Pharm Biol. 2017 Dec;55(1):1500-1512. doi: 10.1080/13880209.2017.1307421.
- 1
- a
Natural Products & Food Research and Analysis (NatuRA), Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of Antwerp , Antwerp , Belgium.
- 2
- b Herbarium PMA , Universidad de Panamá, Estafeta Universitaria , Panama City , Republic of Panama.
- 3
- c
Group of Pharmaceutical Research , Institute of Scientific Research and
High Technology Services (INDICASAT-AIP) , Panama , Republic of Panama.
Abstract
CONTEXT:
Several Cecropia
(Cecropiaceae) species are traditionally used in Latin America for the
treatment of a variety of diseases including diabetes, arterial
hypertension, asthma, bronchitis, anxiety, and inflammation. At present,
a number of commercial products based on these plants have been introduced into the market with very little information on methods for guaranteeing their quality and safety.
OBJECTIVE:
This work proposes potential chemical markers for the quality control of the raw materials of Cecropia obtusifolia Bertol., Cecropia peltata L., Cecropia glaziovii Snethl., Cecropia pachystachya Trécul, and Cecropia hololeuca Miq.
METHODS:
The Herbal Chemical
Marker Ranking System (Herb MaRS) developed by the National Institute
of Complementary Medicine (NICM) at the University of Western Sydney was
used for selecting chemical markers for the quality control of selected medicinal species of Cecropia. This review covers the period from 1982 to 2016.
RESULTS:
Chlorogenic
acid, flavonoidal glycosides (orientin, isoorientin, vitexin,
isovitexin, and rutin), catechin, epicatechin, procyanidins (B2, B5, and
C1), steroids (β-sitosterol), and triterpenoids (α-amyrin, pomolic,
tormentic and ursolic acids) were selected as chemical markers for the quality control of the leaves.
CONCLUSION:
It is necessary to establish comprehensive standards for guaranteeing quality, safety and efficacy of herbal drugs. The selection of adequate chemical markers for quality control purposes requires a good knowledge about the chemical composition of medicinal plants
and their associated biological properties. To the best of our
knowledge this review article is the first to address the identification
and quantitative determination of the chemical markers for the genus Cecropia.
KEYWORDS:
Urticaceae; herbal medicine; quality control
