Sandra Morgado1, Manuel Morgado2, Ana I Plácido3, Fátima Roque4, Ana Paula Duarte5. 1. Hospital Centre of Cova da Beira, E.P.E., Quinta do Alvito, 6200-251 Covilhã, Portugal. Electronic address: sandracristinamorgado@gmail.com. 2. Hospital Centre of Cova da Beira, E.P.E., Quinta do Alvito, 6200-251 Covilhã, Portugal; University of Beira Interior, Faculty of Health Sciences, Avenida Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; School of Health Sciences, Polytechnic Institute of Guarda, Avenida Rainha D. Amélia, S/N, 6300-749 Guarda, Portugal; CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal. Electronic address: mmorgado@fcsaude.ubi.pt. 3. School of Health Sciences, Polytechnic Institute of Guarda, Avenida Rainha D. Amélia, S/N, 6300-749 Guarda, Portugal; Research Unit for the Development of the Interior, Avª Dr. Francisco Sá Carneiro, no. 50, 6300-559 Guarda, Portugal. Electronic address: aiplacido@gmail.com. 4. School of Health Sciences, Polytechnic Institute of Guarda, Avenida Rainha D. Amélia, S/N, 6300-749 Guarda, Portugal; CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; Research Unit for the Development of the Interior, Avª Dr. Francisco Sá Carneiro, no. 50, 6300-559 Guarda, Portugal. Electronic address: froque@ipg.pt. 5. University of Beira Interior, Faculty of Health Sciences, Avenida Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal. Electronic address: apduarte@fcsaude.ubi.pt.
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Arbutus unedo L., the strawberry tree (Ericaceae family) is of increasing interest because of its common traditional, industrial, chemical and pharmaceutical uses. The plant is a typical evergreen plant of the Mediterranean basin, as well as of other regions with hot summers and mild rainy winters. This review covers the studies relevant to Arbutus unedo L. utilization in the current pharmacological therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The available information on traditional uses, phytochemistry and biological activities of Arbutus unedo L. was collected from scientific databases through a search using the keywords 'Arbutus unedo L.' and/or 'strawberry tree' in 'Google Scholar', 'Pubmed', 'Sciencedirect', 'SpringerLink', 'Web of Science - Clarivate Analytics' and 'Wiley'. Unpublished Ph.D. and M.Sc. dissertations were also consulted for chemical composition, biological activities and traditional uses of Arbutus unedo L. and for manual search of additional references. RESULTS: The fruits of the plant have been traditionally used as antiseptics, diuretics and laxatives in folk medicine, while the leaves have been used due to their diuretic, urinary antiseptic, antidiarrheal, astringent, depurative and antihypertensive properties. According to the scientific literature survey, different extracts obtained from Arbutus unedo L. have demonstrated a high pharmacological potential due to their in vitro and preclinical antibiotic, antifungal, antiparasitic, antiaggregant, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, antitumoral, antioxidant, and spasmolytic properties. CONCLUSION: This review suggests that A. unedo is a promising source of phytopharmaceutical products. The potential advantages of Arbutus unedo are related with the presence of polyphenolic compounds in its composition. However, further studies are needed to ascertain some profitable effects in humans. The beneficial effects associated with this shrub suggest that Arbutus unedo can be used for the development of new drugs to treat diseases such diabetes, hypertension, among others. Nonetheless, the safety of the Arbutus unedo compounds should also be examined.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Arbutus unedo L., the strawberry tree (Ericaceae family) is of increasing interest because of its common traditional, industrial, chemical and pharmaceutical uses. The plant is a typical evergreen plant of the Mediterranean basin, as well as of other regions with hot summers and mild rainy winters. This review covers the studies relevant to Arbutus unedo L. utilization in the current pharmacological therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The available information on traditional uses, phytochemistry and biological activities of Arbutus unedo L. was collected from scientific databases through a search using the keywords 'Arbutus unedo L.' and/or 'strawberry tree' in 'Google Scholar', 'Pubmed', 'Sciencedirect', 'SpringerLink', 'Web of Science - Clarivate Analytics' and 'Wiley'. Unpublished Ph.D. and M.Sc. dissertations were also consulted for chemical composition, biological activities and traditional uses of Arbutus unedo L. and for manual search of additional references. RESULTS: The fruits of the plant have been traditionally used as antiseptics, diuretics and laxatives in folk medicine, while the leaves have been used due to their diuretic, urinary antiseptic, antidiarrheal, astringent, depurative and antihypertensive properties. According to the scientific literature survey, different extracts obtained from Arbutus unedo L. have demonstrated a high pharmacological potential due to their in vitro and preclinical antibiotic, antifungal, antiparasitic, antiaggregant, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, antitumoral, antioxidant, and spasmolytic properties. CONCLUSION: This review suggests that A. unedo is a promising source of phytopharmaceutical products. The potential advantages of Arbutus unedo are related with the presence of polyphenolic compounds in its composition. However, further studies are needed to ascertain some profitable effects in humans. The beneficial effects associated with this shrub suggest that Arbutus unedo can be used for the development of new drugs to treat diseases such diabetes, hypertension, among others. Nonetheless, the safety of the Arbutus unedo compounds should also be examined.
Authors: Maria Concetta Tenuta; Brigitte Deguin; Monica Rosa Loizzo; Annabelle Dugay; Rosaria Acquaviva; Giuseppe Antonio Malfa; Marco Bonesi; Chouaha Bouzidi; Rosa Tundis Journal: Antioxidants (Basel) Date: 2020-02-22