Constituents and Pharmacological Activities of Myrcia (Myrtaceae): A Review of an Aromatic and Medicinal Group of Plants

Abstract

Myrcia is one of the largest genera of the economically important family Myrtaceae. Some of the species are used in folk medicine, such as a group known as “pedra-hume-caá” or “pedra-ume-caá” or “insulina vegetal” (insulin plant) that it is used for the treatment of diabetes. The species are an important source of essential oils, and most of the chemical studies on Myrcia describe the chemical composition of the essential oils, in which mono- and sesquiterpenes are predominant. The non-volatile compounds isolated from Myrcia are usually flavonoids, tannins, acetophenone derivatives and triterpenes. Anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, antioxidant, antimicrobial activities have been described to Myrcia essential oils, while hypoglycemic, anti-hemorrhagic and antioxidant activities were attributed to the extracts. Flavonoid glucosides and acetophenone derivatives showed aldose reductase and α-glucosidase inhibition, and could explain the traditional use of Myrcia species to treat diabetes. Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory are some of the activities observed for other isolated compounds from Myrcia.

Proanthocyanidins and hydrolysable tannins: occurrence, dietary intake and pharmacological effects

“…Several molecular mechanisms and molecular targets have been proposed to explain the role of proanthocyanidins and hydrolyzable tannins in metabolic disorders. These phytochemicals have been found able to: (i) stimulate glucose uptake and glycogen and lipid synthesis by activation of insulin receptors, PKB, p44/42 and p38 MAPKs signalling pathways and translocation of glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) to the plasma membrane; (ii) exert insulin‐like effect on insulin‐sensitive tissues; (iii) delay the onset of insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus by regulating the antioxidant status of pancreatic beta cells; (iv) reduce plasmatic insulin and improve the homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) index by down‐regulation of PPARɣ2, GLUT4 and insulin receptor substrate 1 in mesenteric white adipose tissue (WAT); (v) modulate active glucagon‐like peptide‐1 levels; (vi) inhibit intestinal enzymes like α‐amylase (proanthocyanidins) and α‐glucosidase (hydrolyzable tannins); (vii) inhibit both salivary and pancreatic amylase; and (viii) induce triglyceride turnover (Banihani et al, ; Cascaes et al, ; Cock, ; Gonzalez‐Abuin et al, ; Salvadó et al, ; Stohs and Ray, ; Kooti et al, ).…”

Chemical composition, phytotoxic potential, biological activities and antioxidant properties of Myrcia hatschbachii D. Legrand essential oil

“…Myrcia species are important sources of essential oils and are widely used in folk medicine, primarily for treatment of diabetes, an illness of worldwide importance. Essential oils are produced in leaves, stems, flowers and fruits, and are comprised mainly of sesquiterpenes (Cascaes et al, 2015).…”

Chemical composition of essential oil from Myrcia oblongata DC and potencial antimicrobial, antioxidant and acaricidal activity against Dermanyssus gallinae (Degeer, 1778)

“…Essential oils of 17 species of the genus Myrcia were studied and there was predominance of cyclic sesquiterpenes (CERQUEIRA et al, 2007;SILVA et al, 2007;STEFANELLO et al, 2010) (CASCAES et al, 2015).…”

“…However, there are few reports in the literature of the bioactivity and chemical composition of the essential oil of Myrcia oblongata DC. (CASCAES et al, 2015;SANTANA, 2017).…”