Aniba canelilla (Kunth) Mez (Lauraceae): A Review of Ethnobotany, Phytochemical, Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, Cardiovascular, and Neurological Properties

Abstract

Aniba canelilla (Kunth) Mez, popularly known as "casca preciosa" (precious bark), falsa canela (cinnamon-scented) Casca-do-maranhão (bark of maranhão), and Folha-preciosa (precious leaf), is an aromatic species of the Lauraceae family, widely distributed in the Amazon region. In traditional medicine, it is indicated for the treatment of a great diversity of diseases, including digestive, respiratory, inflam]matory, painful, and central nervous system disorders, it is administered mainly in the form of tea or decoction orally. Its essential oil is referred to as a natural antioxidant for food preservation and disease control, showing great potential for use in the cosmetics, perfumery, and pharmaceutical products sector. The present review aimed to discuss critically and comprehensively the ethnobotanical characteristics, phytochemical constitution, and scientifically tested biological properties of A. canelilla, systematizing the knowledge about the species and proposing new perspectives for research and development. The chemical composition of A. canelilla includes 1-nitro-2-phenylethane, metyleugenol, eugenol, safrol, anabasin, anbin, tannin, α-pinene, b-pinene, b-felandren, b-caryophyllene, b-sesquifelandren, p-cymene, linalool, α-copaene, and spatulenol. Researches with ethanolic extracts, essential oils, and major constituents (1-nitro-2-phenylethane and metyleugenol) have revealed antioxidant, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, cardio-modulating, hypotensive (vasorelaxant), hypnotic, anxiolytic, anticholinesterase, and antibiotic properties (trypanomicidal, leishmanicidal, and antifungal). Some of these effects are potentially beneficial for aging-related diseases treatment, such as cardio and cerebrovascular, chronic inflammatory, neurological, and degenerative diseases. However, it is necessary to advance in the research of its clinical use and development of therapeutic products.

Keywords: 1-nitro-2-phenylethane; Aniba canelilla (Kunth) Mez; biological activities; folk medicine; methyleugenol; toxicity.

Figure 1

Distribution of Aniba canelilla in South America. Blue color in cartogram indicates coutries where the A. canelilla tree is native, Orange color indicates countries where its native presence is doubtful, and the dark green color highlights the states of Brazil where it is native. Adapted from Quinet et al., 2015.

Figure 2

Substances present in the Aniba canelilla essential oil: 1-nitro-2-phenylethane (A), methyleugenol (B), eugenol (C), linalool (D), safrole (E), α-pinene (F), β-pinene (G), benzaldehyde (H). Adapted from: Sugimoto et al. (2017), Sipe et al. (2014), Tsuchiya (2017), Rianjanu et al. (2018), Silva et al. (2012).

Figure 3

Proposed mechanism for the antihypertensive and bradycardic effects of Aniba canelilla essential oil and 1-nitro-2-phenylethane.

Figure 4

Prospects for assessing the therapeutic potential of Aniba canelilla in aging-related diseases, based on current knowledge. *Needs to be confirmed in biological models.