Copaiba

(Copaifera officinalis)

Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Copaifera
Species: officinalis, langsdorffii
Synonyms: Copaifera jacquinii, C. nitida, C. paupera, C. sellowii, Copaiva officinalis
Common Names: Copaiba, copaipera, cupayba, copauba, copal, balsam copaiba, copaiva, copaiba-verdadeira, Jesuit’s balsam, copaibeura-de-Minas, cobeni, Matidisguate, matisihuati, mal-dos-sete-dias, aceite de palo, pau-de-oleo, básamo de copayba
Phytochemicals: (-)-16beta-kauran-19-carbonic-acid, (-)-kaur-16-en-19-carbonic-acid, 7-hydroxyhardwickic-acid, Alloaromadendrene, Alpha-bergamotene, Alpha-cubebene, Alpha-multijugenol, Alpha-selinene, Ar-curcumene, Beta-bisabolene , Beta-cubebene, Beta-elemene, Beta-farnesene, Beta-humulene, Beta-metacopaibic-acid, Beta-muurolene, Beta-selinene, Calamenene, Calamesene, Carioazulene, Caryophyllene, Caryophyllene-oxide, Coipaiferic-acid, Copaene, Copaiferolic-acid, Copalic-acid, Cyperene, Delta-cadinene, Delta-elemene, Enantio-agathic-acid, Eperu-8(20)-en-15,18-dioic-acid, Gamma-cadinene, Gamma-elemene, Gamma-humulene, Hardwickic-acid, Homoparacopaibic-acid, Illurinic-acid, Maracaibobalsam, Paracopaibic-acid, Polyalthic-acid,Trans-alpha-bergamotene
Part Used: Resin, bark

HERBAL PROPERTIES AND ACTIONS

Main Actions: relieves pain reduces inflammation kills germs kills bacteria kills fungi inhibits tumor growth dries secretions heals wounds protects gastric tract mildly laxative sooths and softens disinfects

Other Actions: increases urination expels worms reduces acid supresses coughs expels phlegm

Standard Dosage: Resin Internal: 5-15 drops 2-3 times daily: External: apply diluted resin on affected areas

Copaiba trees are considerably branched and grow from 15-30 m high. There are 35 species of Copaifera, found mainly in tropical South America (particularly in Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Guyana, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela). Several different species are used as traditional medicines interchangeably.

The part of the tree that is often employed medicinally is the oleoresin that accumulates in cavities within the tree trunk. It is harvested by tapping or drilling holes into the wood of the trunk and collecting the resin that drips out, much in the same manner as harvesting maple syrup. A single copaiba tree can provide about 40 liters of oleoresin annually, making it a sustainable rainforest resource that can be harvested without destroying the tree or the forest in which it grows. When tapped, the initial oily resin is clear, thin, and colorless; it thickens and darkens upon contact with air. Commercially sold resins are a thick, clear liquid, with a color that varies from pale yellow to golden light brown. The variety gathered in Venezuela is said to be thicker and darker in color. Although it is often referred to a balsam or oil, it is actually a oleoresin.
The resin contains up to 15% volatile oil; the remaining materials are resins and acids. The active biological properties of copaiba resin are attributed to a group of phytochemicals called sesquiterpenes (over 50% of the resin may be sesquiterpenes), diterpenes, and terpenic acids. These chemicals include caryophyllene, calamenene, and copalic, coipaiferic, copaiferolic, hardwickic, and kaurenoic acids. Several of these chemicals are novel ones found only in copaiba. Copaiba resin is the highest known natural source of caryophyllene, comprising up to 480,000 parts per million. Caryophyllene is a well known plant chemical which has been documented strong anti-inflammatory effects (among other actions).

Much of the clinical research performed to date has verified the traditional uses of copaiba. In 2002, researchers in Brazil confirmed that it was highly effective as a topical wound healer. Long used internally and externally for inflammation of all sorts, clinical research validates the resin's anti-inflammatory effects against various laboratory-induced inflammation. The anti-inflammatory effects have been related to the sesquiterpene chemicals in copaiba oil. Of these sesquiterpenes, caryophyllene is the most well studied, demonstrating pain-relieving properties, antifungal properties against nail fungus, as well as anti-inflammatory and gastroprotective properties in other animal studies.

The gastroprotective effects of caryophyllene documented in 1996 also help justify another traditional use of copaiba oil - as a natural remedy for stomach ulcers.

Copaiba's traditional uses as an antiseptic for sore throat, upper respiratory and urinary tract infections can be explained partly by the resin's antibacterial properties documented in the 1960s and 1970s. Researchers again confirmed (in 2000 and 2002) that the resin as a whole (and, particularly, two of its diterpenes-copalic acid and kaurenic acid) demonstrated significant in vitro antimicrobial activity against gram-positive bacteria. One of copaiba's other chemicals, kaurenoic acid, has also demonstrated selective antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria in other recent studies.

Another recent area of research on copaiba resin has focused on its anticancerous and antitumor properties. Researchers in Tokyo isolated six chemicals (clerodane diterpenes) in the oleoresin of copaiba in 1994 and tested them against carcinomas, founding it effective at increasing the lifespan in mice with carcinomas (by 98%)The Spanish team of researchers that documented copaiba's antimicrobial effects in 2002 also tested for in vitro antitumor effects. These scientists reported that another phytochemical in the resin, methlyl copalate, had in vitro activity against human lung carcinoma, human colon carcinoma, human melanoma, and mouse lymphoid neoplasm cell lines. Brazilian researchers reported in 2002 that one of copaiba's active chemicals, kaurenoic acid, also inhibited the growth of human leukemic cells by 95%, and human breast and colon cancer cells by 45% in vitro. Kaurenoic acid can comprise as much as 1.4% of the natural copaiba oleoresin.

Healers and curanderos in the Amazon today use copaiba resin for all types of pain, for skin disorders and insect bites, and to cool inflammation.

In Brazilian herbal medicine systems the resin is used as a strong antiseptic and expectorant for the respiratory tract (including bronchitis and sinusitis), as an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic for the urinary tract (for cystitis, bladder, and kidney infections), as a topical anti-inflammatory agent for all types of skin problems. Copaiba resin is sold in gel capsules in stores and pharmacies in Brazil and recommended for all types of internal inflammation, stomach ulcers and cancer.

The Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients cites that copaiba has diuretic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, expectorant, disinfectant, and stimulant activities.

In all herbal medicine systems where it is employed, copaiba resin is taken internally only in very small dosages-usually only 5-15 drops (approximately one-half to 1 ml) 1-3 times daily. In large doses, it has been documented to cause nausea, vomiting, fever, and a measles-like skin rash.

Following up, a brief summary of worldwide ethnomedical uses of copaiba.

Region	Uses
Amazonia	for coughs, excessive mucous, flu, gonorrhea, incontinence, inflammation, psoriasis, skin sores, syphilis, urinary tract disorders, wounds, and as a diuretic and disinfectant
Brazil	for bacterial infections, bladder infections, bronchitis, cancer, cough, cystitis, dandruff, dermatitis, dermatosis, diarrhea, dysentery, flu, gastric disorders, gonorrhea, hypertension, incontinence, inflammation, intestinal parasites, kidney inflammation, lung disorders, pain, pneumonia, psoriasis, respiratory problems, sinusitis, skin disorders, skin ulcers, sore throat, stomach ulcers, syphilis, tetanus, tumors, urinary infections, urinary inflammation, vaginal discharge, wounds, and as an antiseptic
Europe	for bladder irritation, bronchitis, chilblains, constipation, cystitis, diarrhea, excessive mucous (bladder, vagina, respiratory tract), edema, gonorrhea, hemorrhoids, intestinal gas, itch, stimulant, urinary inflammation, vaginal discharge, venereal diseases, and as an antiseptic and diuretic
Peru	for bronchitis, excessive mucous, diuretic, edema, gonorrhea, hemorrhages, herpes, incontinence, inflammation, intestinal gas, insect bites, leishmaniasis, muscle pain, pleurisy, syphilis, tetanus, tuberculosis, ulcers, urinary infections, vaginal discharge, venereal disease, wounds
U. S.	as an antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, disinfectant, diuretic, expectorant, laxative, stimulant
Elsewhere	for constipation, dermatitis, eczema, gonorrhea, urinary insufficiency, venereal diseases, wounds, and as a massage oil

COPAIBA PLANT SUMMARY

Main Preparation Method:	cold-filtered resin
Main Actions (in order):	anti-inflammatory, analgesic (pain-reliever), anticancerous, antimicrobial, wound healer
Main Uses:	as a topical analgesic (pain-reliever) and anti-inflammatory for wounds, rashes, dermatitis, bug bites, boils, and psoriasis as an antiseptic, disinfectant, and antimicrobial agent for internal and external bacterial infections for nail and skin fungi for skin cancer for stomach ulcers and stomach cancer
Properties/Actions Documented by Research:	analgesic (pain-reliever), anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anticancerous, antifungal, antitumorous, antiulcerous, gastroprotective (protects the gastric tract), wound healer
Other Properties/Actions Documented by Traditional Use:	anesthetic, antacid, antiseptic, antiviral, astringent, carminative (expels gas), cough suppressant, disinfectant, diuretic, emetic (causes vomiting), emollient, expectorant, laxative, stimulant
Traditional Preparation:	In South America, 5-15 drops of the oleoresin in a cup of hot water is usually taken 2-3 times daily. It is applied directly to the skin for skin problems and wounds (normally prepared with 1 part copaiba resin to 5 parts glycerine or grapeseed oil). It is also employed topically as a massage oil for painful or inflamed muscles and joints - normally combined with another carrier oil (one part copaiba to ten parts carrier oil such as almond or grapeseed oil). For nail fungus and skin cancer, the resin is applied full strength directly on the affected area(s) without diluting it in another oil or glycerine.
Contraindications:	Avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes, as the resin can act as an irritant. Those sensitive to the resin may experience a measles-like rash accompanied by irritation, itching and/or tingling when using topically or taking internally. Discontinue use if these effects occur. Do not take internally in large dosages (more than 5 ml). Large dosages have been reported to cause nausea, vomiting, fever, and rashes. Discontinue or reduce dosage if these effects occur. One chemical in copaiba resin has been documented to cause hemolysis of red blood cells in vitro. Although this effect has not been studied in vivo, it is probably best to avoid long-term oral use of the resin unless you are under the direct care of a physician who can monitor this possible effect.
Drug Interactions:	None reported.

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