In Brazil the species of Mikania glomerata Spreng. and M. laevigata Sch. Bip. ex Baker, Asteraceae popularly known as guaco, are widely used with preclinical evidence for the treatment of diseases whose actions involve bronchodilators, antiallergic, anti-asthmatic, anti-inflammatory, antiulcerogenic and smooth muscles relaxant. Due to the therapeutic properties attributed to these species, both were included in the official Brazilian Pharmacopoeia, and because of their similarity, they are hardly differentiated. In order to contribute to the new research, this review describes their several aspects: pharmacology, toxicology, chemical, agricultural, anatomical, genetics and the use in herbal medicine programs in Brazil, in a systematic way. The main differences and similarities between the two species are evidenced by comparing the information based on literature.
Asteraceae; Mikania glomerata; Mikania laevigata; guaco; medicinal plants
