Ethnobotany, Biological Activities and Phytochemical Compounds of Some Species of the Genus Eryngium (Apiaceae), from the Central-Western Region of Mexico

Abstract

There are approximately 250 species of Eryngium L. distributed throughout the world, with North America and South America being centers of diversity on this continent. In the central-western region of Mexico there may be around 28 species of this genus. Some Eryngium species are cultivated as leafy vegetables, ornamental, and medicinal plants. In traditional medicine they are used to treat respiratory and gastrointestinal conditions, diabetes, and dyslipidemia, among others. This review addresses the phytochemistry and biological activities, as well as traditional uses, distribution, and characteristics of the eight species of Eryngium reported as medicinal in the central-western region of Mexico: E. cymosum, E. longifolium, E. fluitans (or mexicanum), E. beecheyanum, E. carlinae, E. comosum, E. heterophyllum, and E. nasturtiifolium. The extracts of the different Eryngium spp. have shown biological activities such as hypoglycemic, hypocholesterolemic, renoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant, among others. E. carlinae is the most studied species, and phytochemical analyses, performed mainly by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS), have shown its content of terpenoids, fatty acids, organic acids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, sterols, saccharides, polyalcohols, and aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes. According to the results of this review on Eryngium spp., they constitute a relevant alternative as a source of bioactive compounds for pharmaceutical, food, and other industries. However, there is a lot of research to be conducted regarding phytochemistry, biological activities, cultivation, and propagation, in those species with few or no reports.

Effects of Annual Growth Conditions on Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Activity in the Roots of Eryngium montanum

“…These compounds were also identified in extracts of E. maritimum , E. campestre and E. planum , and according to Cortés-Fernández et al [ 5 ] and Kikowska et al [ 8 ], they are associated with antioxidant properties that confer anti-inflammatory and antiprotozoal effects. Although these Eryngium species, including E. montanum , are used in traditional medicine for their anti-inflammatory, analgesic or antimicrobial properties, pharmacological and toxicity studies are lacking for most of them, especially regarding their root extracts [ 3 , 14 ]. However, for rosmarinic acid, identified as the main component of E. montanum extracts in this study, no toxicity in humans has been reported at doses of 100–200 mg/kg [ 14 , 29 ].…”

“…Although these Eryngium species, including E. montanum , are used in traditional medicine for their anti-inflammatory, analgesic or antimicrobial properties, pharmacological and toxicity studies are lacking for most of them, especially regarding their root extracts [ 3 , 14 ]. However, for rosmarinic acid, identified as the main component of E. montanum extracts in this study, no toxicity in humans has been reported at doses of 100–200 mg/kg [ 14 , 29 ]. However, it is necessary to expand studies on this topic to guarantee the efficacy and safety of consuming these extracts.…”

“…& Rose is a common biennial or perennial herb distributed worldwide in subtropical and temperate regions but is considered endemic to central and south–southeastern Mexico, where it is usually associated with grass ecosystems in the disturbed zones of pine–oak and coniferous forests [ 11 , 12 ]. This species is used for the treatment of gastrointestinal, kidney and digestive problems in Mexico and Latin America [ 13 , 14 ], and to date, E. montanum has not been included on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) [ 15 ]. Traditional medicine associates the properties and efficacy of plants based on previous knowledge transmitted orally and/or learned by individuals with the treatment of organic or clinical diseases and ethno-diseases [ 3 , 16 ].…”

“…Additionally, it is important to consider the complex and multilevel mechanisms of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a response of the plant to any stress condition. In this context, this work aimed to evaluate the effect of environmental conditions associated with localities and annual growth conditions on the contents of phenolic compounds and flavonoids and antioxidant activity levels in the roots of Eryngium montanum , a medicinal species found in temperate climates of south–southeastern Mexico and used by indigenous communities for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders (e.g., diarrhea and stomach pains) [ 14 ].…”

Identification of the chemical profile and evaluation of the antimicrobial effect of Eryngium billardieri Delar essential oil component against bacterial species of agricultural and food interest

“…Various species of the genus Eryngium have been reported to possess ornamental, culinary, agricultural, and medicinal applications. The aerial parts of several members of this taxon are reportedly reliable sources of diverse secondary metabolites, such as polyacetylenes, flavonoids and saponins, coumarins, and monoterpene glycosides (Cárdenas-Valdovinos et al, 2023 ).…”