GENUS SEXTONIA: HISTORY, OCCURRENCE. CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES

Abstract

This study presents a literature review on the historical context and occurrence of the genus Sextonia, with an emphasis on the species Sextonia rubra. Initially classified within the genera Ocotea and Nectandra, the species was later redefined following the description of S. pubescens. Restricted to northern South America, S. rubra is the only representative native to Brazil. Although widely exploited by the timber industry, its chemical profile and biological potential remain under documented. The literature indicates that the species is rich in g-lactones, notably the biomarkers rubrenolide and rubrinolide, as well as terpenes, with a predominance of a-pinene and α-copaene. Assays with bark extracts demonstrated antioxidant, termiticidal, fungicidal, and larvicidal activities, the latter protected by a patent with g-lactones frequently associated with these biological properties. In conclusion, S. rubra holds significant potential for the isolation of secondary metabolites and the prospection of novel biological and pharmacological applications.