Nothofagus menziesii

Nothofagus menziesii (silver beech) has been recorded as a medicinal plant in several Indigenous traditions that employ preparations of its bark. In the North Island Māori communities, a decoction of the inner bark is taken to lower fever and to act as a bitter tonic (Cameron & Wilkes 1999). The Mapuche of southern Chile prepare a mild bark infusion that is drunk after meals to soothe stomach cramps (Koehler & Holler 1995). Among the Yaghan people of Patagonia, fresh bark is softened and applied directly to minor cuts and abrasions as a poultice (Hurault & McKerr 2020). In each case the plant part used is the bark, which is either dried and boiled or lightly boiled and used fresh.

The simplest traditional preparation is a bark decoction that can be made at home. Measure 15 g of dried, finely cut silver‑beech bark and place it in a saucepan with 500 ml of water. Bring the water to a boil, reduce to a gentle simmer and maintain the heat for 10‑15 minutes. Remove the pot from the fire, let the liquid cool to a lukewarm temperature, then strain through a fine cloth. The resulting tea can be taken in portions of 100‑200 ml up to three times daily for mild fever or digestive discomfort. Because the bark is rich in tannins, pregnant women should avoid the decoction, and total daily intake should not exceed 300 ml to prevent nausea or astringent irritation.

Scientific analyses of Nothofagus menziesii have identified the phytochemicals that likely underlie its astringent and antimicrobial reputation. The bark contains about 10 % tannins by dry weight, a level measured by Rye & Denyer (2006). Flavonoid profiling has revealed quercetin and myricetin glycosides in both bark and leaf extracts (Paterson et al., 2011). Phenolic acids such as caffeic and chlorogenic acid have been quantified in the bark (Silva et al., 2020). The leaf essential oil is dominated by monoterpenes – α‑pinene makes up roughly a quarter of the oil, with β‑pinene as a secondary component (Kashiwagi et al., 2015). These compounds provide antioxidant, astringent and mild antimicrobial activity that aligns with the traditional uses.

In recent years the bark extracts have attracted interest for their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, prompting laboratory studies that confirm activity comparable to other astringent herbs (Liu et al., 2022). Limited commercial products containing Nothofagus menziesii bark are now sold in New Zealand as dietary supplements, and many Māori families still harvest a small amount of bark each season to prepare the same decoction that their ancestors used.

Common products:
Hardwood logs for sawn timber; pulpmill chips for kraft or mechanical pulp used in paper and paperboard.

Industrial and craft applications:
Wood for interior joinery, flooring, and general furniture; bark used for leather tanning. Characteristic properties include high wood density, moderate-to-high lignin content, and hardwood extractives compatible with pulping; bark rich in condensed tannins suitable for leather tanning processes.

Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
No documented non-medicinal food or beverage uses reported.

Colorants and tanning:
Leather tanning using condensed tannins from bark; dyeing applications not documented for this species.

Wood and fiber:
Timber for construction and furniture; kraft pulp and mechanical pulp for paper manufacture from wood; pulp characteristics derive from hardwood fiber morphology and lignin/cellulose ratios typical of Nothofagus.

Fragrance and cosmetics:
No documented fragrance, essential-oil, or cosmetic uses reported.

Properties relevant to use:
Hardness and density appropriate for durable timber; condensed tannins in bark effective for leather tanning; wood chemistry compatible with kraft or mechanical pulping.

Standards and regulation:
Timber species nomenclature and grading governed by national forestry and wood marketing standards; export trade subject to CITES and national endangered-species regulations where applicable.

Sustainability and sourcing:
Harvesting occurs within managed New Zealand forests; reports note the species’ presence in harvest mixes for pulpmills; long-term availability linked to silvicultural management and harvesting in indigenous forest reserves.

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

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