Plant
Andiroba
Carapa guianensis
Also known as: Carapa guianensis, crabwood, carapa
An Amazonian tree whose seeds are pressed into a deep amber oil long used by Indigenous peoples as a medicine, insect repellent, and lamp fuel. Andiroba oil is one of the [[extractivism|extractivist]] tier's most reliable cash products — the tree fruits annually from the standing forest and the oil keeps for years.
Scientific
Carapa guianensis (family Meliaceae — the mahogany family) is a large evergreen tree of Amazonian terra firme and várzea forest, reaching 30 m. The fruit is a four-valved woody capsule containing 8–16 chestnut-coloured seeds. Fallen seeds are gathered from the forest floor, soaked, fermented, and cold-pressed to yield a clear amber oil with a bitter aroma.
The oil is rich in limonoids — bitter triterpenoids (notably gedunin and andirobin) responsible for both the medicinal properties and the bitter flavour. The triterpenoids are insecticidal and anti-inflammatory.
Cultural and historical
Andiroba oil is one of the oldest documented Amazonian medicines. Indigenous and Ribeirinho peoples have used it for centuries as:
- A topical anti-inflammatory for wounds, bruises, arthritis, and insect bites
- A natural insect repellent (often blended with candle wax to make repellent candles)
- A hair and skin emollient
- Lamp oil in regions before electrification
Modern phytochemistry has confirmed the anti-inflammatory and insecticidal activity, and the oil is now a commercial ingredient in cosmetics and natural-repellent products worldwide.
Production
Wild-harvested by Amazonian extractivist cooperatives; no plantation industry exists. Brazilian extractivist groups in Pará, Amapá, and Amazonas state are the principal commercial source.
See also
Auto-generated from this entry’s typed relations: frontmatter, grouped by relation type so the editorial signal isn’t flattened.
- Shares approach with: [[copaiba]]
- Member of: [[plants]]
- Contained by: [[amazon-basin]]
- Harvested by: [[extractivism]]
What links here, and how
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Practical
shares approach with
- Copaíba the other major Amazonian medicinal oleoresin; often co-harvested
1 inbound link · 4 outbound