LIBIDIBIA FERREA (MART. EX TUL) L. P. QUEIROZ VAR. FERREA: PHARMACOLOGICAL, PHYTOCHEMICAL AND BOTANICAL ASPECTS

Abstract

Libidibia ferrea , popularly known as “pau ferro” or “juca”, is an important medicinal plant employed for the treatment of various ailments in the North and Northeast regions of Brazil, including anemia, inflammatory diseases, ulcer, hypertension and diabetes. The present review is an up-to-date and comprehensive analysis of the botanical, chemical and pharmacological aspects of L. ferrea , is to present to the scientific community the importance of a systematic scientific investigation of this species as a source of therapeutic agents and phytomedicines. Were considered researches published between 1975 and December 2014, which were analyzed for collecting scientific information about the pharmacological, phytochemical and botany aspects of Libidibia ferrea . Different phytochemical investigations have revealed gallic acid and derivatives, terpenes and fatty acids, and chalcone trimer pauferrol as its main constituents, responsible by many of the pharmacological activities observed. Pharmacological studies have convincingly demonstrated that L. ferrea exhibits antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, antihypertensive and hypoglycemic properties, which support several of its traditional uses, without any critical toxic effects. This species is a promising source of biologically active compounds that can be employed in the treatment of various diseases, especially in terms of its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory potentials, however, it is needed to explain the molecular mechanisms for pharmacological activities presented.