Pterodon emarginatus
StarPterodon emarginatus
Synonyms: Commilobium polygaliflorum, Sweetia inornata, Pterodon polygaliflorus, Acosmium inornatum, Pterodon pubescens, Dipteryx emarginata, Commilobium pubescens
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
In Brazilian folk medicine, especially in the cerrado region, the seeds and fruits of sucupira branca (Pterodon emarginatus) — typically as a hydroalcoholic macerate or seed-oil preparation — are widely used as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic for rheumatism, arthritis, sore throat, bronchitis, and asthma, and the bark is also used; these uses are well supported by pharmacological studies of the seed extracts and oil (Coelho et al., 1999; Dutra et al., 2015 / PMC4646998).
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Botanical Description
Pterodon emarginatus, the Brazilian sucupira branca, is a medium to large deciduous tree of the legume family (Fabaceae), growing to about 8-16 m tall with a straight bole, rough greyish bark, and a broad, open crown. The leaves are alternate and pinnately compound, with numerous small, alternate, oblong leaflets that have a notched (emarginate) apex, the feature reflected in the species epithet. The flowers are showy and pea-like, lilac to purplish-pink, borne in branched terminal panicles during the flowering season. The distinctive fruit is a flattened, woody, winged samara-like pod (the wing aiding wind dispersal) containing usually a single oily seed; the seeds and bark are rich in aromatic terpenoids and coumarins and yield a strongly scented oil. The species is native to and widely distributed across central Brazil, particularly the cerrado (savanna) of Goiás, Minas Gerais, and São Paulo, where it grows in open savanna woodland and dry forest on well-drained soils.
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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