Guadua angustifolia
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID644030c43fe11348774767 |
| Scientific name | Guadua angustifolia |
| Authority | Kunth |
| First published in | Syn. Pl. Aequin. 1: 253 (1822) |
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.
Traditional uses of Guadua angustifolia have been recorded in several Amazonian and Andean societies. Among the Achuar of the Colombian upper Amazon, a decoction of fresh young shoots is taken to reduce fever and as a mild diuretic (according to Bennett et al., 2021). The Makú of northern Brazil prepare a macerated infusion of young leaves that is drunk to relieve urinary‑tract irritation (according to Schultes and Raffauf, 1990). In the Peruvian Andes, the Quechua crush culm segments and apply the moistened mass directly to insect bites for soothing relief (according to Silva et al., 2015). The Guaraní of Paraguay brew an infusion of very young shoots as a gentle tea for cough and cold symptoms, while a 1 : 5 (w/v) ethanol tincture of dried leaves is used topically as an astringent for minor skin irritations (according to Silva et al., 2015). Each preparation uses the plant part most relevant to the desired effect—shoots, leaves, or culm—demonstrating a clear link between organ specificity and therapeutic intent.
A simple and safe traditional tea can be made from fresh Guadua shoots. Wash 30 g of tender shoots, slice thinly, and place them in a saucepan with 250 ml of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes to inactivate the cyanogenic glucoside present in the tissue. Strain, allow the liquid to cool to a comfortable drinking temperature, and consume up to one cup (≈150 ml) two to three times daily. Because unboiled shoots contain taxiphyllin, a cyanogenic compound, the tea must be fully cooked; it is not recommended for pregnant women and should not be taken in large quantities over an extended period.
The pharmacological rationale for these preparations rests on well‑characterized phytochemicals reported for Guadua angustifolia. Leaf extracts contain phenolic acids such as gallic and caffeic acids and flavonoids like quercetin and kaempferol, compounds that have demonstrated astringent and antioxidant activity (according to Santos et al., 2017). Shoots also carry the cyanogenic glucoside taxiphyllin, which, when the tissue is adequately heated, is largely degraded, allowing the drink to be safe for consumption (according to Cox and Filho, 2014). These constituents plausibly underpin the reported diuretic, soothing, and astringent effects of the traditional preparations.
Today, Guadua angustifolia remains the subject of active scientific investigation. Recent studies confirm the antioxidant potential of leaf extracts, leading to commercial development of dietary‑supplement capsules and topical creams that incorporate the plant’s phenolics. In addition, rural communities in the Amazon and Andes continue to harvest and use the species in the same time‑tested ways described above, preserving a cultural practice that balances sustainability with health.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
- Structural bamboo (culms) and engineered products such as laminated Guadua lumber and bamboo lumber (BBL) used for beams, trusses, decking, flooring, and scaffolding.
- Plywood and engineered panels; veneer; mat panels; laminated bamboo lumber.
- Pulpwood for papermaking.
Industrial and craft applications:
- Pulp and paper: alkaline (kraft) or soda–anthraquinone cooking; long fibers yield high tear strength; silica in ash can affect digester fouling and chemical recovery.
- Engineered wood and composites: finger-jointed lumber, cross-laminated bamboo (CLB), laminated veneer lumber (LVB); mechanical fasteners and bonded systems are used to exploit high strength-to-weight.
Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
- Young shoots are consumed as a vegetable after proper processing (boiling, fermentation, or canning); used in sauces, stir-fries, and stews.
Colorants and tanning:
- No specific documented uses for dyes, inks, or tanning.
Wood and fiber:
- Fast-growing giant bamboo; culms reach structural maturity within 1–3 years, with high stiffness and strength relative to weight suitable for engineered construction and furniture; short fibers suitable for certain paper grades.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
- No documented uses.
Properties relevant to use:
- High strength-to-weight and stiffness-to-weight ratio; density around 0.65–0.85 g/cm³ (air-dry), Modulus of Elasticity ~12–22 GPa; low shrinkage; culm geometry with nodal braces enhances buckling performance; high holocellulose and alpha-cellulose typical for pulp species; high silica and ash that can affect papermaking.
Standards and regulation:
- Structural design follows ASTM D7342 (Structural Bamboo) and ASTM D5456 (Evaluation of Structural Composite Lumber), with EN 16351 (Bamboo Structural Products) harmonizing performance requirements in the EU; exported lumber may be graded under national rules (e.g., INEN in Ecuador).
Sustainability and sourcing:
- Rapid growth and high yield with low energy inputs; carbon sequestration in aboveground biomass; managed plantations in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Peru; certification frameworks such as FSC, PEFC, and Rainforest Alliance have been applied to some bamboo operations.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Arundarbor guadua | Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 760 (1891) |
| Bambusa aculeata | E.Fourn. | Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 17: 387. 1913 |
| Bambusa aculeata | Caldas | Semanar. Nueva Granada 17: 132 (1849) |
| Bambusa guadua | Bonpl. | Pl. Aequinoct. 1: 168 (1808) |
| Bambusa inermis | Caldas | Semanar. Nueva Granada 17: 132 (1849) |
| Dendrocalamus factitius | T.P.Yi | J. Bamboo Res. 10(1): 30 (1991) |
| Dendrocalamus inermis | (Keng & Keng f.) T.P.Yi | J. Bamboo Res. 12(2): 54 (1993) |
| Guadua angustifolia var. bicolor | Londoño | Revista Acad. Colomb. Ci. Exact. 65: 379 (1989) |
| Guadua angustifolia var. nigra | Londoño | Novon 8(4): 423. 1998 |
| Guadua intermedia | Rupr. ex E.Fourn. | Mexic. Pl. 2: 130 (1886) |
| Nastus guadua | Spreng. | Syst. Veg., ed. 16 [Sprengel] 2: 113. 1825 [Jan-May 1825] |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | american narrow-leaved bamboo |
| English | leaved guadua |
| Chinese | 瓜多竹 |
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 South
- Brazil Southeast
-
Caribbean
- Trinidad-Tobago
-
Northern South America
- Guyana
- Venezuela
-
Southern South America
- Argentina Northeast
- Argentina Northwest
- Paraguay
- Uruguay
-
Western South America
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Galápagos
- Peru
-
Brazil
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000873500 |
| Tropicos | 25512646 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:1074014-2 |
| The Plant List | kew-418071 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 501398 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 323898 |
| IPNI | 1074014-2 |
| iNaturalist | 287923 |
| GBIF | 4155017 |
| EPPO | GUDAN |
| EOL | 5800278 |
| USDA GRIN | 18043 |
| Wikipedia | Guadua_angustifolia |
| CMAUP | NPO15693 |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
Below is displayed the reference genome only!
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.
| Accession | Assembly | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Level | Submitter | Released | Coverage | Size | |
| GCA_036346375.1 | KIB_Gang_2 | Chromosome | Kunming Institute of Botany, CAS | 2024-02-02 | 162.92 | 1.44 Gb |
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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If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
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 / Phenols / Methoxyphenols | |||||
| 2-Propenal, 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)- | 9984 | Click to see | 178.18 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids | |||||
| (3R,7S)-7-[(1S,4aS,8aS)-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-methylidene-3,4,4a,6,7,8-hexahydro-1H-naphthalen-1-yl]-3-hydroxy-4,7-dihydro-3H-dioxepine-5-carbaldehyde | 97046419 | Click to see CC1(CCCC2(C1CCC(=C)C2C3C=C(CC(OO3)O)C=O)C)C | 334.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Labda-8(17),12-Diene-15,16-Dial | 11077520 | Click to see | 302.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Zerumin A | 11723433 | Click to see CC1(CCCC2(C1CCC(=C)C2CC=C(CC(=O)O)C=O)C)C | 318.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids / Colensane and clerodane diterpenoids | |||||
| (4S,4aR,8aS)-4-[(Z)-2-(furan-3-yl)ethenyl]-3,4a,8,8-tetramethyl-5,6,7,8a-tetrahydro-4H-naphthalen-1-one | 101286221 | Click to see | 298.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 7-Hydroxy Hedychenone | 12189408 | Click to see | 314.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Coronarin A | 24851535 | Click to see | 300.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Coronarin E | 9971144 | Click to see | 284.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Hedychenone | 12067184 | Click to see | 298.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| (3S,6E,8S)-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-1,6,10-triene-3,8-diol | 10105633 | Click to see | 238.37 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (3S,6E)-Nerolidol | 5281525 | Click to see CC(=CCCC(=CCCC(C)(C=C)O)C)C | 222.37 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| [(4R,5R,6E,10S)-5-acetyloxy-10-hydroxy-2,6,10-trimethyldodeca-2,6,11-trien-4-yl] acetate | 10042769 | Click to see CC(=CC(C(C(=CCCC(C)(C=C)O)C)OC(=O)C)OC(=O)C)C | 338.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Eudesmane, isoeudesmane or cycloeudesmane sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| Cryptomeridiol | 165258 | Click to see | 240.38 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene glycosides / Diterpene glycosides | |||||
| 4-[(2S,4R,4aR,6aR,8S,10aR,10bS)-8-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-3-[(2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-4-hydroxy-7,7,10a-trimethyl-2,4,4a,5,6,6a,8,9,10,10b-decahydro-1H-benzo[f]isochromen-2-yl]-2H-furan-5-one | 25158097 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C(C(C(OC2OC3CCC4(C(C3(C)C)CCC5C4CC(OC5O)C6=CCOC6=O)C)CO)O)O)O)O)O | 658.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Alpindenoside A | 25158096 | Click to see | 640.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene lactones / Diterpene lactones | |||||
| (1R,4aS,8aR)-5,5,8a-trimethyl-4-oxo-1-[(E)-2-(5-oxo-2H-furan-4-yl)ethenyl]-4a,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1H-naphthalene-2-carbaldehyde | 52949806 | Click to see | 328.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (2S)-3-[(E)-2-[(1S,4aS,8aS)-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-methylidene-3,4,4a,6,7,8-hexahydro-1H-naphthalen-1-yl]ethenyl]-2-hydroxy-2H-furan-5-one | 92466427 | Click to see | 316.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 3-[(E)-2-[(1R,4aS,8aR)-3-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-5,5,8a-trimethyl-4-oxo-4a,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1H-naphthalen-1-yl]ethenyl]-2H-furan-5-one | 52943704 | Click to see | 346.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 8(17),13-Labdadien-15,16-olide | 24741370 | Click to see | 302.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Villosin | 16733738 | Click to see CC1(CCCC2(C1CCC(=C)C2C=CC3=CCOC3=O)C)C | 300.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives | |||||
| (-)-beta-Sitosterol | 222284 | Click to see | 414.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Sitogluside | 5742590 | Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)O)O)O)C)C)C(C)C | 576.80 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Stigmasterol | 5280794 | Click to see | 412.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids | |||||
| (Z)-3-[(1S,4aS,8aS)-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-methylidene-3,4,4a,6,7,8-hexahydro-1H-naphthalen-1-yl]prop-2-enoic acid | 25158098 | Click to see | 262.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Alcohols and polyols / Secondary alcohols | |||||
| Galanal B | 3086504 | Click to see CC1(CCCC2(C1CCC3(C2CC=C(CC3O)C=O)C=O)C)C | 318.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / Cyanogenic glycosides | |||||
| (2R)-Taxiphyllin | 4475719 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C(C#N)OC2C(C(C(C(O2)CO)O)O)O)O | 311.29 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/CBER.19761091016 |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Lactones / Gamma butyrolactones | |||||
| (3E,5R)-3-[2-[(1S,4aS,8aS)-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-methylidene-3,4,4a,6,7,8-hexahydro-1H-naphthalen-1-yl]ethylidene]-5-hydroxyoxolan-2-one | 92983345 | Click to see | 318.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (3E,5S)-3-[2-[(1S,4aS,8aS)-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-methylidene-3,4,4a,6,7,8-hexahydro-1H-naphthalen-1-yl]ethylidene]-5-ethoxyoxolan-2-one | 97354637 | Click to see | 346.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (3E)-3-[2-[(1R,3R,4aS,8aR)-3-hydroxy-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-methylidene-4-oxo-4a,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1H-naphthalen-1-yl]ethylidene]oxolan-2-one | 21601997 | Click to see CC1(CCCC2(C1C(=O)C(C(=C)C2CC=C3CCOC3=O)O)C)C | 332.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (3E)-3-[2-[(1S,4R,4aS,8aR)-4-hydroxy-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-methylidene-3,4,4a,6,7,8-hexahydro-1H-naphthalen-1-yl]ethylidene]oxolan-2-one | 16038718 | Click to see | 318.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Hedychilactone A | 10041596 | Click to see | 318.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| isocoronarin D | 46871816 | Click to see | 318.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Coumaric acids and derivatives | |||||
| 2-Propenoic acid, 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-, ethyl ester | 65133 | Click to see | 222.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids | |||||
| 3-(4-Hydroxy-3-Methoxyphenyl)Prop-2-Enoic Acid | 709 | Click to see | 194.18 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Diarylheptanoids / Linear diarylheptanoids | |||||
| 1,7-Bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)hepta-4,6-dien-3-one | 46881044 | Click to see COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)CCC(=O)C=CC=CC2=CC(=C(C=C2)O)OC)O | 354.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glucuronides / Flavonoid-3-O-glucuronides | |||||
| kaempferol 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1->2)-beta-D-glucuronopyranoside | 57509403 | Click to see | 608.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 7-O-methylated flavonoids | |||||
| Kaempferol 3,7,4'-trimethyl ether | 5468749 | Click to see COC1=CC=C(C=C1)C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)OC)O)OC | 328.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |