Chemical Constituents and Biological Properties of Species of the Genus Serjania

Abstract

Serjania genus is native of Neotropics, from Mexico to Northern Argentina, and includes more than 230 species, most of them found in Mexico and Brazil. Although the genus is scarcely studied, the scientific literature and ethnobotanic information suggest that the extracts or fractions of these extracts have components with different biological properties. A bibliographic search in SciFinder and Scopus data carried out in April 2014 and using the keyword Serjania showed eighteen compounds belonging to different classes of natural products identified in seven species of the genus, namely: Serjania communis, S. triqueta, S. salzmanniana, S. grammatophora, S. cuspidata, S. yucatensis and S. caracasana. In this review we discuss the main biological activities of these eighteen natural compounds. The extracts or fractions of extracts of these seven plants described in the literature showed the following biological activities: analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiprotozoal, anticancer, antibacterial, larvicidal, gastroprotective and insect repelent. Especially relevant is the anticancer activity of some fractions and plant extracts according to the criterion of The American National Cancer Institute for fractions and plant extracts. Of the fatty acids group found in the seeds of the Serjania species described in the literature, most are unsaturated, such oleic, arachidic, and eicosenoic. The latter represents 57% -70% of the total fatty acids content in the Serjania species studied.Keywords: Sapindaceae; Serjania; phytochemistry; biological activities; anticancer. ResumoSerjania é um gênero nativo do Neotrópico, presente desde o México até o norte da Argentina, com mais de 230 espécies, a maioria delas encontradas no México e no Brasil. Embora o gênero seja pouco estudado, os estudos científicos e as informações etnobotânicas descritas na literatura sugerem que extratos ou frações destas espécies podem ter componentes com diversas propriedades biológicas. O levantamento bibliográfico nas bases de dados Scopus e SciFinder realizado em abril de 2014, usando a palavra-chave Serjania, mostrou o registro de 18 compostos de diferentes classes de produtos naturais, distribuídos por sete espécies do gênero, a saber: Serjania communis, S. triqueta, S. salzmanniana, S. grammatophora, S. cuspidata, S. yucatensis e S. caracasana. Nesta revisão são discutidas as principais atividades biológicas destes 18 compostos naturais. Os extratos ou as frações dos extratos destas sete plantas descritas na literatura mostraram as seguintes atividades biológicas: analgésica, anti-inflamatória, antioxidante, antiprotozoária, anticâncer, antibacteriana, larvicida, gastroprotetora e repelente. Dentre as atividades biológicas, a mais importante, pelos critérios adotados pelo The American National Cancer Institute para frações e extratos vegetais, é a anticâncer. Os ácidos oleico, araquídico e eicosenoico foram os principais ácidos graxos encontrados nas sementes das espécies de Serjania descritas na literatura. O ácido graxo eic...

Using the plants of Brazilian Cerrado for wound healing: From traditional use to scientific approach

“…Serjania erecta is also called 'Timbó' or 'cipó-cinco-folhas' in Brazil. The analysis of extracts has revealed the presence of compounds such as saponins, flavonoids, terpenes, steroids, tannins, alkaloids, fatty acids and amino acids (Rodrigues and Pinto, 2014). These compounds may be responsible for the anti-inflammatory activity found by Gomig et al (2008), promoting in a dosedependent manner, the reduction of oedema and the reduction of myeloperoxidase enzyme activity.…”