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Antecedentes: Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess. Es un árbol de la familia Calophyllaceae, separada recientemente de Clusiaceae (Guttiferae). Se distribuye ampliamente en selvas tropicales lluviosas del continente americano, desde Brasil hasta México. Esta especie sintetiza diversos metabolitos secundarios en hojas, flores, frutos, corteza y raíz, tales como cumarinas, cromanonas, xantonas, terpenos, flavonoides y compuestos fenólicos, los cuales presentan múltiples propiedades biológicas. Objetivos: Ofrecer una visión general de las características botánicas, químicas y farmacológicas de C. brasiliense, así como evidencias químicas, anatómicas y genéticas que sugieren la existencia de quimiotipos (fenotipos químicos) en la especie. Métodos: Se revisó la información disponible en las bases de datos NCBI y SciFinder®, se seleccionaron investigaciones relevantes que permitieron conocer los compuestos químicos aislados y su actividad biológica. Resultados: Entre los compuestos sintetizados por C. brasiliense destacan calanólidos e inofilums, especialmente el (+)-calanólido A, como inhibidores potentes de la enzima transcriptasa reversa del virus de inmunodeficiencia humana tipo 1 (VIH-1) y baja toxicidad a linfocitos humanos. El (+)-calanólido A, una dipiranocumarina tetracíclica, podría ser el primer fármaco de origen natural aprobado por la FDA (EUA) en el tratamiento del VIH/SIDA. Otros compuestos, tales como cumarinas tipo mammea, cromanonas, xantonas y triterpenos, mostraron actividad contra protozoarios, células tumorales humanas, como bactericidas y antiespasmódicos. La actividad más importante de cumarinas tipo mammea es contra protozoarios como Leishmania y Trypanosoma. En relación a L. amazonensis, destacó (-)-mammea A/BB presentando buena actividad y selectividad contra amastigotes y promastigotes, y baja toxicidad en macrófagos humanos. La (-)-mammea A/BA, y las xantonas preniladas mostraron alta citotoxicidad sobre líneas celulares tumorales humanas y T. cruzi. Las evidencias químicas, anatómicas y genéticas indican que existen quimiotipos en C. brasiliense, sugiriendo un proceso de especiación en curso en el taxón. Las secuencias ribosomales (ITS) discriminaron al quimiotipo 1 (produce coumarinas tipo mammea) de los quimiotipos 2 y 3 (biosintetizan calanólidos e inofilums), siendo útiles como posibles códigos de barras. Conclusiones: El adecuado manejo de C. brasiliense mediante técnicas silvícolas y biotecnológicas, así como el conocimiento científico y tecnológico, podrían aportar soluciones a países en desarrollo, por ejemplo mediante producción de fitomedicamentos, a enfermedades como el VIH/ SIDA, Leshmaniasis y la Enfermedad de Chagas. Rationale: Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess. Is a tree belonging to Calophyllaceae family, recently separated from Clusiaceae (= Guttiferae). This species is widely distributed in the Tropical Rain Forests of the American continent, from Brazil to Mexico. It synthesizes a wide variety of secondary metabolites isolated from leaves, flowers, fruits, bark and roots, such as coumarins, chromanones, xanthones, terpenes, flavonoids and phenolic compounds, which exhibit multiple biological properites. Objective: To provide a comprehensive view of the botanical, chemical and pharmacological characteristics of C. brasiliense, and to present chemical, anatomical and genetic evidences supporting the notion of chemotypes (chemical phenotypes) in this species. Methods: Information available in the databases NCBI and SciFinder® was reviewed, and relevant investigations were selected regarding to chemical compounds isolated and their biological activity. Results: Among compounds synthesized by C. brasiliense, calanolides and inophyllums stand out, specially (+)-calanolide A, since these can inhibit reverse transcriptase of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). (+)-Calanolide A, a tetracyclic dipyranocoumarin, could be the first drug of natural origin approved by the FDA (US) in the treatment of HIV/AIDS. Other compounds, such as mammea type-coumarins, chromanones, xanthones, and triterpenes showed antitumor, antiparasitic, antibacterial and antispasmodic activity. Most important activity of mammea type-coumarins is against protozoa, such as Leishmania, and Trypanosoma. Regarding to L. amazonensis, (-)-mammea A/BB stands out, being highly potent and selective against amastigotes, and promastigotes, but poorly toxic to human macrophages. (-)-Mammea A/BA as well as prenylated xanthones showed high citotoxicity against human tumor cell lines and T. cruzi. The chemical, anatomical and genetical evidences supported the idea of chemotypes in C. brasiliense, suggesting a current process of speciation in this taxon. The ribosomal ITS sequences discriminate chemotype 1 (produces mammea type coumarins) from chemotypes 2 and 3 (synthesize calanolides and inophyllums) being useful like possible barcodes. Conclusions: The proper management of Calophyllum brasiliense with forestry and biotechnological methods, as well as scientific and technological knowledge, could provide solutions to developing countries, for instance through the production of phytomedicines against HIV/AIDS, and illnesses caused by protozoa such as Leshmaniasis and Chaga's Disease.

"Cuphea aquipetala Cav. (Hierba del cancer) is used in Mexican traditional medicine. In the present work, its most frequent medicinal applications were determined through interviews, revision of herbarium specimens, and bibliography. The quoted applications were: to treat pounds and wounds. For these purposes, the drug (leaf and stem) is prepared and administered as infusion, or as poultice. In order to provide data for inclusion of this species in the Herbal Pharmacopoeia of the United Mexican States (FHEUM) we describe its leaf architecture and diagnostic anatomical characters of drug,. The anatomical study revealed that the three types of trichomes observed can aid to differentiate this species from other Cuphea species. Anatomical variation was observed mainly in the midrib of the leaf. Leaf architecture is first described for this species, and provides the basis for future comparisons. In addition, the acetone-water extract of the aerial parts previously reported as cytotoxic activity against DU-145 (human prostate carcinoma) and HCT-15 (human colon carcinoma), showed the presence of polyphenolic compounds of the type of hydrolysable and condensed tannins, mannitol was isolated and identified."

Ciencias Biomedicas