Botanic, Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Aspects of Phyllanthus Amarus Schum. & Thonn. as Powerful Tools to Improve its Biotechnological Studies

Abstract

Phyllanthus (Euphorbiaceae) is a native genus of the American continent representative medicinal plant with very high number of species (more than 1,000) located in tropical and subtropical countries. In Brazil, this genus is represented by over than 100 specimens, that are widely distributed in different environments. In fact, Phyllanthus is present in almost all Brazilian territories. The species of this genus are extremely used in folk traditional medicine. The species Phyllanthus amarus Schum. & Thonn. and P. niruri L. have been frequent targets of ethnopharmacological work. However, in the beginning of this century botanic studies were intensified by using molecular markers for unambiguously identification of Phyllanthus species and to indicate the significant differences between the specimens of this genus. There are many differences between P. amarus and P. niruri, and the main of them were found to be in base, seed and stigma type. Systematic studies at molecular level have been assessed for acute authentication of plant specimen by using RAPD, ISSR, SCAR, AFLP, ITS, RFLP, ISSR-PCR and PCR-RFLP-ITS markers linked to a dominant gene. These methods have been assessed to the genus Phyllanthus with highly efficient results. With respect to phytocomponents of P. amarus herb, it is proved that the lignans Phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin are the main biomarkers. Focusing in one example phytochemical investigations were conducted with an unambiguous identified P. amarus collected from Brazil. Its ethanolic extract, revealed the presence of six bioactive lignans (phyllanthin, hypophyllanthin, isolintetralin, demethylenedioxyniranthin, 5-demethoxy-niranthin, niranthin) and one triterpene (2Z, 6Z, 10Z, 14E, 18E, 22E-farnesilfarnesol). This rich lignan extract was used in nanoemulsion formulations, an efficient therapeutic medicine to be applied in the health care. Other polar extracts of P. amarus have been encapsulated by using bio-nanotechnologies and are presented in this review. Technological innovations and recent progress in the multiple aspects of Phyllanthus´s plant development was reviewed. Today’s current state of Phyllanthus amarus Schum. & Thonn. is supported by its scientific findings, which has many applications, of which mainly focusing in the biotechnology field to face the new challenges for this lead medicinal plant.