Abstract
Abstract Maytenus s.l. is a genus of the Celastraceae family and many of its species are used in traditional medicine. Most of the substances responsible for the biological activities of plants come from their secondary metabolism, such as terpenoids and flavonoids, which have multiple functions in the plant and can occur in a similar way in plant groups. Chemophenetics analyzes the occurrence of these substances in a taxon and can infer evolutionary trends and contribute to the rational search for new drugs. Chemosystematic parameters were used to analyze the data obtained through a bibliographic survey. The species of Maytenus s.l. were separated into three groups: species with accepted names, synonymous species with the genus Monteverdia and synonymous species with the genus Gymnosporia. Due to their great occurrence and structural variety in Maytenus s.l., triterpenes were chosen as chemosystematic markers, with friedelanes and quinone methide triterpenes being the most expressive types. Studies have already demonstrated the analgesic potential of quinone methides and the antitumor potential of phenolic triterpenes and dimers of these units. Together, the three classes assist in the circumscription of Maytenus s.s. and Monteverdia, while lupanes can be used in the separation of these genera. Oleanans are representative of Gymnosporia.
Highlights
One of the oldest forms of treatment and prevention of diseases is the use of medicinal plants
In Brazil, the government encourages this use through the National Policy of Medicinal Plants and Herbal Medicines (“Política e Programa Nacional de Plantas Medicinais e Fitoterápicos”) approved by the Decree no 5.813, of 22 June 2006, which contributes to the development of methodologies and technologies for research and consequent increase in scientific knowledge on medicinal plants pharmacological properties (Brasil 2006)
The chemophenetic study of the genus Maytenus s.l. highlighted the occurrence of triterpenes, triterpenes more oxidized such as the quinone methides, which drags much interest in terms of pharmacological potential
Summary
One of the oldest forms of treatment and prevention of diseases is the use of medicinal plants. Genetic and environmental components influence the quantity and the quality of these metabolites, which act in the defense of the plant, in the attraction of pollinators and seed dispersers, as agents in plant-plant competition and in plantmicroorganism symbioses (Andrade & Casali 1999). These multiple functions, typical of the special metabolites, are justified from the evolutionary point of view because when a characteristic can have multifunctionality, it is possible that it is maintained by natural selection (Wink 2003)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
