Peumus boldus: Revealing the Pharmaceutical Potential of the Chilean Forest
4 affiliations
- 1Facultad De Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales Universidad Católica del Maule, Centro de Biotecnología de Los Recursos Naturales (CENBio) Talca Chile
- 2Facultad De Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales Universidad Católica del Maule, Centro de Desarrollo para El Secano Interior Talca Chile
- 3Laboratorio De Anatomía y Ecología Funcional De Plantas (AEF) Facultad De Ciencias Instituto De Biología Campus Curauma Pontificia Universidad Católica De Valparaíso Valparaíso Chile
- 4Escuela De Química y Farmacia, Facultad De Medicina Universidad Andres Bello Santiago Chile
Abstract
Peumus boldus Molina (boldo) is a slow‐growing tree endemic to central Chile and the only South American representative of the Monimiaceae family. Adapted to Mediterranean climatic conditions, it possesses sclerophyllous leaves and deep root systems that allow tolerance to drought and high solar radiation. Ecologically, plays an important role in the Chilean sclerophyllous forest and contributes to post‐fire regeneration processes. The species is widely recognized for its medicinal value due to its rich phytochemical composition, particularly the presence of boldine, an aporphine alkaloid associated with several pharmacological properties. In addition, contains phenolic compounds and terpenoid rich volatile fractions that contribute to its biological activity. Studies have demonstrated antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties of its extracts and isolated compounds. These effects are mainly associated with free radical scavenging, modulation of inflammatory pathways, and inhibitory activity against bacterial and fungal strains. Other potential activities, including hepatoprotective and neuroprotective effects, have also been reported. This review also integrates current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects, highlighting the modulation of oxidative stress and inflammatory signaling pathways. In addition, extraction technologies, safety considerations, and existing knowledge gaps are critically discussed. Future pharmaceutical development should focus on isolating beneficial compounds like boldine to minimise systemic risks. At the same time, public health guidelines should emphasize avoiding self‐medication with concentrated extracts and the strict monitoring of patients with pre‐existing liver conditions or who are pregnant.
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BibTeX
@article{rodriguezceballos2026peumus,
title = {{Peumus boldus: Revealing the Pharmaceutical Potential of the Chilean Forest}},
author = {Marta Rodríguez‐Ceballos and Valentina Jara and Sofía Díaz‐Cornejo and Valentina Morales and Rómulo Santelices‐Moya and Miguel Aguilera and Cristian Atala and María Carolina Otero and Felipe Gordillo‐Fuenzalida},
journal = {Chemistry \& Biodiversity},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1002/cbdv.71690},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.71690},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Peumus boldus: Revealing the Pharmaceutical Potential of the Chilean Forest
AU - Marta Rodríguez‐Ceballos
AU - Valentina Jara
AU - Sofía Díaz‐Cornejo
AU - Valentina Morales
AU - Rómulo Santelices‐Moya
AU - Miguel Aguilera
AU - Cristian Atala
AU - María Carolina Otero
AU - Felipe Gordillo‐Fuenzalida
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/27
JO - Chemistry & Biodiversity
DO - 10.1002/cbdv.71690
UR - https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.71690
AB - Peumus boldus Molina (boldo) is a slow‐growing tree endemic to central Chile and the only South American representative of the Monimiaceae family. Adapted to Mediterranean climatic conditions, it possesses sclerophyllous leaves and deep root systems that allow tolerance to drought and high solar radiation. Ecologically, plays an important role in the Chilean sclerophyllous forest and contributes to post‐fire regeneration processes. The species is widely recognized for its medicinal value due to its rich phytochemical composition, particularly the presence of boldine, an aporphine alkaloid associated with several pharmacological properties. In addition, contains phenolic compounds and terpenoid rich volatile fractions that contribute to its biological activity. Studies have demonstrated antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties of its extracts and isolated compounds. These effects are mainly associated with free radical scavenging, modulation of inflammatory pathways, and inhibitory activity against bacterial and fungal strains. Other potential activities, including hepatoprotective and neuroprotective effects, have also been reported. This review also integrates current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects, highlighting the modulation of oxidative stress and inflammatory signaling pathways. In addition, extraction technologies, safety considerations, and existing knowledge gaps are critically discussed. Future pharmaceutical development should focus on isolating beneficial compounds like boldine to minimise systemic risks. At the same time, public health guidelines should emphasize avoiding self‐medication with concentrated extracts and the strict monitoring of patients with pre‐existing liver conditions or who are pregnant.
SN - 1612-1872
SN - 1612-1880
ER -