IngredientsTrichilia catigua A. Juss. belongs to the family Meliaceae — the mahogany family — and has been widely used in Brazilian traditional systems of medicine. The name "catuaba" (pronounced /kəˈtwɑːbə/; Brazilian Portuguese: [katuˈabɐ]; ultimately from Guarani) is applied broadly to infusions of the bark of a number of trees native to Brazil. The most widely used barks are derived from Trichilia catigua and Erythroxylum vaccinifolium.
"Big catuaba," in the mahogany family, is Trichilia catigua (A. Juss.), which grows 6–10 m tall, has cream-colored flowers, and — in Brazil — is referred to as catigua and angelim-rosa. Local synonyms include Chuchuhuasha, Tatuaba, Pau de Reposta, Piratancara, and Caramuru.
The name "catuaba" has historically been applied to a wide range of unrelated plant species, creating significant confusion in commerce, ethnobotany, and research. Other catuaba preparations use the bark of trees from the following genera or families: Anemopaegma, Ilex, Micropholis, Phyllanthus, Secondatia, Tetragastris, and species from the Myrtaceae. Three additional (unapproved) botanical names for catuaba are used incorrectly in herbal commerce today: Juniperus brasiliensis (thought to refer to "small catuaba"), Anemopaegma mirandum, and Eriotheca candolleana, which are completely different species. Erythroxylum catuaba and Trichilia catigua are the preferred Brazilian herbal medicine species, with the longest documented history of use as "big and little catuaba." Both types are used interchangeably in Brazilian herbal medicine systems for the same conditions.
The Brazilian plants known and used as catuaba are represented by more than twenty different species; however, the plant most commonly found in Brazil as "catuaba" is the species Trichilia catigua A. Juss., Meliaceae. The two species are chemically distinct: researchers investigating the identities of various "Catuabas" using analytical methods to "fingerprint" two species — Trichilia catigua and Anemopaegma arvense — were able to determine that there is indeed a large difference in chemical composition between the two.
The bark of Trichilia catigua A. Juss. (Meliaceae), popularly known as "big catuaba," is traditionally used in Brazilian folk medicine for its neuroactive potential as a memory stimulant, and for antinociceptive and antidepressant effects. It is commonly available in the form of extracts, capsules, teas, and tinctures. One of its most prominent commercial forms is the multi-herb product Catuama®: a herbal medicinal extract named Catuama® contains a mixture of Paullinia cupana (guarana; Sapindaceae), Trichilia catigua (catuaba; Meliaceae), Ptychopetalum olacoides (muirapuama; Olacaceae), and Zingiber officinale (ginger; Zingiberaceae), and is used as a body stimulant, energetic tonic, and aphrodisiac.
Catuaba/Catigua have a long-standing history of use as an aphrodisiac. The Tupi Indians discovered its use as an aphrodisiac centuries ago and have since composed many songs referring to its effects. In the Brazilian state of Minas there goes a saying: "Until a father reaches 60, the son is his; after that, the son is Catuaba's!"
Trichilia catigua preparations have been popularly used in Brazil as a tonic for the treatment of fatigue, stress, impotence, and deficiency of memory. In Brazilian folk medicine, Trichilia catigua is used for its neuroactive properties, such as neurostimulant, antioxidant, and anti-neuroinflammatory actions.
T. catigua is found in South America (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Bolivia) and is widely used as a neurostimulant, anti-neurasthenic, and aphrodisiac. It is also a component of herbal tonics that have widely been marketed in Brazil for the past twenty years. Trichilia catigua A. Juss (Meliaceae) has been widely used in Brazilian traditional systems of medicine for the treatment of fatigue, stress, impotence, and memory deficit.
Catuaba is typically prepared as a decoction or infusion, with the shredded bark steeped in hot water to extract its medicinal properties. The resulting herbal brew is consumed orally as a tonic to support sexual health, promote relaxation, and enhance overall vitality. Catuaba is often combined with other botanicals, such as muira puama and guarana, to create traditional aphrodisiac blends and herbal remedies.
The main phytochemical compounds identified in the barks of T. catigua are flavalignans, flavan-3-ols, and flavonoids, which are associated with its antioxidant activity. More specifically, the bark contains high concentrations of polyphenols including flavan-3-ols (procyanidin B2, epicatechin, catechin), flavalignans (cinchonains Ia, Ib, IIa, IIb), and phenylpropanoid derivatives (chlorogenic acid).
A mixture of flavalignan cinchonains Ia and Ib was isolated from the bark of Trichilia catigua. The structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic data of the natural products and their methylated derivatives including 2D NMR experiments. Cinchonain IIa, cinchonain Ia, and cinchonain Ib were detected in all four polarity-based extracts tested. The flavalignans (flavanols substituted with phenylpropanoids) cinchonains IIa, Ia, and Ib, and proanthocyanidins were isolated in extracts obtained from the barks of T. catigua.
Other active chemicals identified in catuaba bark include cedrelone, geraniol, procyanidin B2, epicatechin, catechins, catuabine A, B, and C, chlorogenic acid, cinchonain Ic and Id, and gallic acid derivatives. Chemical studies have also indicated the presence of omega-phenyl alkanes, omega-phenyl alkanoic acids, omega-phenyl-gamma-lactones, alkyl-gamma-lactones, alkenyl-gamma-lactones, and fatty acids, besides β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, campesterol, and a mixture of flavalignans in T. catigua extracts.
The main constituents of T. catigua exhibited potent antioxidant activity, which is important in the prevention of cellular damage triggered by oxidative stress in acute and chronic neuropathological conditions. T. catigua extract, described as a rich mixture of phenolic acids, catechins, and flavonolignans, excels by its ability to decrease lipid peroxidation (EC₅₀ = 227.18 ± 9.04 μg/mL), and to work as an anti-glycation agent, and inhibitor of both tyrosinase and 5-lipoxygenase (IC₅₀ = 358.84 ± 19.05 and 56.25 ± 14.53 μg/mL, respectively).
Significant evidence has been provided for a dopamine-mediated antidepressant-like effect of the active principle(s) present in the hydroalcoholic extract of T. catigua in mice and rats, using both in vivo and in vitro strategies. The antinociceptive and antidepressant effects are attributed mainly to dopaminergic action. Pharmacological experiments in animal models demonstrated that treatment with the D1 receptor antagonist SCH23390 completely prevented the antinociceptive effect of T. catigua extract, while the possible involvement of the dopaminergic system was further substantiated by data showing potentiation of apomorphine-induced hypothermia and prevention of haloperidol-induced catalepsy.
The aqueous extract of T. catigua bark has been studied as a dual inhibitor of monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and its antioxidant potential through interaction with the xanthine/xanthine oxidase (X/XO) pathway has also been explored.
The effect of T. catigua extracts on the cholinergic system was evaluated for the first time in a 2018 study. All extracts tested inhibited the activity of acetylcholinesterase in vitro, and the most potent effect was obtained for the hydroalcoholic extract (IC₅₀ = 142 μg/ml), followed by chloroform, aqueous, and hexane extracts, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 313 to 346 μg/ml. The inhibition of AChE demonstrated for the four extracts may be due to the presence of high contents of cinchonains IIa, Ia, and Ib, which are flavalignans — flavanols substituted with phenylpropanoids. The major inhibition observed for the hydroalcoholic extract can be explained by the presence of procyanidins B2, found only in this extract.
Studies demonstrate that the herbal medicine Catuama produces significant vasorelaxation responses in vessels from different animal species, and these effects are in great part dependent on the release of NO or NO-derived substances. The vasorelaxant action appears to be due primarily to the active principles present in P. cupana and T. catigua. These results may contribute to the explanation of the beneficial effects of Catuama herbal medicine in the management of cardiovascular disturbances.
Pre-clinical studies with T. catigua extracts have identified anti-inflammatory activity among the plant's pharmacological properties. Inhibition of inflammatory mediators has also been implicated: studies with Catuama® revealed that T. catigua contributed to inhibition of TNF-α, PGE₂, and LTB₄. Documented activities include antibacterial, trypanocidal, antioxidant, antiarrhythmic, antidepressant, improvement of memory, anti-inflammatory, and antinociceptive activities, as well as phytocosmetic activity in cellulite treatment and in anti-ageing.
In vitro studies have found MIC values for ethyl-acetate fractions and cinchonains Ia and Ib against Candida glabrata of 9.76 μg/mL and 3.9 μg/mL, respectively. Cinchonain Ib combined with epicatechin or procyanidin B2 displayed synergistic effects, particularly with amphotericin B, with microscopy analysis revealing cell membrane damage. The findings suggest that compounds isolated from T. catigua hold considerable potential for developing new antifungal agents against Candida species, particularly C. glabrata, with promising safety and synergistic profiles.
Preclinical (animal) evidence — rodent studies:
The antidepressant-like effects of T. catigua extract were assessed in two species of rodents (mice and rats) by means of in vivo (forced swimming test) and in vitro (monoamine reuptake and release in synaptosomal preparations) approaches. Acute oral treatment with the extract produced antidepressant-like effects in the forced swimming model in both mice and rats. Additionally, it augmented the release of serotonin and dopamine in rat brain synaptosomal membranes.
A 2011 preclinical mouse study investigated the antidepressant, anxiolytic, motor, and cognitive effects of crude extract (CE) or ethyl-acetate fraction (EAF) of Trichilia catigua: the study examined possible antidepressant, anxiolytic, motor and cognitive effects of the crude extract (CE) or ethyl-acetate fraction (EAF) of Trichilia catigua, and also performed analyses of total phenolics and total tannins content, as well as in vitro antioxidant activity of CE and EAF. CE (200–800 mg/kg) and EAF (100–400 mg/kg) were orally administered to mice and behavioral tests were performed 1 hour later.
Evidence strength: All antidepressant and anxiolytic evidence for T. catigua as a single botanical is preclinical (animal models and in vitro studies). No published human randomized controlled trials examining T. catigua alone for depression or anxiety have been identified in the peer-reviewed literature.
Preclinical evidence — ischemia and oxidative stress models:
Trichilia catigua, a traditional Brazilian herbal medicine, exhibits beneficial behavioral effects in experimental models of neuropathologies and protects rat hippocampal slices from oxidative stress induced by ischemia-reperfusion injury. Trichilia catigua, a traditional Brazilian herbal medicine alleged to exhibit a variety of neuropharmacological properties (antidepressant, anti-neurasthenic, anti-inflammatory), was investigated for neuroprotective properties in rat hippocampal slices subjected to 2 hours of oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) followed by 1 hour of reperfusion. Ischemia-reperfusion significantly decreased mitochondrial viability, increased oxidation markers, increased lactate dehydrogenase in the incubation medium, and decreased non-protein thiols. T. catigua (40–100 μg/mL) protected slices from the deleterious effects of OGD when present before OGD and during the reperfusion periods.
Further research showed that in an in vivo ischemia model, animals received ethyl-acetate fraction (400 mg/kg, orally) 30 minutes before and once per day during 7 days after reperfusion. Ischemic mice exhibited anxiogenic-like behaviors, hippocampal neurodegeneration, and decreased hippocampal neurogenesis. The anxiogenic-like effect was counteracted by ethyl-acetate fraction administration. Furthermore, ethyl-acetate fraction restored the number of newborn neurons in the dentate gyrus of hippocampus of ischemic mice. In conclusion, T. catigua ethyl-acetate fraction promoted functional recovery and restored hippocampal neurogenesis in ischemic mice.
One study concluded that delayed administration of EAF post-ischemia effectively prevented memory impairment and decreased oxidative stress, dendritic deterioration, and synaptic protein loss within a therapeutic window of exposure that ranged from 1 to 6 hours, with the researchers noting this specific preclinical research may have clinical relevance by suggesting the possible utility of this plant for the development of neuroprotective strategies in the setting of ischemic brain diseases.
Evidence strength: Neuroprotective and pro-cognitive evidence is exclusively preclinical (in vitro rat hippocampal slice and mouse in vivo ischemia models). No human clinical trials on cognitive effects of T. catigua alone have been identified.
A study addressed the effects of T. catigua hydroalcoholic extract in mouse nociception behavioral models, and evaluated the possible mechanisms involved. Male Swiss mice were submitted to hot-plate, writhing, and von Frey tests after oral treatment with T. catigua extract (200 mg/kg, p.o.). The extract displayed antinociceptive effect in all three models. The possible involvement of the dopaminergic system in the actions of T. catigua extract was substantiated by data showing potentiation of apomorphine-induced hypothermia and by the prevention of haloperidol-induced catalepsy. In conclusion, the antinociceptive effects of T. catigua extract seem to be mainly associated with the activation of the dopaminergic system and, to a lesser extent, through interaction with the opioid pathway.
Catuama has also been found able to both revert and prevent ventricular fibrillation in the isolated rabbit heart, and T. catigua extract is probably the main agent responsible for these actions.
Evidence strength: Antinociceptive evidence is animal-only; no human pain trials with T. catigua as a standalone ingredient have been identified.
Results demonstrate that the medicinal herb Catuama produces significant vasorelaxation responses in vessels from different animal species, and show that its effects are in great part dependent on the release of NO or NO-derived substances. The vasorelaxant action of the product Catuama appears to be due to the action of the active principles present mainly in P. cupana, T. catigua, and, to a lesser extent, in Z. officinalis. In the isolated rabbit heart model, Catuama was observed able to reverse ventricular fibrillation, avoiding reinduction and prolonged intraventricular conduction — this may act as an antiarrhythmic effect. This same effect was observed for T. catigua extracts.
Evidence strength: Cardiovascular data are restricted to ex vivo isolated tissue (rabbit heart, isolated vessel rings from rats, guinea pigs, and rabbits). No human cardiovascular trials with T. catigua as a standalone agent have been identified.
The alcoholic extract of the Trichilia catigua bark exhibits significant effects in stimulating erection time in the rabbit cavernosa and is generally exploited as a stimulant of the reproductive system and as an anti-fatigue drug. Only one study has been conducted on catuaba's ability to enhance erectile function. It was published in 2001 using a standard model of animal research used to determine if a substance can enhance erectile function in rabbits by facilitating blood flow to the penis.
A Frontiers in Pharmacology study (2022) evaluated whether T. catigua could protect male reproductive organs from chemical insult: after induction with di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), T. catigua extract was orally administered to mice for 28 days. TCE significantly improved the anogenital distance and the organ indexes of the epididymides and testes, and also significantly reduced varicocele and interstitial cell lesions compared to the model group. High-dose TCE reduced the sperm abnormality rate, increased the levels of sex hormones, Na⁺K⁺ and Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺-ATPase enzyme activity, and antioxidant enzyme vitality, coupled with a significant decrease in LH and MDA contents.
Evidence strength: All aphrodisiac evidence is preclinical (rabbit and mouse models). No randomized controlled trials in humans on the sexual function effects of T. catigua alone have been identified.
One study was designed to compare the chemical composition and in vitro antioxidant and anticholinesterase activity of four different polarity extracts, and to select the most active preparation for in vivo studies in rodent models of stress, fatigue, and memory. The hydroalcoholic extract was found most active and was advanced to in vivo antifatigue testing in rodents.
Evidence strength: Antifatigue evidence is preclinical; the adaptogenic classification is informal and based on traditional use and animal model data.
A mixture of flavalignan cinchonains Ia and Ib isolated from the bark of Trichilia catigua exhibited antibacterial activity against Bacillus species. A mixture of flavalignans, including cinchonains (also found in quinine bark), was isolated from the bark of Trichilia catigua and reported to have antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancerous properties. As discussed above, antifungal activity against clinically relevant Candida species has been identified in vitro, with Cinchonain Ib combined with epicatechin or procyanidin B2 displaying synergistic effects, particularly with amphotericin B, and microscopy analysis revealing cell membrane damage.
Evidence strength: Antimicrobial evidence is limited to in vitro laboratory assays. No clinical infectious disease studies have been identified.
The following dosages reflect those reported in specific studies only, and are not recommendations:
No standardized human clinical dosage for T. catigua as a single-herb ingredient has been established in peer-reviewed literature. Dosages used in animal studies cannot be directly extrapolated to humans.
The only human safety data identified evaluated chronic administration of 25 mL of Catuama® twice a day during 28 days for any toxic effect in healthy volunteers of both sexes. No severe adverse reactions or haematological and biochemical changes were reported. Available studies indicate the safety of Trichilia catigua for use in healthy human volunteers, with no known side effects or adverse effects (based on the Oliveira et al., 2005 study). It is important to note that this safety finding pertains to the Catuama® polyherbal formulation administered over 28 days, not to T. catigua alone or to longer durations of use.
Acute toxicity testing in mice established that the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of T. catigua extract was up to 2.7 g/kg.
Given the demonstrated mechanisms of action identified in preclinical studies, several pharmacological interaction considerations are relevant:
This species of tree is now harvested and exported out of Brazil by inexperienced or unethical harvestors, resulting in the incorporation of various materials into herbal products sold internationally as just "catuaba." The broad application of the name "catuaba" to over twenty distinct plant species means that commercial products labeled as catuaba may not contain T. catigua, and compositional verification is difficult without chromatographic fingerprinting.
The substantial body of pharmacological research on T. catigua is almost entirely preclinical, consisting of animal behavioral studies and in vitro assays. Pre-clinical studies with T. catigua extracts have identified many pharmacological properties, such as anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, antinociceptive, pro-memory, and neuroprotective against ischemia and oxidative stress; however, none of these effects have been confirmed in adequately powered, placebo-controlled human clinical trials. The sole human study examined the Catuama® polyherbal combination for safety over 28 days only — not for efficacy, and not for T. catigua in isolation. Conclusions about human efficacy therefore cannot be drawn from existing evidence.
Health conditions that Trichilia catigua may help support.
Body systems that Trichilia catigua may help support.
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