Bioactive natural products from orchids native to the Americas - A review

POMINI, ARMANDO MATEUS; SAHYUN, SANDRA APARECIDA; OLIVEIRA, SILVANA MARIA DE; FARIA, RICARDO TADEU DE

doi:10.1590/0001-3765202320211488

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CHEMICAL SCIENCES • An. Acad. Bras. Ciênc. 95 (suppl 1) • 2023 • https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765202320211488 linkcopy

Bioactive natural products from orchids native to the Americas - A review

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Abstract

The purpose of this review is to provide information on the traditional uses, phytochemical and pharmacological studies performed with species of orchids native to the Americas and the Caribbean Islands. The treatment of inflammation is the most traditional use for plants of this family, specially in Central America, while anti-inflammatory and anticancer assays are oftenly reported in pharmacological investigations. From the chemical point of view, they are sources of phenanthrenoids and stilbenes, rare secondary metabolites not commonly found in other families of plants, as well as cycloartane triterpenes, pyrrolizidine alkaloids and flavonoids. Since just few species were chemically and pharmacologically studied, in comparison to the large number of native species (less than 0.5% of the total), the orchids of the New World may be an interesting niche for the discovery of new, bioactive natural products.

Key words
Orchidaceae; neotropical; secondary metabolites; stilbene; phenanthrene; anti-inflammation

Species of Orchid	Ethnopharmacological use	Pharmacology	Reference
Arethusa bulbosa	Relieves toothache		Castle 1886
Arpophyllum spicatum	To treat dysentery		Ossenbach 2009 Hossain 2011
Bletia campanulata	To treat dysentery		Ossenbach 2009 Hossain 2011
Bletia purpurea	Stomach tonic antidote for fish poisoning		Hossain 2011
Broughtonia domingensis	Infections Kidney disorders		Bond et al. 2014
Bromheadia finlaysoniana	Relief of body pain		Hossain 2011
Bulbophyllum vaginatum	Earache		Hossain 2011
Catasetum maculatum	Healing wounds, curing tumours		Ossenbach 2009
Cranichis speciosa	Dysentery		Hossain 2011
Cypripedium parviflorum	Hysteria and disorders of the nervous system		Teoh 2019
Coeloglossum viride var. bracteatum		Improves learning and memory in rats with IBO-induced dementia the action can be attributed to increased activity and ChAT expression in the brain. Anti-ageing dementia	Zhong et al. 2019
Corallorhiza odontorhiza	Used as a diaphoretic and febrifuge in serious illness		Hossain 2011
Corallorhiza maculata	Increases the blood in patients with pneumonia		Hossain 2011
Cypripedium sp.	Antispasmodic sedatives Fights insomnia and nervous tension. Treatment of insomnia, anxiety, fever, headache, neuralgia, emotional tension, palpitations, tremors, irritable bowel syndrome, delirium, seizures due to fever, relieving the pain of menstruation and childbirth. Antispasmodic, anodyne, diaphoretic, hypnotic, nervous action, sedative, stimulant and tonic.		Wilson 2007
Cyrtopodium andersonii		Anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcer activity	Parente et al. 2014
Cyrtopodium cardiochilum		Inhibits capillary permeability and demonstrates phagocytosis-stimulating properties.	Barreto & Parente 2006
Cyrtopodium glutiniferum	Treatment of abscesses and healing wounds.	Positive anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects of the extract against activated mononuclear cells.	Araujo-Lima et al. 2020
Cyrtopodium macrobulbon	Analgesic and anti-inflammatory of the urinary tract. Treatment of painful urinary disease (‘mal de orin’).	Several isolated compouns have known antinociceptive activity.	Morales-Sánchez et al. 2014
Cypripedium parviflorum	Hysteria and disorders of the nervous system		Teoh 2019
Cypripedium puncttum	Broken bones, coughing, kidney disease.		Bond et al. 2014
Cyrtopodium paniculatum		Showed low activity against U-87 human glioblastoma cells.	Auberon et al. 2017
Epidendrum pastoris	Dysentery		Hossain 2011
Epidendrum chlorocorymbos	Used for reducing blood cholesterol levels, stimulating sleep, healing blemishes, earache.	A strong antinociceptive	Asseleih et al. 2015
Epidendrum mosenii	Treatment of pain and infections	Antinociceptive activity	Rosa et al. 2007, 2008
Epidendrum mosenii	Used in folk medicine for therapeutic purposes, especially to treat pathologies related to painful and infectious processes	Analgesic effect; has toxic effects that could compromise its therapeutic uses, but preliminary results revealed no toxicity in rats.	Floriani et al. 1998
Epidendrum mosenii		Showed interesting hypoglycemic activity in the test for induced diabetes using alloxane in rats. Analgesic activity demonstrated in the trial for abdominal contortions induced by acetic acid. Antifungal activity against the microorganisms: Cryptococcus neoformans Microsporum gypseum Trychophyton rubrum Trychophyton metagrophytes	Novaes et al. 2001
Encyclia citrina	Infected wounds		Hossain 2011
Encyclia pastoris	Dysentery		Ossenbach 2009
Euchile citrina	Treatment of infected wounds		Ossenbach 2009
Gomesa recurva		Activity against HeLa and Vero cells	Savaris et al. 2018
Habenaria floribunda	Vaginal bleeding	Antioxidant activity	Asseleih et al. 2015
Isochillus latibracteatus	Indicated as a therapeutic application for ‘latido’ (pain in the pit of the stomach) and ‘ventazón’ (a kind of colitis)		Asseleih et al. 2015
Isochillus major	The leaves are used in the case of contusions Applied as a poultice for inflammation		Asseleih et al. 2015
Laelia anceps	Treatment for postpartum pain in mexican folk medicine	Anti-hypertensive Induces vasorelaxant and antihypertensive effects by blocking the Ca(²⁺) channels	Vergara-Galicia et al. 2010a
Laelia autumnalis	Coughing To reduce postpartum pain		Hossain 2011
Laelia autumnalis	Coughing		Ossenbach 2009
Laelia marginata		Biological assays with crude plant extract, fractions and isolated compounds were carried out against two human cancer cell lines (Hela and Siha), in addition to the tropical parasites Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania (leishmania) amazonensis. 9,10-dihydro-4-methoxy-phenanthrene-2,7-diol was active against Hela and Siha cells. The flavone rhamnazin was not able to recover the viability of Vero cells infected with the Zika virus.	Belloto et al. 2017
Laelia marginata		Antiproliferative activity against cancer cells modified by Hela and Siha HPV.	Williams et al. 2012
Maxillaria densa	Spasmolytic activity		Estrada et al. 1999
Maxillaria densa		Induces relaxation via an endothelium-independent pathway by blocking the calcium channels and opening the potassium channels in the myogenic response of rat aortic rings	Rendon-Vallejo et al. 2012
Maxillaria densa	Gastrointestinal problems		Rendón-Vallejo et al. 2012 , Ramírez-Galicia et al. 2007, Déciga-Campos et al. 2007, Hernández-Romero et al. 2004, Estrada et al. 2004
Maxillaria densa	Prevention of abortion Control of ectoparasites		Déciga-Campos et al. 2007a, Déciga-Campos et al. 2007b
Maxillaria densa		In-vivo antinociceptive effect In-vivo antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effect	Déciga-Campos 2007b
Maxillaria densa		Ex-vivo vasorelaxant activity	Rendón-Vallejo et al. 2012
Maxillaria densa		In-vitro spasmolytic activity	Estrada et al. 2004, Estrada et al. 1999, Mata et al. 2014
Maxillaria picta		Showed cytostatic activity against several human cancer cell lines and effective activity on the viability of different forms of the parasites T. cruzi and L. amazonensis	Almeida et al. 2014
Myrmecophila tibicinis	Help during childbirth (‘hom-ikim’)		Ossenbach 2009
Miltonia flavescens		Antifungal. Active against seven human cancer cell lines, including NCI-ADR-RES ovarian sarcoma, with an IC50 value of 2.6μg/mL. First report of the cytostatic activity of this flavone against human ovarian sarcoma.	Porte et al. 2014
Mormodes maculata var. unicolor	Applied as a poultice to treat inflammation of affected areas of the body due to abrupt movements, such as a twisted ankle.		Asseleih et al. 2015
Oeceoclades maculata		Antioxidant activity of extracts and fractions of the plant. Stomach problems.	Carrera et al. 2014, Bond et al. 2014
Oestlundia luteorosea	Used in traditional medicine to reduce or alleviate head pain.		Asseleih et al. 2015
Oncidium baueri		Antiproliferative activity against several human cancer cell lines, with emphasis on kidney cancer cells.	Monteiro et al. 2014
Oncidium ascendens	For inflammation caused by the introduction of sharp implements also used for ‘limpias’ (a kind of cleansing of the body and soul, using the plant to brush the body).	Biological activities such as the inhibition of cancer cell lines. Induction of apoptosis.	Asseleih et al. 2015
Oncidium cebolleta	Medicinal hallucinogen	To treat pain and inflammation in muscle contusions	Ossenbach 2009, Stermitz et al. 1983
Oncidium isthmi		Active against lung cancer cells with the induction of apoptosis	Williams et al. 2012
Phragmipedium calurum		Antiproliferative activity against multiple human cancer cell lines, with two exhibiting moderate activity against multiple cell lines	Courtney et al. 2012
Pleurothallis cardiothallis	Contraceptive and abortive activity		Mó & Ix 2015
Prosthechea karwinskii	In the treatment of coughing (infusions), wounds and burns (poultices), diabetes (tea or chewed), and to prevent miscarriages and assist childbirth (infusions).		Cruz Garcia et al. 2014
Prosthechea karwinskii		Promotes the inhibition of reactive oxygen species, anti-inflammatory effect without inducing gastric damage in animals.	Barragán-Zarate et al. 2020
Prosthechea michuacana	Anti-inflammatory activity	Antioxidant	Gutierrez et al. 2010, Gutierrez 2010
Prosthechea michuacana		Hypoglycemic activity through the improvement of hyperlipidemia resistant to insulin. Prevents oxidative stress induced by hyperglycemia in the pancreas.	Gutierrez et al. 2013
Prosthechea michuacana		Nephroprotective activity	Gutierrez et al. 2010
Prosthechea michuacana		Hepatoprotective activity	Gutierrez et al. 2011
Ponthieva racemosa	Respiratory problems		Duggal 1971
Scaphyglottis livida		Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activity	Déciga-Campos et al. 2007
Sobralia macrantha	Fever		Hossain 2011
Scaphyglottis fasciculata	Anti-abortive	Anti-inflammatory Antinociceptive and relaxant activity	Asseleih et al. 2015
Spathoglottis plicata	As a hot poultice for the treatment of joint pain		Hossain 2011
Spiranthes eriophora	For the treatment of asthma	Antioxidant activity	Asseleih et al. 2015
Stanhopea lietzei		Biological assays against neotropical parasites, viruses and human cancer cell lines. Isolated biphenanthrene with anticancer activity.	Lucca et al. 2021
Stanhopea hernandezii	To treat tiredness		Ossenbach 2009
Stanhopea hernandezii	Sunstroke		Hossain 2011
Stanhopea oculata	Reduction of the abdomen (belly) To treat pain in women	Confirmed anti-fatigue activity.	Asseleih et al. 2015
Vanda hookeriana	Used as a hot poultice for the treatment of joint pain		Hossain 2011
Vanilla dilloniana	To stimulate the appetite To aid diggestion		Bond et al. 2014
Vanilla planifolia	Hysteria, fever, impotence, rheumatism and to increase the energy of the muscular system		Hossain 2011
Vanilla planifolia	High fever To aid digestion Appetiser Aphrodisiac Diuretic	Confirmed biological activities: antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, against cellular stress, antimicrobial, anti-cholesterol, antinociceptive, antidepressant and acetyl cholinesterase inhibition (Alzheimer)	Asseleih et al. 2015, Ossenbach 2009
Vanilla planifolia		Anticlastogenic properties Ability to reduce chromosomal damage caused by X-rays and UV light Antimutagenic Anticarcinogenic effects on a family of DNAPK inhibitors Other types of cancers Antimicrobial properties against yeasts Effective inhibitor of red sickle cells in patients with sickle cell anaemia Aphrodisiac activity Antioxidant activity	Menon & Nayemm 2013, Shanmugavalli et al. 2009

Tribe	Subtribe	Species (Reference)	Triterpenes	Diterpenes	Alkaloids	Phenanthrenoids	Bi-phenanthrenes	Stilbenes	Flavonoids	Xantohnes	Phenanthrene-furanes	Malic acid deriv.
Epidendreae	Laeliinae	Laelia marginata (Belloto et al. 2018)	X			X		X	X			X
		Laelia anceps (Vergara-Galicia el al 2010b)				X
		Epidendrum rigidum (Hernández-Romero et al. 2005)	X			X		X	X
		Scaphyglottis livida (Estrada-Soto et al. 2006)						X
		Sophronitis coccinea (Tatsuzawa et al. 1998)							X
		Sophronitis wittigiana (Tatsuzawa et al. 2014)							X
		Encyclia longifolia (Bhattacharyet al. 2006)				X
		Prosthechea michuacana (Gutierrez et al. 2010)	X	X		X	X	X	X
		Prosthechea karwinskii (Garcia et al. 2014)							X	X
		Prosthechea cochleata (Díaz-Avilés et al. 2020)	X		X				X
		Prosthechea lívida (Díaz-Avilés et al. 2020)	X		X				X
		Myrmecophila humboldtii (Williams et al. 2012)				X		X
		Scaphyglottis livida ( (Estrada et al. 2002)	X					X
		Epidendrum mosenii (Rosa et al. 2008)				X		X
		Nidema boothii (Estrada et al. 2002, Hernández-Romero et al. 2004)	X					X
	Pleurothallidinae	Pleurothallis johannensis, P. teres, P. ocreata, P.fabiobarrosii (Borba et al. 2001)			X
Cymbidieae	Cyrtopodiinae	Cyrtopodium macrobulbon (Morales-Sánchez et al.2014)				X		X
	Cyrtopodiinae	Cyrtopodium paniculatum (Auberon et al. 2016, Auberon et al. 2017)				X	X	X
	Maxillariinae	Maxillaria densa (Déciga-Campos et al. 2007, Rendón-Vallejo et al. 2012, Estrada et al. 2004, Estrada et al. 1999)				X
		Maxillaria picta (Almeida et al. 2014)	X					X		X
		Mormolyca rigens (Williams et al. 1979)								X
		Maxillaria luteo-alba (Williams et al. 1979)								X
	Oncidiinae	Oncidium baueri (Monteiro et al. 2014)				X			X
		Oncidium microchilum (Williams et al. 2012)				X		X			X
		Oncidium isthmi (Williams et al. 2012)				X		X
		Oncidium ceboletta (Stermitz et al. 1983)				X
		Gomesa recurva (Savaris et al. 2018)				X
		Miltonia flavescens (Porte et al. 2014)							X
		Phymatidium falcifolium (Williams et al. 1994)							X
		Zygostates cornuta, Z. alleinana, Z. luneta, Z. pelúcida, Z. pustulata, Z. grandiflora, Z. multiflora (Williams et al. 1994)							X
		Ornytocephalus bicornis, O. kruegeri, O. myrticola (Williams et al. 1994)							X
		Chytroglossa marileoniae (Williams et al. 1994)							X
		Oncidium excavatum (Williams et al. 1979)							X
		Rauhiella Silvana (Williams et al. 1994)							X
		Oncidium sphacelattum (Williams et al. 1979)							X
Orchideae	Orchidinae	Habenaria petalodes (Cota et al. 2008)							X			X
Orchideae	Orchidinae	Habenaria repens (Johnson et al. 1999, Wilson et al. 1999)										X
Cypripedioidea (*Subfamily)		Phragmipedium calurum (Starks et al. 2012)						X
Cypripedioidea (*Subfamily)		Phragmipedium sp. (Garo et al. 2007)					X

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