A rare rainforest fruit studied for its unique bioactive compounds, including tigilanol tiglate (EBC-46).
Blushwood Berry is the fruit of Fontainea picrosperma, a rainforest tree found only in Far North Queensland, Australia. Researchers first became interested in this plant after identifying a unique compound within its seeds known as EBC-46 (tigilanol tiglate).
Over the past two decades, scientists around the world have studied this compound for its role in immune signaling, inflammation pathways, and cellular biology.
Today, Blushwood Berry continues to be explored in laboratories and clinical trials, while many people also incorporate whole-plant extracts and oils into wellness and skincare routines.
Key Fact
Tigilanol tiglate (EBC-46), a compound originally discovered in the Blushwood tree, is the active ingredient used in the FDA-approved veterinary cancer treatment Stelfonta® for canine mast cell tumors.
This pharmaceutical therapy uses a purified injectable form of the compound and has shown tumor resolution rates of up to 88% in clinical veterinary studies.
What Is EBC-46 (Tigilanol Tiglate)?
EBC-46 is a naturally occurring compound found in the seeds of the Blushwood tree (Fontainea picrosperma). It was discovered through automated drug screening conducted by the Australian biotechnology company QBiotics.
At the cellular level, tigilanol tiglate activates a signaling pathway involving protein kinase C (PKC) — an enzyme family that plays an important role in immune response, inflammation, and cellular signaling.
Because PKC pathways are involved in many biological processes and disease pathways, researchers have spent years investigating how EBC-46 interacts with these mechanisms.
What Clinical Research Shows
Most clinical research involving tigilanol tiglate uses direct intratumoral injection of a purified pharmaceutical form.
This differs significantly from dietary or topical uses of Blushwood Berry, but these studies have helped scientists better understand the compound’s biological activity.
Research findings include:
• Veterinary oncology: Tigilanol tiglate is FDA-approved for treatment of canine mast cell tumors, with clinical trials showing tumor resolution rates of up to 88%.
• Human cancer research: Early human trials evaluating intratumoral tigilanol tiglate demonstrated clinical activity across multiple tumor types and reported that the therapy was generally well tolerated.
• Immunotherapy potential: Studies suggest tigilanol tiglate may induce immunogenic cell death, which may help the immune system recognize and respond to abnormal cells.
• HIV latency research: Laboratory research from Stanford University has shown that EBC-46 analogs can activate dormant HIV-infected cells, an important step in experimental HIV eradication strategies.
How Scientific Interest in Blushwood Berry Began
Interest in Blushwood Berry expanded rapidly after a landmark 2014 study from the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute was published in PLOS One.
In this study, researchers reported complete tumor destruction without relapse in 75% of laboratory mice when EBC-46 was injected directly into tumors. In some cases, the tumors broke down within 48 hours. The results drew international attention and sparked widespread interest in the compound’s biological activity.
Since then, continued clinical progress has further fueled curiosity about the plant and its compounds. Tigilanol tiglate is now FDA-approved in veterinary medicine for canine mast cell tumors, and ongoing research in human oncology continues to evaluate its potential.
These developments have led many people — including patients, pet owners, and researchers — to explore the broader potential of Blushwood Berry.
Why People Seek Out Blushwood Berry
While pharmaceutical research focuses on direct injections of purified tigilanol tiglate, interest in Blushwood Berry extends well beyond the laboratory. Many people explore whole-plant Blushwood products as part of broader wellness routines.
The initial surge of interest began after a 2014 study published in PLOS ONE by researchers at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, which showed rapid destruction of tumors in laboratory mice when EBC-46 was injected directly into tumor tissue. In many cases, tumor breakdown occurred within 48 hours, with complete tumor destruction reported in a majority of treated animals.
Since then, continued research and regulatory milestones — including FDA approval of tigilanol tiglate for canine mast cell tumors — have reinforced scientific interest in the compound.
Alongside these developments, individuals exploring Blushwood Berry products often report benefits related to overall wellness, particularly in areas connected to inflammation, immune balance, and skin health.
Some of the areas that draw the most attention include:
Tumor and oncology research
Early human trials evaluating intratumoral tigilanol tiglate have demonstrated clinical activity in several tumor types. In a Phase I study involving patients with advanced tumors that were resistant to conventional therapies, several patients experienced complete responses, while others showed measurable disease stabilization.
More recent Phase II data in soft tissue sarcoma has reported response rates of approximately 81%, including complete tumor ablation in many patients.
These findings have drawn particular attention from individuals facing difficult-to-treat surface tumors such as melanoma and certain head-and-neck cancers.
Animal tumors
Interest in Blushwood Berry is also strong among pet owners.
In a University of Queensland study involving dogs with advanced tumors, eight of fourteen animals experienced complete tumor resolution, while the remaining animals experienced significant tumor shrinkage.
Veterinary case reports have also described successful treatment of tumors in horses, including fibroblastic sarcoids and squamous cell carcinomas.
Inflammation and immune signaling
Tigilanol tiglate activates a protein kinase C (PKC) signaling cascade, which triggers a localized inflammatory response that helps the immune system identify and remove abnormal tissue.
Because inflammation plays a central role in many chronic conditions, some individuals explore Blushwood products in the context of broader immune and inflammatory balance.
Skin health and tissue recovery
In experimental tumor models, tigilanol tiglate has demonstrated rapid tumor destruction followed by normal tissue healing at the treatment site.
This observation has generated interest among individuals focused on skin recovery, tissue repair, and topical skincare applications, particularly where inflammation or irritation is involved.
Energy and overall wellness
Beyond specific research areas, some individuals who incorporate Blushwood products into their routines report improvements in general vitality and energy levels.
While these experiences are anecdotal and vary widely between individuals, they contribute to the growing curiosity around the broader biological activity of compounds found in the Blushwood Berry.
HIV latency research
A newer area of investigation involves HIV eradication strategies. Researchers at Stanford University have found that EBC-46 analogs can reverse HIV latency in up to 90% of treated cells, an important step in experimental “kick-and-kill” approaches aimed at eliminating dormant viral reservoirs.
Beyond EBC-46: The Whole-Berry Phytochemistry
While pharmaceutical research focuses on EBC-46, the Blushwood Berry itself contains a range of additional bioactive compounds.
These include:
• Polyphenols and flavonoids with antioxidant activity
• Plant sterols that support skin barrier health
• Natural fatty acids found in the seed oil
• Anti-inflammatory phytochemicals that influence immune signaling
Together, these compounds contribute to growing interest in Blushwood Berry in both wellness and topical botanical skincare.
Responsible Use
It is important to understand that the clinical research described above involves direct intratumoral injections of pharmaceutical-grade tigilanol tiglate, administered in controlled medical settings.
Research in humans is ongoing and continues to generate scientific interest. At present, tigilanol tiglate is not available as an injectable treatment outside of clinical trials. As awareness of the research has grown, some individuals have chosen to explore Blushwood Berry products independently.
In public testimonials and discussions, people report that Blushwood Berry has helped with or resolved issues such as skin growths, rashes, inflammation, joint discomfort, and other concerns mentioned above. These reports are anecdotal and and they should not be interpreted as clinical evidence.
Anyone considering Blushwood Berry for a serious medical condition should work closely with a qualified healthcare professional.
Research & Scientific Resources
Boyle GM et al. "Intra-Lesional Injection of the Novel PKC Activator EBC-46 Rapidly Ablates Tumors in Mouse Models." PLOS ONE. 2014; 9(10):e108887. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0108887
Cullen JK et al. "Tigilanol tiglate is an oncolytic small molecule that induces immunogenic cell death and enhances the response of both target and non-injected tumors to immune checkpoint blockade." Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer. 2024; 12(4). doi:10.1136/jitc-2022-006602
Panizza BJ et al. "Phase I dose-escalation study to determine the safety, tolerability, preliminary efficacy and pharmacokinetics of an intratumoral injection of tigilanol tiglate (EBC-46)." EBioMedicine. 2019; 50:433–441. doi:10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.10.055
Reddell P et al. "Single dose, intra-tumoural injection of tigilanol tiglate effective against canine mast cell tumours." Veterinary and Comparative Oncology. 2019; 17(3):262–269. doi:10.1111/vco.12505
Wender PA et al. "EBC-46 analogs as PKC activators capable of reversing HIV latency." Science Advances. 2025; 11(4). doi:10.1126/sciadv.adq3093
ClinicalTrials.gov Phase II clinical trial evaluating intratumoral tigilanol tiglate for soft tissue sarcoma. Trial identifier: QB46C-H07 clinicaltrials.gov/study/QB46C-H07
FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine Approval of tigilanol tiglate (Stelfonta®) for treatment of canine mast cell tumors. fda.gov/animal-veterinary/news-events/fda-approves-first-drug-directly-treat-cancer-dogs
