Malvaceae sensu lato is a family containing about 245 genera and 4,465 species mainly distributed across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Species of this family usually contain alkaloids with anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, antiparasitic, antimicrobial and anticancer properties due to its secondary metabolites. In this context, this review aims to checklist the alkaloids isolated from Malvaceae sensu lato species, evaluating their chemical profile and pharmacological potential, providing a broad and concise overview of these secondary metabolites. The results were collected from scientific databases such as Web of Science, Scifinder, Pubmed, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar, using the keywords “Alkaloids” and “Malvaceae”. Several pharmacological/biological activities are reported in literature for the most varied alkaloid nuclei, such as: vasorelaxation of the mesentery of rats (cryptolepinone), antitrypanosomal activity (waltherione) and anti-inflammatory and bronchodilator activity (vasicine), which highlights a succession of activities related to this class of secondary metabolites. Presented data report the importance of the Malvaceae sensu lato family, demonstrating the biological relevance of its alkaloids, in order to contribute to scientific knowledge and the development of new drugs.

Pavonia Cav., is a genus in the Malvaceae sensu lato family, containing 271 species with worldwide distribution, although with a higher diversity in America and Asia. Species from this genus are traditionally used in folk medicine with several biological activities, arousing scientific interest on the search for the substances responsible for such activities. This review aimed to provide and expand the scientific interest through phytochemical and pharmacological studies and the utilization of those plants in folk medicine. Species P. odorata and P. zeylanica are described in literature, specially at India, following the traditional medicine system Ayuverda, while the other species are studied mostly at Africa and America. There have been around 169 compounds isolated and characterized for such genus, most of them from the metabolic classes fat acids, terpenoids, flavonoids and phenolic compounds. Those species have shown in vivo, in vitro and in silico significant pharmacological activities, which include anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial, cytotoxic, antitumoral, antidiabetic and antioxidant properties. Based on those informations, the search for new sources of plant based biologic prototypes with potential for the treatment of several diseases is of major scientific, economical and medicinal interest.

Helicteres genus, Malvaceae, has pantropical distribution, encompasses about 60 species, 31 of them found in Brazil. Species belonging to this genus are used for treatment of various diseases and aroused scientific interest in search for bioactive compounds present in these plants. In this context, this review aims to provide a complete and concise overview of scientific advances in phytochemical and pharmacological studies of these species and their use by folk medicine. The presented data were collected from scientific databases, ‘Web of Science’, ‘Scifinder’, ‘Pubmed’, ‘Sciencedirect’, and ‘Google Scholar’, using the keyword ‘Helicteres’. The species H. isora and H. angustifolia, found in Asia, are the most explored scientifically, whereas studies of species of this genus found in Americas are still rare, being possible to highlight studies carried out in Brazil with H. velutina and H. eichleri. About 149 compounds were isolated and characterized in the genus, being emphasized terpenoids, flavonoids and lignoids. These species have demonstrated various pharmacological properties in vitro and in vivo, incluinding insecticide, antidiabetic, antitumor and hepatoprotective activities. The presented data show the importance of studies carried out isolating bioactive compounds from this genus that may be used in several diseases’ treatment or/as prototypes to development of new drugs.