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Red mangrove

Rhizophora mangle

A coastal tree of the Americas whose tannin-rich bark is used in Caribbean folk medicine as an antiseptic, astringent and to stop bleeding. Researchers have tested a 5% bark cream on wounds and leg ulcers with encouraging early results.

Full natural-history sheet →

What it is used for

  • In a 2026 randomised trial in venous leg ulcers, a 5% red mangrove cream reduced ulcer area by about half over 12 weeks, with complete healing in 34.5% of ulcers versus 15.6% with control. A small study of eyelid surgery wounds found faster epithelial healing than with dexpanthenol cream.1,2

  • Bark extracts protected the stomach lining in rat models of ulcers caused by NSAIDs and other agents. No human studies.3,4

  • Used in Caribbean folk medicine as an antiseptic and antifungal; the aqueous extract is antibacterial in lab tests.4

How it is prepared

ointment / salve

A cream containing bark extract applied to wounds.

Trials used a 5% R. mangle cream.

Wounds and cuts

Amounts are as recorded by the named source, not a recommendation.

Safety

Pregnancy
Insufficient data
Breastfeeding
Insufficient data
Children
No data.

Side effects

  • No safety data from trials of oral use; no toxicity was seen in the rat studies

In the healing traditions

  • Caribbean folk medicine

    Red mangrove

    Bark as an antiseptic, astringent, haemostatic and antifungal remedy.

Active compounds

tannins (condensed)
main constituents of the bark; astringent and antioxidant
polyphenols
antioxidant; studied for gastroprotection

History

The bark is a folk remedy around the Caribbean. Laboratory work on its tannins for stomach protection was followed by small trials of a bark cream on wounds and leg ulcers.

Sources

  1. 1.Efficacy of Rhizophora mangle cream in venous ulcer: a randomized controlled clinical trial. Wounds 2026
  2. 2.A preliminary study of cutaneous wound healing on the upper eyelid using Rhizophora mangle-based cream. An Acad Bras Cienc 2024
  3. 3.Mechanisms of action underlying the gastric antiulcer activity of Rhizophora mangle L. J Ethnopharmacol 2012
  4. 4.Protective and antioxidant effects of Rhizophora mangle L. against NSAID-induced gastric ulcers. J Ethnopharmacol 2006

Reference, not prescription. Nothing here is medical advice. Herbs can interact with medicines and be dangerous in pregnancy; tell your doctor or pharmacist about anything you take.