Bitter Wood

At a glance

Origin / distribution: Panama(Cuna), Trinidad, Panama(Choco), Dominican Republic, Panama, West Indies, Honduras, CO

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Ache(Stomach), Antiseptic, Apertif, Bilious

Science studied: ACETIC-ACID, FAT, LOBATIN-A, NEUROLENIN-A

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Asteraceae

Scientific name: Neurolaena lobata

Common names: Bitter Wood, Contragavilana, American goldenrod, Bushy fleabane, Caballon, Caballón, Cow-gall bitter (Jamaica), Herbe a pique, Herbe à pique, Hojas de Herman, Hojas de Hermán, Manzanilla, Mata vaca, Retama, Salvia amarilla, Salvia cimarrona, Salvia de playa, Salvia del pais, Sepi, Sepi (Puerto Rico), Tabacon (Dominican Republic), Tabat-diable

POWO: 234386-1 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in Panama(Cuna), Elsewhere, Trinidad, Panama(Choco), Dominican Republic, Panama, West Indies, Honduras and 1 additional place.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Ache(Stomach)
• Antiseptic
• Apertif
• Bilious
• Cold
• Decoagulant
• Dysmenorrhea
• Fever

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• Panama(Cuna)
• Elsewhere
• Trinidad
• Panama(Choco)
• Dominican Republic
• Panama
• West Indies
• Honduras
• CO

Documented cultural uses

• Ache(Stomach)
• Antiseptic
• Apertif
• Bilious
• Cold
• Decoagulant
• Dysmenorrhea
• Fever
• Gonorrhea
• Itch
• Malaria
• Repellant(Tick)

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Ache(Stomach) · Panama(Cuna) · "
• Antiseptic · Elsewhere · "
• Apertif · Trinidad · "
• Bilious · Trinidad · "
• Cold · Panama(Choco) · "
• Decoagulant · Trinidad · "
• Dysmenorrhea · Trinidad · "
• Fever · Dominican Republic · "
• Fever · Panama · "
• Fever · Trinidad · "
• Gonorrhea · Panama(Choco) · "
• Itch · Elsewhere · "
• Itch · Panama(Choco) · "
• Malaria · Elsewhere · "
• Malaria · Panama(Cuna) · "
• Malaria · Trinidad · "
• Repellant(Tick) · Elsewhere · "
• Repellant(Tick) · Panama(Choco) · "
• Sclerosis · West Indies · "
• Stomachic · Dominican Republic · "
• Insecticide · West Indies · "
• Ache(Stomach) · Elsewhere · "
• Cold · Trinidad · "
• Diabetes · Trinidad · "

4 additional documented entries remain in the source record.

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• In Vitro Inhibition of Digestive Enzymes by Leaf Metabolites from <i>Neurolaena lobata</i> (L.) R. Br. ex Cass. (Asteraceae). · 2026 source ↗
• Isolation and NMR Scaling Factors for the Structure Determination of Lobatolide H, a Flexible Sesquiterpene from <i>Neurolaena lobata</i>. · 2023 source ↗
• Isolation, Structure Determination of Sesquiterpenes from <i>Neurolaena lobata</i> and Their Antiproliferative, Cell Cycle Arrest-Inducing and Anti-Invasive Properties against Human Cervical Tumor Cells. · 2021 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• ACETIC-ACID
• FAT
• LOBATIN-A
• NEUROLENIN-A
• NEUROLENIN-B
• LOBATIN-B
• PROTEIN

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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