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Jatoba (Hymenaea courbaril) is a canopy tree indigenous to the Amazon rainforest and Central America. The jatoba tree produces a copal resin that is used for medicinal purposes by traditional medicine practitioners, including diarrhea, prostatitis, cystitis, hepatitis, bronchitis, and coughs.
According to The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs, jatoba is used in the United States as a natural energy tonic for various conditions, such as prostatitis and bladder infections. Jatoba also reportedly has been shown to have antimicrobial and antibacterial properties against E. coli, Pseudomonas, and Staphylococcus, and has demonstrated no toxicity. Chemical analysis of jatoba reportedly shows that it includes a wide variety of active compounds, including diterpenes, sesquiterpenes, flavonoids, and oligosaccharides, as well as phytochemicals that have been shown to possess antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities.
No published scientific studies were found to support the medicinal claims. Among traditional medicine practitioners, jatoba is used as a tea prepared from the bark or in a tincture. A healthcare practitioner should be consulted before taking jatoba.
Reference
Rainforest Herbs: http://www.rain-tree.com/jatoba.htm
