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Abstract
Introduction: Popularly known as “mastruz”, Chenopodium ambrosioides or Dysphania ambrosioides is a plant widely used in Latin America, in the form of various therapeutic means and methods, in order to treat various pathological conditions. Objective: To analyze the therapeutic effects of mastruz, identifying substances with biological activity in the plant, evaluating the efficacy of its antimicrobial and antiparasitic properties and analyzing its metabolic effects. Methodology: This is an integrative review based on articles selected from the PubMed data platforms, using the descriptors “Chenopodium ambrosioides” and “Dysphania ambrosioides”. Articles that addressed the scope of this study, published between 2014-2024 and written in English, Spanish or Portuguese, in addition to gray literature, were included. Results and discussion: Mastruz has important therapeutic properties, such as: Antibacterial, against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria; antiprotozoal, against Leishmania spp. and Giardia lamblia; anti-inflammatory, inhibiting inflammatory factors; antihypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic; antioxidant; and anticancer. Conclusion: It is clear that mastruz has therapeutic potential for the health area, however, future investigations are necessary to elucidate the mechanism of action and toxicity of C. ambrosioides.
References
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Copyright (c) 2025 Raul Bernardo Ribeiro Bernardo, Antônio Moisés de Amorim, Thays Lorranny da Silva Januário, João Rikardo Ferreira Cabral, Luiz Cezário dos Reis Neto, Danielson Ripardo Nascimento, Paulo Victor da Luz Martins Neiva, Marynara Gonçalves Silva, Vicente Ewerthon Ferreira, Maria Hélia Fernandes Campos Pinto, Ana Lara dos Santos Colares, Maria Isabel Silva Oliveira, Ana Vitória Silva Temoteo, Maria Antonia Linard de Macêdo