E.M. Brasil, D.G. Kramer Biological activities of Miconia albicans: A short review Emanuel Monteiro Brasil1, Dany Geraldo Kramer² ¹ Graduate Student at Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, RN, Brazil ² Prof. Dr. Postgraduate Program in Family Health - RENASF. Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, RN, Brazil Abstract: A wide variety of plants (55,000 species) are used for medicinal purposes. A group of greater relevance in the neo tropical region is the Melastomataceae family, in which one of the most observed species in South America is Miconia albicans. Thus, this review aimed to investigate the biological and antibacterial effects of this plant. The extracts of this plant have demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antitumor and antimicrobial activity, being justified by the presence of compounds: triterpenes, coumarins, flavanones and benzoquinones. This plant has been shown to be relevant for the treatment of numerous clinical conditions, as a complementary form or as a substitute for classical medications, reducing therapeutic costs and may be able to overcome bacterial resistance observed in synthetic antibiotics. Keywords: Miconia albicans, Biological Activity, Review. Atividades biológicas de Miconia albicans: uma breve revisão Resumo: Uma grande variedade de plantas (55.000 espécies) é usada para fins medicinais. Um grupo de maior relevância na região neo-tropical é a família Melastomataceae, na qual uma das espécies mais observadas na América do Sul é a Miconia albicans. Assim, esta revisão teve como objetivo investigar os efeitos biológicos e antibacterianos desta planta. Os extratos desta planta demonstraram atividade antioxidante, antiinflamatória, analgésica, antitumoral e antimicrobiana, sendo justificada pela presença de compostos: triterpenos, cumarinas, flavanonas e benzoquinonas. Observou-se numerosas indicações clínicas para esta planta, como forma complementar ou como substituto de medicações clássicas, reduzindo os custos terapêuticos e podendo superar a resistência bacteriana observada nos antibióticos sintéticos. Palavras-chave: Miconia albicans, Atividade Biológica, Revisão. Introduction SERPELONI et al., 2008; BARBIERE et al., 2017). The use of health-related plants comes from the remote ages of humanity, This is important because there is around 3,000 BC, and there are records of increasing resistance to traditional applications in the relief and cure of antimicrobials presented by pathogens. various diseases. Currently, plants can Among them, Staphylococcus aureus, contribute to the discovery of new active Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas ingredients, to be later industrialized, aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecium, and such as in the development of new Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase antibiotics (SOUZA et al., 2017; (ARAUJO et al., 2015; ENIOUTINA et al., 2017). UNISANTA Bioscience Vol. 10 nº 1 (2021) p. 54 – 58 Página 54 E.M. Brasil, D.G. Kramer Methods Plant species are considered excellent sources of raw material in the The present study can be search for new drugs, since the molecular characterized as an integrative literature diversity of natural products is much review (research method that aims to greater than that derived from synthetic synthesize results obtained in studies on products, a fact that contributes to a some theme, in a systematic and orderly variety of action on bacterial structures way, so that it can contribute to the such as the membrane damage, DNA and knowledge of the analyzed area) .17, 18 inhibition of enzymes, thus it is possible study was carried out through the to bypass the resistance of numerous elaboration, definition of the theme and pathogens (FAVORETO, 2010; guiding question, establishment of BAHMANI et al., 2016). inclusion and exclusion criteria, definition of the information to be Among a vast genetic diversity of extracted from the studies, evaluation of plants with about 55,000 species the studies, interpretation of the main cataloged, the family Melastomataceae, results and the elaboration of the one of the most important of the neo- document that contemplates all these tropical flora, is observed, with the genus phases. Miconia being the most abundant with an estimated 1,000 species spread across Tropical America. One of the most Discussion observed in South America is Miconia albicans, being a shrub, measuring 2.5  Biological activities of compounds meters in height (ALMEIDA, 2016; present in Miconia albicans AZEVEDO;SILVA 2006; DANTAS et al., 2018; PIERONI et al., 2011). Through bibliographic analysis, the compounds found in Miconia albicans Rural communities use this plant (triterpenes, oleanic acid, ursolic acid, mainly to treat arthritis, osteoarthritis, flavonoids and ursolic acid) and some fibromyalgia, back pain, busitis, joint biological activities, mainly antioxidants, pain and inflammation, and it is popularly anti-inflammatory, antitumor and known as white flower or old cinnamon antimicrobial agents, could be better (DANTAS et al., 2018; DANTAS et al., correlated (ALMEIDA, 2016; AYELESO 2018; SILVA et al., 2007). et al., 2017; FURTADO et al., 2008). Oleanic acid and ursolic acid have Research has shown antioxidant, antioxidant activities, as they reduce the anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antitumor activity of free radicals, such as oxygen and antimicrobial activity. These peroxide (H O ) and the increase in 2 2 activities can be justified by the presence glutathione and ascorbic acid, facts that of compounds: triterpenes, coumarins, reduce damage to the cell structure, such flavanones and benzoquinones (ALVES, as breaking DNA . As a result, it has an 2016; CELOTTO et al., 2003; anti-tumor effect (VIEIRA, 2013; VASCONCELOES et al., 2006; PONCE et al., 2008). AYELESO et al., 2017; FURTADO et al., 2008). Thus, this research aims to Triterpenes can have anti-tumor investigate the biological and and anti-inflammatory activities. The first antibacterial effects of this plant, through can be explained because these a literature review. compounds inhibit the tubulin protein, important in the process of cell UNISANTA Bioscience Vol. 10 nº 1 (2021) p. 54 – 58 Página 55 E.M. Brasil, D.G. Kramer proliferation. While the anti- inflammatory action can be explained by Miconia albicans has antimicrobial acting as an immunosuppressant and activity due to the presence of several inhibiting the activity of pro- substances, mainly triterpenes and inflammatory cells (PEREIRA et al., flavonoids. This activity can be explained 2018; PONCE et al., 2008; ZAMORA et due to the action on the integrity of the a., 2019). bacterial membrane, damage to DNA and inhibition of enzymes (Figure 1).  Antimicrobian activity Figure 1: Schematic representation of the antimicrobial activity of Triterpenes and Flavonoids. In the first two cases, the cell is killed due to loss of structural integrity This contributes to the potential and loss of vital nucleic acid for cell use in various clinical settings, function. In turn, enzyme inhibition complementing or replacing conventional directly affects microbial metabolism and treatments, which are generally more the deprivation of substrates necessary expensive. Regarding the antimicrobial for microbial growth, especially essential activity, results of inhibition of the minerals such as iron and zinc growth of Gram-positive and Gram- (ZAMORA et al., 2019; ENIOUTINA et negative microorganisms were observed, al., 2017; ARAUJO et al., 2015). which is explained by the action on enzymatic inhibition, alteration in the DNA and membrane of these bacteria. Conclusions In this respect, it presents itself as It was possible to conclude that a potential agent to overcome the Miconia albicans presents a variety of bacterial resistance observed in classic chemical compounds that give this plant antibiotics, in addition to being a source several biological properties (antioxidant, of research for the development of new anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antitumor synthetic drugs. and antimicrobial). UNISANTA Bioscience Vol. 10 nº 1 (2021) p. 54 – 58 Página 56 E.M. Brasil, D.G. Kramer Refereces aeruginosa. Iran J Microbiol. 2016 Oct; 8(5): 347–350. ALMEIDA, FHO. Revisão sistemática da Miconia Albicans (sw.) Triana : uso BARBIERI R, COPPO E, MARCHESE tradicional, atividade farmacológica e A, ET AL. Phytochemicals for human outras atividades. 2016. 20 f. disease: An update on plant-derived Monografia (Especialização) - Curso de compounds antibacterial FarmÁcia, Dfa - Departamento de activity. 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