Ethnomedicinal potential and phytochemical profile of Rhynchospora Vahl (Cyperaceae): A scientifically underexplored genus

Abstract

Rhynchospora is one of the most diverse genera of Cyperaceae with a widespread occurrence across various regions of the world. Although some species are used in medical systems of many traditional communities, few studies have investigated the chemical and pharmacological potential of this genus. In this context, the present study aimed to review the ethnomedicinal uses, biological activities, and phytochemical evidence of Rhynchospora species to direct future experimental research. The literature was retrieved from the Google Scholar, PubMed®, SciELO, ScienceDirect®, and Scopus® databases. According to the scientific documents analyzed, it was observed that a total of seven species of Rhynchospora are used medicinally in countries on the African, Asian, North and South American continents. These plants are primarily employed for the treatment of infectious diseases (22 %), fever (19 %), flu, cold and cough (19 %), and inflammation (13 %). The whole plant (46 %) of Rhynchospora spp. is widely used in traditional preparations. Rhynchospora corymbosa and R. nervosa stood out for their reports of ethnomedicinal uses, evaluation of biological activities, and phytochemical analysis. Meanwhile, the traditional uses of R. rubra, R. barbata, R. cephalotes, and R. pubera have not been investigated in experimental research to date. The flavonoid tricin has been identified in several species of Rhynchospora. This review represents the first effort to bring together literature publications concerning the ethnomedicinal uses and biological activities of Rhynchospora. Considering the promising results related to the pharmacological potential of R. nervosa and R. corymbosa, it is important to conduct new studies focusing on the development of possible phytoproducts from extracts of these plants.