Development and validation of a HPLC method for standardization of herbal and commercial extracts of Myrcia uniflora

Myrcia uniflora Barb. Rodr., Myrtaceae, popularly known as "pedra-hume-caá" in Brazil, is sold as dry extracts in capsules or as tinctures for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Previous phytochemical studies on this species described the occurrence of the flavonoids mearnsitrin and myricitrin. In the present study, the chromatographic profiles of M. uniflora leaves and commercial extracts were determined using HPLC-PAD. Myricitrin was used as an external standard in the development and validation of the HPLC method. The proposed method is simple, rapid and reliable and can be successfully applied in industry for standardization of herbs and phytomedicines commercialised in Brazil as "pedra-hume-caá".

The Styracaceae

The Styracaceae contains 11 genera and approximately 160 species consisting of small trees and shrubs, mostly native to tropical and subtropical regions. This family is well-known by the genus Styrax, which is notorious due to the production of resinous material, a pathological product, harvested by making incisions into the trees bark. The gum is used in perfumes, as antiseptic, expectorant, incense, and fumigating material. This paper reviews the phytochemical and biological studies carried out on 11 species of this family. A total of 92 papers were consulted, and 130 compounds were described, thus these data indicate that Styrax is by far the largest genus in the family, and the only which has been extensively investigated.

Styracaceae possui 11 gêneros e aproximadamente 160 espécies, sendo árvores e arbustos, distribuídos nas regiões tropicais e subtropicais. Esta família é conhecida principalmente devido ao gênero Styrax, que é notório pela produção de um material resinoso, produto patológico, coletado a partir de incisões realizadas no caule. Esta goma é usada em perfumes, como anti-séptico, expectorante, incenso e material fumegante. Este artigo reúne os estudos fitoquímicos e biológicos realizados em 11 espécies desta família. Foram consultados 92 artigos e levantadas 130 substâncias, que indicaram que Styrax é o maior gênero desta família e o único que foi extensivamente investigado.