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RESUMO:As plantas produzem uma grande variedade de metabólitos secundários que frequentemente são relacionados a mecanismos de proteção da planta contra predadores e patógenos. As espécies tóxicas são aquelas capazes de produzirem compostos que podem causar alterações metabólicas prejudiciais ao homem e aos animais. A toxicidade apresentada por uma espécie vegetal pode estar relacionada a fatores associados ao indivíduo, à planta, ao modo de exposição e a questões ambientais. A intoxicação, aguda ou crônica, causada por plantas é difícil de ser diagnosticada assim como a associação entre os sintomas e o consumo e/ou contato com algumas espécies é difícil de ser estabelecida. No âmbito da saúde pública, as intoxicações causadas por plantas possuem impacto expressivo. No Brasil foram registrados 1026 casos em 2012, sendo que a maior parte deles ocorreu com crianças de 0 a 4 anos, de acordo com os dados do SINITOX. O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar um levantamento bibliográfico de espécies vegetais, brasileiras e exóticas aclimatadas, citadas como tóxicas apesar de serem utilizadas com fins ornamentais e medicinais. Palavras-chave: Plantas tóxicas, atividades biológicas, plantas medicinais, plantas ornamentaisABSTRACT: Toxicity of plant species. Plants produce a wide variety of secondary metabolites, which are frequently related to a plant's protective mechanism against predators and pathogens. Toxic species are those capable of producing compounds that can cause metabolic changes harmful to humans and animals. The toxicity of plant species can be associated with aspects related to the individual, the plant, the manner of exposure, and to environmental issues. Acute or chronic intoxication caused by plants is difficult to diagnose and the association between the symptoms and the consumption of and/or contact with plants is hard to establish. In the public health sector, intoxications caused by plants have a wide impact. In Brazil, 1,026 cases were registered in 2012, most of which occurred with children between the ages of 0 to 4 years, according to data reported by SINITOX. The purpose of this study was to perform a bibliographic survey of Brazilian or acclimatized exotic plant species, which have been reported as toxic even though they are used for ornamental or medicinal purposes. Keywords: toxic plants, biological activities, medicinal plants, ornamental plants.Recebido para publicação em 27/03/2015 Aceito para publicação em 04/01/2016 10.1590/1983-084X/15_057 INTRODUÇÃOAs plantas produzem uma grande variedade de substâncias químicas que podem apresentar diversas atividades biológicas e constituem ainda hoje um recurso terapêutico relevante para uma parcela significativa da população mundial que, não tem acesso aos medicamentos industrializados (Tôrres et al., 2005). Existe uma percepção na população que o uso de plantas no tratamento de doenças é natural, seguro, barato e eficaz, sendo essas, muitas vezes, utilizadas no tratamento de doenças crônicas associadas com medicamentos convencionais (Tovar & Petz...

Ethnopharmacological relevanceSpecies of Aspidosperma are known popularly as "peroba, guatambu, carapanaúba, pau-pereiro" and "quina". The genus can be found in the Americas, mainly between Mexico and Argentina. Many species of Aspidosperma are used by the population in treating cardiovascular diseases, malaria, fever, diabetes and rheumatism. The phytochemical aspects of the species of the genus Aspidosperma have been studied extensively. The monoterpene indole alkaloids are the main secondary metabolites in Aspidosperma species, and about 250 of them have been isolated showing a considerable structural diversity. Several of them have showed some important pharmacological activities. Aspidosperma subincanum Mart. and Aspidosperma tomentosum Mart. (Apocynaceae) are Brazilian species widely used by the population to treat diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia. The pharmacological activities of both species have been investigated and the biological properties described can be related to their isolated indole alkaloids. However, more pharmacological studies are needed in order to justify the use of these species in folk medicine. In this review, we present reports mainly focused on chemical and biological studies and their relationship with the ethnopharmacological use of both Aspidosperma species. Aim of the studyThe aim of this review is to present their ethnopharmacological use as correlated to their biological activities as described for the extracts and isolated compounds from Aspidosperma subincanum Mart. and Aspidosperma tomentosum Mart. In addition, some aspects related to the biosynthetic pathways are discussed, also NMR assignments and some synthesis information about indole alkaloids from both Aspidosperma species are included. Material and methodsThe bibliographic search was made in theses and dissertations using some databases such as NDLTD (Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations), OATD (Open Access Theses and Dissertations) and 3 Google Scholar. More data were gathered from books, Brazilian journals and articles available on electronic databases such as, Google Scholar, PubChem, Scifinder, Web of Science, SciELO, PubMed and Science Direct.Additionally, the Google Patents and Espacenet Patent Search (EPO) were also consulted. The keywords Aspidosperma, Aspidosperma subincanum, Aspidosperma tomentosum, indole alkaloids were used in the research. The languages were restricted to Portuguese, English and Spanish and references were selected according to their relevance. Results Aspidosperma subincanumMart. and Aspidosperma tomentosum Mart. (Apocynaceae) are Brazilian species widely used by the population to treat a few diseases. Extracts and isolated compounds of both species have shown antitumor and antimalarial activities.The antitumor activity of isolated compounds has been extensively studied. However, the antiplasmodial activity needs to be investigated further as well as the antiflamatory, anti-hyperlipidemic and anorexigenic activities. From A. subincanum twenty-one indole alkaloids ...

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