The phenolic compounds present in cashew nut shell liquid (Anacardium occidentale L.– Anacardiaceae) present several pharmacological activities that justify the high number of research studies using these compounds. Among these molecules we can highlight the phenolic constituents such as anacardic acid, cardanol and cardol. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the pharmacological activities of anacardic acids, cardol and cardanol described in scientific studies published in the literature. The PRISMA methodology was used to perform the bibliographic search applied to the LILACS, PubMed®, Scielo®, SciFinder® and science direct databases, without language or region restrictions, considering articles published between the years 2014 and 2023. The results recovered 52 articles eligible for this review after applying the exclusion and selection criteria. 2 types of pharmacological activities were described, especially: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, cytotoxic and antiparasitic activity . Most of the studies involved in vitro (20) and in vivo (18) pharmacological evaluation methods. The phenolic compounds of A. occidentale presented a great pharmacological potential to be explored. The use of in silico pharmacology can additionally help in the description of physical-chemical, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic, enabling the exploration of pharmacological potential.

Bredemeyera Willd. comprises thirteen species from Mexico to Tropical America, all found in Brazil, with seven being endemic. Three species are popularly used: B. brevifolia (for kidney inflammation, influenza, diarrhoea, rheumatic pain, back pain, gastritis), B. floribunda (for skin infections, dysentery, rheumatism, hypertension, exhaustion, snake bites, expectorant, diuretic), and B. laurifolia (for uterus and ovary infections). This integrative review aims to list and compare the pharmacological actions and chemical substances identified in the literature concerning species of the genus, in order to find records of compounds and their pharmacological application relationships. Only B. brevifolia and B. floribunda underwent phytochemical survey, where fatty acids, xanthones, saponins and a flavonoid were identified. In this review, it was possible to verify the existence of promising studies in ethnobotany and phytochemistry for three species of the genus, which makes this review a valuable resource for guiding future studies on the subject.

The essential oil extracted from Anemia tomentosa (EOAT) has shown larvicidal potential against Aedes aegypti, based on methods in vitro and in silico. Chromatographic and spectrometric techniques (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (CG-MS), gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID)), as well as mono and bidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) were used to assess 10 essential oil components. Chemical composition of essential oil comprised 87.51% sesquiterpenes, with emphasis on presilphiperfolan-1-ol (42.13%) and silphiperfol-5-ene (19.47%). Larvicidal assay conducted in vitro with EOAT has evidenced potential cytotoxic activity up to 48 h exposure to it; mortality rate observed for A. aegypti larvae exposed to essential oil reached 100%. Study conducted in silico with chemical compounds deriving from the herein investigated plant species has evidenced its potential to inhibit acetylcholinesterase in A. aegypti. Activity of triquinane sesquiterpenes ranging from -6.8 to -8.2 kcal mol-1 stood out in comparison to that of temephos (-7.5 kcal mol-1). Chemical compounds identified in the investigated essential oil presented low human and environmental toxicity, as observed in absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion, and toxicity (ADMETox) predictions.

Bredemeyera Willd. is a genus of the Polygalaceae family, occurring in Brazil. This research aims to evaluate the phytochemical and antifungal potential, in vitro and in silico, of Bredemeyera brevifolia extracts. The identification of fatty acids by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and their quantification by gas chromatography-flame ionization detector showed that palmitic (36.55 mg g-1), margaric (3.66 mg g-1), linolelaidic (108.82 mg g-1), oleic (7.86 mg g-1), stearic (41.11 mg g-1), dihomo-γ-linolenic (85.48 mg g-1), and arachidic (209.00 mg g-1) acids are present in the hexane extract. From the chloroform extract, 1-hydroxy-3,7-dimethoxyxanthone was isolated and identified. The minimum inhibitory concentration assay with methanolic extract demonstrated antifungal activity against species of the genus Candida, Sporothrix, and Trichophyton for up to 96 h, with values ranging from 64-1024 μg mL-1. The in silico study with the chemical compounds of this species showed fungal inhibition potential of sterol14-α-demethylase, highlighting 1-hydroxy-3,7-dimethoxyxanthone, which presented an affinity energy of -8.8 kcal mol-1, greater than that observed for fluconazole (-8.3 kcal mol-1). The fatty acids interacted with the active site of the enzyme but presented energies ≥ -7.4 kcal mol-1. Compounds isolated from this species have pharmacokinetic potential for the development of pharmaceutical formulations.