Laurelwood: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews

Overview

Laurelwood is a plant. The nut and other plant parts are used to make medicine.

Don't confuse laurelwood (Calophyllum inophyllum) with blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides).

Laurelwood contains compounds that have been tested in the laboratory and seem to be somewhat effective against HIV. However, there isn't enough evidence to know if laurelwood works for medicinal uses in humans.

Laurelwood is used for leprosy, hemorrhoids, scabies, gonorrhea, vaginal infections, and chicken pox. It is also used for viral infections, such as HIV.

Tamanu oil from the nut of laurelwood is used for skin conditions including sunburn, rashes, burns, psoriasis, dermatitis, scratches, skin blemishes, acne, skin allergies, bedsores, rosacea, and hemorrhoids.

How does it work ?

Laurelwood contains compounds that have been tested in the laboratory and seem to be somewhat effective against HIV. However, there isn't enough evidence to know if laurelwood works for medicinal uses in humans.

Uses & Effectiveness

Insufficient Evidence for

A skin condition that causes redness on the face (rosacea).
Acne.
Bedsores.
Burns.
Chicken pox.
Gonorrhea.
Hemorrhoids.
HIV/AIDS.
Itchy skin infection caused by mites (scabies).
Leprosy.
Rashes.
Scaly, itchy skin (psoriasis).
Scratches.
Skin allergies.
Skin blemishes.
Sunburn.
Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of laurelwood for these uses.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: There isn't enough information to know if laurelwood is safe or what the side effects might be.

When applied to the skin: There isn't enough information to know if laurelwood is safe. Some people might be allergic to tamanu oil, the oil from the nut of laurelwood.

Special Precautions and Warnings

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if laurelwood is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Interactions

We currently have no information for Laurelwood overview.

Dosing

The appropriate dose of laurelwood depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for laurelwood. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

View References

REFERENCES:

Protocol Title: A Phase 1B Dose-Range Study to Evaluate the Safety, Pharmacokinetics, and Effects of (+)-calaonlide A on surrogate markers in HIV-positive patients with no previous antiretroviral therapy. Protocol ID numbers: FDA 297A.

Reuters Health. Anti-HIV herbal product shows therapeutic potential in phase I trial. November 1, 1999.

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Buckheit RW, White EL, Fliakas-Boltz V, et al. Unique anti-human immunodeficiency virus activities of the nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors calanolide A, costatolide, and dihydrocostatolide. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 1999;43:1827-34.

Boyer PL, Currens MH, McMahon JB. Analysis of nonnucleoside drug-resistant variants of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase. J Virol 1993;67:2412-20.

Currens MJ, Nariner JM, McMahon JB, Boyd MR. Kinetic analysis of inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus type-a reverse transcriptase by calanolide A. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 1996;279:652-61.

Currens MJ, Gulakowski RJ, Mariner JM, et al. Antiviral activity and mechanism of action of calanolide A against the human immunodeficiency virus type-1. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 1996;279:645-51.

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Sekino, E., Kumamoto, T., Tanaka, T., Ikeda, T., and Ishikawa, T. Concise synthesis of anti-HIV-1 active (+)-inophyllum B and (+)-calanolide A by application of (-)-quinine-catalyzed intramolecular oxo-Michael addition. J Org Chem 4-16-2004;69(8):2760-2767.

Laure, F., Herbette, G., Faure, R., Bianchini, J. P., Raharivelomanana, P., and Fogliani, B. Structures of new secofriedelane and friedelane acids from Calophyllum inophyllum of French Polynesia. Magn Reson.Chem 2005;43(1):65-68.

Yimdjo, M. C., Azebaze, A. G., Nkengfack, A. E., Meyer, A. M., Bodo, B., and Fomum, Z. T. Antimicrobial and cytotoxic agents from Calophyllum inophyllum. Phytochemistry 2004;65(20):2789-2795.

Le Coz, C. J. Allergic contact dermatitis from tamanu oil (Calophyllum inophyllum, Calophyllum tacamahaca). Contact Dermatitis 2004;51(4):216-217.

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Patil, A. D., Freyer, A. J., Eggleston, D. S., Haltiwanger, R. C., Bean, M. F., Taylor, P. B., Caranfa, M. J., Breen, A. L., Bartus, H. R., Johnson, R. K., and . The inophyllums, novel inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase isolated from the Malaysian tree, Calophyllum inophyllum Linn. J Med Chem 12-24-1993;36(26):4131-4138.

Taylor, P. B., Culp, J. S., Debouck, C., Johnson, R. K., Patil, A. D., Woolf, D. J., Brooks, I., and Hertzberg, R. P. Kinetic and mutational analysis of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase inhibition by inophyllums, a novel class of non-nucleoside inhibitors. J Biol.Chem 3-4-1994;269(9):6325-6331.

Spino, C., Dodier, M., and Sotheeswaran, S. Anti-HIV coumarins from Calophyllum seed oil. Bioorg.Med Chem Lett. 12-15-1998;8(24):3475-3478.

Pillai, S. N., Desai, M. V., and Shah, H. M. Antihelminthic properties of Punnakkai Cake (Calophyllum inophyllum). Indian J Mycol Plant Path 1974;4(145):150.

Adeyeye, A. Studies on seed oils of Garcinia kola and Calophyllum inophyllum. Journal Of The Science Of Food And Agriculture 1991;57(3):441-442.

Hemavathy, J. and Prabhakar, J. V. Lipid composition of Calophyllum inophyllum kernel. Journal Of The American Oil Chemists' Society 1990;67(12):955-957.

CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

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