PHARMACOBOTANICAL, PHYTOCHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL POTENTIAL CHARACTERIZATION OF DALBERGIA ECASTAPHYLLUM (L.) TAUB: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

This article aimed to analyze the pharmacobotanical and phytochemical aspects, and the biological potential of D. ecastaphyllum (L.) through an integrative review of the PubMed, SciELO, Scopus, and Embase databases, encompassing articles published between 2015 and 2025. The analysis of the 12 selected studies revealed a clear chemical distinction between the plant organs of the species. The stems, through interaction with the beetle Agrilus propolis, produce isoflavonoids (formononetin, vestitol, neovestitol, and medicarpin) characteristic of red propolis, whereas the leaves are rich in flavonoids and phenolic compounds. The biological potential included antioxidant, photoprotective, anticoagulant, leishmanicidal, and enzyme inhibitory activity linked to metabolic syndrome. Toxicological studies confirmed the safety and absence of genotoxicity of the extracts, indicating that the species presents strong pharmacological viability. The phytochemical distinction between leaves and stems of D. ecastaphyllum points to specific therapeutic applications, suggesting that, in addition to supporting the propolis production chain, it possesses intrinsic potential for the development of new phytotherapeutic products.