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Tillandsia Recurvata L. (Bromeliaceae): Aspectos Farmacognósticos

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Tillandsia Recurvata L. (Bromeliaceae): Aspectos Farmacognósticos Revista de Ciências Farmacêuticas Básica e Aplicada Rev Ciênc Farm Básica Apl., 2013;34(2):151-159 Journal of Basic and Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences ISSN 1808-4532 Tillandsia recurvata L. (Bromeliaceae): aspectos farmacognósticos Alex Lucena de Vasconcelos1; Alan Lucena de Vasconcelos1; Eulália Azevedo Ximenes1; Karina Perrelli Randau1,* 1 Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil. RESUMO O estrato superior das florestas tropicais também pode ser considerado como uma verdadeira fonte de A cobertura superior das florestas tropicais, formada biodiversidade, pois nesse ambiente de copa pode ser pelas copas das árvores, constitui um ambiente de encontrada uma infinidade de espécies epífitas, que usam os extrema diversidade vegetal. Contribuindo com a seus hospedeiros como suporte para o seu desenvolvimento grande riqueza dessas florestas encontram-se as alternativo longe do solo. Com um total de 29.000 espécies espécies botânicas epífitas, cuja importância pode catalogadas, elas contribuem com a imensa diversidade ser observada do ponto de vista ecológico, faunístico, vegetal observada, uma vez que, representam de 8 a 10% etnobotânico e até mesmo farmacológico. Dentre as do total de plantas vasculares conhecidas e colaboram com espécies adaptadas à vida epifítica podemos citar as 25 a 50% da riqueza vegetal das florestas tropicais (Gentry, bromeliáceas, que compõem uma das famílias mais 1987; Benzing, 1990, 2000). representativas dessa flora com elevada variabilidade Estas espécies desempenham um importante papel genética. Tillandsia recurvata é uma espécie epífita na composição vegetal destes ecossistemas e apresentam cosmopolita, nativa, adaptada a habitats áridos, elevado grau de endemismo e adaptação a estes ambientes, utilizada para o tratamento de diversas doenças, mas sendo diretamente influenciadas pelo clima e nível de pouco se tem publicado a respeito das comprovações distúrbio antrópico, que determinam a sua distribuição científicas de suas propriedades. O presente trabalho nos ambientes que as compõem (Benzing, 1990; Bonnet, revisa os aspectos etnofarmacológicos, atividades 2007). Apresentam grande importância para os animais biológicas e compostos químicos relacionados à espécie que vivem nesse ambiente, seja como alimento (frutos, em questão, pertencente à Bromeliaceae. A partir do néctar e pólen), água ou mesmo material para a construção levantamento de dados realizado, observa-se que esta de ninhos, possibilitando assim uma maior variabilidade se trata de uma espécie de conhecido uso popular no da fauna (Benzing 1990). Além disso, também exercem tratamento de diferentes distúrbios, com alguns estudos grande influência sobre o ciclo hidrológico e de nutrientes farmacológicos que comprovam suas propriedades no interior das florestas, funcionando como uma zona de terapêuticas. Do ponto de vista químico observa-se a captura e posterior incorporação destes materiais para uso presença de terpenos, flavonoides e derivados cinâmicos por outros vegetais (Nadkarni, 1985). Os representantes das em sua constituição, em que alguns compostos isolados bromélias constituem um grupo de plantas particularmente ilustram a potencialidade desta espécie como fonte adaptado à vida epifítica. de biomoléculas de interesse. Todos estes aspectos considerados nesta revisão contribuem para o A FAMÍLIA conhecimento a respeito da importância biológica e o potencial terapêutico acerca dos metabólitos desta Bromeliaceae, considerada como uma das mais promissora espécie. representativas da flora neotropical abrange 57 gêneros e Palavras-chave: Epífitas medicinais. Bromélias.Tillandsia cerca de 3000 espécies, em que 40% deste total podem ser recurvata L. Bromeliaceae. encontrados no Brasil. Uma grande variedade de hábitos também pode ser observada entre elas, diferenciando-se INTRODUÇÃO espécies epífitas, terrestres, ou mesmo rupícolas, o que faz dessa família uma das mais adaptáveis do mundo (Benzing, As florestas tropicais são caracterizadas por 2000; Luther & Sieff, 2006; Tabarelli, 2002). A primeira apresentarem um elevado grau de diversidade biológica, descrição data do século XVII, relatada pelo padre francês sendo consideradas como um dos mais complexos sistemas Charles Plumier, em que o novo conjunto de espécies do planeta que guarda um elevado número de espécies descoberto foi batizado de bromélias em homenagem ao endêmicas (Whitmore, 1998). botânico sueco Olaf Bromel (Bezing, 1980). Atualmente, segundo critérios filogenéticos do sistema APG II (2003), pode ser classificada como a maior família de monocotiledôneas angiospermas, pertencente à Autor correspondente: Karina Perrelli Randau - Universidade Federal de ordem Poales. Apresenta uma ampla distribuição pela zona Pernambuco - e-mail: [email protected] neotropical, indo desde o sul dos Estados Unidos até o sul do T. recurvata L.(Brom.): Aspect. Farmacog Chile e ocupa diferentes habitats. No Brasil, ocorre desde consistiram na redução estrutural e funcional das raízes e as florestas úmidas do sul até as caatingas do Nordeste, na especialização dos tricomas foliares, que se tornaram onde possui frequência elevada e marcante (Smith 1934, capazes de absorver o vapor de água condensado e assim Tabarelli, 2002). De um modo geral as bromeliáceas são suprir parcial ou totalmente a função absortiva das raízes conhecidas no Brasil pelo nome indígena de caraguatá, (Gilmartin 1972; Benzing, 1973, 1978; Benz, 2006). craguatá ou gravatá, que em tupi-guarani refere-se ao caráter Poucas informações têm sido publicadas na de resistência do vegetal, porém com frutos comestíveis. literatura científica a respeito do metabolismo nutricional No Nordeste, por sua vez, são conhecidas popularmente deste gênero. Os seus integrantes possuem forma de como macambira (Joly, 2002). De acordo com a taxonomia crescimento altamente especializada, pois apresentam a tradicional, ela pode ser dividida em três subfamílias: superfície foliar repleta de escamas epidérmicas foliares Pitcairnioideae, Tillandsioideae e Bromelioideae, diferindo- (tricomas modificados). Enquanto que os minerais se entre si pelo hábito de crescimento, características de necessários são provenientes da poeira que os alcança, tricoma, tipo de fruto e semente e posição do ovário (Smith de insetos que ficam presos no emaranhado de suas & Downs 1974, 1977, 1979). estruturas foliares, através de relações mutualistas do tipo As bromeliáceas são notáveis por sua diversidade mirmecofilia (Waldemar, 2003) ou mesmo do lavado foliar ecológica e pelo alto poder de adaptação a diferentes que escorre pela copa das árvores. habitats, podendo ser encontradas em ambientes desérticos, quentes e secos, e até mesmo em florestas úmidas e regiões APLICAÇÕES E USOS DE MEMBROS DA FAMÍLIA montanhosas frias (Benzing, 2000). De forma geral, as espécies epífitas podem ser definidas como aquelas que Além do elevado número de espécies e da alta utilizam o seu hospedeiro botânico, ou forófito, apenas adaptabilidade das bromeliáceas, seus representantes como suporte mecânico a fim de conseguir melhores também têm chamado atenção por suas diferentes condições de sobrevivência. Além de espécies vegetais utilizações, estando associados à história de diferentes serem usadas como suporte, outros tipos de fulcro podem etnias e utilizados como fonte de alimento, com finalidades ser usados, tais como formações rochosas, telhados ou terapêuticas ou mesmo místicas, por muitas culturas até mesmo linhas de transmissão elétrica (Benzing, 1990, tradicionais neotropicais. Algumas espécies são úteis 2000; Puente & Bashan, 1994). para a extração de fibras, como Aechmea magdalenae, De acordo com Linder (2005), as plantas adaptadas Puya chilensis, Bromelia laciniosa, Tillandsia usneoides, ao epifitismo encontradas nessa família evoluíram usadas para a fabricação de redes, cordas, barbantes e até inicialmente das Poales ancestrais, que cresciam em mesmo linha de pesca pelos nativos. Outras espécies de substratos úmidos e pobres em nutrientes. De todos Puya e Tillandsia são utilizadas ainda como combustível os representantes desta ordem apenas metade das para queima de fogueiras nos Andes e desertos costeiros Bromeliaceae e poucas Rapateaceae conseguiram escapar Peruanos e Equatorianos ou mesmo usados como cercas da competição com outras plantas e sobreviver aos locais vivas para demarcação de território. Outros representantes temporariamente alagados, fixando-se sobre árvores e são utilizados como fonte de alimento na ração animal, rochas e desenvolvendo, paralelamente, uma série de como é o caso de Aechmea tessmannii, Puya sodiroana, adaptações que possibilitavam sua sobrevivência durante Pepinia pulchella e Tillandsia recurvata. Na alimentação curtos períodos de estresse hídrico, podendo assim habitar humana destaca-se Ananas comosus, apreciado no mundo o interior das matas úmidas (Benzing, 2000). A partir daí, todo por seu sabor e aroma característicos. Destaca-se na passaram a ocupar o estrato superior das florestas, cuja medicina popular por suas propriedades como estomáquico, atmosfera, com maior disponibilidade de água e nutrientes, carminativo, diurético e anti-inflamatório, sendo também favoreceu o desligamento dessas plantas do solo. indicado para problemas das vias respiratórias e para neurastenia (Lorenzi, 2002; Bennet, 2000). O GÊNERO Comunidades de espécies epífitas têm sido utilizadas no monitoramento das condições atmosféricas. Por A partir do levantamento histórico da etimologia do apresentarem um metabolismo intimamente atmosférico, gênero Tillandsia,
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