Review on the therapeutic activities of the Genus Pouteria

Abstract

The genus Pouteria, of the Sapotaceae family, is composed of plants that have representatives with great potential to be used in herbal formulations in order to combat pathogens and treat diseases that affect human health. Triterpenes and flavonoids are the most common constituents found in this genus. Despite the various uses of these plants in folk medicine to treat fever, inflammation, skin rashes, ulcers, diabe-tes, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, pain and promoting lactation. Few scientific studies proving their safety and therapeutic effectiveness. Studies found in the literature make references that the species of the ge-nus Pouteria presents promising results as immunomodulator, antidiabetic, antioxidant, neuroprotec-tive, hepatoprotective and antimicrobial among other actions. This genus can be better investigated for use in herbal formulations that aim to combat or treat numerous diseases, including some like cancer and diabetes that still has no cure. In view of this and in view of the increasingly frequent search for nat-ural substances that have effective therapeutic activities, this review highlights the great biotechnologi-cal potential, as well as the main therapeutic applications of species of this genus found in the literature and to stimulate new studies on the use of these plants in the treatment and even prevention of various diseases. For this, a survey was carried out on the topic in the main sources of scientific research in the period from 2010 to 2020, leading us to conclude that this genus can be a potent ally in the search for new phytotherapy drugs of great benefit to human health.