Healing effect of medicinal plant extracts in Northeast Brazil: A systematic review on phytochemistry and preclinical studies

Abstract

The Northeast region of Brazil boasts a rich tradition of utilizing natural resources, particularly medicinal plants, for therapeutic purposes, especially wound healing. However, many of these plants lack comprehensive investigation into their phytochemical, pharmacological, and toxicological properties. This article presents a literature review focused on the phytochemical and pharmacological studies of medicinal plant extracts from Northeastern Brazil, renowned for their healing properties. Employing the PRISMA methodology, a thorough search of electronic databases such as PUBMED, ScienceDirect, SCOPUS, and Web of Science was conducted, yielding 16 pertinent articles. These studies revealed promising outcomes regarding the curative activity of plants from eleven different families in preclinical trials. Notably, these plants are abundant sources of biologically active compounds including flavonoids, tannins, chalcones, alkaloids, saponins, triterpenes, and steroids, crucial for wound healing. Animal models, most often the "excision wound" model, demonstrated that 88% of the evaluated plants expedited the healing process. Furthermore, these extracts were assessed for their antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, toxic, and antioxidant properties alongside their healing effect. Despite showcasing significant healing potential, the precise mechanisms underlying their action remain elusive, underscoring the necessity for further preclinical trials to comprehensively evaluate the healing activity of plant extracts from the northeast.