Saracura-Mirá, a Proposed Brazilian Amazonian Adaptogen from Ampelozizyphus amazonicus

Abstract

The Amazon Forest is known all over the world for its diversity and exuberance, and for sheltering several indigenous groups and other traditional communities. There, as well as in several other countries, in traditional medical systems, weakness, fatigue and debility are seen as limiting health conditions where medicinal plants are often used in a non-specific way to improve body functions. This review brings together literature data on Ampelozizyphus amazonicus, commonly known in Brazil as “saracura-mirá” and/or “cerveja de índio”, as an Amazonian adaptogen, including some contributions from the authors based on their ethnographic and laboratory experiences. Topics such as botany, chemistry, ethnopharmacological and pharmacological aspects that support the adaptogen character of this plant, as well as cultivation, market status and supply chain aspects are discussed, and the gaps to establish “saracura-mirá” as an ingredient for the pharmaceutical purposes identified. The revised data presented good scientific evidence supporting the use of this Amazonian plant as a new adaptogen. Literature data also reveal that a detailed survey on natural populations of this plant is needed, as well as agronomical studies that could furnish A. amazonicus bark as a raw material. Another important issue is the lack of developed quality control methods to assure its quality assessment.

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Activity of Ampelozizyphus amazonicus (Saracura-Mirá): Focus on the Modulation of the Spike-ACE2 Interaction by Chemically Characterized Bark Extracts by LC-DAD-APCI-MS/MS

“…However, it is known that saponins have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects, properties already demonstrated for these same extracts and that are important in the clinical approach to COVID-19 treatment [ 30 , 31 , 63 , 64 ]. Additionally, this action would also support the traditional use of this species by Amazonian communities [ 32 ]. Interestingly, there is one record for an anti-SARS-CoV-2 compound in the Rhamnnaceae family: jubanine B, a cyclopeptide alkaloid from Ziziphus spina-christii (L) Desf.…”

“…Studies with a spray-dried aqueous bark extract of the plant have demonstrated its properties as an immune enhancer and adaptogen [ 30 , 31 ]. More recently, the species has been recorded as being used for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 by the Sateré Mawé indigenous people, as well as by riverine communities in the Brazilian Amazon during the pandemic [ 32 ]. Reports on the chemical composition of the plant focus basically on its triterpenes and saponins, which are believed to be responsible for the wide range of biological activities reported for the species [ 29 , 30 , 31 , 33 , 34 , 35 ].…”