Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research

  • Abbreviation: J. Med. Plants Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0875
  • DOI: 10.5897/JMPR
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 3839

Review

The genus Calea L.: A review of isolated compounds and biological activities

Patricia de Aguiar Amaral
  • Patricia de Aguiar Amaral
  • Laboratory of Medicinal Plants (LaPlaM/ PPGCA), Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense (UNESC), Avenida Universitária 1105, Bairro Universitário, 88806-000 Criciúma, SC, Brazil.
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Franciely Vanessa Costa
  • Franciely Vanessa Costa
  • Laboratory of Medicinal Plants (LaPlaM/ PPGCA), Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense (UNESC), Avenida Universitária 1105, Bairro Universitário, 88806-000 Criciúma, SC, Brazil.
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Altamir Rocha Antunes
  • Altamir Rocha Antunes
  • Laboratory of Medicinal Plants (LaPlaM/ PPGCA), Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense (UNESC), Avenida Universitária 1105, Bairro Universitário, 88806-000 Criciúma, SC, Brazil.
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Jacqueline Kautz
  • Jacqueline Kautz
  • Laboratory of Medicinal Plants (LaPlaM/ PPGCA), Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense (UNESC), Avenida Universitária 1105, Bairro Universitário, 88806-000 Criciúma, SC, Brazil.
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Vanilde Citadini-Zanette
  • Vanilde Citadini-Zanette
  • Laboratory of Medicinal Plants (LaPlaM/ PPGCA), Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense (UNESC), Avenida Universitária 1105, Bairro Universitário, 88806-000 Criciúma, SC, Brazil.
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Francoise Lohezic-Le Devehat
  • Francoise Lohezic-Le Devehat
  • ISCR-UMR CNRS 6226, Faculté des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes, Université Rennes 1, 2 Av. du Pr. Léon Bernard, 35043 Rennes CEDEX, France.
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James Barlow
  • James Barlow
  • Department of Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.
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Silvia DalBo
  • Silvia DalBo
  • Laboratory of Medicinal Plants (LaPlaM/ PPGCA), Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense (UNESC), Avenida Universitária 1105, Bairro Universitário, 88806-000 Criciúma, SC, Brazil.
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  •  Received: 03 May 2017
  •  Accepted: 14 July 2017
  •  Published: 03 September 2017

Abstract

The approximately 125 species of the genus Calea L. (Asteraceae) are distributed throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. Some species have medicinal properties. Based on popular knowledge, different phytochemical and pharmacological activities have been the focus of research. This review aims to provide an overview of the current state of knowledge of medicinal uses, chemical constituents, and pharmacological activities of Calea species. Phytochemical and pharmacological studies have been performed on 37 species to date. Aerial parts, leaves and stems of these plants have been tested for several biological effects including antinociceptive, vasodilator, cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities. Extracts obtained from plants of the genus Calea have also been assayed for potential antiparasitic effects, especially for antiplasmodial, leishmanicidal, acaricidal and trypanocidal activities. Phytochemical investigations have confirmed that Calea species are rich in sesquiterpenes, chromenes, chromanones, flavonoids and other chemical compounds less attractive from the point of view of molecular diversity. This review confirms that certain Calea spp. enjoy widespread popular use in the treatment of infections, and the observed antiparasitic activities can provide new insights for further investigations on isolated compounds.

Key words: Medicinal plants, Sesquiterpene lactones, Calea.