Abstract

SIERRA PEREZ, Roxana de la C; GONZALEZ CANAVACIOLO, Victor L; RODRIGUEZ LEYES, Eduardo A  and  MARRERO DELANGE, David. Phytochemical screening of Malvaviscus penduliflorus growing in Cuba. Rev Cubana Plant Med [online]. 2010, vol.15, n.4, pp. 192-197. ISSN 1028-4796.

INTRODUCTION: the Malvaviscus penduliflorus Cav species flowers popularly known in Cuba as "pasiflora" are used as sedative in the brew form. Until now, however, there isn't any study on its chemical composition. OBJECTIVE: to perform a phytochemical screening of aqueous extracts from the flowers and leaves of M. penduliflorus species. METHODS: the dry fresh leaves and flowers were washed, disinfected to extract with water reflow (1:10) during 2 h in an independent way. Extracts were filtered and underwent the phytochemical identification tests. RESULTS: among the compounds identified in the two groups were included the saponines, sugars, alkaloids and flavonoids. CONCLUSIONS: taking into account the presence of compounds like the flavonoids and the alkaloids in aerial parts of M. penduliflorus, as well as the pharmacological effects reported for the extracts of this species, it will be interesting to perform new studies providing evidences on its effectiveness and safety, as a way to assess its traditional uses.

Keywords : Malvaviscus penduliflorus; phytochemical screening; central nervous system; sedative effect.

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