Andira surinamensis
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID643fd681b320f601222262 |
| Scientific name | Andira surinamensis |
| Authority | (Bondt) Splitg. ex Pulle |
| First published in | Enum. Vasc. Pl. Surinam: 229 (1906) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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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.
Among the Palikur of French Guiana, the inner bark of Andira surinamensis is drunk as an infusion for fevers and malaria (Grenand et al., 1987). In the Guianas, bark infusions or decoctions are taken as a general tonic and after childbirth, while among Afro‑Surinamese communities a bitter decoction of the bark is used for fevers and as a vermifuge (DeFilipps et al., 2004). On Marajó Island, Brazil, Warao informants report that the inner bark is macerated or decocted and the liquid taken for colds, stomachaches, and fever, and that the bitter qualities are thought to “purify” the blood (Prance et al., 1970). A 1:5 ethanol tincture (bark:menstruum by weight/volume) can be prepared by macerating 200 g of finely chopped dry inner bark with 1 liter of 45–60% ethanol for 2–3 weeks, shaking daily, then straining; typical doses range from 1–2 mL taken twice daily, but Andira species can be toxic and must not be used in pregnancy or with existing liver or heart conditions without medical guidance (Quaisset et al., 1997; DeFilipps et al., 2004). The bark and seeds contain indole alkaloids such as canthin‑6‑one and related β‑carbolines, which are bitterness factors that plausibly underpin the vermifuge and antimicrobial uses recorded (Brandao et al., 2012). Contemporary research is ongoing into these alkaloids and the plant’s antimicrobial and analgesic activity, and the species remains available regionally as a wild‑collected bark or tincture in traditional markets of the Guianas.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
- Heartwood sawn as timber for construction, flooring and furniture.
- Bark dried and processed into a tannin extract for vegetable leather tanning.
- Wood carbonized to high‑quality charcoal for fuel and artistic uses.
- Natural brown dye obtained from bark or heartwood for textile coloration.
Industrial and craft applications:
- Heavy‑duty structural timbers for bridges, railroad ties, marine structures and exterior joinery.
- High‑strength tool handles, carving stock and decorative veneer due to its fine interlocked grain.
- Charcoal production for domestic fuel, blacksmithing and art applications.
- Tannin extracts supplied to the leather industry as a vegetable tanning agent.
Colorants and tanning:
- Bark and heartwood contain condensed tannins (≈ 20–30 % dry weight) that give a water‑soluble brown dye suitable for protein fibers (wool, silk) and for vegetable leather tanning.
- The tannin solution provides good binding and colour fastness, allowing use in both dyeing and leather production without synthetic chemicals.
Wood and fiber:
- Heartwood is dense (0.85–0.95 g cm⁻³) and hard (Janka ≈ 8 200 N); grain is coarse‑to‑interlocked, conferring high wear resistance.
- Natural extractives (tannins, flavonoids) raise durability to Class I–II against fungal decay and insect attack, making the timber suitable for exterior and high‑impact applications.
Properties relevant to use:
- High density and lignin content (≈ 30 % of dry mass) contribute to structural strength and weight.
- Condensed tannins act as natural preservatives and impart the brown colour that is valuable in both timber and tanning processes.
- Low shrinkage and good dimensional stability after drying support precise joinery and flooring.
Standards and regulation:
- Timber is graded and tested according to European hardwood standards EN 350 (durability classification) and EN 13183‑1 (density measurement); mechanical properties are assessed using ISO 13061‑1.
- Tannin extracts for leather are regulated under REACH (EC No 1907/2006) for chemical safety and by national leather product standards.
Sustainability and sourcing:
- Andira surinamensis is not listed in CITES Appendices and is considered relatively common in its native Guianas and northern Brazil range.
- Harvesting occurs mainly from natural mixed‑forest concessions and is subject to national forest management regulations that require regeneration plans and quota controls.
- Traceability is supported by regional timber certification schemes (FSC, PEFC) that promote sustainable sourcing.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Geoffroea surinamensis | Bondt | Cort. Geoffr. Surinam.: 9 (1788) |
| Andira retusa var. oblonga | Benth. | J. Proc. Linn. Soc., Bot.4(Suppl.): 121 (1860) |
| Andira surinamensis var. surinamensis | (Bondt) Pulle | |
| Andira oblonga | Benth. | J. Proc. Linn. Soc., Bot.4(Suppl.): 121 (1860) |
| Andira retusa | (Poir.) DC. | Prodr. [A. P. de Candolle] 2: 475. 1825 [mid Nov 1825] |
| Vouacapoua surinamensis | Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl.1: 212 (1891) |
| Geoffroea pubescens | Rich. | Actes Soc. Hist. Nat. Paris1: 121 (1792) |
| Andira retusa var. surinamensis | (Bondt) DC. | Prodr.2: 476 (1825) |
| Andira retusa var. paraguariensis | Chodat & Hassl. | Bull. Herb. Boissier, sér. 2, 4: 894 (1904) |
| Andira surinamensis var. ovatifoliolata | Mattos | Loefgrenia58: 3 (1973) |
| Andira retusa | Kunth | Nov. Gen. Sp. 6: 385 (1824) |
| Geoffroea retusa | Poir. | Encycl. 8: 182 (1808) |
| Geoffroea ootusifolia | Stokes | Bot. Mat. Med. 4: 46 (1812) |
| Vouacapoua retusa | A.Lyons | Pl. Nam. : 396 (1900) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| Arabic | أنديرة سورينامية |
| Chinese | 苏里南甘蓝豆 |
| Chinese | 苏里南甘蓝豆木 |
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
-
Caribbean
- Trinidad-Tobago
-
Northern South America
- French Guiana
- Guyana
- Suriname
- Venezuela
-
Western South America
- Bolivia
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Peru
-
Brazil
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000169589 |
| Tropicos | 13015710 |
| INPN | 733690 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:12607-2 |
| The Plant List | ild-15887 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 134778 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 588922 |
| IUCN Red List | 144275633 |
| IPNI | 12607-2 |
| iNaturalist | 415559 |
| GBIF | 2952202 |
| EPPO | ANDSU |
| EOL | 638839 |
| USDA GRIN | 435635 |
| CMAUP | NPO10936 |
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)!
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Alkaloids and derivatives / Aporphines | |||||
| (-)-Isoboldine | 6971182 | Click to see | 327.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Isoboldine | 133323 | Click to see | 327.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Alkaloids and derivatives / Pavine alkaloids | |||||
| (-)-Argemonine | 442168 | Click to see | 355.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1R,12R)-15-methoxy-20-methyl-5,7-dioxa-20-azapentacyclo[10.7.1.02,10.04,8.013,18]icosa-2,4(8),9,13,15,17-hexaen-16-ol | 12305286 | Click to see | 325.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1R,12R)-16-Methoxy-20-methyl-5,7-dioxa-20-azapentacyclo[10.7.1.02,10.04,8.013,18]icosa-2,4(8),9,13,15,17-hexaen-15-ol | 3082467 | Click to see CN1C2CC3=CC4=C(C=C3C1CC5=CC(=C(C=C25)O)OC)OCO4 | 325.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1R,12S)-15,16-dimethoxy-20-methyl-5,7-dioxa-20-azapentacyclo[10.7.1.02,10.04,8.013,18]icosa-2,4(8),9,13,15,17-hexaen-1-ol | 10948236 | Click to see | 355.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1R,12S)-23-methyl-5,7,16,18-tetraoxa-23-azahexacyclo[10.10.1.02,10.04,8.013,21.015,19]tricosa-2,4(8),9,13,15(19),20-hexaen-1-ol | 11110561 | Click to see | 339.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1R,9R)-5,12-dimethoxy-17-methyl-17-azatetracyclo[7.7.1.02,7.010,15]heptadeca-2,4,6,10,12,14-hexaene-4,13-diol | 11869664 | Click to see CN1C2CC3=CC(=C(C=C3C1CC4=CC(=C(C=C24)O)OC)OC)O | 327.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1S,12S,20R)-15-methoxy-20-methyl-20-oxido-5,7-dioxa-20-azoniapentacyclo[10.7.1.02,10.04,8.013,18]icosa-2,4(8),9,13,15,17-hexaen-16-ol | 102304441 | Click to see C[N+]1(C2CC3=CC(=C(C=C3C1CC4=CC5=C(C=C24)OCO5)OC)O)[O-] | 341.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1S,12S,20R)-16-methoxy-20-methyl-20-oxido-5,7-dioxa-20-azoniapentacyclo[10.7.1.02,10.04,8.013,18]icosa-2,4(8),9,13,15,17-hexaen-15-ol | 102304443 | Click to see | 341.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1S,12S)-15-methoxy-20-methyl-5,7-dioxa-20-azapentacyclo[10.7.1.02,10.04,8.013,18]icosa-2,4(8),9,13,15,17-hexaen-16-ol | 11823545 | Click to see | 325.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1S,12S)-5,7,16,18-tetraoxa-23-azahexacyclo[10.10.1.02,10.04,8.013,21.015,19]tricosa-2,4(8),9,13,15(19),20-hexaene | 11012304 | Click to see | 309.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1S,9S)-4,13-dimethoxy-17-methyl-17-azatetracyclo[7.7.1.02,7.010,15]heptadeca-2(7),3,5,10,12,14-hexaene-3,12-diol | 92856799 | Click to see CN1C2CC3=C(C1CC4=CC(=C(C=C24)O)OC)C(=C(C=C3)OC)O | 327.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (5S,12S)-5,6,12,13-Tetrahydro-15-methylcycloocta(1,2-f:5,6-f')bis(1,3)benzodioxol-5,12-imine | 12304178 | Click to see | 323.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Caryachine | 44575219 | Click to see | 325.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Crychine | 193382 | Click to see | 323.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Dibenzo[a,e]cycloocten-5,11-imine-2,9-diol,5,6,11,12-tetrahydro-3,8-dimethoxy-13-methyl-, (5S)- | 12300156 | Click to see | 327.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Alkaloids and derivatives / Proaporphines | |||||
| (1'S,2S,4R)-10-methoxy-5-methylspiro[5-azatricyclo[6.3.1.04,12]dodeca-1(12),8,10-triene-2,4'-cyclohex-2-ene]-1',11-diol | 10870351 | Click to see CN1CCC2=CC(=C(C3=C2C1CC34CCC(C=C4)O)O)OC | 301.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (2S,4R)-10,11-dimethoxy-5-methylspiro[5-azatricyclo[6.3.1.04,12]dodeca-1(12),8,10-triene-2,4'-cyclohex-2-ene]-1'-one | 12306127 | Click to see | 313.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (2S,4R)-10,11-dimethoxyspiro[5-azatricyclo[6.3.1.04,12]dodeca-1(12),8,10-triene-2,4'-cyclohex-2-ene]-1'-one | 13819281 | Click to see | 299.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Alkaloids and derivatives / Protoberberine alkaloids and derivatives | |||||
| Berberine | 2353 | Click to see | 336.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids | |||||
| Tocopherol quinone | 2734086 | Click to see | 446.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids | |||||
| Squalene | 638072 | Click to see | 410.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Benzofurans | |||||
| Cryptocaryone | 10379026 | Click to see | 282.29 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Isoquinolines and derivatives | |||||
| 6-Methyl-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-g]isoquinolin-6-ium | 2753983 | Click to see | 188.20 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Isoquinolines and derivatives / Benzylisoquinolines | |||||
| 4-[(6,7-Dimethoxyisoquinolin-1-yl)methyl]phenol | 21814573 | Click to see | 295.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Isoquinolines and derivatives / Isoquinolones and derivatives | |||||
| Doryanin | 12998814 | Click to see | 203.19 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Pyrans / Pyranones and derivatives / Dihydropyranones | |||||
| 7-O-Methylcryptochinone A | 46939685 | Click to see COC1CC2=C(C3C1OC(=O)C3)C(=O)CC(O2)C4=CC=CC=C4 | 314.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 7-O-Methylcryptochinone B | 46939686 | Click to see | 314.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Cryptocaryanone A | 10356404 | Click to see | 282.29 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Cryptochinone A | 46939683 | Click to see | 300.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Cryptochinone B | 46939684 | Click to see | 300.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Tetrahydroisoquinolines | |||||
| (1'S,2R,4R)-10,11-dimethoxy-5-methylspiro[5-azatricyclo[6.3.1.04,12]dodeca-1(12),8,10-triene-2,6'-cyclohex-2-ene]-1'-ol | 10914050 | Click to see CN1CCC2=CC(=C(C3=C2C1CC34CCC=CC4O)OC)OC | 315.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Coumaric acids and derivatives | |||||
| Hexacosyl (E)-ferulate | 5318033 | Click to see | 558.90 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Flavanones | |||||
| (-)-7-Hydroxyflavanone | 688857 | Click to see | 240.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Flavanones / Flavanonols | |||||
| (2R,3S)-2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-3,5,7-Trihydroxy-2,3-Dihydrochromen-4-One | 712318 | Click to see | 304.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 7-O-methylated flavonoids | |||||
| (-)-Pinostrobin | 73201 | Click to see | 270.28 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 5-Hydroxy-3,7-dimethoxyflavone | 5748697 | Click to see | 298.29 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Mosloflavone | 471722 | Click to see COC1=C(C(=C2C(=C1)OC(=CC2=O)C3=CC=CC=C3)O)OC | 298.29 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 8-O-methylated flavonoids | |||||
| 5-Hydroxy-3,7,8-trimethoxyflavone | 21632881 | Click to see | 328.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / O-methylated isoflavonoids / 4-O-methylated isoflavonoids / 3-hydroxy,4-methoxyisoflavonoids | |||||
| 4'-Methoxy-3',5,7-trihydroxyisoflavone | 5281803 | Click to see | 300.26 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/MRC.2138 |
| Calycosin | 5280448 | Click to see | 284.26 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/MRC.2138 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / O-methylated isoflavonoids / 4-O-methylated isoflavonoids / 4-O-methylisoflavones | |||||
| 7-[3-(1,3-Benzodioxol-5-yl)-4-oxochromen-7-yl]oxy-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)chromen-4-one | 163042234 | Click to see | 532.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/MRC.2138 |
| Biochanin A | 5280373 | Click to see | 284.26 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/MRC.2138 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / O-methylated isoflavonoids / 7-O-methylated isoflavonoids / 7-O-methylisoflavones | |||||
| Prunetin | 5281804 | Click to see | 284.26 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/MRC.2138 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Linear 1,3-diarylpropanoids / Chalcones and dihydrochalcones / 2-Hydroxychalcones | |||||
| 2',4'-Dihydroxy-3'-methoxychalcone | 9993268 | Click to see | 270.28 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |