Common names | Jatoba
Scientific name | Hymenaea courbaril
Used part | Bark
Known active compounds | astilibin, beta-bisabolene, copalic acid 

Potential benefits in cosmetics | anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory 

Product name | Jatoba Bark-ANB

 

Plant Story

Jatoba (Hymenaea courbaril) is a large tree indigenous to the Amazon rainforest. It produces oblong, brown, pod-like fruits with large seeds inside. The fruit is also called “stinking toe” describing the smell and taste. It is called azucar huayo in Peru and jatoba in Brazil. Its bark and leaves have long been used by indigenous people in rainforests. The bark was used to treat cystitis, hepatitis, prostatitis, coughs, stomach problems, and skin fungus. In Brazilian herbal medicine, the bark is known to be a tonic, a digestive stimulant, astringent, antifungal, cough suppressant, and wound healing.

 

Jatoba is rich in active compounds including diterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and flavonoids. It also contains terpenes, phenolic compounds, procyanidins, and coumarins. The main compounds found in jatoba include astilbin, beta-bisabolene, beta-copaene, beta-sitosterol, calarene, copalic acid, cubebene, and kovalenic acid. A study tested with the whole extract of Hymenaea courbaril showed anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, which support its traditional use in folk medicine.