Essential oils from Brazilian plants: A literature analysis of anti-inflammatory and antimalarial properties and <i>in silico</i> validation

Abstract Brazil’s rich biodiversity includes a plethora of native plants that are renowned for their medicinal and aromatic properties, many of which are particularly rich in essential oils (EOs). These plants have demonstrated biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory and antimalarial effects, which render them promising candidates for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and the prevention of malaria. This review presents a comprehensive examination of studies investigating the anti-inflammatory and antiplasmodial activities of EOs derived from Brazilian plants, employing both in vitro and in vivo analytical approaches. The primary objective was to identify and evaluate the potential synergies among the principal constituents of these oils. While there is a greater quantity of literature on anti-inflammatory properties than on antimalarial effects, ongoing research in natural products demonstrates that this field is continuously evolving. Additionally, an in silico analysis was conducted using molecular docking to elucidate the interactions between the promising ligands and target receptors. Docking against plasmepsin 1 and 2 revealed that several compounds, including cyclocolorenone, sesquiphellandrene, and constituents of Guatteria friesiana , exhibited notable binding affinities, surpassing the standard antimalarial drug artemisinin in certain instances. Absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) profiling using Swiss ADME indicated that these compounds exhibit favorable pharmacokinetic and drug-likeness properties.