Indian Redwood

BotanicalBest with a meal

What is it

Indian Redwood (Caesalpinia sappan), also called Sappan wood, is a tropical tree whose red heartwood is used in traditional Indian, Chinese, and Southeast Asian medicine. Supplements use heartwood extracts.

Evidence for 1 use

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

Inflammation and antioxidant support

Mixed Evidence

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity has been reported in cell and animal studies, but human clinical trials are not available.

How it works

Sappan wood contains brazilin and brazilein, polyphenolic dyes with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity in laboratory studies. Preclinical work suggests inhibition of inflammatory mediators and free radicals, with additional reports of antimicrobial and antiplatelet effects. Human trials are scarce. Most traditional use is for menstrual or inflammatory complaints based on long-standing practice rather than controlled data.

Dosage

There is no established human dose. The DSLD does not report standardized dosing across products. Traditional decoctions use several grams of heartwood per day; modern extracts vary widely.

When and how to take it

No specific timing has been established; most products are taken with food.

1 commercial form

Compare the main delivery options and what they’re best suited for.

Sappan wood heartwood extract

Most products supply a dry or liquid heartwood extract without standardized active levels.

Brazilin is the main marker but is not always standardized

Safety

Short-term traditional use of sappan wood decoctions has been considered acceptable, but rigorous human safety studies are lacking. Concentrated extracts may have stronger effects on platelets and inflammation than implied by the herb's long history.

Who should be cautious

Avoid in pregnancy, breastfeeding, and before surgery. Use caution with anticoagulants such as warfarin, antiplatelets, and any condition with bleeding risk.

Interactions

Theoretical interactions with anticoagulants, antiplatelet drugs, and blood pressure medications are plausible given antiplatelet and vasoactive effects in animal studies.

Frequently asked questions

Is Sappan wood the same as red sandalwood?⌄

No. Sappan wood (Caesalpinia sappan) is a different species from red sandalwood (Pterocarpus santalinus), though both yield red dyes.

Does it have proven benefits?⌄

There is no strong human clinical evidence yet. Use is mostly traditional.

References

Indian Redwood on Wikidata — Wikidata link

Indian Redwood on NIH DSLD (US supplement label database) — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database link

Research on Indian Redwood (PubMed search) — PubMed link

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Evidence-based·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.