Pau D'arco is a tree from South America whose inner bark has been used as an analgesic (pain reliever), anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-bacerial, and diuretic. Little research is available in the North American medical literature regarding the medicinal properties of pau d’arco. At present it is difficult to make any clinical recommendations with certainty regarding the medicinal properties and uses of this interesting plant. For centuries, Indian tribes such as the Tupi and Guarani have been using Pau d'Arco herb as an important part of their traditional medicines, and as a tonic for stamina and strength. When steeped in hot water, it releases phytochemicals.
   Pau D'arco has antioxidant properties at a power similar to vitamin E (see below).

Pau D'arco chemical constituents
Pau D'arco bark has phenolic glycosides. Most of them have a glycosyl unit esterified by a benzoic acid derivative. The glycosides include iridoid glycosides, phenylethanoid glycoside, phenolic glycosides, and lignan glycosides.

Blood thinning properties of Pau D'arco
Inhibitory effects of Tabebuia impetiginosa inner bark extract on platelet aggregation and vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation through suppressions of arachidonic acid liberation and ERK1/2 MAPK activation.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2006 Nov 3. College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 361-763, Republic of Korea.
The antiplatelet and antiproliferative activities of extract of Tabebuia impetiginosa inner bark were investigated using washed rabbit platelets and cultured rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro. n-Hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions showed marked and selective inhibition of platelet aggregation induced by collagen and arachidonic acid (AA) in a dose-dependent manner. These fractions, especially the chloroform fraction, also significantly suppressed AA liberation induced by collagen in [(3)H]AA-labeled rabbit platelets. The fractions, especially the chloroform fraction, potently inhibited cell proliferation and DNA synthesis induced by platelet derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB, and inhibited the levels of phosphorylated extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK1/2) mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) stimulated by PDGF-BB, in the same concentration range that inhibits VSMC proliferation and DNA synthesis.

Pau D'arco and helicobacter pylori
Pau D'arco dried inner bark-derived constituents, particularly 2-(hydroxymethyl)anthraquinone, have some in vitro potential as Helicobacter pylori eradicating agents.

Pau D'arco antioxidant
Antioxidant activity and characterization of volatile constituents of Taheebo (Tabebuia impetiginosa Martius ex DC).
Park BS,. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Albany, California 94710, USA.
J Agric Food Chem 2003 Jan 1;51(1):295-300.
Volatiles were isolated from the dried inner bark of Tabebuia impetiginosa using steam distillation under reduced pressure followed by continuous liquid-liquid extraction. The extract was analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The major volatile constituents of T. impetiginosa were 4-methoxybenzaldehyde (52.84 microg/g), 4-methoxyphenol (38.91 microg/g), 5-allyl-1,2,3-trimethoxybenzene (elemicin; 34.15 microg/g), 1-methoxy-4-(1E)-1-propenylbenzene (trans-anethole; 33.75 microg/g), and 4-methoxybenzyl alcohol (30.29 microg/g). The antioxidant activity of the volatiles was evaluated using two different assays. The extract exhibited a potent inhibitory effect on the formation of conjugated diene hydroperoxides (from methyl linoleate) at a concentration of 1000 microg/mL. The extract also inhibited the oxidation of hexanal for 40 days at a level of 5 microg/mL. The antioxidative activity of T. impetiginosa volatiles was comparable with that of the well-known antioxidants, alpha-tocopherol, and butylated hydroxytoluene.

The tree
Pau d'Arco is a tall canopy tree found in the rainforests of the Amazon, native to Brazil. It is grown mainly in Central and South America, but can also be found in other warm climates such as Mexico, Cuba, and Florida. The Pau d'Arco tree can grow up to 150 feet high with a trunk that is four to six feet in diameter, and in spring it bursts forth with brilliant blooms of pink, yellow, purple, white, or even blue. The inner bark and heartwood of Pau d'Arco has long been used in the traditional medicines of the Indio tribes of South America, as well as by the ancient Incas and Aztecs. Pau d'Arco wood is also used widely in construction.

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