Cedro rosa is a large tree that grows up to 30 meters in height with a thick trunk up to 1 meter in diameter. The wood has a strong cedar smell. It produces leaves about 10 cm long, small white flowers, and a fruit capsule with winged seeds inside. The wood is much sought after by the lumber companies since it is heavy, durable and resistant to insects. It is commonly used by local Amazon inhabitants for building materials.

TRIBAL AND HERBAL MEDICINE USES

In the Brazilian Amazon the bark and leaves are added to baths for body pains, colds, flu, and fever. In the Peruvian Amazon a bark infusion is used for diarrhea, urinary problems, and ear infections. In Belize a handful of grated bark is soaked in three cups of water for about 6 hours and then taken by the 1/2 cup for internal injuries, abdominal pain, bruises, postoperative states, and to clear the lungs of mucus. In current Brazilian herbal medicine the bark is considered a tonic, bitter, fever-reducer, and astringent. It is often employed for lack of appetite, a stomach tonic, arthritis, fevers, diarrhea and dysentery. Externally it is used for skin ulcer, wounds and placed in the ear for ear infections. In Peruvian herbal medicine cedro rosa is used as an emetic (to induce vomiting), for fevers, gangrene, diarrhea, coughs, wounds, snakebites, toothaches, malaria, earaches, skin ulcers, spasms, and urinary infections.

PLANT CHEMICALS

Chemical compounds found in cedro rosa include: 6-acetoxycedrodorin, 6-deoxy-9alpha-hydroxycedrodorin, 9-alpha-hydroxycedrodorin, angolensic-acid-methyl-ester, cedrelanol, cedrodorin, mexicanolide, gedunin, odoratol, odoratone, and photogedunine.

BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES AND CLINICAL RESEARCH