What is Brazilian peppertree extract?

A unique ingredient of Nirena, Brazilian peppertree extract protects the delicate balance of the vaginal ecosystem to prevent infections.

Recently, science has confirmed the antibacterial, anti-candidal, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties of this special compound.

In clinical studies, extract of the Brazilian Peppertree displays potent antimicrobial properties. It demonstrates efficacy against numerous fungi, including Candida, the fungus responsible for yeast infections. In-vitro studies have shown antibacterial activity from good to very strong against several strains. One research group found Brazilian peppertree extract to be more effective than the antifungal drug Multifungin®.

A 1974 study used the herb effectively to treat 100 patients with chronic cervicitis and vaginitis. It passed an anti-cancer plant screening program in 1976 by demonstrating anti-tumorous action. In 1996 a US patent was awarded for a topical bactericidal medicine made from the oil to be used against pseudomonas and staphylococcus on humans and animals. In 1997 another patent was issued for a similar preparation used as an antibacterial wound cleanser. Argentine researchers documented the oil’s toxicity in vitro against human liver cancer cells in 2002.

The only commercially available women’s intimate cleanser to contain Brazilian peppertree is Nirena.

Distinguishing features of the Brazilian peppertree include narrow spiked leaves and small flowers formed in panicles, which produce small berry-like fruits. The shrub has a trunk 25 to 35 cm in diameter and grows 4-10 m in height. Leaves, bark, and fruit contain essential oil with a spicy scent.

The list of known chemicals in the Brazilian peppertree includes: amyrin, behenic acid, bergamont, bicyclogermacrene, bourbonene, cadinene, cadinol, calacorene, calamenediol, calamenene, camphene, car-3-ene, carvacrol, caryophyllene, cerotic acid, copaene, croweacin, cubebene, cyanidins, cymene, elemene, elemol, elemonic acid, eudesmol, fisetin, gallic acid, geraniol butyrate, germacrene, germacrone, guaiene, gurjunene, heptacosanoic acid, humulene, laccase, lanosta, limonene, linalool, linoleic acid, malvalic acid, masticadienoic acid, masticadienonalic acid, muurolene, muurolol, myrcene, nerol hexanoate, octacosanoic acid, oleic acid, paeonidin, palmitic acid, pentacosanoic acid, phellandrene, phellandrene, phenol, pinene, piperine, piperitol, protocatechuic acid, quercetin, quercitrin, raffinose, sabinene, sitosterol, spathulene, terpinene, terpineol, terpinolene, and tricosanoic acid.