BRAZILIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS WITH ANTIMICROBIAL POTENTIAL: OILS AND EXTRACTS OF ANDIROBA (CARAPA GUIANENSIS), COPAÍBA (COPAIFERA SPP.) AND GIANT MILKWEED (CALOTROPIS PROCERA).

Abstract

This article sought to analyze the vegetable oils and extracts of andiroba (Carapa guianensis), copaiba (Copaifera spp.), and Giant milkweed (Calotropis procera), which constitute rich sources of chemical compounds with therapeutic potential for various diseases. These oils contain bioactive compounds with phytotherapeutic properties that have been used for millennia in popular and indigenous medicine. In this context, this narrative review aimed to investigate the main botanical characteristics of these species, the chemical profile of their oils and extracts, and  their antimicrobial activity. The methodology employed consisted of a bibliographic analysis carried out in scientific databases, selecting articles published over the last 20 years and considered relevant to the proposed topic. The results of the review demonstrated a promising potential of the oils and extracts of the medicinal plants Carapa guianensis, Copaifera spp., and Calotropis procera for the antimicrobial inhibition of various pathogens that affect both human and animal health, especially Gram-positive bacteria. Thus, these oils and extracts are considered promising sustainable alternatives for the application of phytotherapeutic compounds in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.