Main chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of <i>Dimorphandra spp</i>.

Silva, W. A.; Soares, I. L.; Mousinho, K. C.; Araújo, T. G.; Menezes, G. M.; Alencar, I. B. M. F.; Procopio, G. S.; Araújo, K. M. R.; Vasconcelos, R. B.; Marinho, R. B. V.; Wanderley, T. M.; Costa, J. C.; Bandeira, M. A. M.

doi:10.1590/1519-6984.294574

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Original Article • Braz. J. Biol. 85 • 2025 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.294574 linkcopy

Main chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of Dimorphandra spp.

Principais constituintes químicos e atividades farmacológicas da Dimorphandra spp.

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

In the pharmaceutical industry, the fruits of the fava d'anta are used to extract quercetin and rutin, which are the basis for the production of medicines that work to treat varicose veins, hemorrhoids, circulatory system disorders and a variety of other conditions. The aim of this article is to carry out a comprehensive review of the chemical constitution and pharmacology of fava d'anta. This is an integrative review using the following databases: Embase, SciElo, LILACS, CAPES Periodicals and Medline, with the search expression “Dimorphandra gardneriana” OR “Dimorphandra mollis”. Studies were selected without any restrictions on language or time of publication, in order to conduct the most comprehensive search possible. A total of 278 articles were identified, of which 72 were viewed on Embase, 31 on Scielo, 19 on LILACS, 114 on CAPES and 42 on Medline. After reviewing the titles, abstracts and removing duplicates, 13 articles were obtained for full text analysis. The studies analyzed showed various pharmacological activities of the compounds extracted from the D. mollis and D. gardneriana species, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, antiviral and lipid metabolism modulating properties. Thus, the presence of the flavonoids rutin and quercetin reinforces the potential of these species for therapeutic applications.

Keywords:
Dimorphandra gardneriana; Dimorphandra mollis; rutin; fava d'anta; chemical composition

STUDY NUMBER	TITLE	OBJECTIVE	AUTHOR (YEAR)	COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
1	Role of Rutin in 5-Fluorouracil-Induced Intestinal Mucositis: Prevention of Histological Damage and Reduction of Inflammation and Oxidative Stress.	To investigate the role of rutin on experimental 5-FU-induced intestinal mucositis and explored the possible underlying mechanisms of its action.	Fideles et al. (2020).	Brazil.
2	Flavonoids inhibit angiogenic cytokine production by human glioma cells.	To evaluate the in vitro effects of those flavonoids and of bevacizumab, on the production of angiogenic cytokines by a human glioblastoma derived cell line (GL-15).	Freitas et al. (2011).	Brazil.
3	Modulatory effects of rutin on biochemical and hematological parameters in hypercholesterolemic Golden Syrian hamsters.	To investigate the effects of rutin, the parent glycosylated form of quercetin, isolated from D. mollis, on biochemical parameters and hematological parameters of diet-induced hypercholesterolemic Golden Syrian hamsters, which could contribute to hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis modulation.	Kanashiro et al. (2009).	Brazil.
4	Antiviral and Antioxidant Activities of Sulfated Galactomannans from Plants of Caatinga Biome.	To develop phytoterapics for dengue treatment using abundant natural resources.	Marques et al. (2015).	Brazil.
5	Antioxidant Activity, Total Phenolics Content, Carotenoids and Provitamin A in Vegetables Extracts from Cerrado Goiano.	To evaluate the antioxidant activity by capturing DPPH radical, total phenolic contents by Folin-Ciocalteau reagent, carotenoids, provitamin A in Retinol equivalent by UV-Vis spectrophotometric methods of the foliar ethanolic extracts of botanical species: B.Coccolobifolia, D.mollis, H.stignocarpa, S.lycocarpum and C.calophyllum.	Menezes Filho et al. (2018).	Brazil.
6	Photoprotective potential of medicinal plants from Cerrado biome (Brazil) in relation to phenolic content and antioxidant activity.	To correlate the secondary metabolites, as well as the total flavonoid and phenol content, present in the ethanol extracts from several plants in a Cerrado fragment of the Ceará State in Brazil with the antioxidant activity and sun protection factor observed.	Nunes et al. (2018).	Brazil.
7	Anthelmintic activity of plant extracts from Brazilian savanna.	To evaluate the anthelmintic (AH) actions in vitro of T. ulmifolia, P. platycephala and D. gardneriana extracts.	Oliveira et al. (2017).	Brazil.
8	Inhibition of peroxidase activity and scavenging of reactive oxygen species by astilbin isolated from Dimorphandra mollis (Fabaceae, Caesalpinioideae).	To report the inhibitory effects of astilbin on myeloperoxidase (MPO) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) activities, as well as its antioxidant properties.	Petacci et al. (2010).	Brazil.
9	Flavonoid rutin alters the viability and function of mitogen-stimulated splenocytes and thymocytes compared with non stimulated cells.	To investigate the effects of Rutin on the viability and functionality of splenocytes and thymocytes, particularly in relation to mitogen-induced proliferation and cytokine production.	Roseghini et al. (2007).	Brazil.
10	The Flavonoid Rutin but not the Alkaloid Arborinine Induces Apoptosis in a B-Cell Hybridoma Cell Line.	To investigate the effects of the flavonoid rutin on the viability and function of B-cell hybridoma cells, particularly in relation to monoclonal antibody production and cell proliferation.	Roseghini et al. (2009).	Brazil.
11	Tannin composition of barbatimão species.	To investigate whether these three species popularly known as barbatimão have similar polyphenol content in their barks and leaves.	Santos et al. (2002).	Brazil.
12	The flavonoid rutin and its aglycone quercetin modulate the microglia inflammatory profile improving antiglioma activity.	To investigate the potential of the flavonoid rutin and its aglycone quercetin to modulate microglia response and the impact on glioma cell viability, underlying inflammatory mechanisms related to antiglioma properties of both flavonoids.	Silva et al. (2020)	Brazil.
13	Leishmanicidal and cholinesterase inhibiting activities of phenolic compounds of Dimorphandra gardneriana and Platymiscium floribundum, native plants from Caatinga biome.	To isolate compounds from plants of the Caatinga biome, and to investigate their toxicity against promastigote and amastigote forms of Leishmania infantum chagasi, the main responsible parasite for South American visceral leishmaniasis, and evaluate their ability to inhibit acetylcholinesterase enzyme (AChE).	Vila-Nova et al. (2012).		Brazil.

STUDY NUMBER	TYPE OF STUDY	LEVEL OF SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE	KEY FINDINGS
1	Experimental research.	5	RUT treatment (200 mg/kg) prevented 5-FU-induced histopathological changes and reduced oxidative stress by decreasing MDA concentrations and increasing GSH concentrations. RUT attenuated the inflammatory response by decreasing MPO activity, intestinal mastocytosis, and COX-2 expression. These results suggest that the COX-2 pathway is one of the underlying protective mechanisms of RUT against 5-FU-induced intestinal mucositis.
2	In vitro Experimental Study.	5	It was observed that in the presence of rutin (50 µM and 100 µM), glioblastoma-derived GL-15 cells produced lower levels of VEGF after 24 hours (mean values of 484.5 pg/mL and 586.6 pg/mL, respectively) when compared to the control groups (mean value of 1823.6 pg/mL). The same behavior was observed for TGF-β levels (mean values of 1038.4 pg/mL and 877.7 pg/mL). However, after 72 hours, the inhibition was reversed.
3	Experimental research.	5	Results suggest that short-term treatment of hypercholesterolemic Golden Syrian hamsters with a relatively high concentration of rutin (1%) led to a selective negative modulation of plasma TG levels, but did not interfere in the other biochemical parameters evaluated and showed no toxic effect.
4	In vitro Experimental Study.	5	The sulfated galactomannans showed binding to the virus surface, indicating that they interact with DENV-2. The sulfated galactomannans from D. gardneriana showed 94% inhibition of replication of DENV-2 and all also showed antioxidant activity.
5	In Vitro Experimental Study.	5	The results showed the presence of antioxidant activity by the DPPH radical sequestration method, expressive total phenolic content, β-carotene content, lycopene content, except for Dimorphandra mollis and Hymenaea stignocarpa species, with low levels of provitamin A.
6	Experimental research.	5	The extract obtained from D. gardneriana showed high antioxidant activity, similar to the standard used, quercetin. In terms of sun protection factor (SPF), D. gardneriana showed an SPF of 20,12, which could potentially be used to produce a sunscreen.
7	In vitro Experimental Study.	5	The acetonic and ethanolic extracts from the leaves and bark of D. gardneriana (18.75–10,000 g/mL) exhibited significant activity in assays against Haemonchus contortus, including the egg hatch assay (IC₅₀ 3400, 95% CI = 2600–5100 g/mL), the larval exsheathment inhibition assay (IC₅₀ 120, 95% CI = 110–130 g/mL), and the larval development assay (IC₅₀ 130, 95% CI = 100–160 g/mL).
8	In vitro Experimental Study.	5	Astilbin inhibited MPO and HRP activities in a concentration-dependent relationship and effectively scavenged HOCl. The TAC by ABTS+ of astilbin (IC₅₀ ~ 20 mM) was higher than that of uric acid, which was used as a positive control.
9	In vitro Experimental Study.	5	Rutin modulated immune cell responses by reducing ConA-stimulated splenic lymphocyte proliferation (11% at 1 μM, 48 h) and inhibiting thymocyte proliferation (15% at 10 μM, 72 h). It increased IL-10 production in LPS-stimulated splenocytes (11% at 10 nM, 48 h) while reducing IFN-γ levels in PWM-stimulated splenocytes and ConA-stimulated thymocytes (18% at 10 nM, 48 h). Additionally, rutin at 1 μM decreased IFN-γ in ConA- (3%) and PWM-stimulated splenocytes (2%), and at 10 nM, reduced IFN-γ in PWM-stimulated thymocytes (6% at 72 h).
10	In vitro Experimental Study.	5	In the study, murine hybrid B cells obtained significant results when treated with a concentration of 50 μM of rutin. Cell proliferation was inhibited after 24 h (50%), 48 h (82%) and 72 h (77%). The production of monoclonal antibodies was reduced by 68% (48h) and 84% (72h). In addition, a significant increase in cell death by apoptosis of 110% (24h) and 573% (48h) was induced. Finally, the necrosis rate also increased by 59% (24h) and 306% (48h) compared to the control.
11	Experimental research.	5	The chemical composition of D. mollis extract (acetone/water 7:3) from leaves and bark was analyzed using thin-layer chromatography, paper chromatography, and colorimetric assays. The extract contained condensed tannins with procyanidin units, monomers like catechin and/or epicatechin, oligomeric condensed tannins, and flavonol glycosides, along with low levels of total phenols, gallotannins, and protein precipitation.
12	In vitro and In vivo models of direct and indirect interactions of cells.	5	The study suggested that short-term treatment of hypercholesterolemic Golden Syrian hamsters with a relatively high concentration of rutin (1%) led to a selective negative modulation of plasma TG levels, but did not interfere with the other biochemical parameters evaluated and showed no toxic effect.
13	In vitro Experimental Study.	5	Rutin and quercetin showed activity against Leishmania infantum chagasi in both promastigote and amastigote forms, comparable to pentamidine and amphotericin B. However, they were less effective in inhibiting acetylcholinesterase, with inhibition zones of 0.6 cm, compared to 0.9 cm for physostigmine.

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[1] Source: Authors (2024).