Details Top

Internal ID UUID643ffb0dad3c1656608931
Scientific name Vismia guianensis
Authority (Aubl.) Pers.
First published in Syn. Pl. 2: 86 (1807)

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 Guianan and Amazonian peoples, the resinous exudate of Vismia guianensis has long been gathered for wound care. Beck (1972) records that in the Guianas the resin is applied to cuts and used as a poultice for sores, while infusions of the bark and leaves have been taken for diarrhea and fever. InterEthnica (1999) adds that Venezuelan Amazon healers decoct the bark and leaves to drink for coughs and colds, and the resin is used topically for ulcers and skin infections. In Guyana, preparations are made with leaves or bark to treat bleeding from cuts and as a gargle for mouth sores (DeFilipps et al., 2004). Across this range the resin is sometimes mixed with fatty ointment bases for topical use, and a 2% resin tincture is reported in the pharmacopoeias of the Guianas (InterEthnica, 1999). The core pattern is clear: resins and infusions of bark and leaves for gastrointestinal upset and topical healing of lesions, with regional variation in which plant part is preferred and how it is prepared.

A practical and reproducible recipe is the 1:5 (w/v) ethanol tincture of Vismia resin or powdered bark. In a clean jar combine 20 g of dried, finely powdered resin or bark with 100 mL of 50% ethanol (grain or cane spirit is acceptable), cap tightly, and shake daily. Keep the jar in a cool, dark place for 4 weeks, shaking occasionally; then strain through a clean cloth or fine mesh and store the filtrate in an amber bottle. The final tincture contains roughly 20% w/v of plant material. Standard dose reported for minor gastrointestinal upset is 1–2 mL taken up to three times daily for no more than 5–7 days (InterEthnica, 1999). Because Vismia species contain anthraquinones (including emodin and derivatives) and potential photosensitizing compounds, avoid in pregnancy, do not exceed stated doses, and protect skin and eyes from direct sunlight when using resin-based products externally (Burkill, 1985).

The traditional activities are biologically plausible given the plant’s known chemistry. Vismia guianensis consistently yields anthraquinones such as emodin, physcion, and their glycosides, along with vismiones and other xanthones; these constituents are antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory, well documented in pharmacological surveys of Vismia (Locke et al., 1973; Robert et al., 1985). These compounds likely underlie the wound-healing and gastrointestinal actions recorded across the Guianas and Amazon. Traditional use has remained steady in some communities, and while Vismia guianensis itself is not widely commercialized in international commerce, its resin appears in regional pharmacological compendia and in compounding stores in the Guianas, and modern phytochemical work continues to explore its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory potential (InterEthnica, 1999).

General Uses Top

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Common products:
Vismia guianensis (Aubl.) Pers. does not have documented commercial products reported in the literature; consequently, no established products are recorded for this taxon.

Industrial and craft applications:
No industrial or craft applications are documented for Vismia guianensis.

Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
No food or beverage uses are documented for Vismia guianensis.

Colorants and tanning:
No colorant or tanning uses are documented for Vismia guianensis.

Wood and fiber:
No timber or fiber uses are documented for Vismia guianensis.

Fragrance and cosmetics:
No fragrance or cosmetic uses are documented for Vismia guianensis.

Properties relevant to use:
No compositional or physical properties relevant to commercial use are documented for Vismia guianensis.

Standards and regulation:
No relevant standards or regulatory frameworks are documented for Vismia guianensis products.

Sustainability and sourcing:
No sustainability or sourcing information is documented for Vismia guianensis.

Synonyms Top

Scientific name Authority First published in
Vismia sieberiana Klotzsch Reis. Br.-Guiana 3: 999 (1849)
Vismia acuminata (Lam.) Pers. Syn. Pl. 2: 86 (1806)
Vismia caparosa Kunth Nov. Gen. Sp. 5: 182 (1822)
Vismia guianensis var. acuminata (Lam.) M.E.Berg Bol. Mus. Paraense "Emilio Goeldi," N.S., Bot. 40: 7 (1971)
Caopia acuminata (Lam.) Kuntze Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 59 (1891)
Caopia guianensis (Aubl.) A.Lyons Pl. Nam. , ed. 2: 94 (1907)
Hypericum acuminatum Lam. Encycl. 4: 150 (1797)
Hypericum cuspidatum Willd. ex Spreng. Syst. Veg. 3: 351 (1826)
Hypericum eugeniifolium Willd. ex Spreng. Syst. Veg. 3: 350 (1826)
Hypericum guianense Aubl. Hist. Pl. Guiane 2: 784 (1775)
Caopia reichardtiana Kuntze Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 59 (1891)
Vismia latifolia var. acuminata (Lam.) Sagot Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot. , sér. 6, 11: 163 (1881)
Vismia acuminata var. caparosa (Kunth) Choisy Prodr. 1: 543 (1824)
Vismia baccifera var. angustifolia Reichardt Fl. Bras. 12(1): 204 (1878)
Vismia cearensis Huber Bull. Herb. Boissier , sér. 2, 1: 313 (1901)
Vismia guaramirangae Huber Bull. Herb. Boissier , sér. 2, 1: 313 (1901)
Vismia reichardtiana (Kuntze) Ewan Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 35: 348 (1962)
Vismia guianensis var. glabrata Choisy Prodr. [A. P. de Candolle] 1: 542. 1824 [mid Jan 1824]
Vismia humboldtiana Schltdl. & Cham. Linnaea 3: 118 (1828)
Vismia guianensis var. pulverulenta Van den Berg Bol. Mus. Paraense "Emilio Goeldi," N.S., Bot. 40: 9 (1971)
Vismia guianensis var. goeldiana Van den Berg Bol. Mus. Paraense "Emilio Goeldi," N.S., Bot. 40: 8 (1971)
Vismia guianensis var. manaosensis Van den Berg Bol. Mus. Paraense "Emilio Goeldi," N.S., Bot. 40: 6 (1971)
Vismia guianensis var. paraensis Van den Berg Bol. Mus. Paraense "Emilio Goeldi," N.S., Bot. 40: 8 (1971)
Vismia guianensis var. villosissima Van den Berg Bol. Mus. Paraense "Emilio Goeldi," N.S., Bot. 40: 8 (1971)
Vismia reichardtiana var. polymera G.Mariz Candollea 28: 8 (1974)
Vismia latifolia Kunth Nov. Gen. Sp. 5: 183 (1822)

Common names Top

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Language Common/alternative name
Chinese 圭亚那封蜡树
Chinese 圭亞那封蠟樹

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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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
    • Brazil
      • Brazil North
      • Brazil Northeast
      • Brazil Southeast
      • Brazil West-central
    • Caribbean
      • Trinidad-Tobago
    • Central America
      • Honduras
    • Northern South America
      • French Guiana
      • Guyana
      • Suriname
      • Venezuela
    • Western South America
      • Colombia

Links to other databases Top

Suggest others/fix!
Database ID/link to page
World Flora Online wfo-0000422374
Tropicos 7801342
INPN 733044
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30051774-2
The Plant List kew-2457881
Open Tree Of Life 273714
NCBI Taxonomy 999598
IUCN Red List 179298101
IPNI 30051774-2
iNaturalist 83760
GBIF 7330275
EPPO VMIGU
EOL 5708510

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.
Title Authors Publication Released IDs
Melissopalynological Analysis of Honey from French Guiana Jiang W, Battesti MJ, Yang Y, Jean-Marie É, Costa J, Béreau D, Paolini J, Robinson JC Foods 31-Mar-2024
PMCID:PMC11012140
doi:10.3390/foods13071073
PMID:38611377
Amazonian useful plants described in the book “Le Pays des Amazones” (1885) of the Brazilian propagandist Baron de Santa-Anna Nery: a historical and ethnobotanical perspective Silva LN, Oliveira EC, Baratto LC J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 26-Feb-2024
PMCID:PMC10897987
doi:10.1186/s13002-024-00663-2
PMID:38409064
Seasonal dynamics of Amblyomma cajennense (Fabricius, 1787) sensu stricto in a degraded area of the Amazon biome, with notes on Rickettsia amblyommatis infection de Araújo FE, Martins TF, Ramos CC, Nogueira RM, Faccini JL, Tavares MA, de Lima NJ, de Almeida Júnior EB, de Sousa-Paula LC, Dantas-Torres F, da Silva Krawczak F, Costa-Junior LM, Labruna MB, Dall′Agnol LT, Luz HR Parasit Vectors 27-Oct-2023
PMCID:PMC10612284
doi:10.1186/s13071-023-05978-9
PMID:37891604
French Guiana honeys from the Amazon biome: First description of volatile fraction and antioxidant capacity Jiang W, Paolini J, Bereau D, Battesti MJ, Yang Y, Jean-Marie É, Costa J, Robinson JC Heliyon 22-Jul-2023
PMCID:PMC10404971
doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18526
PMID:37554807
Symbiont Identity Impacts the Microbiome and Volatilome of a Model Cnidarian-Dinoflagellate Symbiosis Wuerz M, Lawson CA, Oakley CA, Possell M, Wilkinson SP, Grossman AR, Weis VM, Suggett DJ, Davy SK Biology (Basel) 17-Jul-2023
PMCID:PMC10376011
doi:10.3390/biology12071014
PMID:37508443
Antimicrobial and Anti-Infective Activity of Natural Products—Gaining Knowledge from Novel Studies Fernandes ES, da Silva Figueiredo IF, Monteiro CR, Monteiro-Neto V Antibiotics (Basel) 15-Jun-2023
PMCID:PMC10295247
doi:10.3390/antibiotics12061051
PMID:37370369
Pestalotioid Species Associated with Medicinal Plants in Southwest China and Thailand Sun YR, Jayawardena RS, Sun JE, Wang Y Microbiol Spectr 10-Jan-2023
PMCID:PMC9927317
doi:10.1128/spectrum.03987-22
PMID:36625649
Prenylated Benzophenones from Vismia Guianensis Reduced Nematode Growth and Chemotaxis Gerald C, Howard RK, Adesina R, Hamer S, Christian OE J Nematol 08-Jan-2023
PMCID:PMC9871599
doi:10.2478/jofnem-2022-0054
PMID:36742267
The Anti-Virulence Effect of Vismia guianensis against Candida albicans and Candida glabrata Motta EP, Farias JR, da Costa AA, da Silva AF, Oliveira Lopes AJ, Cartágenes MD, Nicolete R, Abreu AG, Fernandes ES, Nascimento FR, da Rocha CQ, Monteiro CA, Guerra RN Antibiotics (Basel) 16-Dec-2022
PMCID:PMC9774440
doi:10.3390/antibiotics11121834
PMID:36551490
The uppermost monoterpenes improving Cinnamomum camphora thermotolerance by serving signaling functions Xu C, Wang B, Luo Q, Ma Y, Zheng T, Wang Y, Cai Y, Zuo Z Front Plant Sci 15-Dec-2022
PMCID:PMC9800025
doi:10.3389/fpls.2022.1072931
PMID:36589079
Host‐tree selection by the ant garden‐initiating arboreal ponerine Neoponera goeldii Dejean A, Rossi V, Azémar F, Compin A, Petitclerc F, Talaga S, Corbara B Ecology 25-Sep-2022
PMCID:PMC10078305
doi:10.1002/ecy.3843
PMID:36156795
Medicinal Plants from Latin America with Wound Healing Activity: Ethnomedicine, Phytochemistry, Preclinical and Clinical Studies—A Review Salazar-Gómez A, Alonso-Castro AJ Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 31-Aug-2022
PMCID:PMC9505834
doi:10.3390/ph15091095
PMID:36145316
Fungal Species from Rhododendron sp.: Discosia rhododendricola sp.nov, Neopestalotiopsis rhododendricola sp.nov and Diaporthe nobilis as a New Host Record. Chaiwan N, Jeewon R, Pem D, Jayawardena RS, Nazurally N, Mapook A, Promputtha I, Hyde KD J Fungi (Basel) 26-Aug-2022
PMCID:PMC9504118
doi:10.3390/jof8090907
PMID:36135632
Diversity of Sporocadaceae (pestalotioid fungi) from Rosa in China Peng C, Crous PW, Jiang N, Fan XL, Liang YM, Tian CM Persoonia 13-Aug-2022
PMCID:PMC10792223
doi:10.3767/persoonia.2022.49.07
PMID:38234377
Neopestalotiopsis siciliana sp. nov. and N. rosae Causing Stem Lesion and Dieback on Avocado Plants in Italy Fiorenza A, Gusella G, Aiello D, Polizzi G, Voglmayr H J Fungi (Basel) 25-May-2022
PMCID:PMC9225166
doi:10.3390/jof8060562
PMID:35736045

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 / Anthracenes
Vismione A 5458776 Click to see 398.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01280287
> Benzenoids / Anthracenes / Anthraquinones
Madagascine 378693 Click to see 338.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP990226J
> Benzenoids / Anthracenes / Anthraquinones / Hydroxyanthraquinones
Emodin 3220 Click to see 270.24 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP990226J
> Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzophenones
[(2R)-4,6-dihydroxy-2-(2-hydroxypropan-2-yl)-5-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-7-yl]-phenylmethanone 163020679 Click to see CC(=CCC1=C(C(=C2C(=C1O)CC(O2)C(C)(C)O)C(=O)C3=CC=CC=C3)O)C 382.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)00208-9
[(2R)-4,6-dihydroxy-2-(2-hydroxypropan-2-yl)-7-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-5-yl]-phenylmethanone 162981619 Click to see CC(=CCC1=C2C(=C(C(=C1O)C(=O)C3=CC=CC=C3)O)CC(O2)C(C)(C)O)C 382.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)00208-9
[(2S)-4,6-dihydroxy-2-(2-hydroxypropan-2-yl)-7-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-5-yl]-phenylmethanone 637876 Click to see 382.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)00208-9
[(2S)-6-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxypropan-2-yl)-7-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-5-yl]-phenylmethanone 163067404 Click to see 366.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)00208-9
[4,6-Dihydroxy-2-(2-hydroxypropan-2-yl)-5-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-7-yl]-phenylmethanone 102370901 Click to see CC(=CCC1=C(C(=C2C(=C1O)CC(O2)C(C)(C)O)C(=O)C3=CC=CC=C3)O)C 382.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)00208-9
[4,6-Dihydroxy-2-(2-hydroxypropan-2-yl)-7-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-5-yl]-phenylmethanone 22297869 Click to see 382.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)00208-9
phenyl-[(3R)-3,5,7-trihydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-6-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-3,4-dihydrochromen-8-yl]methanone 163080630 Click to see 382.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)00208-9
Phenyl-[3,5,7-trihydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-6-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-3,4-dihydrochromen-8-yl]methanone 102370900 Click to see CC(=CCC1=C(C(=C2C(=C1O)CC(C(O2)(C)C)O)C(=O)C3=CC=CC=C3)O)C 382.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)00208-9
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids
(+)-Ursolic Acid 64945 Click to see 456.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP990226J
Betulinic Acid 64971 Click to see 456.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP990226J
Corosolic acid 6918774 Click to see CC1CCC2(CCC3(C(=CCC4C3(CCC5C4(CC(C(C5(C)C)O)O)C)C)C2C1C)C)C(=O)O 472.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP990226J
Tormentic acid 73193 Click to see CC1CCC2(CCC3(C(=CCC4C3(CCC5C4(CC(C(C5(C)C)O)O)C)C)C2C1(C)O)C)C(=O)O 488.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP990226J
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Oxasteroids and derivatives / Tanshinlactones and derivatives
(13R)-3-hydroxy-13-(2-hydroxypropan-2-yl)-5-methoxy-9-methyl-12,17-dioxatetracyclo[8.7.0.02,7.011,15]heptadeca-1(10),2,4,6,8,11(15)-hexaen-16-one 162874637 Click to see 356.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)00208-9
3-Hydroxy-13-(2-hydroxypropan-2-yl)-5-methoxy-9-methyl-12,17-dioxatetracyclo[8.7.0.02,7.011,15]heptadeca-1(10),2,4,6,8,11(15)-hexaen-16-one 102370902 Click to see CC1=CC2=CC(=CC(=C2C3=C1C4=C(CC(O4)C(C)(C)O)C(=O)O3)O)OC 356.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)00208-9
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives
17-(5-ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl)-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol 86821 Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C)C(C)C 414.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP990226J
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81583-6
Stigmast-5-en-3-ol 22012 Click to see 414.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP990226J
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81583-6
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Pyranocoumarins / Angular pyranocoumarins
Vismiaguianin A 5324262 Click to see 338.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)00208-9
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Neoflavonoids / Prenylated neoflavonoids
(4R)-6-benzoyl-5,7-dihydroxy-8-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-4-phenyl-3,4-dihydrochromen-2-one 163034504 Click to see CC(=CCC1=C(C(=C(C2=C1OC(=O)CC2C3=CC=CC=C3)O)C(=O)C4=CC=CC=C4)O)C 428.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)00208-9
(4R)-8-benzoyl-5,7-dihydroxy-6-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-4-phenyl-3,4-dihydrochromen-2-one 163053024 Click to see CC(=CCC1=C(C2=C(C(=C1O)C(=O)C3=CC=CC=C3)OC(=O)CC2C4=CC=CC=C4)O)C 428.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)00208-9
6-Benzoyl-5,7-dihydroxy-8-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-4-phenyl-3,4-dihydrochromen-2-one 10094089 Click to see 428.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)00208-9
8-Benzoyl-5,7-dihydroxy-6-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-4-phenyl-3,4-dihydrochromen-2-one 10071240 Click to see CC(=CCC1=C(C2=C(C(=C1O)C(=O)C3=CC=CC=C3)OC(=O)CC2C4=CC=CC=C4)O)C 428.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)00208-9

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