TY - JOUR
T1 - Ardisia
T2 - Health-promoting properties and toxicity of phytochemicals and extracts
AU - De Mejía, Elvira González
AU - Ramírez-Mares, Marco Vinicio
PY - 2011/11
Y1 - 2011/11
N2 - Ardisia species (Myrsinaceae) are found throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Traditional medicinal uses attributed to Ardisia include alleviation of liver cancer, swelling, rheumatism, earache, cough, fever, diarrhea, broken bones, dysmenorrhea, respiratory tract infections, traumatic injuries, inflammation, pain, snake and insect bites, birth complications and to improve general blood circulation, among others. Ardisia species are rich in polyphenols, triterpenoid saponins, isocoumarins, quinones and alkylphenols. A summary of the uses, potential health benefits, adverse reactions and important bioactive phytochemicals isolated from the Ardisia species is presented. Future research needs to include more toxicological studies, more comprehensive chemical characterization of extracts, bioavailability, extract standardization, investigation of possible herbdrug interactions, plant improvement with regards to bioactivity and composition, and additional human and animal studies to confirm the health-promoting properties claimed for Ardisia species. The information presented here exemplifies the potential of Ardisia species as a source of chemotherapeutic, chemo-modulating and/or chemopreventive agents.
AB - Ardisia species (Myrsinaceae) are found throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Traditional medicinal uses attributed to Ardisia include alleviation of liver cancer, swelling, rheumatism, earache, cough, fever, diarrhea, broken bones, dysmenorrhea, respiratory tract infections, traumatic injuries, inflammation, pain, snake and insect bites, birth complications and to improve general blood circulation, among others. Ardisia species are rich in polyphenols, triterpenoid saponins, isocoumarins, quinones and alkylphenols. A summary of the uses, potential health benefits, adverse reactions and important bioactive phytochemicals isolated from the Ardisia species is presented. Future research needs to include more toxicological studies, more comprehensive chemical characterization of extracts, bioavailability, extract standardization, investigation of possible herbdrug interactions, plant improvement with regards to bioactivity and composition, and additional human and animal studies to confirm the health-promoting properties claimed for Ardisia species. The information presented here exemplifies the potential of Ardisia species as a source of chemotherapeutic, chemo-modulating and/or chemopreventive agents.
KW - Bioactivity
KW - Chemoprevention
KW - Herbal medicine
KW - Myrsinaceae
KW - Secondary metabolites
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=80054722842&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.3109/15376516.2011.601355
DO - 10.3109/15376516.2011.601355
M3 - Review article
C2 - 22003924
AN - SCOPUS:80054722842
SN - 1537-6516
VL - 21
SP - 667
EP - 674
JO - Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods
JF - Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods
IS - 9
ER -