It is popularly known latex that comes from the bark of dragon’s blood trees, with the name of “sangre de grado” or “Grado’s blood”, of the genus Croton (C. lechleri), make deep cuts in their outer shell when they are laid down on the floor (cut until they fall).

Origin:

These trees are of medicinal interest, belonging to the family Euphorbiaceous and reach a hight of up to 25 m high and 55 cm thick.

In Peru, various speciesod dragon´s blood grow in the jungle and the low jungle, in the departments of San Martín: in the pongo of Cainarache; Huanuco: Chinchao area; Junín: in the Valley of Chandigarh, Loreto: in Yurimaguas and in some areas of Cusco. Extraction or “harvest of the latex” is from when the plant is 5 years old.

The name “sangre de grado” latex, is due to its similarity in color and density to human blood in a way that when a few drops are freshly extracted, they are collected on a finger, and they gives the appearance that the person has suffered a cut, the blood is a reddish liquid.

The dragon’s blood latex contains an alkaloid called “taspine” which accelerates healing of wounds, lacerations and abrasions. The resin also has anti-tumor alkaloids like pyridone aporphine indole, quinoline, tropanes, and unsaturated fatty acids, anthraquinones and triterpenes.

Among its most important effects I must emphasize its activity as an astringent healing and hemostasis, by allowing it to effectively treat different types of skin wounds and mucous membranes, including those which have difficulty with other treatments such as varicose ulcers or decubitus. It has also been demonstrated to have antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties,which would improve their effectiveness in the above treatments.

Benefits:

• The dragon's blood stimulates wound contraction: Helps in the formation of scabs and quickly regenerates the skin helping collagen formation and it has been shown that the to latex is more active than its isolated components.
  
  
• Antiviral and antibacterial action: numerous studies support the antiviral activity of dragon's blood, mainly the SP-303. In vitro experiments show that this proanthocyanidin inhibits various DNA and RNA viruses including herpes viruses, hepatitis (A and B), the influenza virus and Para influenza virus.
  
  
• Immunomodulatory activity: The dragon's blood sample obtained from Croton lechleri by hemolytic assays in vitro, a potent inhibitory, the activity of the classical and alternative pathways of the complement system, However, the effect of the latex is more than the taspine, having inhibition of the classical pathway and shows no effect on the alternative pathway. Sangre de Drago has a dual (antioxidant and pro-oxidant) activity.
  
  
• Anti-inflammatory activity: It is seen as the main purpose in the use of Sangre de Drago, its healing effects, internal and external.

Traditional Use:

• Dragon´s blood is one of the most used at the grassroots level in the humid tropics of Central and South America. The first written references date back from the seventeenth century when the Spanish naturalist and explorer P. Bernabé Cobo discovered the healing properties of this latex, widely known by indigenous tribes of Peru and Ecuador its mainly used for healing. It also has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and hemostatic properties, it also has the added benefits for the treatment of diarrhea.And is used to treat gastrointestinal ulcers, uterine cramps and in cases of urinary retention, (when taken in small doses). In addition, it is credited with anti-cancer properties.

• Other indigenous uses include, treating fevers and digestive pyorrhea it’s used in vaginal baths before delivery to postpartum hemorrhage. About 8 drops are used in all these indications of folk medicine (although, even doses of 20 to 30 drops are reached), which are usually added to an infusion made by any aromatic plant. In the countries of origin it’s common to find this latex in various trade shows, many in liquid form or incorporated in various diverse preparations .

CERTIFICATIONS:

• Peruvian health register, DIGESA, ministry of Health
  
• Nop and EU organic certification
  
• Lima Chamber Of Commerce
   
  

We are Amazon Andes Export SAC  and we have started to produce and market natural, functional foods made from our native Peruvian biodiversity  from 2010. We offer final  bulk product to suit the needs of each of our clients,  harmonized with ethical principles that we seek to achieve a real sustainable development, by helping to improve the quality of life of all the links in this valuable chain, we work for the health and welfare of people, from original, native Andean and amazonian communities, through to customers.

We are firm believers that “FOOD OF THE FUTURE, ARE THOSE OF OUR PAST” this is why we are in a constant search of  the revaluation of our super Amazonian Andean food, we continue researching and continuously innovating to develop new and better products under the concepts of natural and positive vision and with quality.

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AMAZON ANDES EXPORT SAC  is more than just a company, we are a long-term project that is seeking to stimulate the development of valuable chains of  products from the Peruvian biodiversity. In addition to commercial activities that we are developing we also have other activities planned, for example, we want to help in the social and environmental development of our country. Our projects will be developed in three stages, and on whose progress will depend directly on the level and rate of growth of the company.