Maytenus genus

In the course of these research programmes, cytotoxic quinones, polyester sesquiterpenes and pyridine-sesquiterpene alkaloids with antifeedant and/or insecticidal properties have been isolated from Latin American species, in particular those of the Maytenus genus which is extensively used by rural communities and tribes in the Andes and the Amazon basin. Recently some sesquiterpene alkaloids with immunosuppressive activity and sesquiterpenes with antitumoral activity have also been described [3]. 

The Celastraceae family is probably related phylogenetically with the Aquifoliaceae the presence of glandular discs around the ovary and the bright coloured aril in the Celastraceae are the principal differences between the two families. The Celastraceae family is pantropically distributed with radiation towards temperate or temperate-cold climates. In other words, the Celastraceae are principally concentrated in the tropical and subtropical regions and to a lesser extent in the temperate zones of the world (Figure la). The family is better represented in Central America and the West Indies than m South America except for the Maytenus genus [5] (15 species in Peru and 15 in Venezuela). 

Triterpene dimers have recently been reported and are generally characterized by die presence of modified triterpene quinone monomer units. To date, ten dimers based on tingenone and/or pristimerin units have been described, most of them from the Maytenus genus [67]. 

Although Aikman s book appears current even today, it can be said that no dramatic breakthroughs have since occurred with regard to cancer therapies. At the time, there was a great deal of interest in the African shrub Maytenus buchananii for cancer treatment. Thus, the alkaloids present in the genus Maytenus, notably maytensine, have been found to have an anticancer action, particularly against leukemias (Hoffman, 1999, p. 146). However, this has not yet been translated into a successful, commercial mode of treatment. But this has been the case for most plant-derived medicinal prospects. 

The genus Euonymus belongs to the family Celastraceae. Two other important alkaloid-containing genera of this family are Maytenus and Catha, Maytoline and maytine were isolated from Maytenus ovata collected in Ethiopia (92). 

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