Ochroma pyramidale

Scientific name: Ochroma pyramidale (Cav. ex Lam.) Urb.

Botanical family: MALVACEAE

Vernacular names

(In territories with significant traditional TRAMIL use)

Dominican Republic:

lana

Geographical distribution

Widely distributed in tropical America, from Mexico to Brazil.

Botanical description

Tree of up to 30 m; smooth outer bark with prominent linear scars. Single leaves arranged in a spiral, heart-shaped to
slightly three-lobed, 20 to 30 cm long, with a sharp apex and a cordate base; glabrous on the upper side, stellate-tomentose on
the underside. Single flowers, axillary, up to 20 cm, red to cherry calyx; 5 white or cream petals with reddish edges; stamens in a column. Capsule of 12 to 20 cm, with prominent longitudinal ribs; seeds covered with woolly fibres.

Voucher(s)

Jiménez,1613,JBSD
Poveda,7547,JVR

For swelling (inflammation):
prepare a decoction with 30 grams of fresh leaves in 4 cups (1 litre) of water, boil for 5 minutes in a covered container, allow to
cool, apply in baths 3 times a day or apply the leaves, previously washed, directly on to the affected area washed with boiled water and soap, bandage with a clean dressing or cloth and change 3 times a day.

Preparations must never be stored for more than 24 hours, even if refrigerated.

According to the information available:

Topical use for swelling (inflammation) is classified in the REC category based on the significant traditional use documented in
the TRAMIL surveys and the toxicity and validation studies.

All topical application must follow strict hygiene measures in order to prevent contamination or additional infection.

If deterioration is observed in the patient or the swelling persists for more than 3 days, seek medical attention.

Not for use during pregnancy, breastfeeding or in children under 3 years.

TRAMIL Work⁶
The fresh crushed leaves and their aqueous extract (decoction), freeze-dried, single dose, topically on the depilated backs of 3
male New Zealand rabbits, observed for 3 consecutive days, did not show evidence of skin irritation.

TRAMIL Work⁷
The freeze-dried aqueous extract (decoction) from fresh leaves (5 g/kg single dose) orally in Swiss mice (10 males), with a control group treated with saline solution over 14 days of observation, did not cause mortality, alterations in the development of body weight, signs of macroscopic alterations, or alterations in weight in the organs: kidney, heart and lung.

There is no information available documenting the safety of medicinal use in children, during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

TRAMIL Work²Preliminary phytochemical study of the ethanolicleaf extract (70%):

alkaloids:	-	anthracenes:	-
tannins:	-	cardioactive glycosides:	-
flavonoids:	-	cyanogenic glycosides:	-
saponins:	+	coumarins:	+

The leaves contain benzenoids: gentisic acid³; triterpenes: lupeol, oleanolic acid, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, β-sitosterol β-
D-gluco-pyranoside; polyphenols: catechin, epicatechin and vitexin⁴.

TRAMIL Work⁵
The freeze-dried aqueous extract (decoction, 0.15 g/ml) from dried leaves (0.5, 2 and 3.33 mg/ear/10 μl), was applied
topically to Hsd:ICR mice (6 females and 6 males) in the model of inflammation induced by the application of tetradecanoylphorbol acetate (TPA) (0.125 mg/ml) for 4 hours. The negative control received acetone (10 μl/ear) and the positive control was treated with indomethacin (25 mg/ml). A statistically significant inflammation inhibition of 27.8% was observed in the group treated with 100 mg/ml extract (2 mg/ear) with regard to the negative control group, but not with regard to the positive control group.

Pharmacopoeia

Ed.3

References

1 WENIGER B, 1987-88
Encuesta TRAMIL. enda-caribe, Santo Domingo, Rep. Dominicana.

2 SOLIS P, RODRIGUEZ N, ESPINOSA A, VASQUEZ Y, GUPTA MP, 2004
Ensayo fitoquímico de algunas especies con usos significativos TRAMIL. Informe TRAMIL. Centro de Investigaciones Farmacognósticas de la Flora Panameña CIFLORPAN, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Panamá, Panamá, Panamá.

3 GRIFFITHS LA, 1959
On the distribution of gentisic acid in green plants. J Exp Biol 10(3):437-442.

4 VAZQUEZ E, MARTINEZ EM, COGORDAN JA, DELGADO G, 2001
Triterpenes, phenols, and other constituents from the leaves of Ochroma pyramidale (Balsa Wood, Bombacaceae). Preferred conformations of 8- C- b-D-glucopyranosyl-apigenin (vitexin). Revista de la Sociedad Química de México 45(4):254-258.

5 PAZOS L, COTO T, GONZALEZ S, 2006
Antiinflamatorio tópico, en ratones, del extracto acuoso de la decocción de hojas de Ochroma pyramidale. Informe Tramil. Laboratorio de Ensayos Biológicos, LEBi, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, Costa Rica.

6 GARCIA GM, COTO MT, GONZALEZ CS, PAZOS L, 1998
Irritabilidad dérmica del extracto acuoso de hoja fresca de Ochroma pyramidale. Informe TRAMIL. Laboratorio de Ensayos Biológicos LEBi, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, Costa Rica.

7 HIRUMA-LIMA CA, SOUZA BRITO AR, 2002
Descrição das atividades biológicas testadas de plantas TRAMIL Informe TRAMIL. Depto. Fisiologia, Inst. Biociências UNESP, Botucatu y Depto. Fisiologia, Inst. Biologia, UNICAMP, Campinas, SP, Brasil.

Disclaimer

The information provided is for educational purposes only for the benefit of the general public and health professionals. It is not intended to take the place of either the written law or regulations. Since some parts of plants could be toxic, might induce side effects, or might have interactions with certain drugs, anyone intending to use them or their products must first consult with a physician or another qualified health care professional. TRAMIL has no responsibility whatsoever towards the user for any decision, action or omission made in relation to the information contained in this Pharmacopoeia.

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