„Sangra d'água“ is a medicinal tree plant (genus Croton). There are several species, including: C. urucurana Baill., C. salutaris Casar., C. lechleri Müll.Arg., C. planostigma Klotzch. [Croton urucurana (Euphorbiaceae) is the best known. We conducted „filed, lab studies“ and a literature
review on popular usage, occurrence and bioactivity of C. urucurana in southwestern Mato Grosso (MT-sw), Brazil, 2003–2007. In MT-sw it grows spontaneously
and quickly in watercourses margins. The additional light plant exposure accelerated
its reproduction. The inflorescence releases dust that causes allergies-skin irritation.
In MT-sw it is used to treat female (discharge, sores, inflammation, cyst) and male
genital disorders (prostate); cancer, gastritis, intestinal- stomach ulcers, bruises,
infections, hemorrhoids, pain-in-legs, blood-purifying. In other regions of Brazil,
it is also used as anti-hemorrhagic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, anti-viral, healing,
and haemostatic. Obtaining bark and tree sap should be done in the morning and opposite
to the rising sun. The water from boiling the bark is used for bathing. Other research
on C. urucurana latex discloses that the healing action is attributed to alkaloid taspine; in mice
it develops peripheral analgesic activity; in rats, the ingestion was highly toxic,
why should it have external use only. The users of these plants should make sure the
proper procedures have been taken, consulting qualified professionals to target efficiency
and avoiding side effects. In Cáceres (MT-sw), bark and sap are sold by healers, whose
expertise is primarily inherited from their ancestors. From this plant the honeybees
extract resin to produce propolis. It also has other uses within the conception of
sustainable development.
Acknowledgement:
For Fapemat – financial support, and for UNEMAT – institutional support; To the collaborators
colleagues from the research group FLOBIO – (Plants carrying Bioactive substances)
