Zuccagnia punctata Cav. " Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of South America 2: Argentina, Chile and Uruguay".Series Ed.: Máthé, Ákos. Springer Verlag. ISSN:

ISLA MARÍA I,; ZAMPINI CATIANA; MORENO ALEJANDRA,; ALVAREZ MARIA DE LOS ANGELES

" Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of South America 2: Argentina, Chile and Uruguay".

Springer

Lugar: Suiza ; Año: 2019; p. 1 - 400

Zuccagnia punctata Cav. (Fabaceae, Caesalpiniaceae) is an argentine medicinal plant species, belonging to a monotypic genus that grows in arid and semiarid Argentine regions, in the biogeographic Province of Monte. The taxonomic characteristics, traditional use, phytochemistry and pharmacological activity of Z. punctata aerial parts (leaves and stems) and flowers are described. A wide range of traditional uses was described and scientifically validated by in vitro and in vivo assays, such as antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumoral, antihypertensive activity, as well as the effect in the prevention of cardiovascular disease related with hypercholesterolemia and endothelial dysfunction, between others. Compounds from different chemical groups have been isolated and identified, including phenolic compounds and essential oils. The main bioactive phytochemicals in aerial plant organs (leaves, stems and flowers) were identified as 2ʹ,4ʹ-dihydroxy-3ʹ-methoxychalcone and 2ʹ,4ʹ-dihydroxychalcone and proposed as bioactive chemical markers. No genotoxic effect of Z. punctata extracts was demonstrated. Oral administration of Z. punctata extract and some of their isolated compounds, were not toxic in rabbits and mice models. Although no human clinical trials have been carried out so far, Z. punctata is a species widely used by local populations of the Monte ecoregion for many years without manifestations of obvious toxicity. Therefore, extracts of aerial parts of Z. punctata could be used in herbal medicines as standardized extracts indicating the amount of major bioactive compounds (chalcones). In addition, it could be included in several phytotherapeutic preparations such as capsules, creams, gels, microencapsulates, among others.