Sangre de grado (Croton lechleri)

Presentation: 30cc bottles, 1L bottles, 5 gallon drums.
Quantity Available: 200Lt/Month

Sangre de Grado is a red wine colored latex from a jungle tree with a long history of indigenous use in the Amazon region. The Amazonian tribal shamans have used this resin from time immemorial to cure and relieve wounds, ulcers, hemorrhages, diarrheas, colic, dyspepsia, treatment of tumors and to protect lesions occurring during infections, and other uses.

Sangre de Grado became known in the western world through the discovery of is alkaloid taspina, the main agent responsible for its healing effect, and proantocyanidine, which led to the development of additional research and the use of this medicinal plant as a basis for patenting by U.S. companies of several natural products.

The Euphorbiacene family consists of some 300 genus comprising approximately 7000 species. The genus croton stands out with its 750 species of trees and bushes distributed in the sub-tropical and tropical regions of both hemispheres. Croton lechleri is found in Peru together with 4 other species of croton in various jungle departments. Sangre de Grado is traditionally used for:

    * healing of wounds
    * antibacterial & antiviral
    * antiseptic (vaginal)
    * anti-hemorrhage
    * haemostatic
    * anti-inflammatory
    * citotoxic
    * anti-tumor,
    * stomach ulcers
    * wounds & cuts
    * rheumatic swelling
    * tooth extraction
    * hemorrhoids
    * pharyngitis and tonsillitis
    * diarrhea

Pharmacological Information

Healing effect:

The study made by Perez of the Universidad National Mayor de San Marcos (1998) showed a rapid healing effect in 100% of the mice treated after receiving skin wounds.

A Belgian study (1993) showed that Sangre de Grado stimulates the reduction of wounds, helping in the formation of a scar over the wound by allowing a more rapid spread of scar tissue and aiding in the formation of fresh collagen.

Vaisberg and colleagues (1989) showed a dose-dependent healing effect in their study on live mice. In this study it was observed that the taspine increased the migration of human fibroblasts from the foreskin in cell cultures.

The study made by Porras-Reyes and colleagues at the University of Washington (1993) showed that taspine stimulates the chemo taxis of fibroblasts in the healing process in rat skin.

Anti-ulceration effect:

The study by Miller and col. (2000) determined a significant reduction in the size of the ulcer induced in rats by the application of acetic acid when treated with Sangre de Grado. The study made by Ayala and col. (2000, 1999) verifies this significant protection in the case of injury produced by ethanol in rats, being compared with saline solution, sucralphate and the commercial product Mylanta in concentration of 0.8 ml/kg.

The study made by Malaga of the Peruvian Cayetano Heredia University (1991) showed that taspine reduced the degree of ulceration in peptic ulcer in rats by 50% in comparison with the control. An additional protective effect on the gastric mucous membrane was found was found in rats whose lesions were induced by indometacine

Antiviral effect:

The study by Ubillus and col. (1994) showed the antiviral effect of isolated SP-303, against a variety of DNA and RNA virus. The in vitro tests showed a potent activity against stocks of cincitial respiratory virus (RSV) types A and B, influenza virus A(FLU-A) and para-influenza (PIV).Parallel tests showed that the SP-303 acts similarly to the commercial

product ribavarin. The SP-303 shows a significant inhibitory action against the herpes virus (HSV) types 1 and 2, including the hypervirus which is resistant to the drugs acyclovir and foscarnet. There are phase I and II clinical studies which show the antiviral effect for respiratory viral infections and herpes which have been approved by the FDA. Inhibition has also been observed against the hepatitis virus A and B.

Hudson (1990) showed anti-viral activity against the Sindbis virus and Citamegalovirus.

Anti-microbe effect: Hudson (1990) showed that Sangre de Grado inhibits Gram (-) bacteria and skin fungus in vitro. The study by Viasberg and col. (1989) showed that the simple phenol compounds and diterpenes act against Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli. In the case of B. subtilis, the trimetoxiphenols were more potent than penicillin and chloramphenicol.

Zapata (1987) showed the anti-microbe action against Staphylococcus aurous, S. epidermis and other gram negative bacteria such as enterobacter, citrobacteria, salmonella, etc.

Macrae (1988) found anti-fungal activity in the case of Microsporum and Trichophyton.

Studies on anti-ulcer activity showed a marked reduction in bacterial growth in the ulcer cavity.

Miller's study of the latex (1999) detected in vitro activity against Helicobacter pylori, this being an interesting new discovery.

Anti-inflammatory effect:

The study by Persinos and col. (1974) confirms the anti-inflammatory effect of taspine in rats. Perdue and col. (1979) proved the anti-inflammatory activity of the alkaloid taspine by three methods: with edema of the foot induced by carragenine, the pelotilla-induced granuloma and the poly-arthritis adjuvant method. Other researchers attribute the anti-inflammatory effect to the lignin of dihydrobenzofurane, 3'4-0-dimethylcedrusine.

Anti-oxidant effect:

Desmarchelier (1997) determined that, while the latex has a slight pro-oxidant effect at low concentration, at high concentrations it is extremely effective for reducing the oxidation of DNA by capturing the peroxile and hydroxyl radicals.

Toxicological Information

Research proved a DL 5 oral in mice of the resin of 24ml/kg.

Persinos' study (1974) showed that taspine was not toxic in concentration of up to 200mg/kg.

Vaisberg's study (1989) showed that taspine is not toxic for human epidermal fibroblasts and has no effect on cell proliferation at concentrations below 150mg/ml. It was shown in mice that neither Sangre de Grado isolated nor taspine have carcinogenic effects, nor do they stimulate tumor forming activity even after continuous use for 17 months.

Phytochemicals

Alkaloids: taspina (scar forming action)

Proanthocyanidinas (oligomeric SP-303)

Procyadinina B-1 and B-4

Lignin's dihydrobenzofuranes: 3,4-0-dimethylcedrusine, 4-0-methylcedrusine

Catequine: catequine, epicatequine, galocatequin, epigalocatequin

Tannins and Other phenol compounds: Gallic acid

Tapping The Powers Of The Amazon
Albany Med researcher finds South American tree sap is a unique analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent.

In Dr. Mark Miller’s estimation, every medicine cabinet and first aid kit in the United States will one day be stocked with medicines containing the sap of a South American tree.

Sangre de Grado (pronounced SAN–gray dee GRAH–doe) is a thick, red sap from fastgrowing trees (several Croton species) which grow abundantly throughout the Amazon. It has been used for centuries by indigenous cultures of the Amazon River basin as an herbal medicine to treat wounds, ease pain and, when diluted in water, treat gastrointestinal distress including diarrhea.

In research presented in May at the 2000 Pediatric Academic Societies and American Academy of Pediatrics joint meeting, Dr. Miller, a professor of pediatrics, showed for the first time scientific evidence that Sangre de Grado is a potent inhibitor of inflammation and pain.

Colleagues from Albany Med who participated in the research included Cathy Davison, Ph.D., associate professor of pharmacology and neuroscience, Manuel Sandoval, Ph.D., assistant professor of pediatrics, and Jane Thompson, Ph.D.

In laboratory tests using animal models, Dr. Miller demonstrated that Sangre de Grado prevents the activation of nerve fibers (sensory afferent nerves) that relay pain signals to the brain. Results indicate that Sangre de Grado is a broad-acting analgesic agent, blocking the activation of these nerve fibers to multiple stimuli.

“Not only does Sangre de Grado prevent pain sensation, but it also blocks the tissue response to a chemical released by these nerves that promotes inflammation. There is currently no other substance that we know of that shares these same activities with Sangre de Grado,” said Dr. Miller.

The inflammatory and pain response in the skin from lacerations, insect stings and bites, and plant reactions, also occurs in the gastrointestinal tract in response to ulcers, gastritis and infectious diarrhea.

“It doesn’t matter whether it’s on your skin or in your gut, the healing and anti-inflammatory response from Sangre de Grado is similar,” Dr. Miller noted. “In fact, in our animal models, the sap also promoted intestinal mucosal healing.”

Additionally, in a three-month clinical research trial conducted last year, 10 Louisiana pest control workers were asked to use either a balm made with Sangre de Grado or a placebo to treat wounds and insect bites and stings. The workers were blocked from knowing which preparation they were using.

“Sangre de Grado overwhelmingly offered relief to every one of the pest control workers within an average of 90 seconds of its application,” Dr. Miller said. “These included bites from fire ants, stings from bees and wasps, lacerations and plant reactions.”

Dr. Miller said that on average Sangre de Grado offered pain relief and alleviated symptoms, such as itching and swelling, for up to six hours.

This research indicates that as little as a single drop of Sangre de Grado shows excellent promise as a first aid treatment for a wide variety of insect bites and stings, lacerations and possibly even burns. Furthermore, the research showed that the sap was effective in even highly diluted concentrations.

Dr. Miller, whose colleagues included researchers from the University of Calgary, believes that this research shows that Sangre de Grado also could offer assistance in treating pulmonary diseases such as asthma and cystic fibrosis, and inflammatory diseases such as arthritis. In addition, he sees the cultivation of Sangre de Grado as a tremendous benefit for people in the Amazon.

“We hope that this work might one day help stimulate commercialization of this Amazon resource in a sustainable manner and improve both the economic and health care conditions in Amazonian communities,” said Dr. Miller. — RICHARD A. PUFF