Compostos Bioativos de Plantas Medicinais: Uma Revisão sobre Metabólitos Secundários com Potencial Farmacológico
Compostos Bioativos de Plantas Medicinais: Uma Revisão sobre Metabólitos Secundários com Potencial Farmacológico
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.246142513106
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Palavras-chave: metabólitos secundários; plantas medicinais; flavonoides; terpenos; alcaloides.
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Keywords: secondary metabolites; medicinal plants; flavonoids; terpenes; alkaloids.
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Abstract: Medicinal plants are important sources of bioactive compounds, particularly secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, terpenes, and alkaloids, which play ecological roles and exhibit broad pharmacological potential. This review discusses the main classes of these metabolites, their chemical structures, biosynthetic pathways, and therapeutic activities, highlighting antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiparasitic, and antitumor properties. Classical examples, such as artemisinin and vincristine, illustrate the contribution of natural products to modern drug development. Despite significant advances, challenges related to extract standardization, chemical variability, low bioavailability, and the lack of robust clinical trials still limit their clinical application. Technological innovations, including metabolomics, plant biotechnology, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence, have driven new strategies for the discovery and development of phytotherapeutics. Furthermore, regulatory aspects, sustainability, and the valorization of traditional knowledge are crucial to ensuring the rational use of these resources, especially in megadiverse countries such as Brazil. Therefore, plant secondary metabolites remain promising targets for pharmaceutical research and innovation, integrating science, technology, and tradition in the advancement of public health.
- Isaac Moura Araújo
- Leandro Marques Correia
- Diógenes de Queiroz Dias
- Nelio Barreto Vieira
- Sara Tavares de Souza Machado
- Guilherme de Souza Ribeiro Dantas
- Artur Henrique Machado Lopes
- Humberto Pereira Roque
- Maria Raquel da Silva Duarte
- Andressa de Alencar Silva
- Luís Pereira de Morais