Zuccagnia punctata Cav.: A review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology

ISLA MI, MORENO A, NUÑO G, CARABAJAL A, ABERTO MR, ZAMPINI IC

NATURAL PRODUCT COMMUNICATIONS

NATURAL PRODUCTS INC

Lugar: Westerville, Ohio; Año: 2016 vol. 11 p. 1749 - 1755

1934-578X

Zuccagnia punctata Cav. (Fabaceae, Caesalpiniaceae) is a plant species with a long history of use in Argentine traditional medicines, it belongs to a monotypic genus, and is an endemic species of Argentina. It is widely distributed in arid and semiarid regions, which is a characteristic of xerophytic plants from the biogeographic Province of Monte.This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the botanical traditional use, phytochemistry, pharmacological activity and toxicology of Zuccagnia punctata. An extensive and systematic revision of literature was carried out and all relevant full-text articles were analyzed and included in this review. A wide range of traditional uses are cited in the literature such as antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antitumoral, among others. Pharmacological studies to date have demonstrated significant activities that support the traditional use of this plant. No human clinical trials had been completed up to the time of this review and no toxic effect was detected in animals. Compounds from different chemical groups have been isolated such as phenolic compounds and essential oils. Plant extracts and phytochemicals isolated from them exhibit a broad range of activities, antiinflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antigenotoxic, antioxidant, antiulcer, and nematicide. The main bioactive phytochemicals in aerial parts (leaf, stem and flower) were identified as 2´, 4´-dihydroxy-3´-methoxychalcone and 2´, 4´-dihydroxychalcone and were proposed as chemical markers. Consequently, the standardized dry extracts of aerial parts from Z. puntacta could be used in herbal medicinal products. Also, they could be included in several phytotherapic preparations such as capsules, creams, gels, microencapsulates, among others.Conclusions: Zuccagnia punctata is an Argentine medicinal plant with several pharmacological properties which foster further research, clinical trials and product development to fully exploit its medicinal value.