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Corkwood

Scientific Name(s): Duboisia hopwoodii, Duboisia leichhardtii, Duboisia myoporoides R. Br.
Common Name(s): Corkwood tree, Pituri

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jul 22, 2024.

Clinical Overview

Use

Corkwood is used as a source of purified alkaloids in the pharmaceutical industry. Older reports suggest corkwood leaves have been used as an antidote to the GI symptoms of ciguatera poisoning from consumption of toxin-contaminated reef fish; however, clinical trial data are lacking to recommend use for any indication.

Dosing

There are no recent clinical studies of corkwood to provide a basis for dosing recommendations. Corkwood should be used with caution because of its high anticholinergic alkaloid content.

Contraindications

Contraindications have not been identified.

Pregnancy/Lactation

Avoid use. Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.

Interactions

None well documented.

Adverse Reactions

Even small doses may cause CNS disturbances; corkwood leaves have demonstrated CNS stimulant and hallucinogenic properties.

Toxicology

Large doses may be fatal.

Scientific Family

Botany

The corkwood shrub or tree is native to and found throughout most of Australia. The tree grows up to 14 m in height and has very light wood with thick, cork-like bark. The narrow leaves contain alkaloids; the plant also bears small, white flowers and black berries.Pellowe 2013, USDA 2020

History

Europeans observed in 1770 that indigenous Australians cured corkwood leaves and rolled them into quids that were then chewed to ward off hunger, pain, and fatigue. Because corkwood leaves contain anticholinergic stimulants, Australian aborigines have reportedly tainted waterholes with the leaves in order to stun and capture animals. The plant has been used in homeopathy to treat eye disorders. The wood of corkwood is used for carving. Duboisia is farmed extensively in Australia, with Australian plantations providing a major source of scopolamine and atropine worldwide.Duke 2003, Pellowe 2013

Chemistry

As with other members of the Solanaceae family, the corkwood plant (especially the leaves) is rich in alkaloids, yielding more than 2%; these alkaloids consist primarily of hyoscyamine and hyoscine (scopolamine). Scopolamine content in the plant appears to be affected by daily exposure to light, but not to temperature.Ullrich 2017 The alkaloids atropine, butropine, and more than a dozen related compounds, including nicotine and nornicotine, have been isolated.Coulsen 1968, Coulson 1967, Ishimaru 1989

Uses and Pharmacology

There are no recent clinical studies of corkwood to provide a basis for therapeutic recommendations. Corkwood is used as a source of purified alkaloids, particularly scopolamine, in the pharmaceutical industry.Ullrich 2017 Older reports suggest corkwood leaves have been used as an antidote to the GI symptoms of ciguatera poisoning from consumption of toxin-contaminated reef fish.Dufva 1976

Dosing

There are no recent clinical studies of corkwood to provide a basis for dosing recommendations. Corkwood should be used with caution because of its high anticholinergic alkaloid content.

Pregnancy / Lactation

Avoid use. Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.

Interactions

None well documented.

Adverse Reactions

Corkwood has demonstrated stimulant and hallucinogenic properties due to the anticholinergic effects of its major alkaloid constituents (eg, hyoscine).Duke 2003, Pearn 1981 A case report describes a 22-year-old man who presented to the emergency department with agitated delirium and visual hallucinations following ingestion of 5 to 10 leaves from the D. myoporoides plant.Pellowe 2013

Toxicology

Ingestion of scopolamine and related alkaloids of D. myoporoides can be fatal in large doses due to competitive inhibition of central and peripheral acetylcholine muscarinic receptors.Pellowe 2013

References

Disclaimer

This information relates to an herbal, vitamin, mineral or other dietary supplement. This product has not been reviewed by the FDA to determine whether it is safe or effective and is not subject to the quality standards and safety information collection standards that are applicable to most prescription drugs. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to take this product. This information does not endorse this product as safe, effective, or approved for treating any patient or health condition. This is only a brief summary of general information about this product. It does NOT include all information about the possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to this product. This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. You should talk with your health care provider for complete information about the risks and benefits of using this product.

This product may adversely interact with certain health and medical conditions, other prescription and over-the-counter drugs, foods, or other dietary supplements. This product may be unsafe when used before surgery or other medical procedures. It is important to fully inform your doctor about the herbal, vitamins, mineral or any other supplements you are taking before any kind of surgery or medical procedure. With the exception of certain products that are generally recognized as safe in normal quantities, including use of folic acid and prenatal vitamins during pregnancy, this product has not been sufficiently studied to determine whether it is safe to use during pregnancy or nursing or by persons younger than 2 years of age.

Coulson JF, Griffin WJ. The alkaloids of Duboisia myoporoides. I. Aerial parts. Planta Med. 1967;15(4):459-466.5603489
Coulsen JF, Griffin WJ. The alkaloids of Duboisia myoporoides. II. Roots. Planta Med. 1968;16(2):174-181.5703895
Duboisia myoporoides R. USDA, NRCS. 2020. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 9 June 2020). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.
Dufva E, Loison G, Holmstedt B. Duboisia myoporoides: native antidote against ciguatera poisoning. Toxicon. 1976;14(1):55-64.1258069
Duke JA. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. 2nd ed. CRC Press; 2003.
Ishimaru K, Shimomura K. 7β-Hydroxyhyoscyamine from Duboisia myoporoides-D. leichhardtii hybrid and Hyoscyamus albus. Phytochemistry. 1989;28(12):3507-3509.
Pearn J. Corked up: clinical hyoscine poisoning with alkaloids of the native corkwood, Duboisia. Med J Aust. 1981;2(8):422-423.7321976
Pellowe E, Poncia HD. Duboisia ingestion: an unusual cause of anticholinergic poisoning. Emerg Med Australas. 2013;25(3):268-270.23759049
Ullrich SF, Rothauer A, Hagels H, Kayser O. Influence of light, temperature, and macronutrients on growth and scopolamine biosynthesis in Duboisia species. Planta Med. 2017;83(11):937-945. doi:10.1055/s-0043-10643528371944

Further information

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