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Ptychopetalum olacoides Benth.

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Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of South America

Part of the book series: Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the World ((MAPW,volume 5))

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Abstract

The Ptychopetalum olacoides Benth. (Olacaceae) is an Amazonian tree popularly known as muirapuama or marapuama, among other names, which is used for several central nervous system related problems. The roots and occasionally the bark roots are the main medicinal parts employed and are prepared as an alcoholic infusion, tinctures, and tea. Phytochemical studies revealed that the roots contain tannins, flavonoids, and several terpenoids, while the presence of alkaloids is not clear. Most studies used ethanolic or hydroalcoholic extracts prepared with the roots of the plant. These studies indicate that the species has promising potential for treating central nervous system disorders, acting as an antidepressant, an anti-stress, a neuroprotective agent, and improving cognition. Although some herbal products contain P. olacoides in their composition, clinical studies are still needed to confirm the effects observed in pre-clinical studies.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Prof. Wayne Losano for the grammar review.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Matemática, Computação e Cognição, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil

    Leonardo Frasson dos Reis

  2. Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil

    Fúlvio Rieli Mendes

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  1. Leonardo Frasson dos Reis
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  2. Fúlvio Rieli Mendes
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Botânica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil

    Ulysses Paulino Albuquerque

  2. Natural Product Research Laboratory, Dr. Hari Singh Gour University, Sagar, India

    Umesh Patil

  3. Department of Botany, Faculty of Agriculture & Food Science, West Hungarian University, Mosonmagyarovar, Hungary

    Ákos Máthé

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dos Reis, L.F., Mendes, F.R. (2018). Ptychopetalum olacoides Benth.. In: Albuquerque, U., Patil, U., Máthé, Á. (eds) Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of South America. Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the World, vol 5. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1552-0_36

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