Resumo

JIMENEZ-ARELLANES, Maria Adelina; GARCIA-MARTINEZ, Ignacio  e  ROJAS-TOME, Susana. Biological potential of medicinal species of Cnidoscolus genus. Rev. mex. cienc. farm [online]. 2014, vol.45, n.4, pp.1-6. ISSN 1870-0195.

Medicinal plants are an alternative to alleviate health problems and the WHO estimates that more than 80% of the world population. Plant extracts offer unlimited opportunities for the development of new drugs and some pure compounds (alkaloids, flavonoids or phenolic compounds) are the active constituents of current drugs. In Mexican traditional medicine, Cnidoscolus aconitifolius and C. chayamansa are used to treat diabetes, intimation and obesity. C. aconitifolius contain phenols, saponins, cardiac glycosides, phlobatannins, fatty acids, sterols, triterpenoids, alkaloids, lavonoids, anthraquinones and tannin. C. chayamansa contain flavoneids, fatty acids, polyphenols and cyanogenic glycosides. The main biological activity evaluated in C. chayamansa or C. aconitifolius is the hepatoprotective efect against the liver damage induced with paracetamol, ethanol and carbon tetrachloride or antituberculosis drugs, and significant antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, hypocholesterolemic and cardioprotective activities. Also, the moderate antioxidant and low antimicrobial activities is reported.

Palavras-chave : Cnidoscolus; tradicional medicine; Cnidoscolus aconitifolius; Cnidoscolus chayamansa.