This product is no longer sold by Raintree Nutrition, Inc. See the main product page for more information on why. Click on one of the product search links in the left margin of this page to find other available products. You can also see the rainforest products page to find other companies selling rainforest herbal supplements or rainforest plants in general.

Embauba contains glycosides, lipids, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, cardenolids, triterpenes, polyphenols, steroids, and proanthocyanidins. It has been traditionally used throughout the Amazon rainforest for asthma and other upper respiratory conditions for many years.* For more information on embauba (Cecropia sp) , please refer to the Database File for Embauba in the Tropical Plant Database. To see pictures of embauba, click here.

Traditional Uses:* for asthma; for upper respiratory problems (coughs, bronchitis, COPD, emphysema, pulmonary sarcoidosis); for upper respiratory bacterial and viral infections; for high blood pressure; for Parkinson's disease

Suggested Use: This plant is best prepared as an infusion (tea): Use one teaspoon of powder for each cup of water. Pour boiling water over herb in cup and allow to steep 10 minutes. Strain tea (or allow settled powder to remain in the bottom of cup) and drink warm. It is traditionally taken in 1 cup amounts, 2-3 times daily. For more complete instructions on preparing herbal infusions, see the Methods for Preparing Herbal Remedies Page.

Contraindications:

• 1. Not to be taken during pregnancy.
• 2. Embauba has demonstrated hypotensive activity in animal studies. It is probably contraindicated in persons with low blood pressure.
• 3. Embauba has demonstrated a hypoglycemic effect in animals and humans. It is contraindicated for persons with hypoglycemia. Diabetics should use this plant with caution as blood sugar levels should be monitored closely.

Drug Interactions: None reported in the literature; however, embauba may enhance the effect of blood pressure drugs and anti-diabetic drugs.

---

Published Research on Embauba

All available third-party research on embauba can be found at PubMed. A partial listing of the published research on embauba updated through Feb 2019 is shown below:

Bronchodilator & Anti-asthmatic Actions:
Kim, H., et al. "Chlorogenic acid suppresses pulmonary eosinophilia, IgE production, and Th2-type cytokine production in an ovalbumin-induced allergic asthma: activation of STAT-6 and JNK is inhibited by chlorogenic acid." Int. Immunopharmacol. 2010 Oct; 10(10): 1242-8.
Tanae, M., et al. "A. Chemical standardization of the aqueous extract of Cecropia glaziovii Sneth endowed with antihypertensive, bronchodilator, antiacid secretion and antidepressant-like activities." Phytomedicine 2007; 14: 309–313.
Carbajal, D., et al. "Pharmacological screening of plant decoctions commonly used in Cuban folk medicine." J. Ethnopharmacol. 1991; 33: 21-4.

Anti-inflammatory, Antispasmodic, Muscle-Relaxant & Pain-relieving Actions:
Müller, S. et al. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of aqueous extract of Cecropia glaziovii leaves. J. Ethnopharmacol. 2016; 185: 255–262.
Aguirre-Crespo, F., et al. "Review of theoretical prediction models for organic extract metabolites, effect of drying temperature on smooth muscle relaxing activity induced by organic extracts specially Cecropia obtusifolia portal and web server predictors of drug-protein interaction." Mini. Rev. Med. Chem. 2015 Feb; 19.
Pacheco, N., et al. Cecropia pachystachya: A species with expressive in vivo topical anti-inflammatory and in vitro antioxidant effects." Biomed. Res. Int. 2014; 1–10.
Maquiaveli, C., et al. "Cecropia pachystachya extract attenuated the renal lesion in 5/6 nephrectomized rats by reducing inflammation and renal arginase activity." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2014 Dec; 158 Pt A: 49-57.
Aragão. D., et al. "Anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and cytotoxic effects of the methanol extract of Cecropia pachystachya Trécul." Phytother. Res. 2013 Jun; 27(6): 926-30.
Costa, G., et al. "Chemical and pharmacological aspects of the genus Cecropia." Nat. Prod. Commun. 2011 Jun; 6(6): 913-20.
Schinella, G., et al. "Anti-inflammatory and apoptotic activities of pomolic acid isolated from Cecropia pachystachya." Planta Med. 74; 215–220.
Perea Guerrero, C., et al. "A pharmacological study of Cecropia obtusifolia Bertol. aqueous extract." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2001; 76(3): 279-84.
Hikawczuk, V., et al. "Anti-inflammatory activity of compounds isolated from Cecropia pachystachya. An. Assoc. Quím. Argent. 1998; 86: 167–170.
Feng, P., et al. "Pharmacological screening of some West Indian medicinal plants." J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 1962; 14: 556-61.

Antimicrobial & Antiparasitic Actions:
Caldas dos Santos, T. et al. "In vitro antiherpes effect of C-glycosyl flavonoid enriched fraction of Cecropia glaziovii encapsulated in PLGA nanoparticles." Mater. Sci. Eng. 2017; C 75: 1214–1220.
Brango-Vanegas, J. et al. "Glycosylflavonoids from Cecropia pachystachya Trécul are quorum sensing inhibitors." Phytomedicine 2014; 21: 670–675.
Cruz, E., et al. "Leishmanicidal activity of Cecropia pachystachya flavonoids: Arginase inhibition and altered mitochondrial DNA arrangement." Phytochemistry 2013; 89: 71–77.
Valdés, A., et al. "[Antimalarial activity and cytotoxicity of hydroalcoholic extracts from six plant species used in Cuban traditional medicine]." Rev. Cubana Med. Trop. 2011; Jan-Apr; 63(1): 52-7.
Uchôa, V., et al. "Antimalarial activity of compounds and mixed fractions of Cecropia pachystachya." Drug Dev. Res. 2010; 71: 82–91.
Botsaris, A. "Plants used traditionally to treat malaria in Brazil: the archives of Flora Medicinal. J. Ethnobiol. Ethnomed. 2007; 3: 1–8.
Rojas, J., et al. "Screening for antimicrobial activity of ten medicinal plants used in Colombian folkloric medicine: A possible alternative in the treatment of non-nosocomial infections." BMC Complement. Altern. Med. 2006 Feb; 6(1): 2.
Boman, H., et al. "Antibacterial peptides: basic facts and emerging concepts." J. Internal Med. 2003; 254: 197–215
Zavala, M., et al. "Antimicrobial screening of some medicinal plants." Phytother. Res. 1997; 11(5): 368-71.
Lopez Abraham, A., et al. "Potential antineoplastic activity of Cuban plants." Rev. Cubana Farm. 1981; 15(1): 71-7.
Misas, C., et al. "Contribution to the biological evaluation of Cuban plants. I." Rev. Cub. Med. Trop. 1979; 31: 5.

Hypoglycemic & Anti-diabetic Actions:
Sanchez, M., et al. "Potential of the chlorogenic acid as multitarget agent: Insulin-secretagogue and PPAR α/γ dual agonist." Biomed. Pharmacother. 2017 Oct; 94: 169-175.
Santana-Gálvez J., "Chlorogenic acid: recent advances on its dual role as a food additive and a nutraceutical against metabolic syndrome." Molecules. 2017 Feb; 22(3).
Xiao, J., et al. "Advances on the flavonoid C-glycosides and health benefits." Crit. Rev. Food Sci. Nutr. 2015; 56: S29–S45.
Costa, G., et al. "Chemical and pharmacological aspects of the genus Cecropia." Nat. Prod. Commun. 2011 Jun; 6(6): 913-20.
Andrade-Cetto, A., et al. "Gluconeogenesis inhibition and phytochemical composition of two Cecropia species." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2010 Jul; 130(1): 93-7.
Alonso-Castro, A., et al. "Cecropia obtusifolia Bertol and its active compound, chlorogenic acid, stimulate 2-NBDglucose uptake in both insulin-sensitive and insulin-resistant 3T3 adipocytes." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2008 Dec; 120(3): 458-64.
Andrade-Cetto, A., et al. "Alfa-glucosidase-inhibiting activity of some Mexican plants used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes." J Ethnopharmacol. 2008 Feb; 116(1): 27-32.
Revilla-Monsalve, M., et al. "Hypoglycemic effect of Cecropia obtusifolia Bertol aqueous extracts on type 2 diabetic patients." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2007 May; 111(3): 636-40.
Lans, C. "Ethnomedicines used in Trinidad and Tobago for urinary problems and diabetes mellitus." J. Ethnobiol. Ethnomedicine. 2006 Oct 13; 2: 45.
Andrade-Cetto, A., et al. "Disease-consensus index as a tool of selecting potential hypoglycemic plants in Chikindzonot, Yucatan, Mexico." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2006 Sep; 107(2): 199-204.
Nicasio, P., et al. "Hypoglycemic effect and chlorogenic acid content in two Cecropia species." Phytother. Res. 2005; 19(8): 661-4.
Andrade-Cetto, A., et al. "Mexican plants with hypoglycaemic effect used in the treatment of diabetes." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Jul; 99(3): 325-48.
Herrera-Arellano, A., et al. "Clinical trial of Cecropia obtusifolia and Marrubium vulgare leaf extracts on blood glucose and serum lipids in type 2 diabetics." Phytomedicine. 2004 Nov; 11(7-8): 561-6.
Andrade-Cetto, A., et al. "Hypoglycemic effect of Cecropia obtusifolia on streptozotocin diabetic rats." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2001; 78(2-3): 145-9.
Raman-Ramos, R., et al. "Experimental study of hypoglycemic activity of some antidiabetic plants." Arch. Invest. Med. 1991; 22(1): 87-93.
Mellado, V., et al. "Effect of the aqueous extract of Cecropia obtusifolia on the blood sugar of normal and pancreatectomized dogs." Int. J. Crude Drug Res. 1984; 22(1): 11-16.
Perez, R., et al. "A study of the hypoglycemic effect of some Mexican plants." J. Ethnopharmacol. 1984; 12(3): 253-62.

Hypotensive & Heart Tonic Actions:
Bipat, R., et al. "Beneficial effect of medicinal plants on the contractility of post-hypoxic isolated guinea pig atria - Potential implications for the treatment of ischemic-reperfusion injury." Pharm. Biol. 2016 Aug; 54(8): 1483-9.
Guerrero, E., et al. "Vasoactive effects of different fractions from two Panamanians plants used in Amerindian traditional medicine." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2010 Sep; 131(2): 497-501.
Tanae, M., et al. "Chemical standardization of the aqueous extract of Cecropia glaziovii Sneth endowed with antihypertensive, bronchodilator, antiacid secretion and antidepressant-like activities." Phytomedicine 2007; 14: 309–313.
Lima-Landman, M. et al. Antihypertensive effect of a standardized aqueous extract of Cecropia glaziovii Sneth in rats: an in vivo approach to the hypotensive mechanism." Phytomedicine 2007; 14: 314–320.
Ramos Almeida, R., et al. "Activity of Cecropia extract on contractility of cardiac and smooth muscles in wistar rats." Clin. Exp. Pharmacol. Physiol. 2006 Jan; 33(1-2): 109-13.
Consolini, A., et al. "Cardiotonic and sedative effects of Cecropia pachystachya Mart. (ambay) on isolated rat hearts and conscious mice." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2006 Jun 15; 106(1): 90-6.
Consolini, A., et al. "Cardiovascular effects of the South American medicinal plant Cecropia pachystachya (ambay) on rats." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Jan; 96(3): 417-22
Lacaille-Dubois., et al. "Search for potential angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitors from plants." Phytomedicine. 2001; 8(1): 47-52.
Salas, I., et al. "Antihypertensive effect of Cecropia obtusifolia (Moraceae) leaf extract on rats." Rev. Biol. Trop. 1987; 35(1): 127-30.
Vidrio, H., et al. "Hypotensive activity of Cecropia obtusifolia." J. Pharm. Sci. 1982; 71(4): 475-6.

Renal Protective & Diuretic Actions:
Maquiaveli, C., et al. "Brazilian embauba (Cecropia pachystachya) extract reduces renal lesions in 5/6 nephrectomized rats." J. Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone Syst. 2014; 15: 430–439.
Maquiaveli, C., et al. "Cecropia pachystachya extract attenuated the renal lesion in 5/6 nephrectomized rats by reducing inflammation and renal arginase activity." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2014 Dec; 2; 158 Pt A: 49-57.
Hullatti, K., et al. "Phytochemical investigation and diuretic activity of Cyclea peltata leaf extracts." J. Adv. Pharm. Technol. Res. 2011 Oct; 2(4): 241-4.
Costa, G., et al. "Chemical and pharmacological aspects of the genus Cecropia." Nat. Prod. Commun. 2011 Jun; 6(6): 913-20.
Vargas Howell, R., et al. "Diuretic effect of Cecropia obtusifolia (Moraceae) on albino rats." Rev. Biol. Trop. 1996; 44(1): 93-6.

Antioxidant & Wound-Healing Actions:
Tošović, J., "Antioxidative mechanisms in chlorogenic acid." Food Chem. 2017 Dec; 237: 390-398.
Müller, S. et al. "Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of aqueous extract of Cecropia glaziovii leaves." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2016; 185: 255–262.
Duque, A., et al. "In vivo wound healing activity of gels containing Cecropia pachystachya leaves." J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 2016; 68: 128–138.
Xiao, J., et al. "Advance on the flavonoid C-glycosides and health benefits." Crit. Rev. Food Sci. Nutr. 2015; 56: S29–S45. 
Gazal, M., et al. "Preventive effect of Cecropia pachystachya against ketamine-induced manic behavior and oxidative stress in rats." Neurochem. Res. 2015 Jul; 40(7): 1421-30.
Pacheco, N., et al. "Cecropia pachystachya: A species with expressive in vivo topical anti-inflammatory and in vitro antioxidant effects." Biomed. Res. Int. 2014; 301294. 1–10.
Castaneda, A., et al. "Antimutagenic activity of two medicinal phytoextracts in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster." Pharm. Biol. 2011 Jun; 49(6): 640-7.
Nayak, B. et al. "Cecropia peltata L (Cecropiaceae) has wound-healing potential: a preclinical study in a Sprague Dawley rat model." Int. J. Low Extrem. Wounds. 2006 Mar; 5(1): 20-6.
Desmarchelier, C., et al. "Pharmacological activity of South American plants: effects on spontaneous in vivo lipid peroxidation." Phytother. Res. 2003; 17(1): 80-2.
Velazquez, E., et al. "Antioxidant activity of Paraguayan plant extracts." Fitoterapia. 2003; 74(1-2): 91-7.

Anti-anxiety & Antidepressant Actions:
Ortmann, C., et al. "LC/QTOF profile and preliminary stability studies of an enriched flavonoid fraction of Cecropia pachystachya Trécul leaves with potential antidepressant-like activity." Biomed. Chromatogr. 2017; 31: 1–13.
Ortmann, C., et al. "Enriched flavonoid fraction from Cecropia pachystachya Trecul leaves exerts antidepressant-like behavior and protects brain against oxidative stress in rats subjected to chronic mild stress." Neurotox. Res. 2016; 29: 469–483.
Gazal, M., et al. "Antidepressant-like effects of aqueous extract from Cecropia pachystachya leaves in a mouse model of chronic unpredictable stress." Brain Res. Bull. 2014; 108: 10–17.
Rocha, F., et al. "Antidepressant-like effect of Cecropia glazioui Sneth and its constituents – In vivo and in vitro characterization of the underlying mechanism." Phytomedicine 2007; 14: 396–402.
Rocha, F., et al. "Evaluation of the anxiolytic-like effects of Cecropia glazioui Sneth in mice." Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav. 2002; 71(1-2): 183-90.

Antacid Actions:
Souccar, C., et al. "Inhibition of gastric acid secretion by a standardized aqueous extract of Cecropia glaziovii Sneth and underlying mechanism." Phytomedicine 2008;15; 462–469.

Non-Toxic Actions:
Castaneda, A., et al. "Antimutagenic activity of two medicinal phytoextracts in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster." Pharm. Biol. 2011 Jun; 49(6): 640-7.
Toledo, V., et al. "Genotoxicity testing of Cecropia obtusifolia extracts in two in vivo assays: the wing somatic mutation and recombination test of Drosophila and the human cytokinesis-block micronucleus test." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2008 Feb; 116(1): 58-63.

Chemical Constituents:
Rivera-Mondragón, A., et al. "Phytochemical characterization and comparative studies of four Cecropia species collected in Panama using multivariate data analysis." Sci. Rep. 2019 Feb; 9(1): 1763.
da Silva Mathias, M. & Rodrigues de Oliveira, R. "Differentiation of the phenolic chemical profiles of Cecropia pachystachya and Cecropia hololeuca." Phytochem. Anal. 2018; 24: 1–10.
Rivera-Mondragón, A., et al. "Selection of chemical markers for the quality control of medicinal plants of the genus Cecropia." Pharm. Biol. 2017 Dec; 55(1): 1500-1512.
Costa, G., et al. "Seasonal variations in the amount of isoorientin and isovitexin in Cecropia glaziovii Sneth. leaves over a two-year period." Rev. Colomb. Cienc. Quím. Farm 2014; 43: 162–172.
Arend, D., et al. "Experimental design as a tool to evaluate chlorogenic and caffeic acids extracted from Cecropia glaziovii Sneth." J. Pharm. Biomed. Anal. 2011; 54: 58–68.
Costa, G., et al. "An HPLC-DAD method to quantification of main phenolic compounds from leaves of Cecropia species." J. Braz. Chem. Soc. 2011; 22: 1096–1102.