# Virola sebifera > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Virola_sebifera > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Virola_sebifera.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virola_sebifera > Source revision: 1346990489 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) ***Virola sebifera*** is a [species](/source/Species) of [tree](/source/Tree) in the family [Myristicaceae](/source/Myristicaceae), from North and South America.[3] ## Description *V. sebifera* is a tall, thin tree which grows 5-30 m ft tall.[1] The leaves are simple and grow up to 30 cm (12 in) long. The small flowers are single-sexed and are found in [panicles](/source/Panicle). The fruit is reddish, oval-shaped, and about 10-15 mm long and about 11 mm (0.43 in) in diameter.[1] The individual *[Virola](/source/Virola)* trees, which include 40 to 60 species, are difficult to differentiate from one another.[4] ## Vernacular names English: red ucuuba.[2] Portuguese: *Ucuúba-do-cerrado*.[5] ## Chemical constituents The bark of the tree is rich in [tannins](/source/Tannins)[3] and also the [hallucinogen](/source/Hallucinogen)[6] [dimethyltryptamine](/source/Dimethyltryptamine) (DMT), as well as [5-MeO-DMT](/source/5-MeO-DMT). The ripe seeds contain fatty acid [glycerides](/source/Glyceride), especially [laurodimyristin](/source/Laurodimyristin) and [trimyristin](/source/Trimyristin).[7] The bark contains 0.065% to 0.25% alkaloids, most of which are DMT and 5-MeO-DMT.[8] The "juice or gum" of the bark seems to have the highest concentrations of alkaloids (up to 8%).[8] ## Uses ### Industrial uses Seeds from *V. sebifera* are processed to obtain the fats, which are yellow and aromatic. They smell like [nutmeg](/source/Nutmeg).[9] The fats also become rancid quickly. They are used industrially in the production of fats, candles, and soaps. This virola fat possesses properties similar to [cocoa butter](/source/Cocoa_butter)[7] and [shea butter](/source/Shea_butter). The wood of *V. sebifera* has a density around 0.37 g/cm3 (0.013 lb/cu in).[10] ### Homeopathy and traditional uses The smoke of the inner bark of the tree is used by [shamans](/source/Shaman) of the indigenous people of [Venezuela](/source/Venezuela) in cases of fever conditions, or cooked for driving out evil ghosts.[4] The homeopathic concoction *Myristica sebifera* (abbreviation: *Myris*) is derived from the fresh, red juice from the injured bark of the tree. Homeopathic practice uses it for such ailments as [abscesses](/source/Abscess), [phlegmon](/source/Phlegmon), [paronychia](/source/Paronychia), [furuncle](/source/Furuncle), [anal fissures](/source/Anal_fissure), infections of the [parotid gland](/source/Parotid_gland), bacterially infected [tonsilitis](/source/Tonsilitis), and others.[3][11][12] As of date, there is no empirical evidence supporting any medical effectiveness of *Myristica sebifera*. Any physiological efficacy would be highly implausible from a biochemical standpoint. [13] ## References 1. ["Plantes et Botanique | Virola venosa"](https://archive.today/20070519184701/http://www.plantes-botanique.be/e2-Myristicaceae-Virola-venosa). Archived from [the original](http://www.plantes-botanique.be/e2-Myristicaceae-Virola-venosa) on 2007-05-19. Retrieved 2008-04-30. 1. [Virola sebifera | Henriette's Herbal Homepage](http://www.henriettesherbal.com/plants/virola/sebifera.html) 1. Markus Wiesenauer, Suzann Kirschner-Brouns: Homöopathie - Das große Handbuch, Gräfe & Unzer Verlag, 2007, ISBN 978-3-8338-0034-4 1. Christian Rätsch: *Enzyklopädie der psychoaktiven Pflanzen*. AT Verlag, 2007, 8. Auflage, ISBN 978-3-03800-352-6 1. ["Estudos de áreas naturais fragmentadas"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070917163812/http://www.lapa.ufscar.br/portugues/fragmentos.htm). Archived from [the original](http://www.lapa.ufscar.br/portugues/fragmentos.htm) on 2007-09-17. Retrieved 2007-09-01. 1. [Andreas Kelich: Halluzinogene Rauschdrogen: Botanischer Teil: Virola spp.: V. sebifera](http://www.catbull.com/alamut/Lexikon/Pflanzen/Virola%20sebifera.htm) 1. Karl Hiller, Matthias F. Melzig, *Lexikon der Arzneipflanzen und Drogen*, 2 Bände, Genehmigte Sonderausgabe für den area verlag, 2006, ISBN 3-89996-682-1 1. ["COMMITTEE FOR VETERINARY MEDICINAL PRODUCTS VIROLA SEBIFERA SUMMARY REPORT"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070710213650/http://www.emea.europa.eu/pdfs/vet/mrls/060499en.pdf). Archived from [the original](http://www.emea.europa.eu/pdfs/vet/mrls/060499en.pdf) on 2007-07-10. Retrieved 2008-04-04. 1. ["PUERTAS"](http://inverhutchinson.com/Maderas01.htm). inverhutchinson.com. Retrieved 2008-04-30.[dead link] 1. Homöopathisches Repetorium, Deutsche Homöopathie Union (DHU) 1. Mohinder Singh Jus, *Praktische Materia Medica. Arzneimittellehre von A-Z*, Homöosana, 2004, ISBN 3-906407-05-5 1. Edzard Ernst: The truth about homeopathy. (PDF-Datei; 55 kB) In: British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 65(2), 2008, 163–4, Epub 2007 Sep 13. PMID 17875194 ## Further reading - Christian Rätsch: *Enzyklopädie der psychoaktiven Pflanzen*. AT Verlag, 2007, 8.te Auflage, ISBN 978-3-03800-352-6 - Karl Hiller, Matthias F. Melzig, *Lexikon der Arzneipflanzen und Drogen*, 2 Bände, Genehmigte Sonderausgabe für den area verlag, 2006, ISBN 3-89996-682-1 - Markus Wiesenauer, Suzann Kirschner-Brouns: Homöopathie - Das große Handbuch, Gräfe & Unzer Verlag, 2007, ISBN 978-3-8338-0034-4 ## External links - [Virola sebifera - Photo Gallery](https://archive.today/20121128061133/http://sloth.ots.ac.cr/local/florula2/list_images.php?key_species_code=LS001444) - [Photos of *Virola sebifera*](http://ctfs.si.edu/webatlas/findinfo.php?specid=8731&leng=english) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070714213249/http://ctfs.si.edu/webatlas/findinfo.php?leng=english&specid=8731) 2007-07-14 at the Wayback Machine - [Three photos of Talgmuskatnußbaum](https://web.archive.org/web/20070926221240/http://www.kew.org/scihort/tropamerica/cristalino/Virola_sebifera.htm) - [Virola sebifera Aublet](http://www.catbull.com/alamut/Lexikon/Pflanzen/Virola%20sebifera.htm) - [Climate Change and the effects on *Virola sebifera*](https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3375447.stm) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Virola sebifera](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virola_sebifera) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virola_sebifera?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.