The Argentine Mistletoes Ligaria cuneifolia (Ruiz & Pav.) Tiegh (Loranthaceae) and Phoradendron liga (Gillies ex Hook. & Arn.) Eichler (Santalaceae). Thirty Years of Research.

Cecilia B Dobrecky, Silvia E Lucangioli, Marcelo L Wagner

Journal: Chemistry & biodiversity 2022;19(10):e202200565

PMID: 36048575

Abstract

Ligaria cuneifolia (Ruiz & Pav.) Tiegh (Loranthaceae) and Phoradendron liga (Gillies ex Hook. & Arn.) Eichler (Santalaceae) are regarded as Argentine mistletoes based on their similarities with the European counterpart, Viscum album L. (Santalaceae). These two species are the most used medicinal plants to treat high blood pressure in the Argentinian population. To provide scientific grounds to their traditional use and therapeutic potential, they were selected as herbal drug candidates. The main findings would support the anti-hypertensive action, the anticholesterolemic and antioxidant features of L. cuneifolia, and immunomodulatory properties for both species. Quercetin-O-glycosides, galloyl glycosides, and proanthocyanidins are present in L. cuneifolia while P. liga shows C-glycosyl flavones and 3-deoxyproanthocyanidins. This review summarizes the phytochemical characterization, medicinal properties and reveals promising results warranting future efforts for further investigation.

© 2022 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.

Address: Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Departamento de Farmacología, Cátedra de Farmacobotánica, Buenos Aires, Argentina.; Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Departamento de Tecnología Farmacéutica, Cátedra de Tecnología Farmacéutica I, Buenos Aires, Argentina.; Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Instituto de Tecnología Farmacéutica y Biofarmacia (InTecFyB), Buenos Aires, Argentina.; Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Departamento de Farmacología, Cátedra de Farmacobotánica, Buenos Aires, Argentina.; Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Departamento de Tecnología Farmacéutica, Buenos Aires, Argentina.; Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Instituto de Tecnología Farmacéutica y Biofarmacia (InTecFyB), Buenos Aires, Argentina.; Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Departamento de Tecnología Farmacéutica, Cátedra de Tecnología Farmacéutica I, Buenos Aires, Argentina.; Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Museo de Farmacobotánica (Juan Aníbal Domínguez), Buenos Aires, Argentina.; Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Instituto de Tecnología Farmacéutica y Biofarmacia (InTecFyB), Buenos Aires, Argentina.

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