Page 73 - MI-2-2

Microbes & Immunity Biological activity of Amazonian plants

1. Introduction resources for human health, including medicinal plants
that are commonly adopted in traditional medicine to treat
Amazonian medicinal plants boast a major source of various ailments. However, the folklore and knowledge
therapeutic agents and active pharmacological compounds. of ancient civilizations regarding these plants remain
Despite the superiority of bioinformatic approaches largely undocumented in scientific literature, with only
in altering natural compounds and/or designing and the preparation methods and usages being preserved. To
synthesizing new drugs, materials sourced from biodiverse recover the chemical, biological, and medical knowledge
environments remain the most powerful and potential of these plants, systematic documentation of their use,
options for discovering new chemical compounds to be geographical distribution, and preliminary chemical and
used as a large array of prophylactic, therapeutic, and biological studies have been conducted. 13-17
cosmetic applications. Nevertheless, both strategies are
applied with the common purposes of rationally exploring Licania macrophylla (LM) (Benth), which was later
natural resources and putting them to beneficial use. reclassified as Hymenopus macrophyllus (Benth) by Sothers
1,2
18
Infectious diseases, particularly those of viral etiology, have and Prance in the Chrysobalanaceae botanical family, is
agents that are suitable for vaccine development; however, popularly known as “anauerá,” a name derived from a native
the high genetic variability of RNA viruses hinders the Amerind language in the Amazon. LM exhibits a typical bush
protective role of immunogens under investigation, as morphology, reaching a height of 17 – 28 m and growing along
seen with the dengue virus, human immunodeficiency the margins of inundated areas. In addition to its medicinal
virus (HIV), and severe acute respiratory syndrome use in treating gastrointestinal disorders of infectious
19
coronavirus 2, among other pathogens of epidemiological etiology, its timber is employed for construction purposes.
significance. Chemical compounds that interact with viral The chemical compounds of anauerá have been isolated
3
receptors or function as ligands for cell receptors display and characterized, such as licanol, a flavanol identified as
20
varied activities. Therefore, possible mechanisms with (-)-4’-O-methyl-epigallocatechin-3’-O-α-L-rhamnoside.
virus, glycoproteins, and/or ligands, such as blocking their Previously, the inhibitory activity of LM ethanolic extract
coupling to host cell receptors or acting as metabolites to (bark) against multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and
21
induce cytokine expression, are under investigation. 4 Pseudomonas aeruginosa was reported.
The arsenal of antiretroviral drugs must be continuously Commonly known as “barbatimão do cerrado” among
expanded, mainly due to the emergence of drug resistance natives in northern Brazil, Ouratea hexasperma (OH)
and the development of side effects, which commonly (A. St. -Hil.) Baill is taxonomically classified within the
occur in individuals receiving antiretroviral therapy for Ochnaceae botanical family. Its shrubby structure reaches
HIV infections and related diseases, such as acquired a height of 5 m, featuring wrinkled bark and tortuous
immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The host defense branches, which are typical of “cerrado” vegetation (Brazilian
5,6
savanna). Phytochemical analysis carried out by Daniel
22
system against viral infections begins with the organism’s et al. revealed the presence of 7”-O-methylagathisflavone,
23
physical, chemical, and biological barriers to invasive agathisflavone, epicatechin, and the mixture of
agents and can continue with the innate immune response,
which may or may not progress to the adaptive immune 6-C-glycopyranosyl-luteolin and 3-O-glycopyranosyl-
quercetin. In addition, Fidelis et al. reported the isolation
24
response. The immune response process usually involves of trans-3-O-methyl-resveratrol-2-C-β-glucoside, litho
cytokine signaling to activate the effector mechanisms of spermoside, 2,5-dimethoxy-p-benzoquinone, lup-20(30)-
both innate and adaptive immune responses. Cytokines ene-3β,28-diol, 7-O-methylgenistein, apigenin, luteolin,
7,8
mediate both the inflammatory and anti-inflammatory and amentoflavone. The above-characterized compounds
host responses during infection, and in healthy individuals, and crude extracts of OH have exhibited various in vitro
morbidity is usually resolved. Nowadays, mainly in urban biological activities, such as antioxidant, anticarcinogenic,
9
areas, people are often deprived of a health environment, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory
as well as adequate nutrition, mental well-being, and properties, among others. 17,24,25
emotional balance. Depression is prevalent in large
10
metropolitan areas worldwide and is immunologically 2. Materials and methods
characterized by the secretion of proinflammatory
cytokines such as interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), tumor necrosis 2.1. Plant extracts
factor-alpha, and IL-6. In addition, chronic inflammation Botanic samples of LM (Chrysobalanaceae) and
11
predisposes individuals to a large array of diseases, mainly OH (Ochnaceae) were collected from lowland areas
linked to poor immune responses to infectious agents. surrounding the Amapari river at the geographic
12
Amazonian biodiversity provides a bunch of natural coordinates 0°46’14”N/51°55’54”W (Pedra Branca do

Volume 2 Issue 2 (2025) 65 doi: 10.36922/mi.8367