A Narrative Review of Libidibia ferrea: Botanical Aspects, Ethnopharmacological Properties, Phytochemical Characteristics, Toxicity, and Experimental Tests

Introduction: Jucá or pau-ferro (Libidibia ferrea) is an arboreal plant from the Fabaceae family. It is commonly used in traditional medicine in the treatment of various diseases, including inflammatory process.

Aims: The objective of this narrative review is to present botanical aspects, ethnopharmacological properties, phytochemical characteristics, toxicity highlighting, and experimental models with L. ferrea.

Results: Botanical Aspects: Jucá has several uses such as in landscaping (stem and canopy), in arborization of urban areas. Ethnopharmacological Properties: It is used in the treatment of various diseases such as diabetes, flu, asthma and, inflammatory processes of which different parts are used (root, stem bark, leaves, fruits, seeds). Phytochemical Characteristics: Phenolic compounds, fatty acids, and terpenoids are among the compounds monthly used. Toxicity: In vivo models have been used to verify toxicity and in most studies the plant presented no toxicity in its use. Experimental studies: Animals, such as mice, dogs, rats, etc. and different models of studies to analyze the action of the plant were used.

Conclusions: Such low toxicity, associated with its widespread use in folk medicine and its various effects demonstrated in the studies included in this Review have corroborated for the continuity of the research with L. ferrea. New studies, however, ought to follow methodological guidelines, such as the Animal Research: reporting in vivo Experiments (ARRIVE) so that, a methodological design secures more homogeneous studies capable of quantifying the actual size of the effect in the plant may have in clinical studies.