Etnobotánica, Fitoquímica, Actividad Farmacológica del Género Malachra L.: Comparison
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The genus Malachra L. belongs to the family Malvaceae. It includes herbs or subshrubs of nine accepted species with approximately thirty synonyms, and it has been widely used in community folk medicine to treat health problems including inflammation, nasal obstruction, leishmaniasis, malaria, childbirth, kidney disorders, fever, respiratory tract diseases, among others.

  • Malachra
  • ethnobotany
  • pharmacological activity

1. Botanical Description of the Species of the Genus Malachra L.

The genus Malachra L. is represented by herbs or suffrutes, sometimes puberulent, generally hispid, or with stinging trichomes. Leaves are simple or palmately lobed; acute, acuminate, or obtuse at the apex; truncated or subcordate at the base; serrated or crenated; and generally pubescent. They also present: bracteate inflorescences; axillary or terminal heads; broadly cordate-ovate bracts at the base, with prominent nerves often alternating with whitish areas, although it can be in other parts green and sessile. Absent calliculus (except in M. radiata); small calyx, five-lobed; white, yellow, or lilac corolla; and five-lobed leaves can also be observed. Additionally, schizocarpal fruits have the shape of a wheel similar to a cheese that can be split into five ripe wing types; flowers are in heads, surrounded by bracts larger than them [1][2][3][4][ 17 , 41 , 42 , 43 ].
Malachra alceifolia Jacq. is a herb or shrub, 1. 6 m tall. The aerial parts and petioles are hispid, simple or split, flavescent, tuberculate base, scattered hairs, short, star-shaped, and long forming knots, with stem pubescence and a green to reddish color. The leaves are simple, opposite, and lobed, with up to five lobes, with pubescence, and their margins are serrated or toothed. There are inflorescences in axillary heads with the presence of acuminate bracts and flowers with five petals, 2 to 3 cm in diameter, with a yellow coloration. The fruits have bracts and persistent calyx, with numerous seeds, up to 2 mm in diameter, dark colored, and flattened ( Figure 1 ) [5][ 44 ].
Plantas 11 02808 g001 550
Figure 1. Malachra alceifolia Jacq.
Malachra capitata Linn. is a herb or subshrub, up to 2 m tall, with stem pubescence and green to orange coloration. The leaves are simple, opposite, palmate or lobed, with up to five lobes; the texture of the leaves is velvety and their margins are crenulate or serrated. Inflorescences are peduncular and axillary, with the presence of lanceolate bracts; flowers have five petals, 1 cm in diameter, with a white coloration. Schizocarpic fruits have single seeds up to 3 mm in diameter, and are dark colored ( Figure 2 ) [6][ 45 ].
Plantas 11 02808 g002 550
Figure 2. Malachra capitata Linn.
Malachra fasciata Jacq. is a herb or subshrub, up to 2 m tall, with stem pubescence, simple or stellate trichomes up to 7 mm, and green to orange coloration. The leaves are simple, opposite, ovate, truncated at the base, acute at the apex, lobed or deeply parted, otherwise crenate-serrate, pubescent above with appressed trichomes. The heads are short-stalked bracts, 2–6 per head, lance/ovate, subcordate at the base, acute at the apex, often ciliate, prominently hispid. Calyx 4 to 5 mm, hispid; petals white 6–8 mm, mericarps light brown to grayish green, reticulate veined (Figure 3) [1][46].
Plantas 11 02808 g003 550
Figure 3. Malachra fasciata Jacq.
Malachra radiata (L.) L. is a herb or suffrutex, 1.5 m tall, with stem pubescence and green and purple coloration. The leaves are simple, opposite, palmate or lobed, with up to seven lobes; the texture of the leaves is velvety, and their margins are crenulate or serrated, and most apical leaves may have a triangular shape. Inflorescences are pedicular and terminal, with the presence of ovate or acute bracts; flowers have five petals, 2.5 cm in diameter, with a lilac coloration and purple at the base. Schizocarpic fruits have numerous seeds, up to 2 mm in diameter, and are dark colored (Figure 4) [7][47].
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Figure 4. Malachra radiata (L.) L.
Malachra ruderalis Gürke. is an annual herb, up to 3 m high, with stem pubescence and green coloration. The leaves are simple, opposite, palmate or lobed, with up to five lobes; the texture of the leaves is velvety, and their margins are crenulate; the most apical leaves have a triangular shape. It shows pedicular inflorescence with terminal or acute axillary bracts, five petals, 3 cm long, with yellow schizocarpic fruit with numerous dark-colored seeds up to 2 mm in diameter (Figure 5) [4][8][48,49].
Plantas 11 02808 g005 550
Figure 5. Malachra ruderalis Gürke.
Malachra rudis Benth. is a perennial herb, up to 0.7 m high, with a stem that has very short pubescence, and its coloration is light green. The leaves are simple, opposite, lobed, with up to three lobes; velvety texture; crenulated margins with pedicular, axillary, or terminal inflorescence; ovate bracts with five petals; 1.5 cm in long. Schizocarpic fruits are yellow to white with numerous seeds up to 1 mm in diameter, one per carpel (Figure 6) [4][8][48,49].
Plantas 11 02808 g006 550
Figure 6. Malachra rudis Benth.
Malachra urens Poit. ex Ledeb. & Alderstam is an annual herb, up to 1 m high, with pubescent stems of different sizes and green to orange coloration. The leaves are simple, opposite and lobed, with up to three lobes relatively marked, with pubescence; the margins of the leaves are toothed, about 3–12 cm long. Inflorescences are peduncular racemes with acuminate, boat-shaped, pubescent bracts. Flowers have five petals, 2 to 3 cm in long, with a yellow color. Schizocarpic fruits have mericarps and pubescent bracts, with numerous seeds, up to 2 mm in long, dark colored, and flat (Figure 7) [4][8][48,49].
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Figure 7. Malachra urens Poit.
Malachra helodes Mart. is an annual herb, up to 1 m high. The stem is slightly pubescent with dark to light green coloration. The leaves are simple, opposite, and lobed, with up to five lobes that are well marked, with slightly marked pubescence on the underside; the margins of the leaves are serrated, about 3–10 cm long. Inflorescences are terminal and axillary racemes with the presence of acuminate bracts in the form of pubescent. The flowers have five petals, 2 to 3 cm in length, with a pink color. Schizocarpic fruits with mericarps and bracts with stem indumentum hispid; terminal inflorescence; pinkish flower; epicalyx absent; fruit, up to 4 mm in length; glabrous indumentum (Figure 8) [4][8][48,49].
Plantas 11 02808 g008 550
Figure 8. Malachra helodes Mart. ex Ledeb. & Alderstam.

2. Phytochemistry Species of the Genus Malachra L.

Phytoconstituents are chemical compounds that plants synthesize as a defense mechanism against biotic and abiotic environmental conditions; they play key roles in biological processes [5][6][58,59]. Many phytoconstituents isolated from the genus Malachra L., such as flavonoids, coumarins, carbohydrates, glycosides, triterpenes, alkaloids, tannins, and saponins, exhibit pharmacologic activity. Table 16 lists the phytoconstituents reported only in Malachra species: M. alceifolia Jacq., M. capitata (L.) L., and M. fasciata Jacq, see Figure 910 molecular structure of some compounds isolated from species of the genus Malachra L.
Plantas 11 02808 g010a 550Plantas 11 02808 g010b 550
Figure 910. Molecular structure of some compounds isolated from species of the genus Malachra L.
Table 16.
Major phytoconstituents identified in species of the genus
Malachra
L.
Malachra species Plant Part Used Phytoconstituents Reference
Malachra alceifolia Jacq. Leaf Flavonoids, steroids, triterpenes

anthocyanins, leucoanthocyanins, saponins		 [9][22]
Flowers Flavonoids, steroids, triterpenes

anthocyanins, leucoanthocyanins
Malachra capitata (L.) L. Root Gallic acid (1), caffeic acid (2), rutin (3), quercetin (4), ferulic acid (5) [10][11][23,24]
Leaf Rutin, ferulic acid
Stem Gallic acid
Whole plant β-Sitosterol (6) [12][25]
Root Carbohydrates, phenols, flavonoids, glycosides, triterpenes, alkaloids, tannins, saponins [10][11][23,24]
Root Tetradecanoic acid, ethyl ester (7); [10][11][23,24]
linolenic acid, ethyl ester (8);
(E)-11-hexadecenoic acid, ethyl ester (9);
hexadecanoic acid, ethyl ester (10);
octadecanoic acid, ethyl ester (11);
didecyl phthalate (12);
(Z,Z,Z)-1,4,6,9-nonadecatetraene (13);
In vitro

micronucleus test

induced using

mitomycin C, 32% 		 Reduce the number

of micronucleated

polychromatic

erythrocytes (MPCE)		 [22 squalene (14)
][ 30 Stem Tetradecanoic acid, ethyl ester; [13][14][27,28]
] pentadecanoic acid, 2,6,10,14-

tetramethyl methyl ester (15);
linolenic acid, methyl ester;
(E)-11-hexadecenoic acid, ethyl ester;
octadecanoic acid, ethyl ester;
(Z,Z,Z)-1,4,6,9-nonadecatetraene
azobenzene, 4,4′-dibromo- (16);
squalene
oleic acid (17)
Cholestan-3-ol, 2-methylene-(3β,5α)- (18);
Leaf Tetradecanoic acid, ethyl ester [13][14][27,28]
3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-2-hexadecen-1-ol (19);
Oxirane, tetradecyl- (20);
(E)-11-hexadecenoic acid, ethyl ester
Hexadecanoic acid, ethyl ester
Phytol (21);
(Z,Z) 6,9 pentadecadien-1-ol (22);
(Z,Z) 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (23);
octadecanoic acid, ethyl ester;
squalene
Leaf Flavonoids, glycosides, triterpenes, alkaloids, tannins, saponins, phlobatannins [13][14][27,28]
Malachra fasciata Jacq. Leaf Aurantiamide acetate (24) [15][29]
Leaf 1,3-Diacylglycerol (25)

1,2-Diacylglycerol (26)		 [16][30]
Generally, organic compounds obtained from extracts, fractions, and isolated compounds of plant species possess unique structural characteristics among which the geometrical and energetic interactions of the atoms stand out; chirality and stereoisomers of molecular structures, intermolecular interactions, hydrogen bond acceptors and donors, molecular mass, diversity of ring systems, among others, become tools of interest for medicinal chemistry in drug development, to improve the potency, for pharmacokinetic properties, and to reduce the toxicity of new drugs [17][60]. However, the secondary metabolites isolated from plant species constitute a group of chemical molecules with a great diversity of biological activities applied to the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food sectors [18][61].
Gallic acid (GA) is a phenolic compound with anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, and carcinogenic properties that prevent gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, metabolic, and neuropsychological diseases [19][62]. The livers of Wistar rats exposed to carbon tetrachloride in doses of 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg GA, were evaluated by decreasing serum liver enzymes, regulating the expression of proinflammatory genes, and regulating the expression of antioxidant genes [20][63]; mercuric chloride induced at 200 mg/kg, increased glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activity, and decreased the level of glutathione in liver tissue [21][64]. Caffeic acid has antimicrobial potential against Staphylococcus aureus strains with MICs from 256 µg/mL to 1024 µg/mL [22][65]. The compound quercetin isolated from extracts and organic fractions of Allium cepa L., Morus alba, Camellia sinensis, Moringa oleifera, and Centella asiatica, at doses between 50 and 100 mg/kg, and evaluated in in vivo models, showed antiulcer activity [23][66]. Beta-sitosterol isolated chloroform extract of Corchorus capsularis L. leaves has been shown to exhibit a significant effect against trypanothione reductase Leishmania donovani promastigotes at IC50  =  17.7  ±  0.43 µg/mL [24][67], and the dipeptide aurantiamide acetate patent has an effect of resisting influenza virus and an inhibition effect on a cytopathic effect mediated by the influenza A virus CN106431960B, filing date: 11 November 2018, legal status: active [25][68].

3. Species of the Genus Malachra L. with Pharmacological Activity

Applications of plant remedies in traditional medicine are still central in the health systems in some countries of world [26][69]. The biogenesis and biosynthesis of phytoconstituents in plant species provide an opportunity for medicinal chemistry to advance pharmacological studies for treating pathologies that have been little studied [27][70]. Table 27 summarizes the most important pharmacological activities reported for the genus Malachra L., such as antidiarrheal, anti-epileptic, antiulcerogenic, antioxidant, anticonvulsant, hepatoprotective, antiviral, anticancer, antibacterial, and anthelmintic properties. The bibliographic search describes only the pharmacological activities of M. alceifolia Jacq., M. capitata (L.) L., and M. fasciata Jacq.
Table 27.
Summary of the species of the genus
Malachra
L. with reported pharmacological activity.
Malachra Species Plant Part Used Extract/Compounds Pharmacological Activity Concentration Method Major Findings Reference
M. alceifolia Jacq. Leaf Ethanolic Antiplasmodial 10 µg/mL In vitro

Plasmodium falciparum

152.2 ± 28.6 nM

Chloroquine control		 Inhibitory

activity on P. falciparum

ferriprotoporphyrin

biomineralization inhibition		 [28][29][31,32]
Shoot Ethanolic Antiplasmodial 77 µg/mL In vitro

Plasmodium falciparum (3D7)

chloroquine (concentration no report)		 Inhibitory

activity on P. falciparum		 [30][33]
M. capitata

(L.) L.		 Leaf Ethanolic Antibacterial 62.5 ppm In vitro

MIC		 Inhibition of the growth of

Propionibacterium acnes

(ATCC 6919)		 [31][71]
Shoot Aqueous Antidiarrhoeal 200 and 400 mg/kg In vivo

oral administration to

Wistar rats; castor oil-induced diarrhoea, enteropooling, and small intestinal transit; 5 mL/kg, p.o diphenoxlate control		 Decreases intestinal transit [32][72]
Aqueous Anti-epileptic 250 and 500 mg/kg In vivo

maximal electroshock (MES) and pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizuresmodels in albino Wistar rats,

pentylenetetrazol control		 Anticonvulsant activity against MES and PTZ animal models [32][72]
Aqueous Anti-ulcerogenic 200 mg/kg y 400 mg/kg

In vivo

oral administration to

Wistar rats pylorus

ligated model,

50mg/kg, p.o

ranitidine control		 Reduce the gastric

acid secretion

of pylorus		 [33][ 72 ]
Aqueous Antioxidant 200 y 400 mg/kg

In vivo

oral administration to

Wistar rats		 In vivo

oral administration to

Wistar rats pylorus

ligated model,

50mg/kg, p.o

ranitidine control		 [34][ 73 ]
Aqueous Hepatoprotective 100, 200 y 400 mg/kg

In vivo

oral administration to

Wistar rats, carbon

tetrachloride CCl4

induced hepatotoxicity		 Reduced levels of the

hepatic enzymes

SGOT, SGPT, alkaline

phosphatase (ALP),

and acid

phosphatase (ACP) 		 [35][ 74 ]
Leaf silver

nanoparticles

(AgNPs)		 n-hexane Antibacterial 1 mM

In vitro

MIC		 Nanoparticles

bactericidal

Bacillus subtillis,

Micrococcus Luteus,

Staphylococcus aureus

and Pseudomonas

aeruginosa		 [36][ 75 ]
Leaf Methanolic,

Chloroform Benzene		 Antibacterial 50 mg/mL

In vitro

MIC		 Inhibition of the

growth of

Escherichia coli,

Listeria monocytogenes		 [37][ 76 ]
Malachra fasciata Jacq. Leaf Chloroform/

Aurantiamide

acetate 		 Antibacterial 80 µg

In vitro

MIC 		 Inhibition of the

growth of

P. aeruginosa, B.

subtilis, C. albicans		 [21][ 29 ]
Leaf Unknown Phototoxic

(photosensitization) 		 Unknown

In vivo

sheep females and

male		 Cause of primary

photodermatitis in

sheep ingestion leaf		 [38][ 77 ]
Leaf Chloroform Antifungal 30 µg

In vitro

MIC		 Inhibition of the

growth of

Aspergillus niger		 [21][ 29 ]
Leaf -(-)loliolide Antimutagenic 8 mg/kg

 

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