Is there a relationship between the concentration of phenolic compounds and the versatility of medicinal plants in the Caatinga biome?

Authors

  • Marcela Maria Albuquerque Silva Universidade Federal de Pernambuco
  • Marciel Teixeira de Oliveira Laboratório de Fisiologia Vegetal (LFV), Centro de Biociências, Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, 50670-901, Brazil
  • Antonio Fernando Morais de Oliveira Laboratório de Ecologia Aplicada e Fitoquímica (LEAF), Centro de Biociências, Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, 50670-901, Brazil
  • Ulysses Paulino Albuquerque Laboratório de Ecologia e Evolução de Sistemas Socioecológicos (LEA), Centro de Biociências, Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, 50670-901, Brazil

Abstract

Background: This study investigates whether the concentration of phenolic compounds—specifically phenols, tannins, and flavonoids—correlates with the medicinal versatility of woody plant species in the Caatinga, a seasonally dry tropical forest in northeastern Brazil. Given the well-documented bioactivity of phenolic compounds, we tested the hypothesis that higher concentrations are associated with a broader range of medicinal uses.

Methods: We selected 20 woody medicinal plant species and classified them into high- and low-versatility groups based on their Relative Importance (RI) values drawn from the ethnobotanical literature. Stem bark samples were collected from Catimbau National Park, Pernambuco, Brazil. Methanolic extracts were analyzed for total phenolics using the Folin–Ciocalteu assay, for tannins using casein precipitation, and for flavonoids using the aluminum chloride complexation method.

Results: Contrary to our hypothesis, no statistically significant differences in phenolic compound concentrations were observed between high- and low-versatility groups. While highly versatile species such as Astronium urundeuva (232.85 mg TAE/100 g DM) and Anadenanthera colubrina (254.24 mg TAE/100 g DM) exhibited elevated levels of total phenolics, some less versatile species as Mimosa tenuiflora (244.86 mg TAE/100 g DM) and Schinopsis brasiliensis (219.85 mg TAE/100 g DM) showed similarly high values. A similar pattern was observed for tannins and flavonoid concentrations.

Conclusions: Although phenolic compounds contribute to the pharmacological potential of medicinal plants, their concentrations do not account for greater medicinal versatility in the Caatinga. Other factors—such as ecological availability, cultural preferences, and traditional knowledge systems—likely play a more decisive role. These findings highlight the need for integrative approaches in ethnopharmacological research that move beyond chemical profiles alone.

Keywords: Ethnobotany; Ethnopharmacology; Flavonoids; Phenols; Phytochemistry; Seasonal dry forests; Tannins; Woody Plants

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Published

2025-09-08

How to Cite

Maria Albuquerque Silva, M., Teixeira de Oliveira, M. ., Fernando Morais de Oliveira, A., & Paulino Albuquerque, U. (2025). Is there a relationship between the concentration of phenolic compounds and the versatility of medicinal plants in the Caatinga biome?. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 32, 1–11. Retrieved from https://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/7288

Issue

Vol. 32 (2025)

Section

Research

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