The zoapatle I — A traditional remedy from Mexico emerges to modern times

Pro-ejaculatory effect of the aqueous crude extract of cihuapatli (Montanoa tomentosa) in spinal male rats

“…Mexican traditional medicine mentions that the aqueous crude extract of this plant possesses contraceptive activity in women during the early stages of pregnancy Levine et al, 1981;Gallegos, 1983;Ponce-Monter et al, 1983). The experimental studies with cihuapatli aqueous crude extract or its purified fractions confirm popular observations and it have been shown that the contraceptive effects of Montanoa tomentosa aqueous crude extract are provoked by inhibition of implantation, cervical dilation and uterine bleeding without influence the endocrine status.…”

Montanoa frutescensandMontanoa grandifloraExtracts Reduce Anxiety-Like Behavior during the Metestrus-Diestrus Phase of the Ovarian Cycle in Wistar Rats

“…We can offer a partial explanation of the anxiolytic-like activity exhibited by the extracts analyzed herein by considering phytochemical data on Montanoa plants. Pentacyclic triterpenes and tetracyclic diterpenes (e.g., ent-kaurenoic acid, grandiflorenic acid, kauradienoic acid, zoapatanol, and montanol), sesquiterpene lactones, and flavonoids are the main biologically active compounds contained in extracts of Montanoa plants [53, 54]. Montanoa plants and other Heliantheae plants contain terpenes with remarkable pleiotropic features.…”

The aqueous crude extract of Montanoa frutescens produces anxiolytic-like effects similarly to diazepam in Wistar rats: Involvement of GABAA receptor

“…Early descriptions about the use of cihuapatli aqueous crude extract as a traditional remedy are contained in the Badianus Codex or Libellus de Medicinalibus Indorum Herbis written in 1552 (de la Cruz-Badiano, 1552), where botanical determinants, traditional recipes and prescriptions were provided. Mexican traditional medicine mentions that the prominent use of cihuapatli extract was as a contraceptive agent during the early stages of pregnancy (de la Cruz-Badiano, 1552;Ximenez, 1615;Hahn et al, 1981, Levine et al, 1981Gallegos, 1983;Ponce-Monter et al, 1983) and to induce rhythmic uterine contractions at birth. Additionally, mood and ''nervous'' disorders (an anxiety-like behavior in the context of Mexican antique culture) are also treated with the aqueous crude extract of cihuapatli and early reports by Ximenez (1615) mentioned, ''cihuapatli resolves the mood changes and nerves in an admirable form''.…”