Babassu
OTHER NAME(S): Babaçu, Babassou, Babassu Coconut, Babassu Palm Tree, Babussupalme, Cusí, Cusi Palm, Attalea speciosa, Orbignya phalerata, Orbignya barbosiana, Orbignya heubneri, Orbignya martiana, Orbignya speciosa, Babasu
Overview
Babassu is a type of palm tree that grows in Brazil. People use parts of the fruit and the oil found in the kernels to make medicine.
People use babassu for conditions such as cancer, infections of the kidney, bladder, or urethra (urinary tract infections or UTIs), wounds, and many others, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Babassu contains chemicals that can reduce swelling (inflammation) and slow blood clotting.
Babassu contains chemicals that can reduce swelling (inflammation) and slow blood clotting.
Uses
Insufficient Evidence for
- Cancer.
- Constipation.
- Swelling (inflammation) of the stomach (gastritis).
- Obesity.
- Pain.
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
- Infections of the kidney, bladder, or urethra (urinary tract infections or UTIs).
- Poor circulation that can lead to varicose veins and other conditions (venous insufficiency).
- Wound healing.
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate babassu for these uses.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: There isn't enough reliable information to know if babassu is safe or what the side effects might be.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if babassu is safe or what the side effects might be.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: There isn't enough reliable information to know if babassu is safe or what the side effects might be.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if babassu is safe or what the side effects might be.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if babassu is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Bleeding disorders: Babassu might slow blood clotting. In theory, babassu might increase the risk of bruising or bleeding in some people with bleeding disorders.
Surgery: Babassu might slow blood clotting. There is a concern that it might cause extra bleeding during and after surgery. Stop taking babassu at least 2 weeks before surgery.
Thyroid problems such as hypothyroidism (too little thyroid hormone) or goiter: Babassu might decrease thyroid function. This might make certain conditions, such as hypothyroidism or goiter, worse.
Interactions
Moderate Interaction
Be cautious with this combination
- Medications for an overactive thyroid (Antithyroid drugs) interacts with BabassuBabassu might decrease thyroid function. Taking babassu along with medications for an overactive thyroid might decrease thyroid function too much. Don't take babassu if you are taking medications for an overactive thyroid. Some of these medications include methimazole (Tapazole), potassium iodide (Thyro-Block), and others.
- Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with BabassuBabassu might slow blood clotting. Taking babassu along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding. Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), and others.
Dosing
The appropriate dose of babassu 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 babassu. 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.
References
- Batista, C. P., Torres, O. J., Matias, J. E., Moreira, A. T., Colman, D., Lima, J. H., Macri, M. M., Rauen, R. J., Jr., Ferreira, L. M., and de Freitas, A. C. [Effect of watery extract of Orbignya phalerata (babassu) in the gastric healing in rats: morphological and tensiometric study]. Acta Cir Bras 2006;21 Suppl 3:26-32.
- Brito Filho, S. B., Matias, J. E., Stahlke Junior, H. J., Torres, O. J., Timi, J. R., Tenorio, S. B., Tambara, E. M., Carstens, A. G., Campos, R. V., and Myamoto, M. [Analysis of healing in the Alba Linea with the use of Orbignya phalerata (babassu) water extract. Controlled study in rats]. Acta Cir Bras 2006;21 Suppl 3:76-88.
- Nascimento, F. R., Barroqueiro, E. S., Azevedo, A. P., Lopes, A. S., Ferreira, S. C., Silva, L. A., Maciel, M. C., Rodriguez, D., and Guerra, R. N. Macrophage activation induced by Orbignya phalerata Mart. J Ethnopharmacol 2006;103(1):53-58.
- Baldez, R. N., Malafaia, O., Czeczko, N. G., Martins, N. L., Ferreira, L. M., Ribas, C. A., Salles, Junior G., Del Claro, R. P., Santos Lde, O., Graca Neto, L., and Araujo, L. R. [Healing of colonic anastomosis with the use of extract aqueous of Orbignya phalerata (Babassu) in rats]. Acta Cir Bras 2006;21 Suppl 2:31-38.
- da Silva, B. P. and Parente, J. P. An anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory polysaccharide from Orbignya phalerata. Fitoterapia 2001;72(8):887-893.
- Azevedo, A. P., Farias, J. C., Costa, G. C., Ferreira, S. C., Aragao-Filho, W. C., Sousa, P. R., Pinheiro, M. T., Maciel, M. C., Silva, L. A., Lopes, A. S., Barroqueiro, E. S., Borges, M. O., Guerra, R. N., and Nascimento, F. R. Anti-thrombotic effect of chronic oral treatment with Orbignya phalerata Mart. J Ethnopharmacol 2007;111(1):155-159.
- Gaitan, E., Cooksey, R. C., Legan, J., Lindsay, R. H., Ingbar, S. H., and Medeiros-Neto, G. Antithyroid effects in vivo and in vitro of babassu and mandioca: a staple food in goiter areas of Brazil. Eur J Endocrinol 1994;131(2):138-144.
- Amorim, E., Matias, J. E., Coelho, J. C., Campos, A. C., Stahlke, H. J., Jr., Timi, J. R., Rocha, L. C., Moreira, A. T., Rispoli, D. Z., and Ferreira, L. M. [Topic use of aqueous extract of Orbignya phalerata (babassu) in rats: analysis of its healing effect]. Acta Cir Bras 2006;21 Suppl 2:67-76.
- Ferreira Ede, C., Matias, J. E., Campos, A. C., Tambara Filho, R., Rocha, L. C., Timi, J. R., Sado, H. N., Sakamoto, D. G., Tolazzi, A. R., and Soares Filho Mde, P. [Surgical bladder wounds treated with Orbignya phalerata aqueous extract: controlled study in rats]. Acta Cir Bras 2006;21 Suppl 3:33-39.
- Martins, N. L., Malafaia, O., Ribas-Filho, J. M., Heibel, M., Baldez, R. N., Vasconcelos, P. R., Moreira, H., Mazza, M., Nassif, P. A., and Wallbach, T. Z. [Healing process in cutaneous surgical wounds in rats under the influence of Orbignya phalerata aqueous extract]. Acta Cir Bras 2006;21 Suppl 3:66-75.
- Marques, S. G., Silva Cde, M., Saldanha, P. C., Rezende, M. A., Vicente, V. A., Queiroz-Telles, F., and Costa, J. M. Isolation of Fonsecaea pedrosoi from the shell of the babassu coconut (Orbignya phalerata Martius) in the Amazon region of Maranhao Brazil. Nippon Ishinkin Gakkai Zasshi 2006;47(4):305-311.
- Silva, C. M., da Rocha, R. M., Moreno, J. S., Branco, M. R., Silva, R. R., Marques, S. G., and Costa, J. M. [The coconut babacu (Orbignya phalerata martins) as a probable risk of human infection by the agent of chromoblastomycosis in the State of Maranhao, Brazil]. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 1995;28(1):49-52.
- Amorim E, Saad Junior R, Salgado Filho N, et al. The effects of aqueous extract of babassu (Orbignya phalerata) on the pleura and lung parenchyma in rats. Acta Cir Bras 2016;31(4):243-9. doi: 10.1590/S0102-865020160040000004.
- Silva AP, Cerqueira GS, Nunes LC, de Freitas RM. Effects of an aqueous extract of Orbignya phalerata Mart on locomotor activity and motor coordination in mice and as antioxidant in vitro. Pharmazie 2012;67(3):260-3.
- Santos AR, Coelho KL, Coelho CA. Effects of low fat and babassu fat diets on nutritional status in obstructive cholestasis in young rats. Acta Cir Bras 2008;23(1):4-10.
- Santos JAA, da Silva JW, Dos Santos SM, et al. In Vitro and In Vivo Wound Healing and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Babassu Oil (Attalea speciosa Mart. Ex Spreng., Arecaceae). Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2020;2020:8858291.
- Soares MCR, Silva MCP, Almeida-Junior FADS, Nascimento JR, Nascimento FRF, Guerra RNM. Effect of Babassu Mesocarp As a Food Supplement During Resistance Training. J Med Food 2021;24(4):411-421.