Abstract

GARCIA-ZEBADUA, Julio César et al. THE TROPICAL TREE Calophyllum brasiliense: A BOTANICAL, CHEMICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL REVIEW. Vitae [online]. 2014, vol.21, n.2, pp.126-145. ISSN 0121-4004.

Rationale: Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess. Is a tree belonging to Calophyllaceae family, recently separated from Clusiaceae (= Guttiferae). This species is widely distributed in the Tropical Rain Forests of the American continent, from Brazil to Mexico. It synthesizes a wide variety of secondary metabolites isolated from leaves, flowers, fruits, bark and roots, such as coumarins, chromanones, xanthones, terpenes, flavonoids and phenolic compounds, which exhibit multiple biological properites. Objective: To provide a comprehensive view of the botanical, chemical and pharmacological characteristics of C. brasiliense, and to present chemical, anatomical and genetic evidences supporting the notion of chemotypes (chemical phenotypes) in this species. Methods: Information available in the databases NCBI and SciFinder^® was reviewed, and relevant investigations were selected regarding to chemical compounds isolated and their biological activity. Results: Among compounds synthesized by C. brasiliense, calanolides and inophyllums stand out, specially (+)-calanolide A, since these can inhibit reverse transcriptase of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). (+)-Calanolide A, a tetracyclic dipyranocoumarin, could be the first drug of natural origin approved by the FDA (US) in the treatment of HIV/AIDS. Other compounds, such as mammea type-coumarins, chromanones, xanthones, and triterpenes showed antitumor, antiparasitic, antibacterial and antispasmodic activity. Most important activity of mammea type-coumarins is against protozoa, such as Leishmania, and Trypanosoma. Regarding to L. amazonensis, (-)-mammea A/BB stands out, being highly potent and selective against amastigotes, and promastigotes, but poorly toxic to human macrophages. (-)-Mammea A/BA as well as prenylated xanthones showed high citotoxicity against human tumor cell lines and T. cruzi. The chemical, anatomical and genetical evidences supported the idea of chemotypes in C. brasiliense, suggesting a current process of speciation in this taxon. The ribosomal ITS sequences discriminate chemotype 1 (produces mammea type coumarins) from chemotypes 2 and 3 (synthesize calanolides and inophyllums) being useful like possible barcodes. Conclusions: The proper management of Calophyllum brasiliense with forestry and biotechnological methods, as well as scientific and technological knowledge, could provide solutions to developing countries, for instance through the production of phytomedicines against HIV/AIDS, and illnesses caused by protozoa such as Leshmaniasis and Chaga's Disease.

Keywords : Calophyllum brasiliense; coumarins; HIV/AIDS; Trypanosoma; Leishmania.

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