Muira Puama

At a glance

Origin / distribution: Brazil, Surinam, Guiana, English, German, BR

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Aphrodisiac, Medicine, Nervine, Tonic

Science studied: ALKALOIDS, BEHENIC-ACID, EO, LIGNOCERIC-ACID

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

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

Names and identity

Family: Olacaceae

Scientific name: Ptychopetalum olacoides

Common names: Muira Puama, aneku, aneku-kamwi, bois bandé, bwa-bandé, marapuama, marapuama, muira-puama, muira-puama, muira-puma, muirapuama, wɨla pɨlatã, wɨla taɨ, wɨlapilãtã

POWO: 608273-1 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in Brazil, Surinam, Guiana, English, German, BR.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Aphrodisiac
• Medicine
• Nervine
• Tonic

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• Brazil
• Surinam
• Guiana
• English
• German
• BR

Documented cultural uses

• Aphrodisiac
• Medicine
• Nervine
• Tonic

Cultural record detail

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

• Aphrodisiac · Brazil · "
• Aphrodisiac · Surinam · "
• Medicine · Guiana · "
• Nervine · English · "
• Tonic · German · "

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

• Protective Effects Induced by a Novel Food Supplement Based on Epilobium angustifolium, Ptychopetalum olacoides, Ginkgo biloba, and Equisetum arvense Extracts and Citrulline in the Lower Urinary Tract: Preclinical and Clinical Evidence. · 2026 source ↗
• Qualitative and quantitative analysis of chemical constituents of Ptychopetalum olacoides Benth. · 2017 source ↗
• Laboratory-Scale Preparation and Characterization of Dried Extract of Muirapuama (<i>Ptychopetalumolacoides</i> Benth) by Green Analytical Techniques. · 2020 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• ALKALOIDS
• BEHENIC-ACID
• EO
• LIGNOCERIC-ACID
• PENTACOSANOIC-ACID
• ALPHA-RESINIC-ACID
• BETA-RESINIC-ACID
• BETA-SITOSTEROL
• UNCOSANIC-ACID
• ARACHIDIC-ACID
• CAMPESTEROL
• LUPEOL
• PHLOBAPHENE
• TRICHOSANIC-ACID
• ALLO-AROMADENDRENE
• ALPHA-COPAENE

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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