About Vismia baccifera (L.) Triana & Planch.
Vismia baccifera (L.) Triana & Planch. differs from V. guianensis in its leaf size: its leaves are shorter but larger overall. The leaves are ovate, membranous, and covered with a whitish layer on their undersides. Chemically, the leaves of Vismia baccifera contain multiple flavonoids, specifically epicatechin and quercetin. The essential oil of this species has a chemical profile marked by high levels of sesquiterpenes. Vismia baccifera subsp. dealbata has been found to contain the compounds sesamin, friedelin, and vismiaquinone. In parts of the Amazon rainforest, V. baccifera is used in traditional medicine to treat inflammatory conditions including uterine hemorrhage and leishmaniasis. In 2018, researchers from the University of the Basque Country published a study that showed aqueous leaf extracts of this species can kill liver tumor cells in laboratory conditions.
