Health functions and related molecular mechanisms of genus: A systematic review.

The genus is traditionally used in folk medicine in Brazil and other tropical American countries and is represented by 282 species in this region. It is a multifaceted genus of medicinal plants widely used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA), pain, inflammatory diseases, and many more therapeutic applications. In the present study, we systematically identify and discuss the literature on and studies focusing on the therapeutic potentials and related molecular mechanisms of the genus. The review also assessed phytochemicals and their pharmacological properties and considered safety concerns related to the genus. Literature searches to identify studies on the genus were carried out through four main electronic databases, namely PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science limited to Medical Subjects Headings (MeSH) and Descriptores en Ciencias de la Salud (DCS) (Health Sciences Descriptors) to identify studies published up to December 2022. The relevant information about the genus was gathered using the keywords ', 'biological activities', 'therapeutic mechanisms', 'animal model, 'cell-line model', 'antinociceptive', 'hyperalgesia', 'anti-inflammatory', and 'inflammation'. The therapeutic potentials and mechanisms of action of 14 species from genus were examined in 18 studies and included their anti-inflammatory, anticancer, analgesic, antibacterial, cytotoxic, mutagenic, antioxidant, anti-leishmanial, antinociceptive, schistosomicidal, and anti-osteoarthritis potentials, and in eight studies, assessing their analgesic, antioxidant, antinociceptive, and anti-osteoarthritis activities. Some of the main related molecular mechanisms identified are the modulation of cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, as well as the inhibition of inflammatory mediators and prostaglandin synthesis. The limited number of studies showed that commonly available species from the genus are safe for consumption. Sw.Triana and (Bonpl.) DC was the most frequently used species and showed significant efficacy and potential for developing safe drugs to treat pain and inflammation.