Tamamuri

(Brosimum acutifolium)

Family: Moraceae
Taxon: Brosimum acutifolium Huber
Synonyms: Brosimopsis acutifolia (Huber) Ducke., Brosimum acutifolium spp. obovatum Ducke., Brosimopsis obovata Ducke., Brosimum caniceps Standl., Piratinera acutifolia (Huber) Pittier.
Common names: ahua jonra, amapá doce, bois mondan, bururé, congona, leche-caspi, manichi, mercuio-vegetal, mercurio vegetal, mercurio-da-terra-firma, morure, muira-piranga, murare, murure, murure-da-terra-firma, murure-vermelho, mururi, quecho, takini, takweni, tamamuri, tauni, urupi, vegetable mercury
Phytochemicals: acutifolins A thru F, brosimacutins A- M, brosimine A & B, (-) 5-o-beta-d-xylopyranoside epi-catechin, (-) epi-catechin, (-) liquiritigenin, (-) naringenin, 3'-7-dihydroxy-4'-methoxy-flavan, 4'-hydroxy-7-8-(2''-2''-dimethyl- pyranflavan), 4'-7-dihydroxy-flavan, 4'-7-dihydroxy- 8-prenylflavan, 4'-hydroxy-7-8-(3''-hydroxy-2''-2'' -dimethyl-pyranflavan), beta-sitosterol, coniferaldehyde, dihydroconiferyl, hydroxylonchocarpin, icariside E-3 aglycone, iso-hydroxycordoin, iso-bavachin, iso-lariciresinol, iso-liquiritigenin, liquiritrigenin, luteolin, mururin A thru C, protocatechuic acid, stigmasterol, and syringaldehyde.
Parts Used: Bark

HERBAL PROPERTIES AND ACTIONS

Main Actions: eases arthritis reduces inflammation relieves pain kills fungi/yeast kills bacteria cleanses blood prevents ulcers overall tonic

Other Actions: increases libido expels worms kills cancer cells kills leukemia cells

Standard Dosage: Bark. Tincture: 2 ml three times daily; Decoction: 1 cup 3 times daily; Capsules: 1 g 3 times daily

Tamamuri is a large canopy tree of the Amazon rainforest that grows 15 to 25 m high. Tamamuri is found throughout the lower elevations of the Amazon basin, usually growing alongside streams and rivers where its fruits (similar to a fig but with one large seed inside) are eaten by fish when it falls from the tree.

Tamamuri bark contains flavans, flavanoids, lignans, phenylpropanoids, benezoids, and steroids. Many of these chemicals are novel ones never before seen by scientists, including 6 chemicals they’ve named acutifolins and 13 chemicals they’ve named brosimacutins.

Tamamuri's long-standing use for arthritis and rheumatism has been the subject of research by Western scientists. In 2003, Brazilian researchers reported that crude extracts of tamamuri bark reduced inflammation induced by various means. Other researchers have reported that two chemicals in tamamuri (mururin A and B) have the ability to inhibit protein kinase C (PKC) and protein kinase A (PKA). PKC is involved with various conditions and is one of the chemicals that the body uses to actually produce inflammation. People with autoimmune disorders, arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis usually have elevated PKC levels, and PKC inhibitors are a new class of drugs under research for these types of conditions.

In addition to autoimmune disorders and arthritis, PKC, as well as PKA, is also thought to play a role in cancer and tumor cell growth. Tamamuri's ability to inhibit PKC and PKA might be the reason behind its documented actions against cancer cells. Researchers have reported that a crude extract of tamamuri bark was cytotoxic to human colon and lung cancer cell lines in vitro as well as toxic to a leukemia cell line (including a drug-resistant leukemic cell line). However, one of these research groups attributed the cytotoxic action, not to the PKC-inhibitor mururin chemicals, but to the newly discovered brosimacutin chemicals. They have yet to report the mechanism by which these new chemicals can kill cancer cells.

While scientists have yet to test tamamuri specifically against syphilis, researchers at Cornell University reported that tamamuri bark showed in vitro antibacterial actions against other common bacteria—Bacillus and Staphylococcus. This same study reported that it was also active against Helicobacter pylori (the bacteria that is the cause of stomach ulcers) as well as Candida albicans which confirms two other traditional uses of the bark: for gastric ulcers and yeast infections. They also reported that it was active against a common strain of skin fungus.

Shipibo-Conibo Indians on the Ucayali River in the Peruvian Amazon have a legend about tamamuri. They believe that when a man ingests the white latex of the tamamuri tree that he will father light-skinned male children. They also use the bark medicinally (in decoctions) for gastro-intestinal disorders, to purify the blood and to regulate the nervous system. The Wayãpi Indians in Guyana also attribute magical properties to the tree. They believe the latex of the tree will help protect them from witchcraft and bad spells. They also prepare a decoction of the roots to treat headaches and to improve memory and put the bark in baths to treat fevers.

Tamamuri is a very common and well-respected remedy for rheumatism and arthritis throughout the Amazon and in traditional medicine systems in South America. It is also a very common remedy for syphilis, which is how it earned one of its common names, "vegetable mercury." Mercury was the leading treatment for syphilis in the late 1800s and early 1900s. . . and before we knew any better!

Following-up a brief summary of worldwide ethnomedical uses of tamamuri.

Region	Uses
Amazonia	for arthritis and rheumatism
Brazil	as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, aphrodisiac, depurative, and tonic; for arthritis, childbirth pain, gastric ulcers, menstrual pain, muscle pain, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatism, skin ulcers, and syphilis
Colombia	as a anti-asthmatic, digestive, laxative, and tonic
Guyanas	for fever, headaches, magic, muscle pains, and poor memory
Peru	as an analgesic, anthelmintic, anti-anemic, anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, anti-syphilitic, aphrodisiac, appetite stimulant, depurative, tonic, and vermifuge; for anemia, arthritis, diabetes, debility, fever, fungal infections, gastrointestinal disorders, headaches, muscle pain, nervous system regulation, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatism, syphilis, vertigo, yeast infections

TAMAMURI PLANT SUMMARY

Main Preparation Method:	tincture or decoction
Main Actions (in order):	anti-arthritic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antisyphilitic, anticandidal
Main Uses:	for arthritis, rheumatism and rheumatoid arthritis for general pain and inflammation (i.e.; muscle pain, injuries, headaches, etc.) for syphilis for yeast infections (candida) and skin fungi for gastric ulcers (H. pylori) and other gastrointestinal problems
Properties/Actions Documented by Research:	antibacterial, anti-candidal, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, cytotoxic, PKA inhibitor, PKC inhibitor
Properties/Actions Documented by Traditional Use:	analgesic, anthelmintic, anti-anemic, anti-inflammatory, anti-leukemic, anti-rheumatic, anti-syphilitic, aphrodisiac, appetite stimulant, depurative, tonic, and vermifuge
Traditional Preparation:	Tamamuri bark is traditionally prepared in decoctions and tinctures.
Contraindications:	None reported.
Drug Interactions:	None reported.

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