Banca de DEFESA: JULIA SAMARA PEREIRA DE SOUZA

Uma banca de DEFESA de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : JULIA SAMARA PEREIRA DE SOUZA
DATE: 13/04/2026
TIME: 14:00
LOCAL: REMOTA
TITLE:

PHYTOCHEMISTRY AND PHARMACOLOGY OF BOMBAX AND PSEUDOBOMBAX: EVIDENCE-BASED PERSPECTIVES AND CURRENT LIMITATIONS

KEY WORDS:

Medicinal plants; Secondary metabolites; Antioxidant activit; Natural products

PAGES: 46
BIG AREA: Ciências da Saúde
AREA: Farmácia
SUMMARY:

The use of medicinal plants continues to be a valuable strategy in the search for novel therapeutic agents, particularly in response to the growing demand for safer, more effective, and accessible alternatives. Within this context, the Malvaceae family, especially the genera Bombax and Pseudobombax, has attracted attention due to its rich diversity of secondary metabolites associated with a wide range of biological activities. However, the current body of knowledge on these genera remains fragmented, with a marked concentration of studies on a limited number of species, notably Bombax ceiba, and a relative lack of research on Pseudobombax species. In light of this, the present study aimed to conduct an integrative analysis of the scientific literature addressing the phytochemical composition and pharmacological properties of Bombax and Pseudobombax, with the goal of organizing existing knowledge and identifying research gaps. This descriptive, qualitative integrative review was based on literature searches conducted in PubMed and Google Scholar, covering publications from 2013 to 2025. Studies focusing on phytochemical and/or pharmacological aspects were included, resulting in a final dataset of 37 articles. The findings revealed a pronounced imbalance in the distribution of studies, with a strong predominance of research on the genus Bombax (83.7%), particularly Bombax ceiba, whereas Pseudobombax remains underexplored. The most frequently reported biological activities include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and metabolic effects. Nevertheless, most evidence is derived from in vitro studies, with limited in vivo validation and a lack of clinical investigations. Furthermore, considerable methodological heterogeneity was observed, including differences in extraction procedures, plant parts analyzed, and experimental models, which complicates cross-study comparisons. Additional biases were identified in the literature, including a taxonomic bias toward a few species and a morphological bias, with a predominance of studies focusing on leaves, flowers, and bark. A significant translational gap was also evident, characterized by the absence of pharmacokinetic data and limited elucidation of molecular mechanisms. In conclusion, although Bombax and Pseudobombax exhibit considerable pharmacological potential, progress in this field will depend on expanding the range of species investigated, improving methodological standardization, and conducting more robust studies. This work contributes to consolidating current scientific knowledge and provides direction for future research aimed at the discovery of bioactive compounds with therapeutic applications.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Presidente - 2195251 - HUGO ALEXANDRE DE OLIVEIRA ROCHA
Externa ao Programa - 2477216 - NAISANDRA BEZERRA DA SILVA FARIAS - UFRNExterna à Instituição - VALQUIRIA PEREIRA DE MEDEIROS - UFJF