Taheebo Tea (also known as Pau d’Arco) has been the subject of extensive scientific interest over the years. Today, there are hundreds of published research articles exploring Pau d’Arco’s plant compounds and their potential biological activity in laboratory and early-stage research settings.
If you’d like to explore third-party research directly, two helpful resources include:
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PubMed / Medline (a database of published scientific studies)
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Rain-Tree.com (a long-running herbal education resource)
Pau d’Arco & Antimicrobial Research (Lab-Based Studies)
Pau d’Arco bark contains naturally occurring plant compounds, including lapachol and beta-lapachone, which have been studied for their antimicrobial properties.
According to excerpts from The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs by Leslie Taylor (Rain-Tree.com), these compounds have demonstrated a wide range of activity in laboratory studies, including research related to bacteria, fungi, yeast, and viruses.
Researchers have explored Pau d’Arco extracts and isolated compounds in relation to various microorganisms, including commonly studied strains such as:
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Candida
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Aspergillus
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Staphylococcus
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Streptococcus
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Helicobacter pylori
Some studies referenced include findings where hot-water extracts and bark-based extracts showed measurable activity in controlled lab settings.
(Important note: in vitro studies do not necessarily translate to the same effects in humans.)
Pau d’Arco & Cancer-Related Research
Pau d’Arco also gained scientific attention decades ago due to early research investigating its plant compounds and their interaction with tumor cells in experimental settings.
Historical studies from the 1960s and 1970s led researchers to focus on a key compound called lapachol, which showed antitumor activity in animal research models. Later, early human research was explored but raised concerns regarding side effects at therapeutic doses, which limited continued investigation at the time.
More recent research has placed greater focus on beta-lapachone, another compound found in Pau d’Arco, which has been studied for potential biological mechanisms in laboratory research involving certain cancer cell lines.
According to Rain-Tree.com excerpts, beta-lapachone has been discussed in multiple published studies and patents, including laboratory research exploring possible pathways related to:
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prostate
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colon
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pancreatic
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lung
Where to Explore the Research Yourself
For anyone interested in reading published third-party research, you can explore studies by searching:
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PubMed / Medline for: Pau d’Arco, Tabebuia impetiginosa, lapachol, beta-lapachone
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Rain-Tree.com for educational summaries and historical context
Disclaimer
This content is for educational purposes only and has NOT been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your wellness routine.