botanical record · discovered

Bitterwood

Quassia amara

Bitterwood · Quassia · Amargo · Bitterholzbaum · Bitterquassia · Cuasia · Cuasia de Jamaica · Hombre grande · Quassia Wood · Quassia wood · Quassiaholzbaum · Quassie · Surinam quassia · acıyonga · amargo

At a glance

Origin / distribution: Panama, Nc, Turkey, Venezuela, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Latin America

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Bite(Snake), Carcinoma, Digestive, Diuretic

Science studied: ALKALOIDS, CALCIUM-TARTRATE, EO, 18-HYDROXYQUASSIN

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

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

Names and identity

Family: Simaroubaceae

Scientific name: Quassia amara

Common names: Bitterwood, Quassia, Amargo, Bitterholzbaum, Bitterquassia, Cuasia, Cuasia de Jamaica, Hombre grande, Quassia Wood, Quassia wood, Quassiaholzbaum, Quassie, Surinam quassia, acıyonga, amargo

History

The source record documents this plant in Elsewhere, Panama, Nc, Turkey, Venezuela, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Haiti and 3 additional places.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

Bite(Snake)
Carcinoma
Digestive
Diuretic
Dysentery
Dyspepsia
Fever
Hyperglycemia

show 13 more documented entries

Insecticide
Laxative
Liver
Malaria
Stimulant
Stomachic
Tonic
Vermifuge
Vermicide
Astringent
Cancer
Diarrhea
Medicine

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

Elsewhere
Panama
Nc
Turkey
Venezuela
Mexico
Dominican Republic
Haiti
Latin America
Panama(Choco)
US

Documented cultural uses

Bite(Snake)
Carcinoma
Digestive
Diuretic
Dysentery
Dyspepsia
Fever
Hyperglycemia
Insecticide
Laxative
Liver
Malaria

show 9 more documented entries

Stimulant
Stomachic
Tonic
Vermifuge
Vermicide
Astringent
Cancer
Diarrhea
Medicine

Cultural record detail

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

Bite(Snake) · Elsewhere · "
Bite(Snake) · Panama · "
Carcinoma · Nc · "
Digestive · Turkey · "
Diuretic · Venezuela · "
Diuretic · Turkey · "
Dysentery · Venezuela · "
Dysentery · Turkey · "
Dyspepsia · Mexico · "
Fever · Venezuela · "
Fever · Dominican Republic · "
Hyperglycemia · Panama · "
Insecticide · Haiti · "
Insecticide · Latin America · "
Insecticide · Elsewhere · "
Laxative · Venezuela · "
Liver · Elsewhere · "
Liver · Panama · "
Malaria · Panama(Choco) · "
Malaria · Turkey · "
Stimulant · Latin America · "
Stomachic · Elsewhere · "
Stomachic · Mexico · "
Tonic · Mexico · "

16 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

Evaluation of the Blood Glucose-Lowering Effect of the Aqueous Leaf Extract of <i>Quassia amara</i> L. (Simaroubaceae) on Alloxan-induced Diabetes in Male ICR Mice (<i>Mus musculus</i>). · 2025 source ↗
Evaluating the efficacy of a new lice treatment shampoo containing Quassia Amara using physical and tolerance approaches · 2024 source ↗
Geopolitics of bitterness: Deciphering the history and cultural biogeography of Quassia amara L. · 2020 source ↗