title: Selection of chemical markers for the quality control of medicinal plants of the genus Cecropia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several Cecropia (Cecropiaceae) species are traditionally used in Latin America for the treatment of a variety of diseases including diabetes, arterial hypertension, asthma, bronchitis, anxiety, and inflammation. At present, a number of commercial products based on these plants have been introduced into the market with very little information on methods for guaranteeing their quality and safety.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This work proposes potential chemical markers for the quality control of the raw materials of Cecropia obtusifolia Bertol., Cecropia peltata L., Cecropia glaziovii Snethl., Cecropia pachystachya Trécul, and Cecropia hololeuca Miq.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Herbal Chemical Marker Ranking System (Herb MaRS) developed by the National Institute of Complementary Medicine (NICM) at the University of Western Sydney was used for selecting chemical markers for the quality control of selected medicinal species of Cecropia. This review covers the period from 1982 to 2016.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Chlorogenic acid, flavonoidal glycosides (orientin, isoorientin, vitexin, isovitexin, and rutin), catechin, epicatechin, procyanidins (B2, B5, and C1), steroids (β-sitosterol), and triterpenoids (α-amyrin, pomolic, tormentic and ursolic acids) were selected as chemical markers for the quality control of the leaves.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is necessary to establish comprehensive standards for guaranteeing quality, safety and efficacy of herbal drugs. The selection of adequate chemical markers for quality control purposes requires a good knowledge about the chemical composition of medicinal plants and their associated biological properties. To the best of our knowledge this review article is the first to address the identification and quantitative determination of the chemical markers for the genus Cecropia.
authors.affiliation: a Natural Products & Food Research and Analysis (NatuRA), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of Antwerp , Antwerp , Belgium.
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rivera-Mondragón
authors.affiliation: b Herbarium PMA , Universidad de Panamá, Estafeta Universitaria , Panama City , Republic of Panama.
authors.forename: Orlando O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Ortíz
authors.affiliation: a Natural Products & Food Research and Analysis (NatuRA), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of Antwerp , Antwerp , Belgium.
authors.forename: Sebastiaan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bijttebier
authors.affiliation: a Natural Products & Food Research and Analysis (NatuRA), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of Antwerp , Antwerp , Belgium.
authors.forename: Arnold
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vlietinck
authors.affiliation: a Natural Products & Food Research and Analysis (NatuRA), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of Antwerp , Antwerp , Belgium.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Apers
authors.affiliation: a Natural Products & Food Research and Analysis (NatuRA), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of Antwerp , Antwerp , Belgium.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pieters
authors.affiliation: c Group of Pharmaceutical Research , Institute of Scientific Research and High Technology Services (INDICASAT-AIP) , Panama , Republic of Panama.
authors.forename: Catherina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caballero-George
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D035702:Cecropia Plant / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification; D006801:Humans; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000592:standards* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000592:standards* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011786:Quality Control
chemical_list: D064209:Phytochemicals; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Urticaceae; herbal medicine; quality control