Evidence supporting the use of: Lapachol
For the health condition: Infection (viral)

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Lapachol is a naturally occurring naphthoquinone found in the bark of the Tabebuia tree, commonly known as pau d’arco. Its use for treating or supporting viral infections is primarily rooted in traditional medicine, especially in South American herbal practices where pau d’arco tea has been consumed for centuries for its purported antimicrobial, including antiviral, properties. Scientific investigations have identified some in vitro antiviral activity of lapachol against certain viruses, such as herpes simplex virus and vesicular stomatitis virus. However, most of this evidence comes from laboratory or animal studies, and the results have not yet translated into robust clinical evidence supporting its efficacy or safety in humans for viral infections. Furthermore, lapachol has demonstrated significant toxicity in animal studies, which limits its applicability as a therapeutic agent. Thus, while the traditional use is well established, the scientific validation remains weak and inconclusive at present. There are no high-quality clinical trials supporting lapachol’s use for viral infections, and health authorities do not endorse it for this purpose.

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