molecules Review Plants as Sources of Anti-Inflammatory Agents Clara dos Reis Nunes 1 , Mariana Barreto Arantes 1, Silvia Menezes de Faria Pereira 1, Larissa Leandro da Cruz 1, Michel de Souza Passos 2, Luana Pereira de Moraes 1, Ivo José Curcino Vieira 2 and Daniela Barros de Oliveira 1,* 1 Laboratório de Tecnologia de Alimentos, Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Agropecuárias, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ 28013-602, Brazil;
[email protected] (C.d.R.N.);
[email protected] (M.B.A.);
[email protected] (S.M.d.F.P.);
[email protected] (L.L.d.C.);
[email protected] (L.P.d.M.) 2 Laboratório de Ciências Químicas, Centro de Ciências e Tecnologia, UniversidadeEstadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ 28013-602, Brazil;
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[email protected] (I.J.C.V.) * Correspondence:
[email protected]; Tel.: +55-22-988395160 Academic Editors: Thea Magrone, Rodrigo Valenzuela and Karel Šmejkal Received: 29 June 2020; Accepted: 5 August 2020; Published: 15 August 2020 Abstract: Plants represent the main source of molecules for the development of new drugs, which intensifies the interest of transnational industries in searching for substances obtained from plant sources, especially since the vast majority of species have not yet been studied chemically or biologically, particularly concerning anti-inflammatory action. Anti-inflammatory drugs can interfere in the pathophysiological process of inflammation, to minimize tissue damage and provide greater comfort to the patient. Therefore, it is important to note that due to the existence of a large number of species available for research, the successful development of new naturally occurring anti-inflammatory drugs depends mainly on a multidisciplinary effort to find new molecules.