Background:

The genus Randia L. (Rubiaceae) is native to Americas and highly distributed in tropical areas. Some Randia species are used in traditional medicine in some countries to treat diverse illnesses/symptoms of kidney, circulatory system, lungs, diabetes, cancer, inflammation, and against the bites/stings of snakes and other poisonous animals.

Questions:

What are the phytochemical compounds previously identified in Randia? What biological activities do they present?

Data description:

Twenty-eight studies on chemical composition and biological activities of Randia were reviewed. Species names were corroborated in Plants of the World Online and World Flora Online.

The site and studied years:

Studies of Randia of Americas from 1991 to 2021.

Methods:

Database reviewed were PubMed, Scopus, Scielo, BVS, DAOJ, Science Direct, Springer Link, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, employing the keywords Randia and its synonym Basanacantha.

Results:

Six species are the most studied (R. aculeata, R. echinocarpa, R. ferox, R. hebecarpa, R. matudae, and R. monantha). Ethnopharmacology information of 12 species was recovered. One hundred compounds in Randia have been identified (phenolic acids, terpenes, sterols, and others), and diverse biological activities reported in 24 studies (e.g., antimutagenic, antioxidant, and antivenom) have demonstrated for nine species.

Conclusions:

Biological activities found in some species of Randia support their traditional uses, but only the antivenom effect of Randia aculeata has been demonstrated. Randia species could be a source of bioactive compounds; however, knowledge must be expanded to demonstrate their traditional uses and contribute to the development of strategies for their preservation and rational use.

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