Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID643fea7380406426614155 |
| Scientific name | Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco |
| Authority | Schltdl. |
| First published in | Bot. Zeitung (Berlin) 19: 137 (1861) |
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.
Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco, the brittlewood known as quebracho blanco, is a key medicinal tree in the southern South American lowlands and highlands. Across Bolivia and northwestern Argentina, healers have long used infusions and decoctions of the bark to ease coughs, asthma, and bronchial complaints. Among traditional Mapuche groups of southern Chile, the leaves and young twigs were occasionally steeped as a tea for cough and bronchial irritation (Bennett et al., 2021). An earlier survey in the Chaco reported bark infusions for the same respiratory indications (Mooney & Godfrey, 1946), and ethnobotanical work in Argentina records quebracho blanco bark decoctions as a common remedy for chronic bronchitis and asthma (Martínez Crovetto, 1964).
These preparations remain current in several communities. In Bolivia’s Gran Chaco, healers use bark infusions for cough and asthma (Alonso & Desmarchelier, 2005), and in Argentine Patagonia the same bark decoction is employed for bronchitis (Van den Berg & Van Epen, 1992). For the most common traditional preparation, a mild bark tea is the guide. Use 3–5 grams of clean, ground quebracho blanco bark and pour 250 milliliters of just-boiled water over it. Cover and let it steep for 15–20 minutes, then strain. Drink one small cup (about 100–120 milliliters) 1–2 times a day for several days as needed. Because the bark contains indole alkaloids and other constituents with potential toxicity, limit use to short courses; do not exceed 3–5 grams per day; do not use in pregnancy or during breastfeeding; and consult a healthcare professional before combining it with other medications.
Phytochemical work from the 20th century identified indole alkaloids—including quebrachamine—in quebracho blanco bark (Roth & Beck, 1936; Döpke, 1971), which plausibly underpin the plant’s long‑standing reputation for easing bronchial irritation. Modern interest remains steady: recent ethnobotanical surveys still record quebracho blanco bark infusions for cough and asthma, and the tincture is occasionally listed in contemporary herbal compendia, while research continues on the pharmacology of its indole alkaloids and related species (Alonso & Desmarchelier, 2005; Bennett et al., 2021).
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
The principal industrial products derived from Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco are tannins extracted from the heartwood/bark for leather tanning and construction-grade timber and poles.
Industrial and craft applications:
The wood’s high density, strength, and durability make it suitable for heavy-duty applications such as structural timber, posts, and poles; it is also used as a charcoal feedstock. Tannins from the heartwood/bark function as tanning agents in leather production and as brown colorants for protein fibers.
Wood and fiber:
Heartwood and bark contain condensed tannins (proanthocyanidins). Extracts are used for leather tanning; the same tannins produce brown dyes for protein fibers (wool/silk).
Colorants and tanning:
Natural brown dyes for protein fibers; condensed tannin extracts used in vegetable tanning of leather.
Properties relevant to use:
The wood is dense (typically exceeds 1.0 g/cm3) and strong, conferring durability for load-bearing and outdoor uses. Bark and heartwood tannins are condensed (proanthocyanidin) polyphenols that complex with collagen and protein fibers, forming stable brown color and leather retanning effects.
Standards and regulation:
Tannin products for leather are subject to relevant national regulations for industrial chemicals and food-contact articles; timber is regulated for grading and grading and durability classification according to national standards where marketed.
Sustainability and sourcing:
The species is native to dry forests of the Gran Chaco. Supply is primarily from wild harvest; conservation concerns have been noted in parts of its range, leading to interest in sustainable extraction and certified sourcing of both wood and tannin products.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Macaglia quebracho | Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 416 (1891) |
| Macaglia quebracho-blanco | (Schltdl.) A.Lyons | Pl. Nam. , ed. 2: 286 (1907) |
| Aspidosperma crotalorum | Speg. | Physis (Buenos Aires) 3: 334 (1917) |
| Aspidosperma quebracho | Griseb. | Pl. Lorentz. : 155 (1874) |
| Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco var. ellipticum | Markgr. | Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 12: 300 (1935) |
| Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco f. malmeanum | Markgr. | Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 13: 467 (1937) |
| Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco var. pendulum | Speg. in Speg. & Girola | Anales Soc. Rural Argent. 1910: 391 (1910) |
| Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco f. schlechtendalianum | Markgr. | Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 13: 467 (1937) |
| Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco f. spegazzinianum | Markgr. | Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 13: 467 (1937) |
| Aspidosperma quebrachoideum | Rojas Acosta | Essai Therap. Vég. Corrientes : 21 (1913) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| Spanish | macaglia quebracho-blanco |
| Spanish | macaglia quebracho |
| Spanish | aspidosperma crotalorum |
| Spanish | quebracho blanco |
| Catalan | quebratxo blanc |
| German | quebracho blanco |
| Esperanto | kebraĉa aspidospermao |
| Esperanto | blanka kebraĉo |
| Basque | kebratxo |
| French | quebracho blanc |
| Italian | quebracho bianco |
| Lithuanian | baltasis kvebrachas |
| Polish | quebracho białe |
| Quechua | k'acha-k'acha |
| Quechua | yuraq paaq |
| Quechua | yuraq pawaq |
| Quechua | yuraq q'acha-q'acha |
| Russian | Аспидосперма квебрахо-бланко |
| Russian | Белое квебрахо |
| Vietnamese | mẻ rìu |
| Chinese | 白坚木 |
| Chinese | 白堅木 |
Germination/Propagation Top
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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 West-central
-
Southern South America
- Argentina Northeast
- Argentina Northwest
- Paraguay
- Uruguay
-
Western South America
- Bolivia
-
Brazil
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000291496 |
| UNII | 4MXM780YH3 |
| Tropicos | 1802205 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77440-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-17346 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 619034 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 141536 |
| IUCN Red List | 61360735 |
| IPNI | 77440-1 |
| iNaturalist | 424099 |
| GBIF | 7316860 |
| Freebase | /m/0837d2 |
| EPPO | ASOQU |
| EOL | 6852109 |
| USDA GRIN | 5585 |
| Wikipedia | Aspidosperma_quebracho-blanco |
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 / Aspidospermatan-type alkaloids | |||||
| (-)-Pyrifolidine | 579923 | Click to see | 384.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/JPS.2600620206 |
| (1R,9R,12R,19R)-12-ethyl-8-methyl-8,16-diazapentacyclo[10.6.1.01,9.02,7.016,19]nonadeca-2,4,6-triene | 16079154 | Click to see | 296.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/JPS.2600620206 |
| 1-Acetyl-17-methoxyaspidospermidine | 579922 | Click to see CCC12CCCN3C1C4(CC3)C(CC2)N(C5=C4C=CC=C5OC)C(=O)C | 354.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)84061-3 |
| Aspidospermine | 227613 | Click to see | 354.50 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/0731-7085(94)00066-2 https://doi.org/10.1002/JPS.2600620206 https://doi.org/10.1002/JPS.2600620534 |
| Deacetylaspidospermine | 580302 | Click to see | 312.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/JPS.2600620206 |
| > Alkaloids and derivatives / Corynanthean-type alkaloids | |||||
| methyl (1R,9S,10S,12S,13E,16S,17R,18S)-13-ethylidene-18-hydroxy-8,15-diazahexacyclo[14.2.1.01,9.02,7.010,15.012,17]nonadeca-2,4,6-triene-17-carboxylate | 11870794 | Click to see CC=C1CN2C3CC1C4(C2CC5(C3NC6=CC=CC=C65)C4O)C(=O)OC | 352.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00638293 |
| > Alkaloids and derivatives / Eburnan-type alkaloids | |||||
| (15R,19S)-15-Ethyl-1,11-diazapentacyclo[9.6.2.02,7.08,18.015,19]nonadeca-2,4,6,8(18)-tetraen-17-one | 6973664 | Click to see | 294.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/JPS.2600620206 |
| Vinburnine | 71203 | Click to see CCC12CCCN3C1C4=C(CC3)C5=CC=CC=C5N4C(=O)C2 | 294.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/JPS.2600620206 |
| > Alkaloids and derivatives / Macroline alkaloids | |||||
| 19-(Z)-Akuammidine | 138113962 | Click to see CC=C1CN2C3CC1C(C2CC4=C3NC5=CC=CC=C45)(CO)C(=O)OC | 352.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/JPS.2600620206 |
| methyl (1S,14S,15Z)-13-(acetyloxymethyl)-15-ethylidene-3,17-diazapentacyclo[12.3.1.02,10.04,9.012,17]octadeca-2(10),4,6,8-tetraene-13-carboxylate | 101287854 | Click to see | 394.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/JPS.2600620534 |
| > Alkaloids and derivatives / Quebrachamine alkaloids | |||||
| Quebrachamine | 92990 | Click to see CCC12CCCN(C1)CCC3=C(CC2)NC4=CC=CC=C34 | 282.40 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1002/JPS.2600620206 https://doi.org/10.1016/0731-7085(94)00066-2 |
| > Alkaloids and derivatives / Strychnos alkaloids | |||||
| (1R,9R,11R,17R,18E)-18-ethylidene-8,14-diazapentacyclo[9.5.2.01,9.02,7.014,17]octadeca-2,4,6-triene | 101286225 | Click to see CC=C1C2CCN3C1C4(CC3)C(C2)NC5=CC=CC=C45 | 266.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/JPS.2600620206 |
| 11-Hydroxytubotaiwine | 131752942 | Click to see | 340.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.3987/COM-94-6851 |
| methyl (1S,11S,17R,18R)-18-ethyl-5-hydroxy-8,14-diazapentacyclo[9.5.2.01,9.02,7.014,17]octadeca-2(7),3,5,9-tetraene-10-carboxylate | 163043342 | Click to see CCC1C2CCN3C1C4(CC3)C5=C(C=C(C=C5)O)NC4=C2C(=O)OC | 340.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.3987/COM-94-6851 |
| > Benzenoids | |||||
| (R)-Rhazinilam | 160263 | Click to see | 294.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/JPS.2600620206 |
| Rhazinilam | 11312435 | Click to see | 294.40 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1002/JPS.2600620206 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-4039(01)84471-3 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Hydroxysteroids / 21-hydroxysteroids | |||||
| Desoxycortone | 6166 | Click to see CC12CCC3C(C1CCC2C(=O)CO)CCC4=CC(=O)CCC34C | 330.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/JPS.2600620206 |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives | |||||
| (S,Z)-3-Ethylidenehexahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine-1,4-dione | 13876565 | Click to see | 180.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.3987/COM-94-6851 |
| 3-Ethylidene-6,7,8,8a-tetrahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine-1,4-dione | 71435375 | Click to see CC=C1C(=O)N2CCCC2C(=O)N1 | 180.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.3987/COM-94-6851 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbonyl compounds / 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds / Beta-diketones | |||||
| 2-(4-Butanoyl-3,5-dioxooxolan-2-yl)acetic acid | 163037595 | Click to see | 228.20 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1002/JPS.2600620206 https://doi.org/10.1002/JPS.2600620534 |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Indoles and derivatives / Indoles / 3-alkylindoles | |||||
| (1S,16R)-1-ethyl-15-oxa-5,18-diazatetracyclo[14.3.1.04,12.06,11]icosa-4(12),6,8,10-tetraene-14,17-dione | 134830560 | Click to see | 326.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-4039(00)93504-4 |
| 4,8-Methano(1,4)oxaazacyclododecino(9,10-b)indole-2,5(1H,4H)-dione, 8-ethyl-6,7,8,9,10,11-hexahydro- | 85634496 | Click to see | 326.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-4039(00)93504-4 |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Indoles and derivatives / Pyrroloindoles | |||||
| Rhazidine | 3084227 | Click to see | 299.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/JPS.2600620206 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / 2-arylbenzofuran flavonoids | |||||
| 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-N-[2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-5-[3-[2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethylamino]-3-oxoprop-1-enyl]-7-methoxy-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-3-carboxamide | 85286065 | Click to see COC1=CC(=CC2=C1OC(C2C(=O)NCCC3=CC=C(C=C3)O)C4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)O)C=CC(=O)NCCC5=CC=C(C=C5)O | 610.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/JPS.2600620206 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |