An Overview of Genus Malachra L.—Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacological Activity

Abstract

The genus Malachra L. belongs to the family Malvaceae. It includes herbs or subshrubs of nine accepted species with approximately thirty synonyms, and it has been widely used in community folk medicine to treat health problems including inflammation, nasal obstruction, leishmaniasis, malaria, childbirth, kidney disorders, fever, respiratory tract diseases, among others. From the genus Malachra L., flavonoids, steroids, triterpenes, anthocyanins, leucoanthocyanins, saponins, carbohydrates, phenols, glycosides, and alkaloids have been isolated and identified. Some pharmacological reports have indicated that the genus has antidiarrheal, antiepileptic, antiulcerogenic, antioxidant, anticonvulsant, antiviral, anticancer, antibacterial, anthelmintic, and hepatoprotective properties. However, there have been limited studies of bioactive molecules with pharmacological and biological activities associated with Malachra alceifolia Jacq., Malachra capitata (L.) L., Malachra fasciata Jacq., Malachra radiata (L.) L., Malachra ruderalis Gürke., Malachra rudis Benth., Malachra helodes Mart., Malachra urens Poit. ex Ledeb. & Alderstam., and Malachra officinalis Klotzsch. In this review, we consider the conservation of these species to save the ancestral knowledge of their traditional use in populations, and their pharmacological potential for future studies in search of alternatives for solutions to diseases in humans and animals and tools for the design and search of potential bioactive compounds against infectious and non-infectious agents.

Antileishmanial Activity and In Silico Molecular Docking Studies of Malachra alceifolia Jacq. Fractions against Leishmania mexicana Amastigotes

“…In this context, terpene compounds identified from M. alceifolia leaves contribute to the search for new plant species with potential sources of novel and selective agents for treating neglected tropical diseases, especially protozoan parasites, due to their highly selective mode of action. Revisions of the genus Malachra have reported the presence of terpenes in the aerial parts of the plant with little study of their biological potential [ 1 , 38 ]. Studies report that some terpenes possess a potential mechanism of action for treating visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis.…”

“…(malva) belongs to the family Malvaceae and is native to South, Central, Caribbean American and African countries. The plants of these species are characterized by their antiplasmodial and antibacterial properties [ 1 ]. Their leaves are traditionally used for their therapeutic potentials and are used in natural medicine; for example, a leaf-minced decoction is applied locally for inflammation and clogged nose in Colombia, while the leaves and shoots are used for treating malaria and leishmaniasis in Peru [ 2 , 3 , 4 ].…”