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El género Malachra L. pertenece a la familia Malvaceae. Incluye hierbas o subarbustos de nueve especies aceptadas con aproximadamente treinta sinónimos, y ha sido ampliamente utilizado en la medicina popular comunitaria para tratar problemas de salud que incluyen inflamación, obstrucción nasal, leishmaniasis, malaria, parto, trastornos renales, fiebre, enfermedades del tracto respiratorio, entre otros. otros.
- Malachra
- ethnobotany
- pharmacological activity
1. Descripción botánica de las especies del género Malachra L.
El género Malachra L. está representado por hierbas o sufrutos, a veces puberulentos, generalmente híspidos o con tricomas punzantes. Las hojas son simples o palmeadas lobuladas; agudo, acuminado u obtuso en el ápice; truncado o subcordado en la base; serrado o almenado; y generalmente pubescente. También presentan: inflorescencias bracteadas; cabezas axilares o terminales; brácteas anchamente cordadas-ovadas en la base, con nervios prominentes alternando a menudo con áreas blanquecinas, aunque en otras partes puede ser verde y sésil. Calliculus ausente (excepto en M . radiata); cáliz pequeño, de cinco lóbulos; corola blanca, amarilla o lila; y también se pueden observar hojas de cinco lóbulos. Además, los frutos esquizocarpianos tienen la forma de una rueda similar a un queso que se puede dividir en cinco tipos de alas maduras; las flores están en cabezuelas, rodeadas de brácteas más grandes que ellas [ 17 , 41 , 42 , 43 ].
Malachra alceifolia Jacq. es una hierba o arbusto, de 1, 6 m de altura. Las partes aéreas y los pecíolos son híspidos, simples o partidos, flavescentes, base tuberculada, pelos dispersos, cortos, estrellados y alargados formando nudos, con pubescencia del tallo y color verde a rojizo. Las hojas son simples, opuestas y lobuladas, con hasta cinco lóbulos, con pubescencia, y sus márgenes son aserrados o dentados. Hay inflorescencias en capítulos axilares con presencia de brácteas acuminadas y flores de cinco pétalos, de 2 a 3 cm de diámetro, de coloración amarilla. Los frutos tienen brácteas y cáliz persistente, con numerosas semillas, de hasta 2 mm de diámetro, de color oscuro y aplanadas ( Figura 1 ) [ 44 ].
Figura 1. Malachra alceifolia Jacq.
Malachra capitata Linn. es una hierba o subarbusto, de hasta 2 m de altura, con pubescencia del tallo y coloración verde a naranja. Las hojas son simples, opuestas, palmeadas o lobuladas, con hasta cinco lóbulos; la textura de las hojas es aterciopelada y sus márgenes son crenulados o dentados. Las inflorescencias son pedunculares y axilares, con presencia de brácteas lanceoladas; las flores tienen cinco pétalos, de 1 cm de diámetro, con una coloración blanca. Los frutos esquizocárpicos tienen semillas individuales de hasta 3 mm de diámetro y son de color oscuro ( Figura 2 ) [ 45 ].
Figura 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) [46].
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) [47].
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) [48,49].
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) [48,49].
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) [48,49].
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) [48,49].
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 [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 6 lists the phytoconstituents reported only in Malachra species: M. alceifolia Jacq., M. capitata (L.) L., and M. fasciata Jacq, see Figure 10 molecular structure of some compounds isolated from species of the genus Malachra L.
Figure 10. Molecular structure of some compounds isolated from species of the genus Malachra L.
Table 6. 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 |
[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) | [23,24] |
| Leaf | Rutin, ferulic acid | ||
| Stem | Gallic acid | ||
| Whole plant | β-Sitosterol (6) | [25] | |
| Root | Carbohydrates, phenols, flavonoids, glycosides, triterpenes, alkaloids, tannins, saponins | [23,24] | |
| Root | Tetradecanoic acid, ethyl ester (7); | [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); | |||
| squalene (14) | |||
| Stem | Tetradecanoic acid, ethyl ester; | [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 | [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 | [27,28] | |
| Malachra fasciata Jacq. | Leaf | Aurantiamide acetate (24) | [29] |
| Leaf | 1,3-Diacylglycerol (25) 1,2-Diacylglycerol (26) |
[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 [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 [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 [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 [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 [64]. Caffeic acid has antimicrobial potential against Staphylococcus aureus strains with MICs from 256 µg/mL to 1024 µg/mL [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 [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 [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 [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 [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 [70]. Table 7 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 7. 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 |
[31,32] |
| Shoot | Ethanolic | Antiplasmodial | 77 µg/mL | In vitro Plasmodium falciparum (3D7) chloroquine (concentration no report) |
Inhibitory activity on P. falciparum |
[33] | |
| M. capitata (L.) L. |
Leaf | Ethanolic | Antibacterial | 62.5 ppm | In vitro MIC |
Inhibition of the growth of Propionibacterium acnes (ATCC 6919) |
[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 | [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 | [72] | ||
| Aqueous | Anti-ulcerogenic | 200 mg/kg y 400 mg/kg | Administración oral in vivo a ratas Wistar modelo con ligadura de píloro, 50 mg/kg, control de po ranitidina |
Reducir la secreción de ácido gástrico del píloro. | [ 72 ] | ||
| Acuoso | antioxidante | 200 y 400 mg/kg | Administración oral in vivo a ratas Wistar |
Inhibir la acumulación de productos de peroxidación lipídica, actividades de superóxido dismutasa y catalasa | [ 73 ] | ||
| Acuoso | hepatoprotector | 100, 200 y 400 mg/kg | Administración oral in vivo a ratas Wistar, hepatotoxicidad inducida por tetracloruro de carbono CCl 4 |
Niveles reducidos de las enzimas hepáticas SGOT, SGPT, fosfatasa alcalina (ALP) y fosfatasa ácida (ACP) |
[ 74 ] | ||
| Nanopartículas de hoja de plata (AgNP) | n-hexano | antibacteriano | 1 mm | CIM in vitro |
Nanopartículas bactericidas Bacillus subtillis , Micrococcus Luteus, Staphylococcus aureus y Pseudomonas aeruginosa |
[ 75 ] | |
| Hoja | metanólico, cloroformo benceno | antibacteriano | 50 mg/ml | CIM in vitro |
Inhibición del crecimiento de Escherichia coli Listeria monocytogenes |
[ 76 ] | |
| Malachra fasciata Jacq. | Hoja | Cloroformo/ Acetato de aurantiamida |
antimicrobiano | 80 microgramos | CIM in vitro |
Inhibición del crecimiento de P. aeruginosa, B. subtilis, C. albicans , |
[ 29 ] |
| Hoja | Desconocido | Fototóxico (fotosensibilización) | Desconocido | Ovejas hembras y machos in vivo |
Causa de fotodermatitis primaria en ovejas por ingestión de hoja | [ 77 ] | |
| Hoja | Cloroformo | Antifúngico | 30 µg | CIM in vitro |
Inhibición del crecimiento de Aspergillus niger |
[ 29 ] | |
| Hoja | -(-)loliolida | Antimutagénico | 8 mg/kg | Prueba de micronúcleos in vitro inducida con mitomicina C, 32% |
Reducir el número de eritrocitos policromáticos micronucleados (MPCE) | [ 30 ] |
This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper 10.3390/plants11212808
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