Hamelia

Abstract: In Costa Rica individual Hamelia patens trees produce fruit throughout the year and experience dramatic changes in rates of fruit removal and rotting. During some moths, most fruits rot because they are not removed. Rotting fruits increase the probability that other fruits on the same infructescence will rot. When removal rates are high, fruits are taken as soon as their seeds become viable but before the fruit is completely ripe. Experimental removal of fruits produced significantly higher ripening rates than on control infructescences. This response allows Hamelia to ripen more fruit and increase the number of fruits taken when dispersers are abundant (e.g., during migration). The proximate mechanism of this response probably includes reallocation of energy conserved when partially ripe fruits are removed. Responding to fluctuating disperser populations likely increases dispersal success and may function as the ultimate cause.

Abstract: Specialized or secondary metabolism of plants from two genera, Uncaria and Hamelia, has been widely studied generating a huge investment in research and development of patents. This review highlights the most recent patents granted so far, with some exceptions, covering different areas of knowledge including biotechnological aspects of plant specialized/secondary metabolism. Several patent databases were consulted in order to collect patent information. There are patents for specialized/secondary metabolite isolation methods, synthesis, production, genes, development of medicaments, drug delivery systems, equipment, machines, industrial processes, plant culture techniques, and new plant varieties, among others. This review of the state-of-the art about patents related to Uncaria and Hamelia, as well as their metabolites, can be a valuable source of organized information for those researchers developing projects in many aspects related to these two genera. Uncaria and Hamelia have an enormous potential to become important economically crops.

Abstract: The world health organization reports that 80% of the population living within the developing countries depends basically on traditional medicine for his or her primary health care. Quite half the entire world's population still depends entirely on plants for medicines, and plants provides the active ingredients to the most traditional medical products. Hamelia patens that belong to the family Rubiaceae, is mainly found in tropical and sub-tropical areas. It is used in folk medicine against a wide range of diseases such as athlete’s foot, skin problems, insect sting, psychiatric disorder, rheumatism, headache, asthma, dysentery, menses, ovarian and uterine disorders. Hamelia consists of an important bioactive constituent such as oxindole alkaloids, flavonoids, and phenolic content. Due to the presence of chlorogenic acid and epicatechin constituent in the methanolic extract of Hamelia patens, there is a noticeable anti-hyperglycemic activity as well as it possesses antioxidant activity. Acute and sub-acute toxicity study has been performed on Hamelia patens which shows that it is safe and can be used for humans. Against fungi and bacteria, the ethanol leaf extract of Hamelia has a maximum inhibitory effect. The plant has various therapeutic effects like anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-diarrheal, anthelmintic, antidepressant, hepatoprotective, antiurolithiatic, diuretic, wound healing, and many others. In this article, we have discussed chemical constituent, pharmacological activity and traditional use of Hamelia patens.