Guaraná
Paullinia cupanaIn a Sateré-Mawé legend, the first guaraná sprouted from the eyes of a murdered child; the open fruit really does look like an eye.
What is Guaraná?
Guaraná (Paullinia cupana) is a plant of the Sapindaceae family. Traditions that use it: Amazon. Part used: seeds.
What is Guaraná used for?
Traditional use: The Sateré-Mawé roast the seeds into a paste and dry it into sticks; a stick is grated on a rasp made from a fish tongue and stirred into water. Scientific evidence: limited. The seeds contain more caffeine than coffee beans.
Is Guaraná safe?
Safety label: caution. High in caffeine; people with heart rhythm problems, anxiety or insomnia should be careful. In energy drinks it may combine with other stimulants.
Traditional use
The Sateré-Mawé roast the seeds into a paste and dry it into sticks; a stick is grated on a rasp made from a fish tongue and stirred into water.
Today it gives its name to one of Brazil’s best-selling soft drinks.
In nature
Mix-up risk
Guaraná extracts are called “natural” in energy drinks, but they are high in caffeine.
Preparation
Seeds are roasted, powdered and drunk with water.
What science says
The seeds contain more caffeine than coffee beans. There are small studies on attention and fatigue.
Safety
High in caffeine; people with heart rhythm problems, anxiety or insomnia should be careful. In energy drinks it may combine with other stimulants.
Drug interactions
| Medicine or substance | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Caffeine and other stimulants | Caffeine doses add up. |
| Some antibiotics (ciprofloxacin), oral contraceptives | Slow the clearance of caffeine. |
| Theophylline, lithium, adenosine | Caffeine changes the level or effect of these drugs. |
This list is not complete. If you take regular medication, ask your pharmacist or doctor before trying Guaraná.
Similar plants
Sources
- ResearchEffect of Guarana (Paullinia cupana) on Cognitive Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- ResearchGuaranın bilişsel performansa etkisi: sistematik derleme ve meta-analiz
- Botanical recordKew Plants of the World Online: Paullinia cupana
- Titles of research sources are summarised in Turkish on the Turkish page; links open the original English publications.
Written by Edanaz Tınmazlar · Last reviewed: · Türkçe