Popular medicinal uses of Calea uniflora Less. (Asteraceae) and its contribution to the study of Brazilian medicinal plants

Abstract

Calea uniflora Less. is widely used in southern Santa Catarina (Brazil), but there are no scientific studies which support its use. Then, this study was proposed to determine of the percentage use of C. uniflora in a city of southern Brazil and documentation of the knowledge that the population has about this species. The survey was conducted with semi-structured interviews using a questionnaire applied to 372 participants. In analyzing the results, it was observed that of the 94.1% who recognized C. uniflora, 74.3% utilize it as a medicinal plant and 65.4% of such knowledge originates in childhood, mainly through the family (84.6%). 93% reported using inflorescences macerated in alcohol or rum; this extract is generally used topically for wound healing and muscle pain. Furthermore, some reported using small quantities of this extract orally to treat cold and flu. Regarding effectiveness and safety, 97% stated an improvement in symptoms with the use of the plant, while 98.5% stated that it has no toxicity. In light of these results, future phytochemical, pharmacological and toxicological analyses should be designed in order to ensure rational and safe use of this species.

Asteraceae Plants as Sources of Compounds Against Leishmaniasis and Chagas Disease

“…and Calea uniflora Less. This last species is a plant with ethnomedicinal importance in the state of Santa Catarina (Brazil), however there are few scientific studies about its pharmacological properties (Ramos et al, 2016). Two p-hydroxyacetophenone derivatives [2-senecioyl-4-(hydroxyethyl)-phenol and 2-senecioyl-4-(pentadecanoyloxyethyl)-phenol] obtained from dichloromethane extract of C. uniflora reduced the viability of T. cruzi trypomastigotes by 70 and 71%, respctively (at a 500 μg/mL dose) (do Nascimento et al, 2004).…”

The genus Calea L.: A review on traditional uses, phytochemistry, and biological activities

“…Various Calea species are traditionally known and have been employed in folk medicine in South and Central American countries for hundreds of years to treat a variety of clinical conditions (Alonso‐Castro, Domínguez, Zapata Morales, & Carranza‐Álvarez, ; Andrade‐Cetto & Heinrich, ; Avella, Lapa, & Lima‐Landman, ; Ferraz et al, ; Marchetti et al, ; Ramos et al, ; Segura‐Cobos, Venegas‐Flores, Vázquez‐Cruz, & Baiza‐Gutman, ). Ethnopharmacological information recorded the folk medicinal use of Calea species to treat stomach and digestive disorders (Farago, Budel, Duarte, Jungersen, & Takeda, ; Ferreira, Roque, Gottlieb, & Oliveira, ; Kato, Akisue, Matos, Craveiro, & Alencar, ; Steinbeck, Spitzer, Starosta, & von Poser, ).…”