EVALUATION OF Rhizophora mangle BARK COMING FROM THE WESTERN AREA OF CUBA FOR BIOMEDICAL DESTINATION.

Cuban mangroves constitute the 5% of the country surface and they are distributed in the whole coast of the island. One of the species represented is Rhizophora mangle L. (red mangrove). From the bark of this plant, new drugs for human and veterinary use have been obtained. All the areas studied in the western region showed values of soluble substances (>14.5 mg/ml); ash (< 12%); total tannins (>6 mg/ml) and percentage of polymerized polyphenolic compounds (PPC) (>90%). Rhizophora mangle bark can be collected in every season. It is stable for more than one year when being stored in polyethylene sacks in a fresh place at room temperature (25 ± 5°C) with a relative humidity between 70-90%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]