Toxicological Effects of Copaiba Oil (Copaifera spp.) and Its Active Components

Vegetable oils are among the most important traditional resources of Amazonia. Oleoresins are a type of oil that have interesting characteristics and highly bioactive properties with pharmacological potential. Oleoresins produced in the trunks of Copaifera (Fabaceae) spp. trees, known as copaiba oils, are made up of terpenes from the sesquiterpene (volatile) and diterpene (resinous) classes, but in amounts that vary between species and depending on several factors, such as soil type. Despite being used for medicinal purposes, via topical and oral application, the toxic effects of copaiba oils and their constituents are little known. The current paper reviews the toxicological studies, both in vitro and in vivo, described in the literature for copaiba oils, as well as the cytotoxic characteristics (against microorganisms and tumor cells) in in silico, in vitro and in vivo models for the sesquiterpenes and diterpenes that make up these oils.

Automated summary

Vegetable oils are important resources in the Amazon, including oleoresins with interesting characteristics and potential pharmacological properties. Copaiba oils, which come from the trunks of Copaifera (Fabaceae) spp. trees, are composed of terpenes from the sesquiterpene and diterpene classes, with varying amounts depending on factors such as soil type. This review examines the toxicological studies of copaiba oils, both in vitro and in vivo, as well as the cytotoxic characteristics of the sesquiterpenes and diterpenes in these oils, using in silico, in vitro, and in vivo models.