Maytenus macrocarpa (Celastraceae) is a tree native to Amazonia. Its roots, leaves, bark, and combinations of these are used in traditional medicine mainly to treat rheumatism and, to a lesser extent, to heal wounds and to combat bronchitis and diarrhea. To date, mainly triterpenes and dihydro-β-agarofuran sesquiterpenes were isolated from M. macrocarpa. Extracts and selected pure compounds isolated from the leaves, roots, and stem bark showed antibacterial, antiviral, antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic activities in vitro. The aim of this review is to summarize the available ethnobotanical, phytochemical, and pharmacological information about this traditional Amazonian medicinal tree, as well as to attract the attention of phytochemists and pharmacognosists to this potentially interesting source of ethnopharmaceuticals.

Department of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences Czech University of Life Sciences Prague Kamýcká 129 16500 Praha Suchdol Czech Republic

Department of Medical Biology Jessenius Faculty of Medicine Comenius University in Bratislava 03601 Martin Slovakia

Department of Molecular Biology and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Faculty of Pharmacy University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno Palackého tř 1 61242 Brno Czech Republic

Department of Natural Drugs Faculty of Pharmacy University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno Palackého tř 1 61242 Brno Czech Republic

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Bioactive Molecules and Their Mechanisms of Action