Ethnobotany, phytochemistry and neuropharmacological effects of Petiveria alliacea L. (Phytolaccaceae): A review. (5th June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Luz, Diandra Araújo; Pinheiro, Alana Miranda; Silva, Mallone Lopes; Monteiro, Marta Chagas; Prediger, Rui Daniel; Ferraz Maia, Cristiane Socorro; Fontes-Júnior, Enéas Andrade
• Is Part Of: Journal of ethnopharmacology. Volume 185(2016)
• Page Start: 182
• Page End: 201
• Publication Date: 2016-06-05
• Subjects: CNS central nervous system -- KNO3 potassium nitrate -- EAF acetate fraction -- FH hexanic fraction -- FHA hydroalcoholic fraction -- FHAppt precipitated hydroalcoholic fraction -- EPM elevated plus maze -- WP whole plant -- AP aerial parts -- R roots -- FST forced swimming test -- OFT open field test -- ETM elevated T-maze -- MWM Morris water maze -- SCE sister chromatid exchanges -- PaLHE P. alliacea leaf hydroalcoholic extract -- IC50 half-maximal inhibitory concentration -- OECD Organisation of economic co-operation and development -- DTS dibenzyl trisulphide -- TLC thin-layer chromatography -- MeOH methanol -- HCl hydrochloric acid -- NH4OH ammonium hydroxide -- HPLC high-performance liquid chromatography -- MAPK mitogen-activated protein kinase -- RSK ribosomal S6 kinase -- NFTs neurofibrillary tangles -- BSA bovine serum albumin -- RBCs red blood cells -- PKC protein kinase C -- NO nitric oxide -- NFκB nuclear factor kappa B -- TNF-α tumour necrosis factor alpha -- IL-1β interleukin 1β -- COX-2 cyclooxygenase-2 -- CG/MS gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry; Astilbin (PubChem CID 119258) -- Benzyl trisulphide (PubChem CID 122842) -- CTK5A6491 (PubChem CID 57351065) -- Isoarborinol (PubChem CID 12305182) -- Isoarborinol acetate (PubChem CID 91746815) -- Leridol (PubChem CID 10495449) -- Leridal chalcone (PubChem CID 15298277) -- Myricetin (PubChem CID 5281672) -- Petiveriin (PubChem CID 46926327) -- Trans-stilbene (PubChem CID 638088); Petiveria alliacea -- Ethnobotany -- Phytochemical constituents -- Pharmacology -- Central nervous system; Ethnopharmacology -- Periodicals; Pharmacognosy -- Periodicals; Herbs -- Periodicals; Herbs -- Periodicals; Pharmacognosy -- Periodicals; Pharmacognosie -- Périodiques; Herbes -- Périodiques; 615.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2016.02.053
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0378-8741

Abstract

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Petiveria alliacea L. commonly grows in the tropical regions of the Americas such as the Amazon forest, Central America, Caribbean islands and Mexico, as well as specific regions of Africa. Popularly known by several different names including 'mucuracaá', 'guiné' and 'pipi', P. alliacea has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various central nervous system (CNS) disorders, such as anxiety, pain, memory deficits and seizures, as well as for its anaesthetic and sedative properties. Furthermore, the use of this species for religious ceremonies has been reported since the era of slavery in the Americas. Therefore, the present review aims to provide a critical and comprehensive overview of the ethnobotany, phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of P. alliacea, focusing on CNS pharmacological effects, in order to identify scientific lacunae and to open new perspectives for future research. Materials and methods: A literature search was performed on P. alliacea using ethnobotanical textbooks, published articles in peer-reviewed journals, unpublished materials, government survey reports and scientific databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct and Google Scholar. The Plant List, International Plant Name Index and Kew Botanical Garden Plant name databases were used to validate the scientific names. Results and discussion: Crude extracts, fractions and phytochemical constituents isolated from various parts of P. alliacea show a wide spectrum of neuropharmacological activities including anxiolytic, antidepressant, antinociceptive and anti-seizure, and as cognitive enhancers. Phytochemistry studies of P. alliacea indicate that this plant contains a diversity of biologically active compounds, with qualitative and quantitative variations of the major compounds depending on the region of collection and the harvest season, such as essential oil (Petiverina), saponinic glycosides, isoarborinol-triterpene, isoarborinol-acetate, isoarborinol-cinnamate, steroids, alkaloids, flavonoids and tannins. Root chemical analyses have revealed coumarins, benzyl-hydroxy-ethyl-trisulphide, benzaldehyde, benzoic acid, dibenzyl trisulphide, potassium nitrate, b-sitosterol, isoarborinol, isoarborinol-acetate, isoarborinol-cinnamate, polyphenols, trithiolaniacine, glucose and glycine. Conclusions: Many traditional uses of P. alliacea have now been validated by modern pharmacology research. The available data reviewed here support the emergence of P. alliacea as a potential source for the treatment of different CNS disorders including anxiety, depression, pain, epilepsy and memory impairments. However, further studies are certainly required to improve the knowledge about the mechanisms of action, toxicity and efficacy of the plant as well as about its bioactive compounds before it can be approved in terms of its safety for therapeutic applications. Graphical abstract: