RESUMO
Cantharidin is produced by beetles of two families, Meloidae (true blister beetles) and Oedemeridae (false blister beetles). Nevertheless, it is mainly members of the meloid family that have been widely studied in the traditional medicines and pharmacology of different cultures and countries. The meloids cantharidin's role is going to be reviewed in this paper, including the cantharidin discovery, its adaptative function, and worldwide uses. Finally, we recovered information on the implementation of this compound in South American civilizations in different therapeutic treatments as well as sexual stimulants and aphrodisiacs.
Assuntos
Cantaridina , Besouros , Animais , América do SulRESUMO
This paper presents a comprehensive list of American Epicauta. Two hundred and sixty-four named species were recorded in this checklist based primarily on literature and museum records. Seventy-two species were included in the subgenus Macrobasis and 192 species into the nominotypic subgenus. Nomenclatural modifications are provided for E.langei Borchmann and E.nigripes Borchmann, both junior synonyms of E.pilme (Molina); E.albicincta Borchmann, junior synonym of E.suturalis (Haag-Rutenberg); E.lugubris Denier, junior synonym of E.tristis (Mäklin); and E.wagneri Pict, junior synonym of E.vicina (Haag-Rutenberg). Three hundred and ninety-two new records for South America are provided.
