Copaifera martii
StarCopaifera martii
Synonyms: Copaifera martii var. rigida, Copaiba rigida, Copaifera rigida, Copaiba martii
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
In the Brazilian Amazon the oleoresin (copaiba balsam) tapped from the trunk is a widely used traditional medicine, applied to heal wounds and ulcers, as an antiseptic, to relieve pain and inflammation, and to treat skin, respiratory and urinary complaints and rheumatic conditions (Plowden, 2003). Laboratory study of Copaifera martii oleoresin confirms antibacterial activity against several pathogens and anti-inflammatory action attributed to beta-caryophyllene.
Botanical Description
Copaifera martii is a tree of the pea family (Fabaceae, subfamily Detarioideae) native to the Amazon basin of northern Brazil and neighbouring tropical South America, where it grows in lowland and seasonally flooded forest. Like other copaiba trees it has a straight bole and pinnately compound leaves with several glossy, asymmetrical leaflets dotted with translucent oil glands. Small whitish flowers are borne in branched inflorescences and give way to small woody pods, each typically containing a single seed partly enclosed by a coloured fleshy aril attractive to birds. The tree's defining feature is the aromatic oleoresin (copaiba balsam) that accumulates in interconnecting secretory channels within the trunk; this clear to golden, viscous oil is harvested sustainably by boring a hole into the heartwood and tapping the resin, which is rich in sesquiterpenes such as beta-caryophyllene together with diterpenoid acids.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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