Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia

Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia

Volume 25, Issue 5, September–October 2015, Pages 542-552
Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia

Review Article
The genus Cordia: botanists, ethno, chemical and pharmacological aspects

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjp.2015.05.012Get rights and content
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Abstract

Species of the genus Cordia, Boraginaceae, are widely studied with regard to the various ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological aspects. They are found principally in tropical and subtropical regions of the American, Asian and African continents, where they occur in various countries. In the genus Cordia, there are many species cultivated for ornamental plants, wood and medicinal applications, where they are extensively utilized by traditional communities. In the last decades, scientific studies of Cordia species have intensified, demonstrating the great interest in phytochemical, biological and pharmacological studies. In this review, we describe the principal botanical aspects, ethnopharmacological information and evaluation of the bioactive and pharmacological properties of Cordia, its phytochemical constituents and the most common classes of secondary metabolites identified. The information reported in this work contributes scientifically to recognizing the importance of the genus Cordia as a target in the search for new biotechnological investments.

Keywords

Bioactivity
Cordia
Ethnopharmacology
Phytochemical
Flavonoids
Terpenes

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