Solanum lycocarpum St. Hill (lobeira) is a typical plant from Brazilian Cerrado, which present a great ecological importance as it is considered a nurse plant and is food source for many wild species. Its fruit (fruta-do-lobo) is used in the preparation of jams and sweets because it has a pleasant aroma, abundant and sweet pulp. In folk medicine it is used as a sedative, diuretic, antiepileptic and antispasmodic, as well as a hypoglycemic and hypocholesterolemic agent. Studies have pointed out that these properties are attributed to different classes of compounds, such as alkaloids, phenolics and polysaccharides, especially resistant starch. This chapter brings information about the understanding of the mechanisms of action of S. lycocarpum bioactive compounds used to attenuate the effects of diabetes in the organism, in combat of neglect diseases, such as leishmaniosis, and as prominent anticancer agent. It is expected to demonstrate the importance of this plant for the preservation of the Cerrado biome, as well as to demystify the facts regarding its toxicity.
PEREIRA, ANA PAULA APARECIDA ; ANGOLINI, CELIO FERNANDO FIGUEIREDO ; PASTORE, GLAUCIA MARIA . Solanum Lycocarpum St. Hill. Fruits of the Brazilian Cerrado. -ed.: Springer International Publishing, 2021, v. , p. 115-123. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-62949-6_7
