An update on phytochemistry and pharmacology of Croton malambo H. Karst

The genus Croton is one of the most characteristic groups of plants belonging to the Euphorbiaceae family. Under this genus is Croton malambo H. Karst, a tree found in the Guajira peninsula, shared by Colombia and Venezuela. The inhabitants of this region have used this plant as a treatment for rheumatism, body pain, wounds, bumps, local inflammation, dermal infection, toothache, umbilical infections, headaches, and bronchitis. This short review provides traditional knowledge, phytochemistry, and pharmacological studies of C. malambo. The literature reviewed for this article was obtained from the Web of Science, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar research published before March 2023, and own results. Phytochemical investigations reveal that the plant is a rich source of triterpenes, phenyl compounds, lignans, entkauranes, alkaloids, monoterpenes, and volatiles. The results of pharmacological tests on this plant indicate antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, and anticancer effects. This paper resume information on the phytochemical constituents and the pharmacological studies on extracts, compounds, and volatiles on Croton malambo. The purpose of this review is to stimulate future research that insides the potential of this species to obtain new medicinal agents in important diseases like diabetes and cancer.