Pharmacological Extracts and Molecules from Virola Species: Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Biological Activity

Abstract

Virola is the largest genus of Myristicaceae in America, comprising about 60 species of medium-sized trees geographically spread from Mexico to southern Brazil. The plant species of this genus have been widely used in folk medicine for the treatment of several ailments, such as rheumatic pain, bronchial asthma, tumors in the joints, intestinal worms, halitosis, ulcers, and multiple infections, due to their pharmacological activity. This review presents an updated and comprehensive summary of Virola species, particularly their ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, and biological activity, to support the safe medicinal use of plant extracts and provide guidance for future research. The Virola spp.’s ethnopharmacology, including in the treatment of stomach pain and gastric ulcers, as well as antimicrobial and tryponosomicidal activities, is attributable to the presence of a myriad of phytoconstituents, such as flavonoids, tannins, phenolic acids, lignans, arylalkanones, and sitosterol. Hence, such species yield potential leads or molecular scaffolds for the development of new pharmaceutical formulations, encouraging the elucidation of not-yet-understood action mechanisms and ascertaining their safety for humans.

Development and Evaluation of Virola oleifera Formulation for Cutaneous Wound Healing

“…Virola oleifera (VO) belongs to the Myristicaceae family, an abundant tree in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest [ 1 , 2 ]. They are popularly known as ‘bicuíba’, ‘bicuíva’, ‘candeia-do-caboclo’, ‘sangue de boi’, or ‘ucuúba’ (word of Tupi origin “uku”= tallow, grease, fat and “uba”= plant, tree), meaning that trees produce a resin substance [ 3 , 4 ]. In folk medicine, this red resin obtained from the trunk of the VO is used to stop bleeding and is also used in wound healing and arthritis, as well as inflammatory conditions [ 1 , 4 ].…”

“…They are popularly known as ‘bicuíba’, ‘bicuíva’, ‘candeia-do-caboclo’, ‘sangue de boi’, or ‘ucuúba’ (word of Tupi origin “uku”= tallow, grease, fat and “uba”= plant, tree), meaning that trees produce a resin substance [ 3 , 4 ]. In folk medicine, this red resin obtained from the trunk of the VO is used to stop bleeding and is also used in wound healing and arthritis, as well as inflammatory conditions [ 1 , 4 ]. More recently, this resin from VO (RV) has demonstrated a relative abundance of antioxidant molecules (phenolic acids, tannins, and flavonoids) [ 1 , 3 ] and different pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, gastroprotective [ 1 ], atheroprotective [ 5 ], nephroprotective, and anti-apoptotic properties [ 3 ].…”

In Vitro Antibacterial Activity and in Silico Analysis of the Bioactivity of Major Compounds Obtained from the Essential Oil of Virola surinamensis Warb (Myristicaceae)

“…In the Amazon region, it is popularly known by its Portuguese names Ucuúba, Sucuúba, Súcuba, and Leite-de-mucuiba [2,3]. It is described by its medicinal properties in the treatment of infections and inflammations [4,5].…”

“…had activity against the infection caused by the methicillin-resistant strain of S. aureus. e essential oil of V. surinamensis was reported by its antimalarial activity, which was associated with the sesquiterpene nerolidol [5,8]; antitumoral activity in colon cancer cells, which was investigated using the essential oils from bark and leaves, both composed mostly by the sesquiterpenes aristolene, β-elemene, and byciclogermacrene [2]. To the best of our knowledge, there are no studies about the use of the essential oil of V. surinamensis as an antibacterial agent.…”

Essential Oils of Aromatic Plant Species from the Atlantic Rainforest Exhibit Extensive Chemical Diversity and Antimicrobial Activity

“…The sampling and analyses of native plants in the current work is authorized by Sistema Nacional de Gestão do Patrimônio Genético e do Conhecimento Tradicional Associado (SisGen), under license permit AD0077F [ 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 , 79 , 80 , 81 , 82 , 83 , 84 , 85 , 86 , 87 , 88 , 89 , 90 , 91 , 92 , 93 , 94 , 95 , 96 , 97 , 98 , 99 , 100 , 101 , 102 , 103 , 104 , 105 , 106 , 107 , 108 , 109 , 110 , 111 , 112 , 113 , 114 , 115 , 116 , 117 …”