Chupa-Chupa

Also known as: Sapote

Botanical Overview

Chupa-Chupa (Quararibea cordata) is a species in the Bombacaceae family. This species belongs to the Bombacaceae family, a group of flowering plants. Although comprehensive ethnobotanical records are limited, phytochemical studies have identified 15 compounds in this species, suggesting potential medicinal value.

Family Context

The Bombacaceae family is widely distributed. Notable medicinal members include:

Geographic Distribution

Chupa-Chupa has been recorded in 8 countries and territories worldwide, including Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, and others.

Active Compounds

Phytochemical research has identified 15 compounds in this species, including a diverse array of phytochemical classes (see the Complete Chemical Inventory below for the full list).

The identified compounds include the following categories:

  • Alkaloid: nitrogenous compounds with diverse pharmacological activities

Research Status

Although this species has documented phytochemical constituents, its ethnobotanical and clinical documentation remains incomplete. The limited documentation available for this species represents an opportunity for ethnobotanical research.

ⓘ Information
Information on this page is compiled from Dr. Duke’s Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases (USDA ARS), a public domain resource. Consult a healthcare professional before using any herbal preparation.

Distribution and Conservation

Reported distribution: Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, United States, Unknown.

Complete Chemical Inventory

CompoundFormulaMW
ASCORBIC-ACIDC₆H₈O₆176.12 Da
ASH
BETA-CAROTENEC₄₀H₅₆536.9 Da
CALCIUMCa40.08 Da
CARBOHYDRATES
FATC₁₆H₃₂O₂256.42 Da
FIBER
IRONFe55.84 Da
KILOCALORIES
NIACINC₆H₅NO₂123.11 Da
PHOSPHORUSP30.97376200 Da
PROTEIN
RIBOFLAVINC₁₇H₂₀N₄O₆376.4 Da
THIAMINC₁₂H₁₇N₄OS+265.36 Da
WATERH₂O18.015 Da

Data from PubChem (NIH/NLM, public domain).


References & Further Reading

External Research Links

Data Sources