8 Health Benefits of Boldo (Peumus boldus)

November 10, 2023 Agric4Profits

Boldo (Peumus boldus), along with other native plants including liter, Quillay, promo, and bollén, is a distinctive part of the sclerophyllous woods that are unique to central Chile. Its leaves are used in cooking, mainly in Latin America, and have a pungent, woody, slightly bitter flavor and scent similar to camphor.

Studies on animals and in vitro suggest that boldo leaf extract and its component boldine have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects.

Researchers have also looked into possible uses for these compounds in the treatment of diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, cancer, sun protection, osteoporosis, renoprotection, and atopic dermatitis. To advocate use for any indication, clinical trial data are, however, insufficient.

Boldo (Peumus boldus) leaf extract dosage recommendations lack high-quality clinical research. Traditional dosages include 0.1 to 0.3 mL of liquid extract (1:1 in 45% alcohol) three times per day and 1 to 2 teaspoons (2 to 3 g) of dry leaf per 240 mL of water. Ascaridole, a poisonous component, may be included in commercial formulations.

Although it is rarely seen outside of botanical gardens, Boldo has also been brought to Europe and North Africa. Along with other nations, it can also be found in Mexico, Ecuador, Argentina, and Morocco.

The plant produces sheets with a potent perfume that is used both in cooking and medicine. The plant’s aroma is comparable to that of lemon and camphor. The leaves of the plant are used, though the bark is also employed in some other nations.

Boldo is a tiny, aromatic tree or shrub that can reach heights of 6-7 meters (sometimes up to 20 m). It grows in sandy, acidic, well-drained soil.

It is necessary to have fertile, sandy soil, and proper drainage is crucial. Too-wet soil shouldn’t be used to plant it. The opposite, sessile, 2-inch long, whole leaves are coriaceous, have a noticeable midrib, and have numerous tiny glands on their surface when dried.

When crushed, the odor is unusual and very offensive, not unlike Chenopodium oil. Since they are coated in glandular protuberances, leaves have a rough surface. the prominent ribs and flat underbelly.

A cluster of 10–12 little blooms is called an inflorescence. Flowers are 1cm in diameter, white or yellow, and highly perfumed. Fruit is a small, fleshy drupe that is edible and has a yellowish-green color. It is also very aromatic. The fruit has a 5 mm sphere-shaped seed.

8 Health Benefits of Boldo (Peumus boldus)

When brewed into tea, boldo leaves have a somewhat bitter, mellow flavor and a slightly coniferous, gritty taste. They are a common culinary herb used to flavor a variety of savory meals including fish, mushrooms, vegetables, and sauces.

Boldo leaves are frequently used to wrap frying meat and fish in various South American communities. Boldo fruits are dried and used to make hot sauces.

Boldo has long been used to cure hangovers, gout, stomachaches, and urogenital irritation in its native region, where it is most frequently drank as a tea.

Initial investigation has uncovered a number of intriguing contemporary medical applications for the plant. Some of the well-known health advantages of utilizing boldo are listed below.

1. Eliminates Gall Stones

Boldo leaves have the power to improve the liver’s bile production, which will lower gallstones in the gallbladder before they can cause serious problems.

The increase in bile production makes the gallbladder empty more frequently, ensuring that gallstones are regularly removed before they enlarge and pose a problem.

2. Improves Digestion

Boldo leaves may have been used in the past as a supplement to aid in meal digestion. These leaves’ antioxidant content stimulates the liver’s bile production, which helps break down the nutrients.

The antispasmodic properties of the Boldo leaf reduce minor constipation symptoms by calming intestinal cramps and acting as a gentle laxative. Boldo leaf extract is used to increase appetite in both adults and children and is recognized to lessen the signs and symptoms of stomach discomfort.

3. Improves Liver Health

Boldo leaves are very good for the liver. Tea made from fresh twigs of Boldo leaves stimulates the liver’s production of digesting bile, which performs various crucial tasks.

Bile’s primary job is to help the liver remove waste products and poisons from the body before they build up and start to harm the body.

Numerous studies have shown that Boldo tea limits the damage caused by free radicals while also protecting the liver’s cells from harm from toxins that have built up.

The anti-inflammatory properties of Boldo tea also reduce liver inflammation, promoting greater organ recovery and performance.

4. Boosts Immunity

Boldo tea helps the immune system of the body in a number of ways. The presence of fewer infection-causing agents thanks to the presence of several natural anti-microbial and anti-bacterial compounds found in leaves contributes to an improvement in the body’s defense system.

Its anti-inflammatory properties aid in reducing excessive inflammation in any area of the body, strengthening the body’s defenses against the microorganisms that cause inflammation.

Antioxidants minimize the harm done to cells by free radicals and lessen their susceptibility to infection.

5. Alleviates Constipation

Boldo leaves also contain p-Cymene, a laxative, in their volatile oil. Therefore, ingesting boldo leaf or its derivatives may relieve regular bowel straining.

In reality, Boldo may be used as an adjuvant to the treatment of constipation with the approval of the European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy (ESCOP).

6. Rich in Phytochemicals

The phytochemicals limonene, camphor, boldine, coumarin, and beta-pinene are abundant in boldo leaves. The ability to combat free radicals and delay the beginning of a number of infections and disorders is provided by these phytochemicals. These organic substances lessen cellular and DNA deterioration.

7. Contains Antimicrobial Properties

According to legend, boldo leaves possess potent antibacterial and antiseptic qualities. Therefore, consuming boldo leaf tea helps strengthen the immune system’s defenses against a variety of pathogenic pathogens. Boldo leaves have the ability to treat syphilis and gonorrhea because these sexually transmitted infections are bacterial in origin.

8. Anthelmintic Agent

Due to the volatile oil present in the leaf, one of the alleged health benefits of boldo leaf tea is its capacity to eliminate intestinal parasites. Two to four percent of the leaf is made up of volatile oil. Ascaridole, an organic molecule with purported anthelmintic (anti-parasitic) effects, makes up about 16 to 38% of this volatile oil.