This work covers a systematic review of literature about the genus Cecropia from 1978 to 2020, emphasizing the analysis of 10 of the most relevant species and their associated biological activities. Cecropia is a neotropical genus, which comprises about 61 native species in the American continent where it is known to be part of the traditional medicine of numerous countries. Secondary metabolites described for this genus showed an elevated structural and functional diversity, where polyphenols have been the most abundant. Based on this diversity, Cecropia phytochemicals represent an important source of potential therapeutic agents yet to be exploited. This review also highlights the effectiveness of combining chemometrics and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry as a novel approach to successfully single out Cecropia species phytochemicals. While the medicinal use of Cecropia species is officially recognized in National Pharmacopoeias and Formularies of several Latin American countries, it is important to recognize that these phytomedicines are complex mixtures requiring a thorough understanding of their chemical composition and their correlation with biological activities to guarantee their quality, safety, and efficacy.

中文翻译：

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十种具有药用价值的天蝎座的药理学评价：现有知识和治疗前景

这项工作涵盖了 1978 年至 2020 年有关天蚕属的文献的系统回顾，重点是对 10 个最相关的物种及其相关生物活动的分析。Cecropia 是一种新热带属，包括美洲大陆约 61 种本地物种，众所周知，它是许多国家传统医学的一部分。该属的次生代谢物显示出较高的结构和功能多样性，其中多酚含量最高。基于这种多样性，天蚕植物化学物质代表了尚未开发的潜在治疗剂的重要来源。这篇综述还强调了结合化学计量学和超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法作为一种成功挑选天蚕属植物化学物质的新方法的有效性。虽然一些拉丁美洲国家的国家药典和处方集正式承认天蚕属的药用，但重要的是要认识到这些植物药是复杂的混合物，需要彻底了解其化学成分及其与生物活性的相关性，以保证其质量、安全性和有效性。