Ubos - Yellow Mombin

Detailed Description

An intriguing tropical tree, the bark of which is valued for its multitude of beneficial effects on the human body.

Botanical Information

Ubos, or Yellow Mombin, is a deciduous, upright tree that can reach up to 20 meters tall with a trunk circumference of about 1.5 meters. It grows rapidly and is sometimes used in living fences. Its bark is thick, corky, gray to pink (or dark), deeply furrowed, and may exude a resin (used in glue production). The broad canopy is formed by abundant branches that often begin relatively lower on the trunk.

The twigs are fibrous, while the leaves are about 30 cm long, slightly hairy, green, lanceolate-elliptic, and arranged in pairs of 5-8 compound leaflets. Ubos flowers from January to April, producing small, white, sweetly fragrant blossoms that cluster at the branch ends. The fruit is around 3 cm long: a yellow, aromatic, tart-tasting plum with a tough skin and a single seed. Fruits develop in dense, grape-like clusters.

Origin and Distribution

Yellow Mombin is native to the lowland, humid rainforests of the Amazon basin in Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela, the three Guineas, as well as southern Mexico, Belize, and Costa Rica. It is considered a key tropical species, not found at elevations above 1,000 meters. Although naturally endemic to this broad region, it also thrives in other areas worldwide with similar altitude, humidity, and temperature parameters. The species is now also found throughout the Caribbean, and has been introduced into Asia (India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, etc.) and Africa. The tree is prized not only for its fast growth (useful for hedges and shade) but also for its tasty fruit and medicinal bark.

Usage / Dosage

Nearly all parts of the tree are used—bark, fruit, and leaves. The fruit is a staple in traditional cuisine, commonly enjoyed fresh or made into jams, juices, and other preparations. However, the bark is most widely recognized for its therapeutic benefits. Local populations discovered its healing properties centuries ago, and today it is a regular part of Peruvian herbal practice and various forms of traditional medicine across its native range.

Folk medicine recommends Ubos bark to stimulate the immune system, support eye health, and as a disinfectant for the urinary bladder mucosa, for digestive problems, and to assist with the healing of superficial wounds. In Colombia, it is used as a pain reliever, contraceptive, and occasionally an abortifacient for young women.

In the Bolivian Amazon, bark-based poultices are applied to fractures and sprains or dislocations. Historical reports from 1999 describe Yellow Mombin bark being used for cramps, diarrhea, vaginal infections, dermatitis, asthma, edema, psoriasis, ulcers, tuberculosis, and leishmaniasis.

Traditional medicine in South America utilizes Ubos not only as a contraceptive and abortifacient but also for treating cancer of the fallopian tubes and uterus. Locals consider it valuable for pain relief and spasm prevention, thus it is frequently used for arthritis, rheumatism, muscle and joint pain, injuries, and inflammation. Decoctions treat dysentery, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, and serve as a hemostatic to stop bleeding. Bark infusions are also used as mouthwashes for laryngitis and tonsillitis, as a drink for malaria, fevers, kidney stones, bladder infections, snakebites, burns, diaper rash, and other skin issues.

Globally, demand for Yellow Mombin is rising, credited for supporting healthy metabolism, mitigating the effects of poor diet and unhealthy lifestyles. Sometimes, Ubos is recommended as a laxative or as a topical remedy for leprosy. For centuries, bark decoctions have been used to subdue severe coughing by inducing vomiting, a practice extended to food poisoning or chemical ingestion. In Africa, powder made from dried bark is sprinkled on wounds after circumcision and other cuts.

Bark contains high levels of tannins. In Nigeria, a decoction is applied to swollen cheeks and lymph nodes, while in Côte d'Ivoire, bark has been used for decades to treat fresh wounds and prevent inflammation. Across regions, bark is trusted to ease leprosy symptoms and rid children of intestinal parasites. In Sierra Leone, a bark decoction helps with diarrhea and is sometimes given as a warm astringent cream to postpartum women.

Traditional Southeast Asian medicine administers Ubos bark for menstrual pain and excessive bleeding. For men, it may relieve painful hemorrhoids; in some cultures, bark decoctions are used as adjunct support in treating cancer. Externally, decoctions are sometimes applied to cracked or suppurating wounds, fungal skin infections, and cold sores.

The bark contains a diverse range of bioactive compounds, confirmed by scientific studies to have analgesic (pain-relieving), antispasmodic, and anti-inflammatory effects. Other substances exhibit antifungal, antiseptic, and antibacterial activity. These findings support the traditional use of Ubos bark for mycoses, inflammation, vaginal infections, and rheumatism. Some sources also mention its potential for treating bladder inflammation, gastric and intestinal ulcers, and throat infections. Experimental studies in rats have confirmed the anti-inflammatory effect of Yellow Mombin bark extract.

Active Compounds

Ubos bark contains catechins, steroids, carotenes, quinones, and phenolic compounds. Notable substances include alpha-pinene, caryophyllene, anacardic acid, citric acid and its derivatives, ascorbic acid, alkenyl-salicylic acid, ocimene, the sugars arabinogalactans and xylose derivatives, as well as vitamins A, B1, B2, and B5. Minerals found in abundance are calcium, iron, and phosphorus.

Traditional Dosage

The most commonly cited method is to brew about 5 g (1–2 tablespoons) of ground Ubos bark in 750 ml (700–800 ml, up to 1 liter) water. Simmer under a lid for 20–30 minutes, strain, and drink the decoction 2–3 times daily (about 200 ml per dose, equal to 1 glass or cup). For skin issues, combine internal use with topical application to affected areas up to twice daily. Ubos is not recommended for children under 3, or for pregnant or breastfeeding women.