The Genus Miconia Ruiz & Pav. (Melastomataceae): Ethnomedicinal Uses, Pharmacology, and Phytochemistry

Abstract

Species of the genus Miconia are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of diseases, such as pain, throat infections, fever, and cold, and they used as depuratives, diuretics, and sedatives. This work reviewed studies carried out with Miconia species, highlighting its ethnomedicinal uses and pharmacological and phytochemical potential. This information was collected in the main platforms of scientific research (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science). Our findings show that some of the traditional uses of Miconia are corroborated by biological and/or pharmacological assays, which demonstrated, among other properties, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimutagenic, antiparasitic, antioxidant, cytotoxic, and antimicrobial activities. A total of 148 chemical compounds were identified in Miconia species, with phenolic compounds being the main constituents found in the species of this genus. Such phytochemical investigations have demonstrated the potential of species belonging to this genus as a source of bioactive substances, thus reinforcing their medicinal and pharmacological importance.

Cytotoxic Activities and the Allantoinase Inhibitory Effect of the Leaf Extract of the Carnivorous Pitcher Plant Nepenthes miranda

“…Various parts of N. miranda, i.e., the leaf, stem, and pitcher, were collected, dried, cut into small pieces, pulverized into powder, and extracted using different solvents (water, methanol, ethanol, and acetone). Pharmacological potentials and antioxidant activity are usually correlated [55,56]. Therefore, we analyzed the antioxidant activities of different extracts of N. miranda using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay.…”