Potencial biológico e perfil químico de Peumus boldus (Monimiaceae): uma revisão

Abstract

This review work includes as main biological activities and active substances of different botanical parts of the species Peumus boldus Molina (Monimiaceae). Among the activities found in extracts, essential oil and compounds isolated from this plant, the following activities stand out: in the face of atopic dermatitis, antioxidant, larvicidal, acaricide, anti-inflammatory, inhibitory enzyme acetylcholinesterase, antimicrobial against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and toxicity against adenocarcinoma cells. This species, known as Chile's boldo, is native to the central and southern regions of Chile and its leaves are widely used in folk medicine in several countries, including Brazil, for the treatment of gastrointestinal discomforts and liver diseases. In the infusion of leaves have already been found several active metabolites that are directly related to these pharmacological effects, including alkaloids, flavonoids and essential oils. The barks are known to produce large amount of boldin, the toxicity of the plant is attributed to this alkaloide mainly in pregnant women. In leaves and derived extracts, the major constituents identified are n-methyl-laurotetanine and laurotenaninal alkaloides.