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Volume 14
Issue 22
10.3390/plants14223545
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Review

From Folk Medicine to Pharmacology: A Systematic Review of the Anti-Inflammatory Evidence for Hymenaea spp. (Fabaceae)

by
Joy Braga Cavalcante
1,2,
Adriely de Brito Silva
2,
Roberta de Freitas Lopes
2,
Lucimar Pinheiro Rosseto
3,
Fabiana Aparecida Marques
3,4,
Osmar Vieira da Silva
3,
José Luís Rodrigues Martins
3,4,
João Maurício Fernandes Souza
3,
Lucas Barbosa Ribeiro de Carvalho
5,
Natascha de Vasconcellos Otoya
3,
Sandro Dutra e Silva
3,6,
Iransé Oliveira-Silva
3,
Luis Eduardo Maggi
7,
Rogério de Freitas Lacerda
7,
Elson Alves Costa
8,
Leonardo Luiz Borges
5,6,* and
James Oluwagbamigbe Fajemiroye
2,3,8
1
Department of Biotechnology, Xapuri Campus, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Acre (IFAC), Rio Branco 69930-000, AC, Brazil
2
Center of Health and Sports Sciences, Federal University of Acre (UFAC), Rio Branco 69906-310, AC, Brazil
3
Graduate Program, Evangelical University of Goiás (UniEVANGÉLICA), Anápolis 75083-515, GO, Brazil
4
Chemistry Department, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Goiânia (IF Goiano), Ceres 76300-000, GO, Brazil
5
School of Medical and Life Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Goiás, Goiânia 74605-010, GO, Brazil
6
Central Campus, State University of Goiás, Anápolis 75132-903, GO, Brazil
7
Center of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Acre (UFAC), Rio Branco 69906-310, AC, Brazil
8
Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Goiás (UFG), Goiânia 75083-515, GO, Brazil
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Plants 2025, 14(22), 3545; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14223545
Submission received: 24 September 2025 / Revised: 6 November 2025 / Accepted: 10 November 2025 / Published: 20 November 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Metabolic Diseases: Therapeutic Roles of Plant Natural Products)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Hymenaea spp. (Fabaceae) are widely used in folk medicine to treat fatigue, inflammation, respiratory, and gastrointestinal disorders. However, comprehensive evidence-based evaluations of their pharmacological potential remain limited. This systematic review brought together the existing pharmacological and phytochemical evidence on the significant therapeutic potential of Hymenaea spp. A total of 17 studies were included; phytochemical analyses identified flavonoids, triterpenes, procyanidins, xyloglucans, and caryophyllene oxide among the major bioactive constituents. The reported biological activities were primarily anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, and antiproliferative. Mechanistic findings consistently substantiated anti-inflammatory evidence through COX/LOX inhibition, cytokines, and redox-related modulations. Despite these promising results, the molecular mechanisms and translational evidence remain poorly defined. In conclusion, Hymenaea spp. exhibit significant pharmacological potential. Future studies integrating metabolomics and preclinical and clinical validation are essential to translating traditional knowledge of this species into evidence-based therapeutics.
Keywords: Hymenaea; inflammatory diseases; herbal medicine; phytochemicals; ethnopharmacology; plant extracts Hymenaea; inflammatory diseases; herbal medicine; phytochemicals; ethnopharmacology; plant extracts

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Cavalcante, J.B.; Silva, A.d.B.; de Freitas Lopes, R.; Rosseto, L.P.; Marques, F.A.; da Silva, O.V.; Martins, J.L.R.; Souza, J.M.F.; de Carvalho, L.B.R.; de Vasconcellos Otoya, N.; et al. From Folk Medicine to Pharmacology: A Systematic Review of the Anti-Inflammatory Evidence for Hymenaea spp. (Fabaceae). Plants 2025, 14, 3545. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14223545

AMA Style

Cavalcante JB, Silva AdB, de Freitas Lopes R, Rosseto LP, Marques FA, da Silva OV, Martins JLR, Souza JMF, de Carvalho LBR, de Vasconcellos Otoya N, et al. From Folk Medicine to Pharmacology: A Systematic Review of the Anti-Inflammatory Evidence for Hymenaea spp. (Fabaceae). Plants. 2025; 14(22):3545. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14223545

Chicago/Turabian Style

Cavalcante, Joy Braga, Adriely de Brito Silva, Roberta de Freitas Lopes, Lucimar Pinheiro Rosseto, Fabiana Aparecida Marques, Osmar Vieira da Silva, José Luís Rodrigues Martins, João Maurício Fernandes Souza, Lucas Barbosa Ribeiro de Carvalho, Natascha de Vasconcellos Otoya, and et al. 2025. "From Folk Medicine to Pharmacology: A Systematic Review of the Anti-Inflammatory Evidence for Hymenaea spp. (Fabaceae)" Plants 14, no. 22: 3545. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14223545

APA Style

Cavalcante, J. B., Silva, A. d. B., de Freitas Lopes, R., Rosseto, L. P., Marques, F. A., da Silva, O. V., Martins, J. L. R., Souza, J. M. F., de Carvalho, L. B. R., de Vasconcellos Otoya, N., Dutra e Silva, S., Oliveira-Silva, I., Maggi, L. E., Lacerda, R. d. F., Costa, E. A., Borges, L. L., & Fajemiroye, J. O. (2025). From Folk Medicine to Pharmacology: A Systematic Review of the Anti-Inflammatory Evidence for Hymenaea spp. (Fabaceae). Plants, 14(22), 3545. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14223545

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