Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 14(4), October 2015, pp. 550-557

A pharmacological and phytochemical study of medicinal used in Mexican folk medicine

Rayn Clarenc Aarland1, Susana Peralta-Gómez2, Cesar Morales Sanchéz2, Francisco Parra-Bustamante2, Juan Manuel Villa-Hernández1, Fernando Díaz de León-Sánchez1, Laura J Pérez-Flores1, Fernando Rivera-Cabrera1 & José Alberto Mendoza-Espinoza2* 1Laboratorio de Fisiología, Bioquímica y Biología Molecular de Plantas, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, 2Colegio de Ciencias y Humanidades, Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México. *E-mail: [email protected] Received 13 October 2014, revised 26 February 2015 market is one of the most important places in Latin America for management of traditional medicine due to the convergence of knowledge from several different indigenous communities. For this reason we decided to apply the standardization methodology proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and adapted by our research group to a total of ten plants used in the Sonora market, because of their referred antioxidant properties. A fragment of 18S rDNA of four of these plants was registered in GenBank database 2014 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genbank/). Quantitative analysis showed that the E. angustifolia® commercial extract (Maryel Natura Gold) contains higher levels of total flavonoids than the extracts of the plants used in the Sonora market. However, chlorogenic acid was found in Castela erecta Turpin ssp “chaparro amargo”, tridentata (Sessé & Moc. ex DC.) Coville “gobernadora”, Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. “Raíz de nopal”, Tecoma stans “tronadora”, and Ibervillea sonorae (S. Watson) Greene “Wereke”, but not in the E. angustifolia® extract. Antioxidant activity was higher in the E. angustifolia® extract compared to the extracts of evaluated plants. This information will serve as basis for progress in the recovery, standardization, pharmacological characterization and application of used in Mexican traditional medicine.

Keywords: Pharmacological characterization, Mexico, Folk medicine, E. angustifolia DC., Antioxidant activity, Molecular identification IPC Int. Cl.8: A61K 36/00, C09K 15/00, G06F 19/10, C07C 7/13, C01B 37/00, C01B 39/00

In order to meet their basic needs, man has always had guaranteed in order to achieve the desired a close relationship with plants. Folk or indigenous pharmacological effect. To do so, it is necessary to medicine is the result of this relationship1 and still measure some parameters of their chemical plays an important role in continents like Africa, Asia composition such as the presence of major chemical and America. The World Health Organization (WHO) groups through qualitative analysis combined with the has paid attention to the success achieved by Eastern quantification of some secondary metabolites. countries like China, where incorporation of medicinal Determination of metabolite fingerprints by using plants into official medicine resulted in their clinical various analytical techniques such as HPLC, UV-Vis assessment. In the last four years, the Food and Drug spectrum, GC-MS analysis, among others, is also part Administration (FDA) has approved three treatments of the standardization process3. Finally, it is necessary based on mixtures (antiallergic, anticancer, to perform some in vitro or in vivo pharmacological antipsoriatic)2; this fact could change the current view essays. of traditional medicine in the world. In order to Mexico is one of the five mega diverse countries of approve treatments based on medicinal plants, the the world given that about 50% of the 22,000 vascular establishment of protocols that allow the species are endemic4, and similarly to other standardization of the process is required. This countries, the use of native and incorporated medicinal standardization consists of two main stages; in the first, plants is a common alternative to conventional safety and identity of the product must be guaranteed. medicine in some rural communities. Markets are the In the second, chemical content of the extract must be most common sites for obtaining these plants.  However, their clinical use has not resulted in the *Corresponding author development of scientific methodologies; for this AARLAND et al.: PHARMACOLOGICAL & PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY MEXICAN FOLK 551

reason, they cannot be incorporated into official for hexane. Samples were refrigerated at 4ºC until their medicine5. In this context, the objective of the present further analysis8. work was to apply the methodology to standardize medicinal plants to ten of the most used medicinal Qualitative analyses plants in the Sonora Market in order to contribute to Determination of alkaloids the knowledge of Mexican medicinal plants. An aliquot of 0.1 mL of each extract was applied on silica gel 60F254 plates (3 x 5 cm). Plates were eluted Methodology with chloroform-methanol 95:5 v/v and revealed with Biological material the Dragendorff reagent. Formation of red-brown spots Medicinal plants were selected by ethnobotanical indicates the presence of alkaloids8. study. In this study, the common name for each plant Detection of tannins was obtained and then, scientific names were searched The extracts obtained (2 mg) were dissolved in 10 for in the catalogue of common and scientific names of mL of distilled water. The solution was divided into 3 Mexican plants as a first approach, and corroborated test tubes and treated with: a gelatin solution 1% (w/v) with the taxonomic classification of Mexican plants by in test tube number 1; a gelatin- salt reagent (1 gm of Calderon and Rezdowski (2005)6. These studies were gelatin and 10 gm of NaCl dissolved in 100 mL of conducted by the taxonomist Susana Peralta of the distilled water) in test tube number 2; saline solution Plantel Casa Libertad Herbarium. A commercial (NaCl 10% (w/v)) in test tube number 3. The extract of Echinacea angustifolia manufactured by appearance of a white precipitate in test tubes number 1 Maryel Natural Gold, Mérida, Yucatán, México, was & 2 and the absence of such precipitate in test tube obtained from a local merchandiser. 8 number 3 indicate the presence of tannins . DNA isolation and 18S gene amplification Determination of saponins Total DNA was isolated from 50 mg of dry The extracts obtained (2 mg) were placed in a tube from each plant using Axy Prep Multisource Genomic containing 10 mL of distilled water and then, incubated DNA Miniprep kit (Axygen Biosciences®, CA, USA). in a water bath at 80 °C during 30 min. Afterwards, the DNA was resuspended in 100 µL of DEPC-treated tube was allowed to cool, stirred vigorously and left to water. DNA purity was determined by 8 stand for 15 to 20 minutes . The presence and level of A260nm/A280nm ratio and its concentration was saponins was assessed by measuring the height of the quantified using a Nanodrop 2000 (Thermo Scientific, foam formed. Wilmington, DE. USA). Integrity of all samples was verified by gel electrophoresis using 100 ng. For Determination of free anthracene derivatives amplifying 18S gene, the following primers were used: Silica gel plates 60F254 of 3x5 cm were cut and an Fwd: 5’–GTGGCCTAAACGGCCATAGTCCCTC- 3’ aliquot (0.1 mL) of each extract was applied. Plates were and Rv: 5’ –GGAAACTTACCAGGTCCAGAGAT eluted with the same solvents used for alkaloids AG- 3’ based on the published maize sequences determination. Yellow or red fluorescent spots under (Accession number AF168884)7. The amplicon was UV-light indicate the presence of free anthracene purified with the Wizard® SV Gel kit and the PCR derivatives8. Clean-Up System (Promega, Madison, USA) and sequenced by the Sanger method (Applied Biosystems Determination of volatile coumarins The extracts obtained (2 mg) were added to 10 mL ABI, Hitachi 3130XL Prism Genetic Analyzer, of distilled water were covered with filter paper Mariland, USA). moistened in a caustic soda solution (1gm in 15mL) Preparation of extracts and heated until boiling point. After 5 minutes, the For obtaining the extracts, biological material (200 g) filter paper was removed from the tube, dried and was dried and macerated starting with hexane (1000 exposed to UV-light. Blue fluorescence indicates the mL). After a week of maceration, the solvent was presence of volatile coumarins8. recovered by filtering and it was concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain the solid extract. The Quantitative analyses filtered parts of the plant were macerated once again Total phenolic compounds with ethyl acetate (1000 mL) and afterwards with Total phenolic compounds were measured as methanol (1000 mL) using the same process described described by Singlenton and Rossi (1965)9 using a 552 INDIAN J TRADIT KNOWLE, VOL 4, NO. 4, OCTOBER 2015

spectrophotometer (6705 UV/VIS JENWAY). Gallic UV/VIS JENWAY) within an acquisition range from acid was used as standard. 190 to 1100 nm.

Total flavonoids Results and discussion Total flavonoids were measured by the chloride The Sonora Market is one of the most important aluminum method as described by Chang et al. places in Mexico City for selling and buying (2002)10 using a spectrophotometer (6705 UV/VIS medicinal plants, this market has sales of about 160 JENWAY). Quercetin was used as standard. tons per month. There, the traditional knowledge of several indigenous communities of the Mexican Caffeic and chlorogenic acid determination Valley converges. Sonora Market was officially Caffeic and Chlorogenic acid determinations were named in 1974 when this center of popular commerce 11 performed according to Pellati et al. (2011) with took its current structure, made up of 10,262 m2 slight modifications. An HPLC Agilent 1200 series distributed in two areas. In the first area, there are 11 system consisting of a degasser, a quaternary pump, aisles where ceramic, handcrafted decorative and an autosampler, a thermostatted column compartment, herbal items, as well as Mexican toys, alebrijes and a UV detector was used for the determinations. A (alebrijes are colored Mexican folk art sculptures of TM µBondapak C18 (3.9 x 300 mm, W00671T018 serial imaginary creatures) and seasonal items for any social number) column was used for the analyses; the event, animals and pet accessories can be found. The column temperature was set at 30 ºC. The mobile second area houses stalls selling saint images, herbs phase consisted of (A) 0.1% (v/v) acetic acid in H2O and medicinal plants. Regarding herbalism, plants and (B) acetonitrile. The gradient elution was as availability in the market stalls depend on the demand follows: initial, 15% B; 0-10 min, from 15 to 30% B; for the product, as well as its natural availability in its 10-18 min, from 30 to 65% B; 18-25 min, from 65 to native environment. 80% B; 25- 30 min from 80 to 90% B, 30- 35 min, As a result of the ethnobotanical and bibliographic linear gradient B. The post-running time was 3 min at study a total of 10 plants used in the Sonora Market for -1 a 1 mL min flow rate. Sample injection volume was its referred antioxidant properties for curing and 20 µL. The DAD acquisition range was 250-350 nm preventing several illnesses were selected (Table 1); it and peak integration was performed at 320 nm. is important to mention that these plants are among the most bought by consumers for several ailments. Once Pharmacological analysis the plants were obtained in the market, they were Analysis of toxicity using Artemia salina bioassay identified as described in the section of materials and Toxicity activity was measured using the A. salina methods and a literature review was conducted to know bioassay described by Meyer et al. in 1982 and 8 the pharmacological properties reported in PubMed adjusted by our investigation group . (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed) for these plants. From the 10 selected plants, 5: Cecropia Antioxidant activity measured using DPPH obtusifolia Bryophyllum pinnatum Antioxidant activity was determined by Bertol., (Lam.) Opuntia indica Tecoma stans diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay described by Oken, , (L.) Juss. ex 12 Ibervillea sonorae Brand-Williams et al. in 1995 using a Kunth and (S. Watson) Greene have spectrophotometer JENWAY 6705 UV/VIS. Trolox been mentioned for their hypoglycemic properties, Larrea tridentata was used as positive control (See, S1). while (Sessé & Moc. ex DC.) Coville, Castela erecta Turpin ssp., Guazuma ulmifolia Antioxidant activity measured using ABTS+ Lam., and Frangula purshiana Cooper syn Rhamnus Antioxidant capacity was measured according to purshiana DC. have been associated with other the method described by Rivero-Pérez et al. in 200713 pharmacological properties as shown in Table 1. No using a spectrophotometer JENWAY 6705 UV/VIS. pharmacological studies were found for Swietenia Trolox was used as positive control (See, S1). humilis Zucc.; however, there are some ethnobotanical studies reported in the Digital Library of UV/Vis Spectrum Mexican Traditional Medicine developed by the The solid extract (10 mg) was dissolved in 5 mL National Autonomous University of México methanol and then the solution was filtered. Spectra (seewww.medicinaltradicionalmexicana.unam.mx) and were obtained using a spectrophotometer (6705 in the Sonora Market (Table 1). This makes Swietenia AARLAND et al.: PHARMACOLOGICAL & PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY MEXICAN FOLK 553

humilis Zucc. an interesting candidate for studying its GenBank with the following accession numbers: antibiotic properties that have been empirically Cáscara Sagrada (Frangula purshiana Cooper syn. reported, but not pharmacologically validated. Rhamnus purshiana DC., KJ937009), Guarumbo In addition, a conserved region of the 18S (Cecropia obtusifolia Bertol., KJ937006), Guazima ribosomal gene from each of the ten selected plants (Guazuma ulmifolia Lam., KJ937008), and Wereke was amplified and sequenced as previously described (Ibervillea sonorae (S. Watson) Greene, KJ937007) in materials and methods (Table 2). The alignment of the others are shown in Table 2. the obtained sequences to sequences previously Qualitative and toxicity analyses were performed in reported allows having a molecular reference for the extracts obtained using the three solvents: hexane, identification of the analyzed biological material. ethyl acetate and methanol. In contrast, quantitative However, the selected plants are not registered in the and pharmacological analyses were determined only GenBank database (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ in the methanolic extract, since this is the most similar genbank/). The conserved fragment of 18S of 4 of the to the Echinacea angustifolia DC. hydroalcoholic 10 plants studied, were registered by our group in extract used for comparison. Also, the plants selected

Table 1Bibliographic review and empirical uses of plants used in the Sonora Market a. Common name Chemical and pharmacological properties as Empirical uses in the Sonora Market and b. Scientific name documented in Pubmed (revised in 2014). information contained in the Digital Library of Mexican Traditional Medicine developed by National Autonomous University of México (UNAM). a. Cáscara sagrada Aflatoxins and glycosides have been assessed15. Recommended for treating diabetes. It is b. Frangula purshiana Cooper Anti-hepatoma16 and laxative17 properties have been recommended for treating habitual constipation and syn. Rhamnus purshiana DC. validated. hemorrhoids. Also used for treating indigestion. a. Chaparro amargo Toxicity studies on extracts of this plant have been Useful in the treatment of dysentery and chronic b. Castela erecta Turpin ssp. performed17. diarrhea. It is a strong antioxidant that helps to prevent cellular disorders like cancer. a. Gobernadora Toxicity and studies of its antioxidant properties Most commonly used to treat kidney stones. It is b. Larrea tridentata have been performed18. It is also known for its also used to relieve pain from rheumatism. It has (Sessé & Moc. ex DC.) Coville diuretic properties. been also reported for treating anemia, diabetes, headache, cough, ulcer, blood pressure and foot infections. a. Guarumbo Chlorogenic acid has been extracted19. Treatment Used to treat asthma, hepatic diseases, rheumatism, b. Cecropia obtusifolia Bertol. for diabetes20. obesity, heart diseases, nervousness, fever, body aches and dropsy. a. Guazima Antidiabetic effects20. Used to gastrointestinal disorders, abdominal pain, b. Guazuma ulmifolia Lam. stomach pain, liver disease, digestive ailments and gallstones. a. Prodigiosa Anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and Mostly employed for treating gallstones. Used to b. Brickellia cavanillesii (Cass.) antimicrobial activities have been assessed21. treat heart diseases and malaria. Also used to treat A. Gray (Cass.) A. Gray scabies, swollen stomach and intestinal infections. a. Raíz de nopal It has been used for weight control because of its Used to treat hyperglycemia, cholesterol, obesity, b. Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. high fiber content and to control diabetes22. digestive problems, colitis and diverticulitis. Local prescription at the Sonora Market. a. Semilla de zopilote No pharmacological studies were found. Used to alleviate various hair diseases; b. Swietenia humilis Zucc. recommended against urinary tract infections, vomiting, malaria and swollen spleen. Also used to treat chest pain, cough, cancer, amebiasis and for its anthelmintic properties. a. Tronadora Antimicrobial studies have been performed. Used as treatment for various digestive ailments. b. Tecoma stans (L.) Juss. It has also shown antiglycemic properties23. Also mentioned as an appetite stimulant and for ex Kunth toothaches. a. Wereke Hypoglycemic effects have been reported24. Used for rheumatism and to treat wounds difficult b. Ibervillea sonorae to heal. It is also used by people who eat a lot of (S. Watson) Greene sugar and slim fast. a. Echinacea angustifolia Used to prevent respiratory tract infections, to treat common cold and to enhance the immune system25. b. Echinacea angustifolia DC. 554 INDIAN J TRADIT KNOWLE, VOL 4, NO. 4, OCTOBER 2015

Table 2Common names, 18S rDNA partial sequence (in capital letters) of Mexican plants used in traditional medicine Chaparro amargo: ACGCCCCCCCCGGGGGGGGGGTGAAAAAGGAAGAGCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCTCCCCCCGCGCGGCGCCCTTTTT Gobernadora: GGTCAATCAGCTCTTCTGATCTATGGGTGGTGGTGCATGGCCGTTCTTAGTTGGTGGAGCGATTTGTCTGGTTAATTCCGTTAACGA ACGAGAC CTCAGCCTGCTAACTAGCTATGCGGAGGCATCCCTTCGCAGCTAGCTTCTTAGAGGGACTATGGCCGTTTAGGCCACA Prodigiosa: GGAATTCGAACAGCAAAACTCTTTCTTGATTCTATGGGTGGTGGTGCATGGCCGTTCTTAGTTGGTGGAGCGATTTGTCTG GTTAATTCCGTTAACGAACGAGACCTCAGCCTGCTAACTAGCTATGTGGAGGTATCCCTCCATGGCCAGCTTCTTAGAGGG ACTATGGCCGTTTAGGCCAC Raíz de nopal: AATGCGACACTCGAGCTCTTCATGATCTATGGGTGGTGGTGCAATGGCCGTTCTTAGTTGGTGGAGCGATTTGTCTGTGTTA ATTCCGTTAACGAACGAGACCTCAGCCTGCTAACTAGCTACGCGGAGGCATCCCTCCGCGGCCAGCTTCTTAGAGGGACTA TGGCCGTTTAGGCCACCA Semilla de zopilote: TTTCTTCCTTCCTGGTCTTAGCTCTTTTCATGATTTCTATGGGTGGTGGTGCAATGGCCCGTTCTTAGTTGGTGGAGCGATTTGTCTGGTT AATAACCAGTTAAACGAACGAGACCTCAGCCTGCTAACTAGCTACGCGGAGGATACCCTCCGCGGCCAGCTTCTTAGAGGGACTATGG CCGTTTAGGCCAC Tronadora: TCTTCCGCCGGGGGGGGGAAAGAGGGGGGGGAACTTTTTTTTTTTCTTCCTCCCCCCCCCGGCCCCCCTCGCCCCCCCCCT Table 3Evaluation of the presence of major chemical groups

Hexane (C6H14) Ethyl acetate (C4H8O2) Methanol (CH3OH) Common name A B C D E A B C D E A B C D E Cáscara sagrada ++ - - - ++ ++ + - - + - - + - + Chaparro amargo ++ ++ - - + +++ ++ - - + + - - - ++ Gobernadora + - ++ - ++ ++ - - - ++ ++ - - - +++ Guarumbo +++ - - - - +++ - - - - + - + - + Guazima +++ - - - ++ +++ - + - - + - - - + Prodigiosa ++ - - - ++ +++ - - - +++ +++ - ++ - + Raíz de nopal - ++ + - - - + ++ - - - ++ Semilla de zopilote - - - - + - +++ - - + ++ - - - ++ Tronadora ++ - - - - ++ ++ - - ++ ++ - - - ++ Wereke - - ++ - ++ - - - - ++ - - +++ - ++ (A) Anthraquinones, (B) tannins; (C) saponins; (D) coumarins; (E) alkaloids. Qualitative scale: - No presence was observed. Presence: + low, ++ moderate, +++ high. Methods used as formerly described. for the study are used as aqueous infusion for its Chemical groups of interest such as caffeic acid, therapeutic application. chlorogenic acid, total phenols, and total flavonoids. Qualitative preliminary tests were carried out in the Caffeic and chlorogenic acids are compounds with plants selected in the Sonora Market to determine the pharmacological properties related to antioxidant presence of different chemical groups shown in Table protection. Since, these compounds are reported in 3. Alkaloids, anthraquinones, tannis, saponins and many plants with antioxidant properties, they represent coumarins are among the chemical groups associated a good chemical marker. It is important to mention that to the therapeutic principles evaluated in each of the E. angustifolia was chosen as control because there are extracts. This qualitative evaluation represents an several studies that report high contents of these initial characterization. Since, it is a qualitative study compounds in this plant and therefore, it represents a we cannot obtain an absolute value for comparing to parameter for comparison to the plants used in Mexican other plant species; however, it is possible to compare traditional medicine. Content of these compounds is the plants used in the study among them. Results reported in Table 4. Caffeic acid was detected in show that ‘prodigiosa’ ethyl acetate extract and Rhamnus purshiana “Cáscara sagrada”, Opuntia ficus ‘gobernadora’ methanolic extract contained the “raíz de nopal” and Ibervillea sonorae “Wereke”, highest content of alkaloids; regarding saponins, showing Cáscara sagrada much lower concentrations hexane and ethyl acetate extracts of ‘wereke’ showed than the E. angustifolia® extract. Regarding the highest levels. Coumarins were not detected in chlorogenic acid, which was not detected in any of the analyzed species. the Echinacea extract, we found concentrations of 32.3, AARLAND et al.: PHARMACOLOGICAL & PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY MEXICAN FOLK 555

Table 4Phytochemical quantitative analyses and pharmacological assay Caffeic Chlorogenic Total Total Antioxidant Antioxidant Toxicity assay acida acida phenolsb flavonoidsc capacity (DPPH)d Capacity (ABTS)d Artemia salinae Cáscara sagrada 0.022 n.d. 1133 ± 41 9.56 ± 0.08 0.28±0.05 0.09 ± 0.002 1535 Chaparro amargo n.d. 32.3 154 ± 17 6.77 ± 0.53 0.16±0.01 n.d. 1551 Gobernadora n.d. 21.4 476 ± 11 0.88 ± 0.05 0.06±0.01 0.04 ± 0.002 1592 Guarumbo n.d. n.d. 146 ± 14 0.63 ± 0.03 0.08± 0.002 0.12 ± 0.002 276 Guazima n.d. n.d. 58 ± 7 2.87 ± 0.59 0.05 ± 0.003 0.01 ± 0.001 300 Prodigiosa n.d. n.d. 708 ± 29 0.31 ± 0.02 0.05± 0.006 0.06 ± 0.001 254 Raíz de nopal 0.804 90.4 537 ± 31 0.19 ± 0.02 0.70± 0.04 0.11 ± 0.005 260 Semilla de zopilote n.d. n.d. 1040 ± 57 0.80 ± 0.02 0.31 ± 0.04 0.003 ± 0.0002 1529 Tronadora n.d. 34.6 411 ± 10 5.76 ± 0.47 0.03±0.002 0.06 ± 0.004 1550 Wereke 0.559 15.7 747 ± 42 5.41 ± 0.43 n.d 0.004 ± 0 1536 Echinacea angustifolia®. 0.368 n.d. 826 ± 11 15.70 ± 0.13 44.55±2.98 76.22 ± 3.81 1535 Only methanol extracts were analyzed Expressed as: (a) ppm, (b) gallic acid milliequivalents/g dry weight, (c) quercetin milliequivalents/g dry weight, (d) trolox millimolar equivalents/ gm dry weight, (e) toxicity was expressed as lethal dose fifty DL50 (ppm, mg/mL). n.d = not detected

21.4, 90.4, 34.6 and 15.7 ppm per gm of dry weight in the Mexican plants Castela erecta ssp “Chaparro amargo”, Larrea tridentata “Gobernadora”, Opuntia ficus “raíz de nopal”, Tecoma stans “Tronadora” and Ibervillea sonorae “Wereke”, respectively (S2). In regards to total phenolic compounds and total flavonoids content, Rhamnus purshiana “Cáscara sagrada” and Semilla de zopilote showed a high content of total phenolic compounds (for statistical differences in the flavonoids and phenols content between plants see supporting information). Even though total phenols in these Mexican species were higher than in the E. angustifolia® extract, the Echinacea extract showed a stronger antioxidant activity, regarding the Mexican plants, we did not find statistical differences between groups (See supporting information S3). Echinacea angustifolia® had the highest concentration of total flavonoids evaluated as milliequivalents of quercetin per gram of dry weight. We observed poor correlations between total phenolic compounds vs the antioxidant capacity and a better correlation between total flavonoid content and antioxidant capacity. The use of a wider range of plants is recommended in order to come to a better conclusion regarding the correlations. See supporting information S4-S7. There was a strong correlation (R2= 0.9998) between DPPH vs ABTS+, however, when we eliminated the value of Echinacea angustifolia® we Fig. 1UV absorption spectrum obtained a bad correlation. These results suggest that for this correlation analysis it is necessary to have The HPLC method has been used to obtain the 14 intermediate values (S8). It is important to mention that fingerprint profiles in this case we decided to use neither the extracts obtained from the Mexican plants nor ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) absorption spectrum the Echinacea angustifolia® extract were active against because this method is more versatile and can be used nauplii of Artemia salina, considering that values higher as an extra chemical control. (UV-VIS) Spectra of the than 200 ppm of the crude extract are considered as toxic. ten Mexican plants are shown in Fig. 1. 556 INDIAN J TRADIT KNOWLE, VOL 4, NO. 4, OCTOBER 2015

Conclusion 5 Schlaepfer L & Mendoza-Espinoza JA, Las Plantas This work presents the analysis of 10 plants used in Medicinales en la Lucha Contra el Cáncer, Relevancia para México, Revista Mexicana de la Asociación Farmacéutica, 41 the Sonora Market; 5 of them have been previously (2010) 18-27. studied for their antiglycemic properties and the other 5 6 Calderón RG & Rzedowski J, Flora fanerogámica del Valle de selected species have been related to diverse México, 2a edn, (CONABIO, Instituto de Ecología AC, pharmacological properties. It is noteworthy that México), 2005. Swietenia humilis Zucc. “Semilla de zopilote” has 7 A) Sambrook J, Fritsch E & Maniatis T, Molecular Cloning: A extensive medicinal uses, as ethno botanical data Laboratory Manual, second ed. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, NY. 1989. B) Villa-Hernández J, Dinkova indicate, but there are no pharmacological studies that T, Aguilar-Caballero R, Rivera-Cabrera F, Sánchez de Jiménez validate them and therefore, it becomes an interesting E, & Pérez-Flores LJ. Regulation of ribosome biogenesis in species to study in order to find its active compounds maize embryonic axes during germination, Biochimie, 95 or to develop the standardization process to obtain an (2013) 1871-1879. . In the present study, it was shown that 8 Peralta-Gómez S, Aarland R, Campos-Lara M, Jiménez-Lara M & Mendoza-Espinoza JA, Toxicity Analysis, Phytochemical and Swietenia humilis “Semilla de zopilote” has a moderate Pharmacological Study of the Plant Known as Mora Herb, activity in the Artemia salina model and its antioxidant Collected at the Environmental Education Center of Yautlica capacity was lower than that of Echinacea (CEA-Yautlica), Asian J Plant Sci, 12 (2013) 159-164. angustifolia®. 9 Singlenton V & Rossi J, Colorimetry of total phenolics with None of the studied plants have a chemical and phosphomolyb-diphosphotungstic acid reagents, Am J Enol pharmacological profile that leads us to a standardize Viticult, 16 (1965) 144-158. 10 Chan C, Yang M, Wen H & Chern J, Estimation of total treatment, for this reason; the standardization flavonoid content in propolis by two complementary procedure proposed by our research group in 2014 colorimetric methods, J Food Drug Ana, 10 (2002) 178-182. was applied. Main chemical components, antioxidant 11 Pellati F, Epifano F, Contaldo N, Orlandini G, Cavicchi L, capacity, as well as the chemical UV spectrum of the Genovese S, Bertelli D, Benvenuti S, Curini M, Bertaccini A & analyzed plants are reported. These data will Bellardi M G, Chromatographic methods for metabolite profiling of virus- and phytoplasma-infected plants of contribute to the knowledge required for their , J Agric Food Chem, 59(19) (2011) standardization to make possible their incorporation 10425-10434. as herbal treatments in the official medicine. 12 Brand-Williams W, Cuvelier M & Berset C, Use of free radical method to evaluate antioxidant activity, Lebensmittel- Acknowledgement Wissenschaft Technol, 28 (1995) 25-30. 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