Mulungu

Botanical Name
Erythrina mulungu

Synonyms
Erythrina verna, Corallodendron mulungu

Common Names
Mulungu, corticeira, murungu, muchocho, murungo, totocero, flor-de-coral, árvore-de-coral, ceibo, chilichi, chopo, hosoba deiko, pau-imortal, suina-suiná, mulungu-coral, capa-homem, amerikadeigo

Part Used
Bark, root.

Herb Description
Mulungu is a medium-sized, well-branched tree that grows 10–14 m high. It produces a profusion of pretty, reddish-orange flowers that are pollinated by hummingbirds at the ends of the tree’s many branches. The tree is sometimes called “coral flower,” as the flowers resemble the color of coral. It produces black seed pods containing large, red-and-black seeds, which are sometimes used by indigenous peoples to make necklaces and jewelry. Mulungu is indigenous to Brazil, parts of Peru.

Medical Applications
The traditional use of mulungu for anxiety and stress. where it was shown to alter anxiety-related responses. An animal model (correlating to human generalized anxiety disorder, as well as panic disorder) was undertaken on a water-alcohol extract of mulungu. The researchers reported that the mulungu extract had an effect similar to the commonly-prescribed anti-anxiety drug diazepam. It was suggested in this study that the alkaloids in Erythrina “may alter GABAergic neurotransmission.” GABA (gamma-amino butyric acid) acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain; abnormalities with its function is implicated in diseases including epilepsy, anxiety, and depression. Further research has validated the traditional use of mulungu as an antimicrobial agent for throat and urinary infections; mulungu has demonstrated antibacterial activity in two studies against Staphylococcus aureus, and antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium fortuitum and Mycobacterium smegmatis. Mulungu is not very widely known or used in North America; mostly appearing as a synergistic ingredient in only a few herbal formulas for anxiety or depression. It is a wonderful rainforest medicinal plant that is deserving of much more attention in herbal medicine systems outside of South America.

Contraindications
In large doses the plant is soporific and may cause drowsiness.
In traditional medicine the plant is used to lower blood pressure. Clinical research with animals has documented hypotensive actions. It is recommended that those

Warning
Caution is advised as it may cause drowsiness.


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