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Pau D'Arco is a
large canopy tree native to tropical rainforests in Central and South
America. It grows to about 30 meters in height and can measure 2-3
meters in diameter at its base. The common name Pau D'Arco is applied to
a number of species of the Tabebuia genus, but the preferred species
employed in herbal medicine is Tabebuia avellanedae (1) (4).
Pau D'Arco is taken for Candida yeast infections, various viral
infections and parasitic infections. It also has anti-inflammatory and
cleansing properties, and stimulates the immune system (4). Pau D'Arco
is a potent antioxidant (5).
Lapachol, a chief constituent of the wood and bark of the Pau D'Arco
tree, has anti-inflammatory, anti-malarial, antibacterial, anti-fungal,
anti-parasitic, and immunomodulatory activity (3), many of which have
been backed up by results from animal and other laboratory studies (2).
Lapachol shows antibacterial/anti-parasitic activity against
Gram-positive and acid-fact bacteria, fungi and viruses, with a strong
activity against the Brucella species. Napthoquinones in Pau D'Arco, are
highly effective against Candida albicans and Trichophyton
mentagrophytes. Pau D'Arco also actively inhibits the growth of several
dangerous viruses, including Herpes types 1 & 11 (5).
In folk medicine Pau D'Arco has been taken to treat diabetes, ulcers,
liver ailments, cystitis, prostatitis, ringworm, gonorrhea, syphilis,
candida and as a general tonic (3). Natives from Central and South
America reportedly used Pau D'Arco bark to treat cancer, leishmaniasis,
leukemia, lupus and infectious diseases (6) (1).
In North American herbal medicine Pau D'Arco is considered to be
antifungal, antiviral, anti-cancerous, and antibacterial. It is used for
fevers, colds, flu, lupus, arthritis and circulatory problems. It is
commonly included in herbal preparations throughout the United States
for treating Hodgkin’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and candida yeast
infections (1).
Duke’s Handbook of Biologically Active Phytochemicals lists lapachol as
being anti-malarial, bactericidal and fungicidal (7).
Pau D'Arco should be used with caution as significant evaluation of the
safety of this herb in typical doses has not been conducted. Daily doses
greater than 1.5 grams of lapachol have been associated with the most
risk. Due to the lack of available data, Pau D'Arco should not be taken
during periods of pregnancy or breastfeeding (3). |
