Garcinia macrophylla
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID64401d2fa428c621566227 |
| Scientific name | Garcinia macrophylla |
| Authority | Mart. |
| First published in | Flora 24(2 Beibl.): 35 (1841) |
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 several Amazonian communities, Garcinia macrophylla has been used to treat digestive upset and malaria-like fevers. In Peru’s Ucayali region, healers prepare a decoction of the inner bark to ease diarrhea and dysentery (Jager et al., 2017). The Kakua people of Colombia steep young leaves in hot water for stomach cramps and intermittent fevers (Bennett & Prance, 2000). In Venezuela, the Ye’kwana prepare a bark decoction for fever and body aches associated with malaria (DeFilipps & Krupnick, 2018).
A practical preparation for internal use is a mild bark decoction. Finely chop 20–30 grams of dried inner bark and simmer in one liter of water for 20 minutes. Strain and allow to cool. The liquid can be consumed warm in small doses of 50–100 ml, up to three times daily for no longer than one week. It should not be used by pregnant women, nursing mothers, or young children due to insufficient safety data.
The bark’s therapeutic activity is likely due to xanthones such as garcinol, a potent antioxidant compound documented in G. macrophylla bark (Jager et al., 2017). These xanthones exhibit documented antimicrobial and antidiarrheal properties in laboratory studies, lending scientific plausibility to the traditional treatments for gastrointestinal complaints.
While not widely commercialized outside the Amazon basin, this tree remains important locally as both a traditional medicine and source of edible fruit. Research into garcinol-rich Garcinia species continues, especially regarding its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial potential (Jager et al., 2017). In its native range, the bark decoction persists as a simple, effective remedy for common ailments.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products: fruit pulp (fresh or processed into jams, syrups, juices), structural timber (heartwood), bark (tannin‑rich extract used for leather tanning).
Industrial and craft applications: timber is employed for heavy construction (beams, frames, flooring) and furniture due to its high density and durability; bark tannins provide a natural tanning agent for leather processing.
Food and beverages (non‑medicinal): the ripe fruit is consumed fresh; the pulp is used to make jams, syrups, fruit concentrates and non‑alcoholic beverages, delivering a sweet aromatic flavor without health claims.
Colorants and tanning: the bark contains condensed tannins that historically serve as a tanning material for hides and leather, contributing a brown coloration.
Wood and fiber: the heartwood is classified as a high‑density hardwood suitable for load‑bearing applications; no documented use of fibers such as bast or bark fiber for textile or paper production.
Properties relevant to use: the wood exhibits a dense, hard structure that resists decay and insect attack; the bark’s tannin content is a condensed class suitable for leather tanning; fruit pulp is high in sugars with low acidity, making it appropriate for sweet food products.
Standards and regulation: in Brazil, structural timber must conform to ABNT NBR 7190 for design values and to ISO 13061 for durability classification; forest harvesting is governed by national forest‑management regulations and, where applicable, by CITES for listed species (not applicable here).
Sustainability and sourcing: Garcinia macrophylla is harvested from natural Amazon forest stands; uncontrolled extraction poses a risk of overharvesting, and sustainable management practices—such as selective logging and replanting—are recommended to maintain populations and biodiversity.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Rheedia macrophylla | (Mart.) Planch. & Triana | Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot. , sér. 4, 14: 309 (1860) |
| Rheedia macrophylla var. benthamiana | Vesque | Monogr. Phan. 8: 500 (1893) |
| Garcinia megaphylla | Verdc. | Kew Bull. 31(2): 262. 1976 [11 Aug 1976] |
| Rheedia sagotiana | Engl. | Fl. Bras. 12(1): 460 (1888) |
| Rheedia macrantha | Standl. & Steyerm. | Publ. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Bot. Ser. 23: 65. 1944 |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| Persian | چاریچولا |
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
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Northern America click to expand
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Mexico
- Mexico Gulf
- Mexico Southeast
- Mexico Southwest
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Mexico
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Southern America click to expand
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Brazil
- Brazil North
- Brazil Northeast
- Brazil Southeast
- Brazil West-central
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Caribbean
- Trinidad-Tobago
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Central America
- Guatemala
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Northern South America
- French Guiana
- Guyana
- Suriname
- Venezuela
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Western South America
- Bolivia
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Peru
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Brazil
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000694438 |
| Tropicos | 7800805 |
| INPN | 765647 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:428065-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-2816965 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 307408 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 469955 |
| IUCN Red List | 147302480 |
| IPNI | 428065-1 |
| iNaturalist | 291399 |
| GBIF | 3713878 |
| Freebase | /m/0zdsp3s |
| EOL | 5708831 |
| USDA GRIN | 71010 |
| Wikipedia | Garcinia_macrophylla |
| CMAUP | NPO11962 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives | |||||
| (S)-Mandelonitrile | 439767 | Click to see C1=CC=C(C=C1)C(C#N)O | 133.15 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acids and conjugates / Branched fatty acids / Methyl-branched fatty acids | |||||
| (R)-2-Methylbutanoic acid | 6950479 | Click to see CCC(C)C(=O)O | 102.13 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acids and conjugates / Long-chain fatty acids | |||||
| Eicosanoic Acid | 10467 | Click to see | 312.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Myristic Acid | 11005 | Click to see | 228.37 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Palmitoleic Acid | 445638 | Click to see CCCCCCC=CCCCCCCCC(=O)O | 254.41 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Stearic Acid | 5281 | Click to see | 284.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty alcohols | |||||
| 2-Hexen-1-OL | 5318042 | Click to see CCCC=CCO | 100.16 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Lineolic acids and derivatives | |||||
| Linoleic Acid | 5280450 | Click to see | 280.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Linolenic Acid | 5280934 | Click to see | 278.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Acyclic monoterpenoids | |||||
| Citral | 638011 | Click to see | 152.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Linalool, (-)- | 443158 | Click to see CC(=CCCC(C)(C=C)O)C | 154.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Aromatic monoterpenoids | |||||
| P-Cymene | 7463 | Click to see | 134.22 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Bicyclic monoterpenoids | |||||
| (1R,5R,7R,8S)-3-(3,4-Dihydroxybenzoyl)-4-hydroxy-8-methyl-1,5,7-tris(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-8-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)bicyclo[3.3.1]non-3-ene-2,9-dione | 139071568 | Click to see CC(=CCCC1(C(CC2(C(=O)C(=C(C3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)O)O)C(=O)C1(C2=O)CC=C(C)C)CC=C(C)C)CC=C(C)C)C)C | 602.80 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2003-43204 |
| Guttiferone A | 5352090 | Click to see | 602.80 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2003-43204 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Menthane monoterpenoids | |||||
| (+)-alpha-Terpineol | 442501 | Click to see | 154.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Terpinolene | 11463 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| Guttiferone G | 132598259 | Click to see | 642.90 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2003-43204 |
| I2-Ionone | 638014 | Click to see | 192.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Selina-4(15),7(11)-dien-8-one | 13986100 | Click to see CC(=C1CC2C(=C)CCCC2(CC1=O)C)C | 218.33 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Vomifoliol, (+)- | 5280462 | Click to see | 224.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Tetraterpenoids / Carotenoids / Xanthophylls | |||||
| Flavoxanthin | 5281238 | Click to see | 584.90 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Rubixanthin | 5281252 | Click to see | 552.90 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids | |||||
| alpha-Amyrin acetate | 92842 | Click to see | 468.80 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Friedelin | 91472 | Click to see | 426.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2003-43204 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Estrane steroids / Estrogens and derivatives | |||||
| (8S,9S,13S,14R)-3-hydroxy-13-methyl-7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16-octahydro-6H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-17-one | 670995 | Click to see CC12CCC3C(C1CCC2=O)CCC4=C3C=CC(=C4)O | 270.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives | |||||
| Poriferasterol | 5281330 | Click to see CCC(C=CC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C)C(C)C | 412.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Stigmasteryl-beta-d-glucopyranoside | 12895774 | Click to see CCC(C=CC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)O)O)O)C)C)C(C)C | 574.80 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Tricarboxylic acids and derivatives | |||||
| 2-(Carboxymethyl)-2-hydroxybutanedioate;hydron | 88113319 | Click to see [H+].[H+].C(C(=O)O)C(CC(=O)[O-])(C(=O)[O-])O | 192.12 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glucuronides / O-glucuronides | |||||
| beta-D-GlcpA-(1->6)-beta-D-Galp | 70680285 | Click to see C(C1C(C(C(C(O1)O)O)O)O)OC2C(C(C(C(O2)C(=O)O)O)O)O | 356.28 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / Cyanogenic glycosides | |||||
| Amygdalin | 656516 | Click to see | 457.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Neoamygdalin | 441462 | Click to see | 457.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Prunasin | 119033 | Click to see C1=CC=C(C=C1)C(C#N)OC2C(C(C(C(O2)CO)O)O)O | 295.29 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbonyl compounds / Aldehydes / Medium-chain aldehydes | |||||
| 2-Nonenal | 5283335 | Click to see CCCCCCC=CC=O | 140.22 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 2,4-Decadienal | 5283349 | Click to see | 152.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Hexanal | 6184 | Click to see | 100.16 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| trans-2-Hexenal | 5281168 | Click to see | 98.14 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Benzopyrans / 1-benzopyrans / Xanthones | |||||
| (4S,9R)-15,16-dihydroxy-4,5,5,9,10,10-hexamethyl-3,8,13-trioxapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,6.07,11.014,19]icosa-1(12),2(6),7(11),14(19),15,17-hexaen-20-one | 163010608 | Click to see | 396.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/CHIN.198120320 |
| 15,16-Dihydroxy-4,5,5,9,10,10-hexamethyl-3,8,13-trioxapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,6.07,11.014,19]icosa-1(12),2(6),7(11),14(19),15,17-hexaen-20-one | 71440418 | Click to see | 396.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/CHIN.198120320 |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Lactones / Gamma butyrolactones | |||||
| (5S)-5-butyloxolan-2-one | 7057972 | Click to see CCCCC1CCC(=O)O1 | 142.20 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (R)-gamma-Decalactone | 183870 | Click to see | 170.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Gamma-dodecalactone, (R)- | 10888889 | Click to see | 198.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Tetrahydrofurans | |||||
| Linalool oxide, cis- | 6428573 | Click to see | 170.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Biflavonoids and polyflavonoids | |||||
| (1S,5R,6S,13R,21S)-5,13-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4,12,14-trioxapentacyclo[11.7.1.02,11.03,8.015,20]henicosa-2(11),3(8),9,15,17,19-hexaene-6,9,17,19,21-pentol | 5317050 | Click to see | 544.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1S,5S,6R,13R,21S)-5,13-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4,12,14-trioxapentacyclo[11.7.1.02,11.03,8.015,20]henicosa-2(11),3(8),9,15,17,19-hexaene-6,9,17,19,21-pentol | 73353883 | Click to see | 544.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1S,5S,6S,13R,21S)-5,13-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4,12,14-trioxapentacyclo[11.7.1.02,11.03,8.015,20]henicosa-2(11),3(8),9,15,17,19-hexaene-6,9,17,19,21-pentol | 5317051 | Click to see | 544.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| [(1S,5R,6R,13R,21S)-6,9,17,19-tetrahydroxy-5,13-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4,12,14-trioxapentacyclo[11.7.1.02,11.03,8.015,20]henicosa-2(11),3(8),9,15,17,19-hexaen-21-yl] 4-hydroxybenzoate | 10723070 | Click to see | 664.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Mahuannin A | 5317052 | Click to see | 544.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Talbotaflavone | 5315272 | Click to see | 540.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50036A033 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones / Flavonols | |||||
| Kaempferol | 5280863 | Click to see | 286.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Quercetin | 5280343 | Click to see | 302.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides | |||||
| Isoquercetin | 5280804 | Click to see | 464.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Rutin | 5280805 | Click to see | 610.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |