The Tillandsia genus: history, uses, chemistry, and biological activity / El género Tillandsia: historia, usos, química y actividad biológica

Tillandsia L. genus comprises 649 species, with different uses at different times. T. usneoides L. uses are reported since the late- archaic and pre-Columbian cultures. In XIX-XX centuries, T. usneoides was used in some manufactured products, as polish and packing fruit. Tillandsia has a favorable reputation as medicine: for leucorrhea, rheumatism, ulcers, hemorrhoid treatment, as an anti-diabetic remedy, emetic, analgesic, purgative, contraceptive, antispasmodic and diuretic. Tillandsia chemical composition includes cycloartane triterpenes and hydroxy-flavonoids, which are present in at least 24 species. Several extracts and compounds from Tillandsia spp. have been reported with pharmacological actions, as anti-neoplasia, hypolipidemic, antifungal, anti-HSV-1, hypoglycemic and microbicide. This review communicates the economic importance, ethnobotany, chemistry composition and biological activities of the Tillandsia genus, and analyze its biological and economic perspective. Tillandsia genus has cultural, economic and pharmacological relevance, with a high potential in many essential aspects of the modern society.

El género Tillandsia L. comprende 649 especies, con diferentes usos en diferentes épocas. T. usneoides L. se han reportado desde el arcáico tardío hasta las culturas precolombinas. En los siglos XIX-XX, T. usneoides se usó en productos manufacturados: como abrasivo y embalaje de fruta. Como medicina tradicional, el género Tillandsia se reporta para leucorrea, reumatismo, úlceras, hemorroides, remedio antidiabético, emético, analgésico, purgante, anticonceptivo, antiespasmódico y diurético. Su composición química incluye triterpenos de tipo ciclo-artano e hidroxi-flavonoides, presentes en al menos 24 especies. Los extractos y compuestos del género Tillandsia se han reportado con propiedades antineoplásicas, hipolipidémicas, antifúngicas, anti-HSV-1, hipoglucemiantes y microbicidas. Esta revisión comunica la importancia económica, etnobotánica, composición química y las actividades biológicas del género Tillandsia, y analiza su perspectiva biológica y potencial económica. Tillandsia tiene importancia cultural, económica y farmacológica, con gran potencial en muchos aspectos esenciales de la sociedad moderna.

Volatile compounds profile of Bromeliaceae flowers / Perfil de compuestos volátiles de las flores en las Bromeliaceae

Abstract:Volatile compounds play a vital role in the life cycle of plants, possessing antimicrobial and anti-herbivore activities, and with a significant importance in the food, cosmetic, chemical, and pharmaceutical industry. This study aimed to identify the volatile compounds emitted by flowers of thirteen species belonging to four genera of Bromeliaceae, using headspace solid-phase micro-extraction and detection by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A total of 71 volatile compounds belonging to nine chemical groups were identified. The compounds identified represented more than 97 % of the major components in Aechmea bicolor, Ae. bromeliifolia, Ae. distichantha, Ae. fasciata, and Vriesea friburgensis. In the Ananas varieties, over 99 % of the components were identified, and around 90 % in V. simplex. V. friburgensis presented the largest diversity of volatiles with 31 compounds, while Alcantarea nahoumii presented only 14. All three Ananas varieties presented the same 28 compounds in relatively similar abundance, which has been confirmed by principal component analysis. Current taxonomy and pollination syndrome studies available can adequately explain the variation in volatile compounds among species. Rev. Biol. Trop. 64 (3): 1101-1116. Epub 2016 September 01.

ResumenLos compuestos volátiles tienen un papel vital en el ciclo de vida de las plantas. Poseen actividad antimicrobiana y anti-herbivoría biológica y una gran importancia en la industria de alimentos, cosméticos, perfumes, productos químicos y farmacéuticos. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo identificar los compuestos volátiles de trece flores de especies, pertenecientes a cuatro géneros de Bromeliaceae utilizando microextracción en fase sólida mediante cromatografía de gases hifenada con espacio de cabeza acoplada a espectrometría de masas. Se han identificado setenta y un diferentes compuestos volátiles pertenecientes a nueve grupos. Los compuestos identificados representaron más del 97 % de los componentes principales en Aechmea bicolor, Ae. bromeliifolia, Ae. distichantha, Ae. fasciata, Vriesea friburgensis, 99 % en las variedades de Ananas y 90 % en V. Simplex. V. friburgensis mostró la mayor diversidad de compuestos volátiles con 31, mientras que en Al. nahoumii se han encontrado sólo 14 compuestos. Las tres variedades de Ananas presentan los mismos 28 compuestos en cantidades relativamente similares, lo que se confirmó por el análisis de componentes principales. Estudios taxonómicos y síndromes de polinización disponibles podrían explicar la variación de los compuestos volátiles entre especies.

Tillandsia recurvata L. (Bromeliaceae): aspectos farmacognósticos / Tillandsia recurvata L. (Bromeliaceae): a pharmacognostic study

A cobertura superior das florestas tropicais, formada pelas copas das árvores, constitui um ambiente de extrema diversidade vegetal. Contribuindo com a grande riqueza dessas florestas encontram-se as espécies botânicas epífitas, cuja importância pode ser observada do ponto de vista ecológico, faunístico, etnobotânico e até mesmo farmacológico. Dentre as espécies adaptadas à vida epifítica podemos citar as bromeliáceas, que compõem uma das famílias mais representativas dessa flora com elevada variabilidade genética. Tillandsia recurvata é uma espécie epífita cosmopolita, nativa, adaptada a habitats áridos, utilizada para o tratamento de diversas doenças, mas pouco se tem publicado a respeito das comprovações científicas de suas propriedades. O presente trabalho revisa os aspectos etnofarmacológicos, atividades biológicas e compostos químicos relacionados à espécie em questão, pertencente à Bromeliaceae. A partir do levantamento de dados realizado, observa-se que esta se trata de uma espécie de conhecido uso popular no tratamento de diferentes distúrbios, com alguns estudos farmacológicos que comprovam suas propriedades terapêuticas. Do ponto de vista químico observa-se a presença de terpenos, flavonoides e derivados cinâmicos em sua constituição, em que alguns compostos isolados ilustram a potencialidade desta espécie como fonte de biomoléculas de interesse. Todos estes aspectos considerados nesta revisão contribuem para o conhecimento a respeito da importância biológica e o potencial terapêutico acerca dos metabólitos desta promissora espécie.

The canopy of tropical forests, formed by the crowns of trees, constitutes a habitat of extreme plant diversity. Contributing to the great richness of these forests are epiphytes, which are of outstanding importance from the ecological, faunal, ethnobotanical and even pharmacological standpoints. Among the species adapted to the epiphytic life (growing on other plants) are the bromeliads, one of the most representative families of that flora, possessing high genetic variability. Tillandsia recurvate is a cosmopolitan epiphyte adapted to arid habitats, traditionally used to treat various diseases, though little has been published on scientific evidence for its properties. This paper reviews its ethnopharmacology and the biological activities and chemical compounds related to this member of the Bromeliaceae. According to the data collected, this species is known for its popular use in the treatment of various disorders, with some pharmacological studies that demonstrate its therapeutic properties. From the chemical point of view, terpenes, flavonoids and cinnamic acid derivatives are found in its constitution and some of the compounds isolated illustrate the potential of this species as a source of interesting biomolecules. All these features reviewed here contribute to what is known about the biological importance and therapeutic potential of metabolites from this promising species.

Avances sobre usos etnobotánicos de las Bromeliaceae en Latinoamérica / Progress on ethnobotanical uses of Bromeliaceae in Latin America

The bromeliads have been used by Latin American cultures since ancestral time until now. The goal of this work is update the bromeliads uses in Latin America summarizing personal observations and literature review. In this work are included 78 species of Bromeliaceae employed by humans and the ways that these plants are used in 19 countries in Latin America are described. The uses includes since ornamental, medicinal, alimentary, ceremonial, as well as to obtain fiber and textiles. The 42.3 percent of the species here mentioned, mostly of the Tillandsia genus, are used in ceremonial events.

Las Bromeliáceas han sido empleadas por la cultura latinoamericana desde tiempos ancestrales hasta la actualidad. El objetivo de este trabajo consiste en realizar una recopilación actualizada de los usos que se le han dado a las Bromeliaceae en Latinoamérica, a través de recolección de observaciones así como de la revisión de la literatura. En este trabajo se mencionan 78 especies de la familia empleadas por el hombre y se describen los usos en 19 países de Latinoamérica. Los usos van desde ornamentales, medicinales, alimentarios, ceremoniales, así como para obtención de fibras y textiles. El 42.3 por ciento de las especies aquí mencionadas, en su mayoría del género Tillandsia, son empleadas en ceremonias.

Antiulcer activity of ethanolic extract of Encholirium spectabile Mart. ex Schult & Schult f. (Bromeliaceae) in rodents

This study evaluated the antiulcer activity of an ethanolic extract of Encholirium spectabile (ES-EtOH) by using different standard experimental models of induced acute gastric ulceration. ES-EtOH (100 mg/kg p.o) protected the gastric mucosa against ulceration that was induced by absolute ethanol (53 percent), ethanol/HCl (75 percent), ibuprofen (52 percent) and ischemia/reperfusion (43 percent). It also restored catalase activity and non-protein sulfhydryl group concentration in the gastric wall of mice that had been treated with ethanol. The pre-treatment of mice with N-nitro-L-arginine (70 mg/kg i.p.) abolished the protective activity of ES-EtOH, which indicates that prostaglandins, antioxidant compounds and nitric oxide synthase activity are involved in the gastroprotective activity of the extract.