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Image, graphical abstract Sida L. is one of the most diverse genera in the Malvaceae family and its species are used in different countries of the world for the treatment of various diseases, with such ethnomedicinal use supported by pharmacological assays. The main objective of this study is to update the knowledge on the biological and pharmacological activities and phytochemistry of Sida since the last revision of the genus published in 2015. Ethnobotanical, pharmacological and phytochemical information on the genus Sida was collected through various scientific research platforms. Our findings showed that the best studied species are S. acuta, S. cordifolia and S. rhombifolia, while few works have been dedicated to other species such as S. galheirensis. Sida species are traditionally used for the treatment of various conditions, especially ulcers, asthma, fever, pain, rheumatism and diarrhea. A total of 121 chemical constituents were listed, of which 89 were discovered in the last five years. • In this review was update the knowledge on the ethnopharmacology and phytochemistry of the genus sida. • Sida species are used worldwide for the treatment of ulcers, asthma, fever, pain, rheumatism and diarrhea. • A total of 121 chemical constituents were listed, 89 of which were discovered in the last five years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• There is a lack of studies addressing metabolic response to water stress in tree and shrub medicinal species. • The main factor shaping the production of phenolic compounds are the water supplied to plants and the time of stress exposure. • Among the different quantification methods, HPLC and colorimetric tests are the most used to quantify the phenolic compounds analyzed. Secondary metabolites play an important role in the adaptation of plants to the environment and in their recovering process to stress conditions. Among the different types of stress, the scarcity of water resources is considered a negative factor because it is responsible for productivity losses of several crops. However, plants grown under drought conditions generally produce higher concentrations of active substances that protect them against free radicals and reactive oxygen species and prevent damage to the photosynthetic process. In addition to plant protection, secondary metabolites, such as phenolic compounds, have great applicability in human health, acting as a healing, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antitumor agent. The aim of this paper is to present a systematic review on the influence of water stress on the production of phenolic compounds in plants of medicinal interest. For this, a search was performed in three international databases (PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science) using keywords related to water stress and phenolic compounds. A total of 343 publications were obtained, which after the screening and eligibility process comprised 34 articles published between 1994 and 2019, showing that the widely accepted idea that there is a general increase in phenolic compounds in response to water scarcity is misguided. In opposition to this idea, this complex system differs for each plant species. In addition, due the large number of papers that have been conducted in greenhouses, further studies concerning tree species under different ecophysiological conditions are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medicinal plants are used in several countries for the treatment of various diseases, including arthritis and osteoarthritis, thus constituting a valuable alternative to commercial drugs. In Brazil, several cultivated plants of economic interest have been indicated for the treatment of rheumatic diseases in ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological surveys. From this perspective, the present study aimed to review the literature on the anti-arthritic and anti-ostoarthritic potential of plants traditionally used in Brazil. The scientific documents were retrieved from different databases, from the first report published in 1989 until December 2023. A total of 55 species distributed in 31 families are used for the treatment of arthritis and osteoarthritis in different Brazilian states. The species Echinodorus grandiflorus , Pterodon emarginatus , Morinda citrifolia , Uncaria tomentosa , and Miconia albicans stood out for the number of citations. Leaves (41%) are the parts of plants most used in the medicinal preparations. Of the 55 species used by traditional communities, 24 had their anti-arthritic and anti-osteoarthritic activities investigated in preclinical models, and 14 in randomized clinical trials. Phenolic compounds, such as flavonoids, may be directly involved with the reported anti-arthritic and anti-osteoarthritic activity. Many of the species cited in ethnobotanical surveys carried out in Brazil still lack scientific investigations that prove their anti-arthritic effects in preclinical and clinical trials. The exploration of novel phytopharmaceuticals derived from commonly utilized plant raw materials holds the potential to facilitate the establishment of more readily accessible therapeutic alternatives for the general public. [Display omitted] • 31 families and 55 species are traditionally used for the treatment of arthritis and osteoarthritis in Brazil. • Asteraceae and Lamiaceae are widely used in the treatment of arthritis and osteoarthritis in Brazil. • The Brazilian states of Goiás and Mato Grosso had the higher number of ethnomedicinal uses. • 24 species traditionally used in Brazil showed anti-arthritic potential in vivo. • 14 species were evaluated in clinical trials for the treatment of arthritis and osteoarthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species of Cyperaceae occur in all regions of Brazil and have been used in folk medicine in the country, as well as in other parts of the world. From this perspective, the present study aimed to review, for the first time, the folk medicinal use of Cyperaceae species in Brazil, making a distinction between species with and without experimental data available in the literature. Data were obtained from different databases. In the initial search, a total number of 604 publications were retrieved and those that did not meet the search criteria were excluded. A total of 159 articles were selected and used in this review. According to the analysed documents, a total of 27 species of Cyperaceae have reports of folk medicinal use in 15 states of the country. Of these, 44% have been scientifically investigated for chemical constituents and/or biological activities. Sesquiterpenes were the main constituents isolated from different species. The species are used to treat different health problems, especially inflammation, and the roots are the most frequently used parts. Cyperus rotundus is the species with the highest number of medicinal indications and pharmacological and phytochemical studies. Despite the wide spectrum of use of Cyperaceae species, scientific evidence to validate the indications mentioned by traditional communities is lacking for most of them. • Cyperaceae species used in the traditional medicine of Brazil were reviewed. • Twenty-seven species are used as medicine, mainly those of the Cyperus genus. • The Cyperaceae species are indicated mainly for the treatment of inflammation. • Sesquiterpene compounds were the major constituents identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ten species of Cyperaceae are indicated in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammation. • In vivo and in vitro anti-inflammatory activity has been reported for 13 species of Cyperaceae. • Fifty compounds isolated from Cyperaceae species showed anti-inflammatory potential. • The essential oil, extracts and fractions obtained from Cyperaceae did not show relevant toxicity. Species of the family Cyperaceae are used in traditional medicine in several countries for the treatment of some illnesses. The indications of some representatives for the treatment of inflammation have been experimentally evaluated, suggesting that Cyperaceae has chemical compounds with anti-inflammatory activity. The present work aimed to carry out a systematic review of the traditional uses, anti-inflammatory potential, toxicity, and chemical compounds isolated from species of this family. Scientific articles were obtained through searches in the Google Scholar, PubMed®, SciELO, and Scopus® databases. Only works published in the last 31 years (1991–2022) were eligible. After application of the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 82 articles were used in this review. Ten species of Cyperaceae are traditionally used to treat inflammation in different countries. In vitro and in vivo assays with the essential oil, extracts and its fractions exhibited potent anti-inflammatory action. Relevant preclinical toxicity was not found for different formulations. A total of 50 compounds belonging to the classes of sesquiterpenes, phenolic compounds, benzenoids, phytosterols, unsaturated fatty acids, diterpenoids, triterpenes, and norterpenoids presented anti-inflammatory potential. Cyperus rotundus stood out for the high amount of information on its traditional use, anti-inflammatory potential, and phytochemical studies. Bioprospecting other species indicated in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammation is essential to validate or refute the suggested ethnopharmacological information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesosphaerum suaveolens (L.) Kuntze is a species widely used traditionally in the treatment of ailments, such as stomach pain, hemorrhoids, cough, verminosis, ulcer, liver disease, fever, influenza, nasal congestion, and inflammation. This review aims to provide a survey of available information on seven international electronic databases (Google Scholar, Medline, ResearchGate, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, and PubMed) about botanical aspects, traditional uses, phytochemistry, and biological activities of M. suaveolens. Mesosphaerum suaveolens is a tropical America native species, but it can be found in several parts of the world as a ruderal plant. The species is the most studied species of the genus Lamiaceae due its phytochemical aspect, especially regarding the chemical composition of its essential oil. Besides the essential oils, M. suaveolens is a source of numerous secondary compounds such as triterpenes, diterpenes, and phenolic compounds, which are related to its biological activities, such as allelopathic, antibacterial, antifungal, insecticidal, and larvicidal activities as described in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhynchospora nervosa (Vahl) Boeckeler (Cyperaceae), popularly known as "capim-estrela", is a native species widely distributed in Brazil. The whole plant has been used in local traditional medicine in the form of teas or syrups to treat inflammation, flu, nasal congestion, fever, swelling, and venereal disease. This is the first study to investigate the pharmacological properties of this species. Aim of the study : The present study aimed to evaluate the in vivo anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and antinociceptive potential of the lyophilized hydroalcoholic extract of R. nervosa in heterogenic Swiss mice. In addition to pharmacological studies, the total phenol and flavonoid contents of the extract were determined. The anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated through carrageenan-induced paw edema and peritonitis models. For the antinociceptive assay, the number of acetic acid-induced writhing responses in the animals was counted. Antipyretic activity was tested by yeast-induced pyrexia in mice and evaluated for 4 h. Nitric oxide (NO) concentration and leukocyte migration in the peritoneal fluid were quantified. The acute toxicity of the extract was also calculated. Quantitative analyses of total phenols and flavonoids in the extract were performed by spectrophotometric methods. In short, the lyophilized hydroalcoholic extract of R. nervosa showed low acute toxicity in the preclinical tests (LD 50 = 3807 mg/kg). A significant anti-inflammatory effect was observed, with an average reduction of carrageenan-induced paw edema of 96.37%. Comparatively, indomethacin inhibited the development of the carrageenin paw edema by 97.52%. In the peritonitis test, a significant reduction in NO levels was recorded. A reduction in the number of white cells, notably monocytes, was also observed, confirming the anti-inflammatory effect. Writhing was reduced by 86.53%, which indicates antinociceptive activity. As for antipyretic activity, no positive effects of the extract were observed. The lyophilized hydroalcoholic extract of R. nervosa presented a high content of phenolic compounds (322.47 μg GAE/mg) and total flavonoids (440.50 μg QE/mg). The lyophilized hydroalcoholic extract of R. nervosa showed significant in vivo anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activity in mice. These preliminary findings support the indication of the use of this species in folk medicine in Brazil for the treatment of inflammation. [Display omitted] • LHERn showed low acute toxicity in the preclinical tests (LD50 = 3807.88 mg/kg). • Anti-inflammatory effect was observed, with up to 100% reduction of carrageenan-induced paw edema. • Writhing was reduced by 86.53%, which indicates antinociceptive activity. • For antipyretic activity, no positive effects of the extract were observed. • O LHERn presented a high content of phenolic compounds (322.47 μg GAE/mg) and total flavonoids (440.50 μg QE/mg). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]