Resumen: Tagetes lucida (pericón), T. lunulata (cinco llagas) y T. micrantha (anisillo), especies utilizadas como recurso terapéutico tradicional en el municipio Nicolás Romero, Estado de México, se estudiaron con la fi nalidad de aportar información a la farmacopea herbolaria de México. El trabajo etnobotánico se llevó a cabo por medio de entrevistas semiestructuradas a la población en general y para el estudio morfo-anatómico se recolectaron ejemplares en campo. Los tallos y hojas se cortaron a mano alzada y con un micrótomo de rotación y los cortes se tiñeron con safranina-verde rápido. Las especies se reconocieron para tratar dolor de estómago y diarrea, como tranquilizantes y para contrarrestar los cólicos menstruales. La manera frecuente de prepararlas es en infusión. El análisis morfológico mostró que los caracteres que más contribuyen para diferenciar entre especies son los relacionados con la arquitectura foliar. Anatómicamente las especies se distinguen por los tricomas, el arreglo y número de los cordones vasculares del mesofi lo en la hoja y por el arreglo del córtex y del esclerénquima en el tallo. Se incluye una clave basada en caracteres morfo-anatómicos. Palabras clave: anatomía vegetal, anisillo, Asteraceae, cinco llagas, herbolaria mexicana, pericón, plantas medicinales, Tagetes lucida, Tagetes lunulata, Tagetes micrantha. Abstract:Tagetes lucida (pericón), T. lunulata (cinco llagas), and T. micrantha (anisillo), traditionally used as therapeutic resource in the locality of Nicolas Romero, Estado de México, were studied in order to provide information to the herbal pharmacopoeia of Mexico. Ethnobotanical work was conducted through semi-structured interviews to the general population and for morpho-anatomical research, fi eld specimens were collected. The stems and leaves were sectioned by free hand and by using a rotary microtome and stained with safranin-fast green. The interviews showed that the species are used to treat stomach ache and diarrhea, as a relaxing agent, and to relieve menstrual cramps. The most common way to prepare them is as a tea. The morphological analysis showed that vegetative characters that provide more information to differentiate among species are related to the leaf architecture. Anatomically, the distinctive features are trichomes, distribution and number of vascular strands in the leaf mesophyll, and distribution of the cortex and sclerenchyma in the stem. This work also includes a key based on morphological and anatomical characters.

Results: Crude extracts of T. sylvatica fruits, separated from seed and pericarp, showed sedative effect in mice. The aqueous (ED 50 ¼ 4.9 AE 0.8 mg/kg) seed extracts is the most active among them. This extract also decrease locomotor activity and disrupt motor coordination of mice. This extract was also the most toxic extract (LD 50 ¼ 5.0 AE 1.4 mg/kg; i.p.). The triterpene glycoside 28-O-[b-L-6-rhamnopyranosyl]-R 1 -barrigenol was identified in this extract as one of the active sedative compounds (ED 50 ¼ 0.12 AE 0.01 mg/kg) also with toxic effect (LD 50 ¼ 1.11 AE 0.23 mg/kg). Conclusion:The results suggest that T. sylvatica fruits has toxic activity rather than CNS depressant activity in mice and that this effect might be related to the presence of 28-O-[b-L-6-rhamnopyranosyl]-R 1 -barrigenol, one of the active principles of T. sylvatica fruits with sedative and toxic effect.

sources, herbarium work, and the author´s own observations, 41 taxa belonging to 12 genera and 37 species; four at level of genus were recognized. 461 records indicated that Lantana camara, Verbena carolina, Phyla scaberrima, and Lippia graveolens are the most cited species. 198 popular names were recognized, being Lantana camara the species with the highest number of denominations. The knowledge of the medicinal use of Verbenaceae comes mainly from researches carried out in the central area of the country. Recorded pathologies were organized in 16 categories; illness of the digestive system are emphasized, female reproductive system, skeletal muscle system, and culture-bound syndromes. This is supported by the similarity analysis concentrating in a large set to 92% of the species to treat diseases of the digestive system and include in this set to other groups of species related to system and diseases mentioned. Phenetic analysis also separates two other sets of species to treat skin diseases and urinary tract. Only six species are in the process of being included in the Herbal Pharmacopoeia of the United Mexican States (FHEUM). This information will be useful for other species Verbenaceae are incorporated into the Mexican Herbal Pharmacopoeia.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Verbesina crocata (Cav.) Less. (Arnica or Capitaneja) is an endemic plant from Mexico restricted to the western part of the country. The aerial parts are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of wounds and burns. The objective of this investigation was to carry out a pharmacognostic study of V. crocata and establish markers that allow for the recognition of the characteristics of the plant and validate its traditional use. The study includes anatomical and chemical characteristics of the plant as well as evaluations of its antioxidant capacity and wound healing ability in a murine model. Materials and methods An anatomical study of V. crocata was performed on the middle part of the leaf and stem. A methanolic extract of this species (VcME) was obtained by methanolic maceration of the aerial parts. Subsequently, a partition of the VcME was made to obtain a hexanic fraction (VcH). The phytochemical preliminary screening and characterization by high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI/MS) of the VcME and VcH were performed. The antioxidant activity and total phenolic content were quantified. The wound healing capacity of the methanolic extract was determined in CD-1 mice by the healing rate, the tensiometric method, and histological analysis. Results The anatomical study of V. crocata showed the presence of two types of secretory structures and their position on the leaves. In addition, the characteristics of the middle vein and trichomes are potentially useful for recognition of the species. Chemical compounds detected by HPLC-ESI/MS reveal the presence of sitosterol glycoside and catechin derivatives as principal constituents of V. crocata . The VcME showed low antioxidant capacity and total phenolic. V. crocata had a similar healing effect to Recoveron® in the tensiometric method, but the rate of healing was higher. According to the histological analysis, the treatment of V. crocata promoted the remodelling phase 15 days after the incisional wound. Conclusion This is the first pharmacognostic study of this species that covers the plant anatomy, chemical content and biological properties related to its traditional use. V. crocata favours wound healing according to physical and histological evaluations. In addition, the characteristics of the middle vein, trichomes and catechin glycosides are potentially useful for the recognition of this species.