The Genus Miconia Ruiz & Pav. (Melastomataceae): Ethnomedicinal Uses, Pharmacology, and Phytochemistry

Molecules. 2022 Jun 27;27(13):4132. doi: 10.3390/molecules27134132.

Abstract

Species of the genus Miconia are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of diseases, such as pain, throat infections, fever, and cold, and they used as depuratives, diuretics, and sedatives. This work reviewed studies carried out with Miconia species, highlighting its ethnomedicinal uses and pharmacological and phytochemical potential. This information was collected in the main platforms of scientific research (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science). Our findings show that some of the traditional uses of Miconia are corroborated by biological and/or pharmacological assays, which demonstrated, among other properties, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimutagenic, antiparasitic, antioxidant, cytotoxic, and antimicrobial activities. A total of 148 chemical compounds were identified in Miconia species, with phenolic compounds being the main constituents found in the species of this genus. Such phytochemical investigations have demonstrated the potential of species belonging to this genus as a source of bioactive substances, thus reinforcing their medicinal and pharmacological importance.

Keywords: bioactivity; ethnobotany; ethnopharmacology; medicinal plants; natural product.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Ethnopharmacology
  • Medicine, Traditional
  • Melastomataceae*
  • Phytochemicals / chemistry
  • Phytochemicals / pharmacology
  • Phytochemicals / therapeutic use
  • Phytotherapy
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology

Substances

  • Phytochemicals
  • Plant Extracts

Grants and funding

This research was supported by Basic Science Research Program, through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), funded by the Ministry of Education (NRF-2020R1I1A2066868). The National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant was funded by the Korea government (MSIT) (No. 2020R1A5A2019413). A grant of the Korea Health Technology R&D Project, through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), was funded by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea (grant number: HF20C0116). A grant from the Korea Health Technology R&D Project, through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), was funded by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea (grant number: HF20C0038).