Ethnopharmacology of the Asteraceae family in Mexico

Abstract

Background: In Mexico, the Asteraceae are part of traditional knowledge where its members have several uses, but they are particularly remarkable in traditional medicine and are used for different purposes.
 Questions: What pharmacologically studies have been carried out with Asteraceae species used in Mexican traditional medicine? What pharmacological activities have been tested? What compounds are responsible for the tested activities?
 Species studied: Asteraceae species used in Mexican traditional medicine pharmacologically tested.
 Methods: A database including scientific studies on Asteraceae species which studies on pharmacological activity or phytochemical characterization was compiled and analyzed.
 Results: From 249 reviewed studies only 202 fulfilled the criteria for our analysis. A total of 101 species distributed in 65 genera and 16 tribes were registered. The tribes Heliantheae and Senecioneae were the most studied. Ageratina pichinchensis, Artemisia ludoviciana, Heliopsis longipes, and Heterotheca inuloides were the most studied species. In Mexico, the Asteraceae family is mainly used in the treatment of diseases or symptoms related to the digestive and respiratory systems. In 48 % of the studies some biocidal activity was evaluated but only 21.8 % included phytochemical characterizations.
 Conclusions: The antimicrobial activity and phytochemical characterizations are the main kind of ethnopharmacological studies for Asteraceae in Mexico. Most of the compounds responsible for the activities have not been identified yet. The uses of Asteraceae in Mexico are similar to other countries emphasizing its cultural importance in the world. Mexican Asteraceae should be prioritized in conservation and bioscreening schemes.

Interacciones de Himenopteros Polinizadores1, Asociados a Plantas Silvestres de la Reserva Estatal Sistema Tetzcotzingo, México

“…Gymnosperma glutinosum fue la segunda planta con mayor número de polinizadores. En México se considera una planta medicinal y terapéutica importante (Cilia-López et al 2021). En la literatura no se encontraron registros sobre su asociación con polinizadores, por lo que M. zapoteca , Augochlorella sp ., Pemphredoninae sp.…”

Medicinal uses of the Asteraceae family in Zimbabwe: A historical and ecological perspective

“…Many members of this family are widely studied for their bioactive chemical constituents such as chlorogenic acid, sesquiterpene lactones, benzofurans, diterpenes, flavonoids, pentacyclic triterpene alcohols, terpenoid essential oils, ligand, polyphenols, alkaloids, fatty acids, phenolic acids, tannins, iridoids and polyacetylenes (Heywood et al 1977a,b, Calabria et al 2009, Yaoita et al 2012, Konovalov 2014, Benítez et al 2021, Rolnik & Olas 2021. Pharmacological studies showed that some species exhibit potent anticancer, antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, wound-healing, antihemorrhagic, antipyretic, diuretic, hepatoprotective, anti-tussive, antiparasitic, insecticidal and antispasmodic activities, among others (Koc et al, 2015, Carvalho et al 2018Panda & Luyten 2018, Cilia-López et al 2021, Rolnik & Olas 2021. Therefore, extensive phytochemical and pharmacological evaluations of some of the utilized Asteraceae species can lead to discovery and development of novel pharmaceutical products, functional food ingredients and cosmetic products.…”

Chemical profile, antimicrobial activity, and leaf anatomy of Adenophyllum porophyllum var. cancellatum

“…Strother (= Dyssodia appendiculata Lag.) is used in Oaxaca, Mexico to treat candidiasis and pain (head, stomach, and gums) and has antibacterial activity ( Frei et al, 1998 ; Cilia-López et al, 2021 ). A. aurantium (L.) Strother is used as an infusion to treat intestinal diseases (amoebiasis).…”