Leung's Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics

C. febrifugaHumb.), a tree related toGalipea
officinalisreported to grow in Brazil. (Related
species found in Brazil includeGalipea di-
chotoma Sald. andG. multifloraSchult.^1 )
Much of the scientific literature before 1960
was based on this species.

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION

The bark contains two unstable bitter princi-
ples: angostura bitters 1 and 2 (3,5-dihydroxy-
5-ethoxy-2-syringoyl-1-methyl-4-O-b-D-glu-
copyranosylcyclopentane and 3,5-dihydroxy-
5-ethoxy-2-vanilloyl-1-methyl-4-O-b-D-glu-
copyranosylcyclopentane);^2 a high content of
alkaloids (ca. 40%; largely quinoline type)
(cusparine, cuspareine, allocuspareine, gali-
poline, galipoidine, galipidine, galipinine, ga-
lipine, quinaldine, 4-methoxyquinaldine,
quinoline, 2-n-amyl-quinoline, candicine,
etc.) (GLASBY 1);2–6 and a volatile oil
(1–2%) containing some 15 alkaloids
(KARRER; WREN) and various sesquiterpenes
(e.g., b-bisabolene, cadinol T, germacrene
D,d-curcumene) also found in the trunk bark.^5
The stem and root bark of a related species,
Galipea trifoliataAublet, contains phebalo-
sin, ramosin, and galipein (coumarins).^7

PHARMACOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL
ACTIVITIES

The alkaloids, particularly cusparine and ga-
lipine, have shown antispasmodic activity^8
and in dogs, respiration–excitation effects.^9
The alkaloidal fraction has shownin vitro
activity against the growth ofMycobacterium
tuberculosis.^6 Galipinine, a tetrahydroquino-
line alkaloid, has shown in vitro activity

against the malarial parasite Plasmodium

falciparum.^10

TOXICOLOGY

Large doses may produce nausea.

USES

Medicinal, Pharmaceutical, and Cosmetic.

Used in bitter tonics.

Food. Extracts used in most categories of

food products such as alcoholic (bitters) and

nonalcoholic beverages, frozen dairy desserts,

candy, baked goods, gelatins and puddings,

and gravies. Average maximum use level in

alcoholic beverages is reported to be about

0.3%.

The well-known “angostura bitters” does

not contain angostura bark at all and is made

from a mixture of gentian root and other

botanicals.

Traditional Medicine. Used in treating dys-

pepsia, chronic diarrhea, and dysentery.^4 Also

used as a febrifuge and bitter tonic in doses of

0.3–1 g; large doses cathartic and emetic.

COMMERCIAL PREPARATIONS

Crude and extracts.

Regulatory Status. Bark essential oil, sol-

vent-free oleoresin, and extractive are GRAS

for use in foods (§182.20); bark GRAS as

natural flavoring or spice in foods (§182.10).

REFERENCES

See the General References forARCTANDER;FEMA;GLASBY2;GUENTHER;MARTINDALE;UPHOF;WREN.

1. W. B. Mors et al.,Medicinal Plants of
   Brazil, Reference Publications, Algonac,
   MI, 2000.
   2. C. H. Brieskorn and V. Beck,Phytoche-
   mistry, 10 , 3205 (1971).

Angostura bark 35