Taheebo
Scientific Name(s): Tabebuia avellanedae Lorentz ex Griseb.
Common Name(s): Ipé Roxo, Lapacho colorado, Lapacho morado, Pau d'Arco, Red lapacho, Taheebo
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Nov 22, 2021.
Clinical Overview
Use
Taheebo has traditionally been used to treat a wide range of conditions, including bacterial infections, blood coagulation, cancer, and inflammatory diseases. However, there are no well-controlled clinical trials to support use of taheebo in these conditions.
Dosing
Clinical information is lacking to provide dosing recommendations for taheebo. In phase 1 and 2 clinical trials, the active component beta-lapachone (ARQ 501) was administered weekly at doses up to 450 mg/m2, either as monotherapy or in combination with various antineoplastic agents. Contraindications: Contraindications have not been identified.
Contraindications
Contraindications have not been identified.
Pregnancy/Lactation
Avoid use. Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.
Interactions
None well documented.
Adverse Reactions
Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Toxicology
No data.
Scientific Family
- Bignoniaceae (trumpet creeper)
Botany
The Tabebuia spp., such as the Pau d’Arco tree, belongs to the Bignoniaceae plant family. It is an evergreen canopy tree native to the Amazon rainforest and adjacent areas (equatorial and tropical forests) of Central and South America, where it is popularly referred to as "Ipê Roxo." Taheebo is obtained from the bark and hardwood of the tree.1, 2, 3 This species is synonymous with Tabebuia impetiginosa (Mart. ex DC.) Standl, Tabebuia serratifolia (Vahl) Nichols, Handroanthus impetiginosus (Mart, ex DC.) Mattos, Tabebuia heptaphylla Vell. Toledo, and Tabebuia ipé Mart. ex Schum. The distinct related species Tecoma curialis Solhanha da Gama is sometimes marketed under the same names.
History
The inner bark and hardwood of T. avellanedae have been used medicinally by native South American populations for centuries.1 Taheebo is obtained from the purple-colored bark of the tree and has been used in folk medicine to treat bacterial infections, blood coagulation, cancer, and inflammatory diseases.1, 2 Its use may predate the Incas; for more than 1,000 years, taheebo was one of the primary medicines used by the Callawaya tribe. It was used topically as a poultice and concentrated tea to treat a variety of skin conditions, including fungal infections and skin cancers.2 A decoction prepared from the inner bark has been used internally to treat bacterial and fungal infections, fever, syphilis, malaria, trypanosomiasis, and stomach and bladder disorders.3 In 1967, a Brazilian news magazine reported "miraculous" cures in cancer patients using red lapacho. Between 1960 and 1990, the US National Cancer Institute (NCI) conducted research on the use of natural products, including lapachol and beta-lapachone (active components of taheebo), for the treatment of cancer.3 Studies using lapachol were discontinued due to toxicity (not specified).4 Research evaluating the anticancer activity of beta-lapachone have continued.5, 6, 7 In 1999, the FDA listed red lapacho tea as a dietary supplement and an...
