Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research

  • Abbreviation: J. Med. Plants Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0875
  • DOI: 10.5897/JMPR
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 3839

Full Length Research Paper

Phytochemistry of the genus Selaginella (Selaginellaceae)

Jackson Roberto Guedes da Silva Almeida1*, Pedro Guilherme Sousa de Sá1, Larissa Alves Ribeiro de Oliveira Macedo1, José Alves de Siqueira Filho1, Viseldo Ribeiro de Oliveira2 and José Maria Barbosa Filho3
1Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco, 56304-205, Petrolina, Pernambuco, Brazil. 2Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (Embrapa), 56302-970, Petrolina, Pernambuco, Brazil. 3Programa de Pós-Graduação em Produtos Naturais e Sintéticos Bioativos, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, 58051-970, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 11 January 2013
  •  Published: 03 July 2013

Abstract

The Selaginellaceae family includes the single genus Selaginella, which is found worldwide and comprises approximately 700 to 750 species. A number of species have been traditionally used for medicinal purposes in the whole world, and the phytochemistry of some has been investigated. For this review, the search was carried out using Web of Sciences, Chemical Abstracts and the data bank NAPRALERT (acronym for NAtural PRoducts ALERT), updated to October 2012. The references found in the search were then studied in detail. This review refers to 32 species and 130 compounds isolated from plants of the genus Selaginella, which are classified in appropriate chemical groups. The compounds isolated have been identified belonging to the classes of alkaloids, benzenoids, carbohydrates, chromones, coumarins, flavonoids, lignans, oxygen heterocycle, phenylpropanoids, pigments, quinoids and steroids. Some aspects of bioactivity of the secondary metabolites produced are discussed. For this purpose 75 references were consulted.

 

Key words: Selaginellaceae, Selaginella, phytochemistry, review.