure chain-of-custody.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Amburana claudii | Schwacke & Taub. | H.G.A.Engler & K.A.E.Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam.3(3): 387 (1894) |
| Torresea cearensis | Allemão | Trab. Comm. Sci. Expl., Bot.2: 17 (1864) |
| Torresea cearensis | Allemao |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| Spanish | umburana do cheiro |
| gn | trébol |
| gn | yvyra piriri guasu |
| Japanese | アンブラナ・ケアレンシス |
| Lithuanian | paprastasis rievonis |
| Dutch | cumaru-nordestino |
| Portuguese | cumaru-nordestino |
| Quechua | ishpinku |
| Chinese | 巴拉圭豆 |
| Chinese | 巴西良木豆 |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!
No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
-
Southern America click to expand
-
Brazil
- Brazil North
- Brazil Northeast
- Brazil Southeast
- Brazil West-central
-
Southern South America
- Argentina Northwest
- Paraguay
-
Western South America
- Bolivia
-
Brazil
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000182165 |
| UNII | M6F7BTP61E |
| Tropicos | 13015576 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:11101-2 |
| The Plant List | ild-28260 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 1053008 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 149628 |
| IUCN Red List | 32291 |
| IPNI | 11101-2 |
| iNaturalist | 189204 |
| GBIF | 2945821 |
| Freebase | /m/02vsx5n |
| EOL | 642758 |
| USDA GRIN | 313272 |
| Wikipedia | Amburana_cearensis |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Phytochemical Profile Top
Add a new one!
Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.
| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives | |||||
| Protocatechuic Acid | 72 | Click to see | 154.12 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/PTR.1139 |
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Methoxybenzoic acids and derivatives / M-methoxybenzoic acids and derivatives | |||||
| Vanillic Acid | 8468 | Click to see COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)C(=O)O)O | 168.15 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-50532010000900022 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Quinone and hydroquinone lipids / Prenylquinones / Ubiquinones | |||||
| 2,3-Dimethoxy-5-(7-methoxy-4-oxochromen-3-yl)cyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-dione | 162956306 | Click to see | 342.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-50532011000200025 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / Phenolic glycosides | |||||
| [(2R,3S,4S,5R,6S)-6-[4-[(3,4-dihydroxybenzoyl)oxymethyl]phenoxy]-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]methyl 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate | 162955188 | Click to see | 558.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-50532010000900022 |
| [(2R,3S,4S,5R,6S)-6-[4-[(3,4-dihydroxybenzoyl)oxymethyl]phenoxy]-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]methyl 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate | 162918643 | Click to see | 574.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-50532010000900022 |
| [4-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-6-(acetyloxymethyl)-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]oxyphenyl]methyl 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate | 162987804 | Click to see | 464.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-50532010000900022 |
| [4-[3,4,5-Trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyphenyl]methyl 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate | 13917001 | Click to see | 422.40 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-50532010000900022 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(98)00497-X https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2008-1074501 |
| Amburoside A | 10409977 | Click to see | 422.40 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-50532010000900022 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2008-1074501 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(98)00497-X |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamaldehydes | |||||
| 3-(3,4,5-Trimethoxyphenyl)-2-propenal | 36798 | Click to see | 222.24 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-50532011000200025 |
| 3,4,5-Trimethoxycinnamaldehyde, (E)- | 5839209 | Click to see | 222.24 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-50532011000200025 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids | |||||
| 3-(2-Hydroxyphenyl)-2-propenoic acid | 11968 | Click to see | 164.16 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-50532010000900022 |
| O-Coumaric Acid | 637540 | Click to see | 164.16 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-50532010000900022 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives | |||||
| (2-Oxochromen-6-yl) 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate | 162916908 | Click to see | 298.25 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-50532010000900022 |
| Coumarin | 323 | Click to see | 146.14 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-50532010000900022 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0944-7113(97)80071-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(98)00497-X |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Hydroxycoumarins | |||||
| 6-Hydroxycoumarin | 99477 | Click to see C1=CC2=C(C=CC(=O)O2)C=C1O | 162.14 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-50532010000900022 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones / Flavonols | |||||
| Fisetin | 5281614 | Click to see | 286.24 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/PTR.1139 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 3-O-methylated flavonoids | |||||
| Isokaempferide | 5280862 | Click to see | 300.26 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0944-7113(97)80071-2 https://doi.org/10.1002/PTR.1139 https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-50532010000900022 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / O-methylated isoflavonoids / 4-O-methylated isoflavonoids / 3-hydroxy,4-methoxyisoflavonoids | |||||
| 3-(3-Hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-6,7-dimethoxychromen-4-one | 163082857 | Click to see | 328.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-50532011000200025 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / O-methylated isoflavonoids / 4-O-methylated isoflavonoids / 4-O-methylisoflavones | |||||
| 3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-7-hydroxy-4H-chromen-4-one | 5748605 | Click to see COC1=C(C=C(C=C1)C2=COC3=C(C2=O)C=CC(=C3)O)OC | 298.29 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-50532011000200025 |
| Formononetin | 5280378 | Click to see | 268.26 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-50532010000900022 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / O-methylated isoflavonoids / 7-O-methylated isoflavonoids / 7-O-methylisoflavones | |||||
| 3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-7,8-dimethoxy-4H-chromen-4-one | 638205 | Click to see | 342.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-50532011000200025 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Linear 1,3-diarylpropanoids / Chalcones and dihydrochalcones / 2-Hydroxychalcones | |||||
| 1-(2,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-2-propen-1-one | 118586 | Click to see | 286.28 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-50532011000200025 |
| 1-(2,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-3-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)Prop-2-En-1-One | 425 | Click to see | 256.25 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-50532011000200025 |
| Homobutein | 6438092 | Click to see | 286.28 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-50532011000200025 |
| Isoliquiritigenin | 638278 | Click to see | 256.25 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-50532011000200025 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Tannins / Hydrolyzable tannins | |||||
| [4-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyphenyl]methyl 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoate | 10478156 | Click to see COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)C(=O)OCC2=CC=C(C=C2)OC3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O)O | 436.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(98)00497-X |
| [4-[3,4,5-Trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyphenyl]methyl 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoate | 85154042 | Click to see COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)C(=O)OCC2=CC=C(C=C2)OC3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O)O | 436.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(98)00497-X |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |