The "aroeira" (Schinus terebenthifolius, RADDI), known as a toxic plant is actually very used in popular medicine, mainly in the treatment of general inflammatory processes. Many of its properties or of its curative effects may be attributed to the different polyphenols that belong to its structural constitution. In this work we have demonstrated that the distribution of total phenols was different in the several organs of the "aroeira", such as leaves, flowers, fruits and stem. The importance of these substances for the plant physiology and defense mechanisms, their ecological relationships and some therapeutic uses were also discussed. The correlation between the polyphenol properties and the metabolism of animal cells, suggest special attention when the infusions or hydroalcoholic extracts, obtained from that plant, are used in humans.
Phenolic substances; Aroeira; Schinus terebenthifolius
