Brazilian Amazon Traditional Medicine and the Treatment of Difficult to Heal Leishmaniasis Wounds with Copaifera

Abstract

The present study describes the use of the traditional species Copaifera for treating wounds, such as ulcers scarring and antileishmanial wounds. It also relates phytochemical studies, evaluation of the leishmanicidal activity, and toxicity. The species of Copaifera with a higher incidence in the Amazon region are Copaifera officinalis, Copaifera reticulata, Copaifera multijuga Hayne. The copaiba oil is used in the Amazon's traditional medicine, especially as anti-inflammatory ingredient, in ulcers healing, and in scarring and for leishmaniasis. Chemical studies have shown that these oils contain diterpenes and sesquiterpenes. The copaiba oil and terpenes isolated have antiparasitic activity, more promising in the amastigote form of L. amazonensis. This activity is probably related to changes in the cell membrane and mitochondria. The oil showed low cytotoxicity and genotoxicity. Furthermore, it may interfere with immune response to infection and also has a healing effect. In summary, the copaiba oil is promising as leishmanicidal agent.

Antimicrobial activity of copaiba oil (Copaifera ssp.) on oral pathogens: Systematic review

“…First, it is emphasized that the search strategy included different databases, not only those traditionally used, but also covering bases that transcend the area of health and the English language. Because copaiba is a plant of Amazonian origin (de de Albuquerque et al, ), there is potential to find articles published in local journals. The noninclusion of several databases would constitute a limiter.…”

Natural killer activity of the spleen cells of Ehrlich tumor-bearing mice treated with Copaifera multijuga extract

“…In this context, copaiba has been one of the most important Brazilian medicinal plants [1][2][3][4][5][6]. As early as 1587, the Portuguese explorer and naturalist Gabriel Soares de Sousa described the use of copaiba oleoresin for healing arrow wounds [2].…”

“…As early as 1587, the Portuguese explorer and naturalist Gabriel Soares de Sousa described the use of copaiba oleoresin for healing arrow wounds [2]. Nowadays, copaiba is used in medicine owing to its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, leishmanicidal, antitumor, and analgesic properties [1][2][3][4][5][7][8][9].…”

“…The most abundant species are Copaifera multijuga Hayne, Copaifera reticulata, and Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. [5][6][7].…”

“…It is a transparent and colored exudate obtained from the trunks of the trees, with variable viscosity, and consisting of a nonvolatile fraction of diterpenes (20%) and a volatile fraction of sesquiterpenes (80%) [2,[5][6][7]. Copaiba oleoresin chemical profile may vary according to species, seasonal and climatic characteristics, soil type and composition, and biotic pressures, such as insect predation and pathogen infection [2,[5][6][7]. The production of oleoresin per tree ranges from 100 mL to 60 L annually; however, not all trees produce oil [6].…”