Omnia SanaCommon names in 7 European languages →
The complete database record: 4 documented constituents, 3 pharmacological actions, 5 traditional / indicated uses, with 15 cited sources.
Botanical Description
Woody climbing shrub or liana (Sapindaceae) in its native forest habitat, though often cultivated and pruned as a shrub. Leaves are alternate and pinnately compound with 5 leaflets. Small greenish-white flowers are borne in axillary panicles, followed by a red-orange, three-lobed capsule that splits open to reveal black seeds partly covered by a white aril - a fruit likened in Indigenous Amazonian folklore to a staring eye.
Habitat & Distribution
Native to the Amazon basin, particularly Brazil, where it has long been cultivated by Indigenous peoples (notably the Sateré-Mawé); grows in tropical, humid lowland forest conditions.
Harvesting
Ripe fruit capsules are hand-harvested as they split open; seeds are removed, roasted, and traditionally ground into a paste with water and shaped into sticks for storage, or dried and powdered.
Key Constituents
The dominant bioactive constituent, present at 2-4 times the concentration found in coffee beans by weight; responsible for guarana's stimulant, ergogenic and thermogenic effects.
Polyphenols thought to slow caffeine absorption and to contribute antioxidant activity.
Minor stimulant alkaloids alongside caffeine.
Pharmacological Actions
Traditional & Indicated Uses
inferred from neuroprotective action
inferred from ergogenic action
inferred from neuroprotective action
inferred from ergogenic action
Traditional Use & History
Guarana seed has a long Amazonian Indigenous tradition as a stimulant tonic for fatigue and stamina and as a ceremonial and social beverage. Its very high caffeine content (greater by weight than coffee beans) underlies its modern use for cognitive performance, physical endurance and metabolic support, supported by clinical trials.[5]
Preparations
Dosage
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Guarana contains very high levels of caffeine (2–4 times that of coffee by weight). All the cautions of caffeine apply - avoid in cardiac arrhythmia, hypertension, anxiety disorders, insomnia, and during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Should not be combined with other stimulants, MAOIs, or medications affected by caffeine. Risk of dependence and withdrawal symptoms with prolonged high-dose use.
Duke (2002) rates guarana as ++ and notes CNS-stimulant, anti-aggregant, diuretic, and thermogenic activities, primarily due to its high caffeine content (3–5%). It has positive chronotropic and inotropic effects on the heart. Duke flags guarana as genotoxic and mutagenic at the experimental level (score 1), which warrants caution with high-dose supplementation. Contraindicated in cardiovascular disease, anxiety disorders, peptic ulcers, and during pregnancy. Interactions include potentiation of other stimulants and anticoagulants (Duke, 2002).
Harvest Readiness
[11]
External Identifiers
References & Sources
- Hack, B., Penna, E.M., Talik, T., Chandrashekhar, R. and Millard-Stafford, M (2023) 'Effect of Guarana (Paullinia cupana) on Cognitive Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis', Nutrients, 15(2), pp. 434. doi:10.3390/nu15020434 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15020434 - de Araujo, D.P., Pereira, P.T.V.T., Fontes, A.J.C., Marques, K.D.S. and others (2021) 'The use of guarana (Paullinia cupana) as a dietary supplement for fatigue in cancer patients: a systematic review with a meta-analysis', Supportive Care in Cancer, 29(12), pp. 7171-7182. doi:10.1007/s00520-021-06242-5 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-021-06242-5 - Aldhahrani, A (2021) 'Protective effects of guarana (Paullinia cupana) against methotrexate-induced intestinal damage in mice', Food Science & Nutrition, 9(7), pp. 3397-3404. doi:10.1002/fsn3.2101 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.2101 - Sirena, D.H., Araujo, A.B., Silveira, A.B.T., Serafini, M.A. and others (2024) 'Guarana (Paullinia cupana) as a potential tool for mesenchymal stromal cells priming in regenerative medicine', Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, 57, pp. e13286. doi:10.1590/1414-431X2024e13286 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1590/1414-431X2024e13286 - Torres, E.A.F.S., Pinaffi-Langley, A.C.D.C., Figueira, M.S., Cordeiro, K.S. and others (2022) 'Effects of the consumption of guarana on human health: A narrative review', Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, 21(1), pp. 272-295. doi:10.1111/1541-4337.12862 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1111/1541-4337.12862 - Penna, E.M., Harp, A., Hack, B., Talik, T.N. and Millard-Stafford, M (2024) 'Guarana (Paullinia cupana) but Not Low-Dose Caffeine Improves Cycling Time-Trial Performance Versus Placebo', International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 34(1), pp. 30-37. doi:10.1123/ijsnem.2023-0148 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.2023-0148 - Lima, N.D.S., Numata, E.P., Mesquita, L.M.S., Dias, P.H. and others (2017) 'Modulatory Effects of Guarana (Paullinia cupana) on Adipogenesis', Nutrients, 9(6), pp. 635. doi:10.3390/nu9060635 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9060635 - Lima, N.D.S., Teixeira, L., Gambero, A. and Ribeiro, M.L (2018) 'Guarana (Paullinia cupana) Stimulates Mitochondrial Biogenesis in Mice Fed High-Fat Diet', Nutrients, 10(2), pp. 165. doi:10.3390/nu10020165 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10020165 - Zamberlan, D.C., Arantes, L.P., Machado, M.L., da Silveira, T.L. and others (2020) 'Guarana (Paullinia cupana Mart.) protects against amyloid-beta toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans through heat shock protein response activation', Nutritional Neuroscience, 23(6), pp. 444-454. doi:10.1080/1028415X.2018.1517473 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1080/1028415X.2018.1517473 - Abboud, R.S., Ribeiro, I.C.A., Pereira, V.A., Correa, L.B.N. and others (2020) 'Guarana (Paullinia cupana) consumption improves hepatic and renal parameters in alloxan-induced diabetic rats', Nutricion Hospitalaria, 37(2), pp. 343-348. doi:10.20960/nh.02759 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.20960/nh.02759 - Fern, Ken 'Paullinia cupana (Useful Tropical Plants)'. Available at: https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Paullinia+cupana Traditional / reference
https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Paullinia+cupana - Amaral, J.F., Neto, F.R.A., Ferreira, F.M., Leite, E.P. and Andrade, C.M.B (2015) 'Guarana (Paullinia cupana): toxic behavioral effects in laboratory animals and antioxidants activity in vitro', pp. 174--182. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Guarana%20%28Paullinia%20cupana%29%3A%20toxic%20behavioral%20effects%20in%20laboratory%20animals%20and%20antioxidants%20activity%20in%20vitro - Haskell, C.F., Kennedy, D.O., Wesnes, K.A., Milne, A.L. and Scholey, A.B (2007) 'A double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-dose evaluation of the acute behavioural effects of guarana in humans', 21(1), pp. 65--70. doi:10.1177/0269881106063815 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881106063815 - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (n.d.). Available at: https://powo.science.kew.org Traditional / reference
https://powo.science.kew.org - Duke, J.A (2002) 'Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Handbook%20of%20Medicinal%20Herbs%2C%20Second%20Edition
Selected studies & references
All 14 studies in the Knowledge Finder →
This profile is assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database, which we curate by hand. How this site is built.