Medicinal Plants
Guaiacum officinale
Tree of Life — N. Deepa Devi & A. Shanthi
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uaiacum officinale, commonly known as Roughbark Lignum-vitae, Tree of Life and Guaiac. Guaiacum, sometimes spelled Guajacum, is a genus of flowering plants in the caltrop family Zygophyllaceae. It contains five species of slow-growing shrubs and trees. All are native to subtropical and tropical regions of the Americas. The word guaiacum originated in Maipurean. Members of the genus have a variety of uses, including as lumber for medicinal purposes and as ornamentals. Guaiacum officinale is the national flower of Jamaica, while Guaiacum sanctum is the national tree of The Bahamas. Description This small tree is very slow growing, reaching about 10m in height with a trunk diameter of 60cm. The tree is essentially evergreen throughout most of its native range. The leaves are compound, 2.5 to 3cm in length, and 2cm wide. The blue flowers have five petals which yield a bright yellow-orange fruit with red flesh and black seeds. Lignum Vitae are the heaviest and densest wood in the world and will rapidly sink to the bottom when placed in water. Species 1. Guaiacum officinale 2. Guaiacum angustifolium 3. Guaiacum coulteri 4. Guaiacum unijugum 5. Guaiacum sanctum
Uses v Gum from the wood was once used to treat syphilis. v Guaiacum resin has been used to treat a variety of medicinal conditions from coughs to arthritis. Wood chips can also be used to brew a tea. v A phenolic compound derived from the resin of Guaiacum trees is used in a common test for blood in human stool samples. v The presence of haem in the blood causes the formation of a coloured product in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The effect of peroxidases in horseradish on guiacum was first noted in 1810 by Planche. v As a food additive Guaiacum has the E number of E314 and is classified as an antioxidant. v A widely used derivative drug is the expectorant known as guaifenesin. v The soap fragrance oil of guaiac comes from Bulnesia sarmientoi, a South American tree from the same family. v Members of the genus are grown in Florida and California as ornamental plants. v Resin obtained from the wood and bark is used in powder, pill and tincture. v Resin is applied to the tooth for a toothache, and applied externally for rheumatism. For gout, blood pressure and arteriosclerosis resin is taken orally. Guaiacum officinale L.
32 Floriculture Today July 2012
v The wood is used for fence posts, tool handles, and firewood. v Root extracts are used to treat rheumatism and sexually transmitted diseases. v Soap can be made from the root bark because it contains saponin, historically soap made in this way would be used to wash wool. v The flowers are valued by beekeepers for their consistent nectar production. v Texas Lignum-vitae is cultivated as an ornamental because of its drought tolerance, dense foliage, compact size and fragrant flowers. It is used in hedges, rock gardens and xeriscaping. Guajacum officinale L. It is a slow-growing broad leaf, evergreen tree or shrub reaching 3-12m in height. Stem is generally crooked wood intensely hard, the branches knotty and bark deeply furrowed. The dense crown of close-growing foliage gives the tree a rounded, compact, net appearance. Each leaf is composed of 2 or 3 pairs of smooth, stalkless leaflets arranged on a slender mid-rib. The leaflets are 6-13cm in length. Beautiful blue flowers grow in great profusion and almost cover the tree and remain for a long time. As the older blooms fade from deep blue to paler shades, some becoming almost white, a striking variegation of colour is produced. It can be found in lowland dry forest, woodland and thicket. It frequently grows in coastal areas.