Abstract
Maytenus macrocarpa (Celastraceae) is a tree native to Amazonia. Its roots, leaves, bark, and combinations of these are used in traditional medicine mainly to treat rheumatism and, to a lesser extent, to heal wounds and to combat bronchitis and diarrhea. To date, mainly triterpenes and dihydro-β-agarofuran sesquiterpenes were isolated from M. macrocarpa. Extracts and selected pure compounds isolated from the leaves, roots, and stem bark showed antibacterial, antiviral, antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic activities in vitro. The aim of this review is to summarize the available ethnobotanical, phytochemical, and pharmacological information about this traditional Amazonian medicinal tree, as well as to attract the attention of phytochemists and pharmacognosists to this potentially interesting source of ethnopharmaceuticals.
Highlights
Maytenus macrocarpa (Ruiz & Pav.) Briq. is a tree, up to 30 m tall, belonging to the familyCelastraceae
It is important to bear in mind that “chuchuhuasha” is a vernacular name for M. macrocarpa [2] even though M. chuchuhuasha refers to another species—M. krukovii A.C
We searched the available literature for phytochemical research carried out on substances presented in M. macrocarpa
Summary
Maytenus macrocarpa (Ruiz & Pav.) Briq. is a tree, up to 30 m tall, belonging to the family. Four hundred different species of the genus Maytenus Molina were identified [1]. M. macrocarpa is the most widely accepted scientific name, Celastrus macrocarpus Ruiz &. The fully correct classification of this plant is even more complicated because M. macrocarpa is often misidentified as M. ebenifolia Reissek or M. krukovii A.C. Sm. Maytenus species in the Molecules 2019, 24, 2288; doi:10.3390/molecules24122288 www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules. Molecules 2019, 24, 2288 tropical lineage were transferred to Monteverdia [9]; Monteverdia macrocarpa (Ruiz & Pav.). Biral should currently be the scientific name in use instead of Maytenus macrocarpa. A review touching the ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of some Maytenus species was published [10], but it made no specific reference to M. macrocarpa. The database literature search was performed in SciFinder and Google Scholar using keywords “Maytenus macrocarpa”, its isolated compounds, and corresponding pharmacological activities
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