Aromatic and Medicinal Plants of Drylands and Deserts

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 Aromatic and Medicinal Plants
of Drylands and Deserts
Ecology, Ethnobiology and Potential Uses

Edited by
David Ramiro Aguillón-Gutiérrez, Cristian Torres-León, and
Jorge Alejandro Aguirre-Joya
First edition published 2023

by CRC Press
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© 2023 David Ramiro Aguillón-Gutiérrez, Cristian Torres-León, and Jorge Alejandro Aguirre-Joya

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DOI: 10.1201/9781003251255

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by Deanta Global Publishing Services, Chennai, India
 Contents

Preface vii
Editors ix
Contributors xi

1 Introduction to Plant Taxonomy: Vascular and Non-vascular Plants

with Medicinal Use 1
Gisela Muro-Pérez, Jaime Sánchez-Salas, Omag Cano-Villegas, Raúl López-García, and
Luis Manuel Valenzuela-Nuñez

2 Mexican Desertic Medicinal Plants: Biology, Ecology, and Distribution 7

José Antonio Hernández-Herrera, Luis Manuel Valenzuela-Núñez, Juan Antonio Encina-
Domínguez, Aldo Rafael Martínez-Sifuentes, Eduardo Alberto Lara-Reimers, and
Cayetano Navarrete-Molina

3 Mexican Desert: Health and Biotechnological Properties Potential of

Some Cacti Species (Cactaceae) 89
Joyce Trujillo, Sandra Pérez-Miranda, Alfredo Ramírez-Hernández, Alethia Muñiz-Ramírez,
Abraham Heriberto Garcia-Campoy, and Yadira Ramírez-Rodríguez

4 Potential of Plants from the Arid Zone of Coahuila in Mexico for the
Extraction of Essential Oils 119
Orlando Sebastian Solis-Quiroz, Adriana Carolina González-Machado, Jorge Alejandro
Aguirre-Joya, David Ramiro Aguillón-Gutierrez, Agustina Ramírez-Moreno, and Cristian
Torres-León

5 Ethnopharmacology of Important Aromatic Medicinal Plants of the

Caatinga, Northeastern Brazil 127
Sikiru Olaitan-Balogun, Mary Anne Medeiros-Bandeira, Karla do Nascimento-Magalhães,
and Igor Lima-Soares

6 Plants of the Chihuahuan Semi-desert for the Control of

Phytopathogens 151
Claudio Alexis Candido-del Toro, Roberto Arredondo-Valdés, Mayela Govea-Salas,
Julia Cecilia Anguiano-Cabello, Elda Patricia Segura-Ceniceros, Rodolfo Ramos-González,
Juan Alberto Ascacio-Valdés, Elan Iñaky Laredo-Alcalá, and Anna Iliná v
vi Contents

7 Phytochemical Compounds from Desert Plants to Management of

Plant-parasitic Nematodes 167
Marco Antonio Tucuch-Pérez, Roberto Arredondo-Valdés, Francisco Daniel Hernández-
Castillo, Yisa María Ochoa-Fuentes, Elan Iñaky Laredo-Alcalá, and Julia Cecilia
Anguiano-Cabello

8 Plant Phytochemicals from the Chihuahuan Semi-desert with Possible

Herbicidal Actions 179
Alisa Clementina Barroso-Ake, Roberto Arredondo-Valdés, Rodolfo Ramos-González,
Elan Iñaki Laredo-Alcalá, Cristóbal Noé Aguilar-González, Juan Alberto Ascacio-Valdés,
Mayela Govea, Anna Iliná, and Marco Antonio Tucuch-Peréz

9 Chemical and Bioactive Compounds from Mexican Desertic Medicinal

Plants 189
Julio Cesar López-Romero, Heriberto Torres-Moreno, Arely del Rocio Ireta-Paredes, Ana
Veronica Charles-Rodríguez, and María Liliana Flores-López

10 Edible Coating Based on Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) Functionalized

with Rhus microphylla Fruit Extract to Improve the Cucumber
(Cucumis sativus L.) Shelf Life 219
Ana Veronica Charles-Rodríguez, Maria Reyes de la Luz, Jorge L. Guía-García, Fidel
Maximiano Peña-Ramos, Armando Robledo-Olivo, Antonio F. Hench-Cabrera, and María
Liliana Flores-López

11 Larrea Tridentate: Bioactive Compounds, Biological Activities and Its

Potential Use in Phytopharmaceuticals Improvement 231
Julio César López-Romero, Heriberto Torres-Moreno, Karen Lillian Rodríguez-Martínez,
Alejandra del Carmen Suárez-García, Minerva Edith Beltrán-Martinez, and Jimena
García-Dávila

12 Toxicological Aspects of Medicinal Plants that Grow in Drylands and

Polluted Environments 269
Rebeca Pérez-Morales, Miguel Ángel Téllez-López, Edgar Héctor Olivas-Calderón, and
Alberto González-Zamora

Index 283
 Preface

Historically, humans have used plants for medicinal purposes, sometimes serving as the only
alternative to treat diseases, formerly because the pharmacological industry did not exist, but
even today, in communities without access to commercial medicines, and in some cases due to
lack of trust in them or lack of financial resources to purchase them. Even so, most of the drugs
that are manufactured today have the extract of a plant as their active compound.
The knowledge that different cultures have developed on the use of medicinal plants is part of
an invaluable cultural wealth that, both in Eastern and Western societies, form links between
different peoples and the natural resources that surround them, but also, establish ethnic or
traditional health systems that have allowed these societies to face their main diseases and
illnesses.
Plants in arid and semi-arid environments have, over time, developed adaptation mecha-
nisms for the adverse conditions of these ecosystems. In addition to generating spines in some
species, they also produce substances that help them keep predators away or carry out impor-
tant biochemical and physiological processes for the survival of the plant. These substances are
those that have biomedical and pharmacological potential once they are isolated, identified and
medicinal properties verified at the laboratory level.
It is of the utmost importance that plants that have medicinal use are conserved in their natu-
ral environments. Unfortunately many of them are in danger of extinction because of very differ-
ent factors. It is necessary not only to understand the functioning of the active compounds that
these plants generate in nature but also to propose sustainable use systems that allow future
generations to obtain a benefit from these organisms. Knowledge generated at the molecular,
cellular, physiological, biochemical and genetic levels have a conservation impact on the popula-
tion, community and ecosystem level.
In this book, the case of the medicinal plants of the deserts in Mexico and other countries is
treated in a particular way, from its biological and ecological generalities to its ethnobotanical
history, passing definitely through the biochemical analysis of its most relevant compounds and
its biomedical applications. In the book, there are collaborations by authors from different insti-
tutions in northern Mexico, which is where the arid and semi-arid ecosystems of the country are
found. Although the subject of medicinal plants has been treated from different angles, this book
offers a holistic and comprehensive vision of these important organisms of the Mexican desert,
thus resulting in an updated work for specialized readers and for those who are beginning in this
exciting theme.

vii
 Editors

David Ramiro Aguillón-Gutiérrez, PhD, graduated from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
and Animal Sciences, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, Mexico, in 2003. He earned his
Specialist degree in Occupational Health from the Autonomous University of Noreste, Mexico,
MSc degree in Biological Sciences (Specialist in Embryology) from Lomonosov Moscow State
University, Russia, in 2009, and his PhD in Biological Sciences (Specialist in Embryology and
Zoology) also from Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russia, in 2012. From 2013 to 2014 he
was a Postdoctoral Researcher in Biodiversity and Conservation at the Autonomous University
of the State of Hidalgo, Mexico. Currently, he is a full-time Research Professor at the Autonomous
University of Coahuila, Mexico, and a member of the National System of Researches, Mexico. He
has published 25 peer-reviewed papers, five book chapters and three books (two as author and
one as editor).

Cristian Torres-León, PhD, is Professor at the Research Center and Ethnobiological Garden,
Autonomous University of Coahuila, Mexico. He completed a degree in Agroindustrial
Engineering (2013) from the National University of Colombia before earning his Master’s
(2016) and PhD (2019) in Food Science and Technology, both from the Autonomous University
of Coahuila, Mexico. In addition, he completed a PhD (2019) in Biotechnology at the Federal
University of Pernambuco, Brazil. He worked as a Young Researcher at the Colombian Ministry
of Science between 2013 and 2014 and has undertaken a research stay at the University of Minho
in Portugal (2016). He has evaluated projects for government organizations, and his activities and
accomplishments include conferences, seminars, workshops, and the publication of 26 scientific
papers in indexed journals and 16 book chapters. He is now a full Professor at the Autonomous
University of Coahuila, Mexico, and mainly works in the Food Science and Technology area with
an emphasis on biodegradable packaging, phenolic compounds, use of agro-industrial waste,
fermentation technologies, ethnopharmacology and food security.

Jorge Alejandro Aguirre-Joya, PhD, is full-time Professor at the Autonomous University

of Coahuila, Mexico. He is a chemical pharmacologist with a degree from the Autonomous
University of Coahuila (2011). He earned a Master’s degree in Food Science and Technology from
the Autonomous University of Coahuila, Mexico (2014) and earned his PhD in Food Science and
Technology in 2018 from the same university. Currently he is Dean of the Research Center and
Ethnobiological Garden from the Semidesert of Coahuila. He has published 12 peer-reviewed
papers, 15 book chapters and one book as an editor. Also, he has participated in and coordinated
10 technology transfer projects. Dr. Aguirre-Joya is member of the National System of Reserches
(Mexico) and serves as reviewer for several notable journals.

ix
 Contributors

Aguilar-González, C. N Charles-Rodríguez, AV
Autonomus University of Coahuila Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio
Coahuila, México Narro
Coah Coahuila, México
Aguillón-Gutiérrez, D. R
Autonomous University of Coahuila, Encina-Domínguez, J. A
Coahuila, México Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio
Narro
Aguirre-Joya, J. A Coahuila, México
Autonomous University of Coahuila
Coahuila, México Flores-López, M. L
Universidad Interserrana del Estado de Puebla
Anguiano-Cabello, J. C Ahuacatlán
La Salle Saltillo University Puebla, México
Coahuila, México
García-Campoy, A. H
Arredondo-Valdés, R Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y
Autonomus University of Coahuila Tecnológica
Coahuila, México San Luis Potosí, México

Ascacio-Valdés, J. A García-Dávila, J
Autonomus University of Coahuila LIPMAN Family Farms
Coahuila, México Sonora, México.

Barroso-Ake, A. C González-Machado, A. C
Autonomus University of Coahuila Autonomous University of Coahuila
Coahuila, México Coahuila, México

Beltrán-Martínez, M. E González-Zamora, A
Universidad de Sonora Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango
Sonora, México Durango, México

Cándido-del Toro, C. A Govea-Salas, M

Autonomus University of Coahuila Autonomus University of Coahuila
Coahuila, México Coahuila, México

Cano-Villegas, O Guía-García, J. L
Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango Autonomus University of Coahuila
Durango, México Coahuila, México

xi
xii Contributors

Hench-Cabrera, A. F Medeiros-Bandeira, M. A
Universidad Interserrana del Estado de Puebla Universidade Federal do Ceará
Ahuacatlán Foraleza, Brazil
Puebla, México
Muñiz-Ramírez, A
Hernández-Castillo, F. D Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y
Autonomous Agrarian University Antonio Tecnológica
Narro San Luis Potosí, México
Coahuila, México Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología
Ciudad de México, México
Hernández-Herrera, J. A
Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro Muro-Pérez, G
Coahuila, México. Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango
Durango, México
Iliná, A
Autonomus University of Coahuila Nascimento-Magalhães, K
Coahuila, México Universidade Federal do Ceará
Fortaleza, Brazil.
Ireta-Paredes, A. R
Universidad Interserrana del Estado de Puebla Navarrete-Molina, C
Ahuacatlán Universidad Tecnologica de Rodeo
Puebla, México Durango, México

Lara-Reimers, E. A Ochoa-Fuentes, Y. M
Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro Autonomous Agrarian University Antonio
Coahuila, México Narro
Coahuila, México
Laredo-Alcalá, E. I
Autonomus University of Coahuila Olaitan-Balogun, S
Coahuila, México Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados
Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
Lima-Soares, I
Universidade Federal do Ceará Olivas-Calderón, E
Fortaleza, Brazil Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango
Durango, México
López-García, R
Universidad Autónoma Chapingo Peña-Ramos, F.M
Durango, México Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro
Coahuila, México
López-Romero, J. C
Universidad de Sonora Pérez-Miranda, S
Sonora, México Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología
Ciudad de México, México
Martínez-Sifuentes, A. R
Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Pérez-Morales, R
Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango
Durango, México Durango, México
 Contributors xiii

Ramírez-Hernández, A Segura-Ceniceros, E. P
Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Autonomus University of Coahuila
Tecnológica Coahuila, México
San Luis Potosí, México.
Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología Solís-Quiroz, O. S
Ciudad de México, México. Autonomous University of Coahuila
Coahuila, Mexico
Ramírez-Moreno, A.
Autonomous University of Coahuila Suárez-García, A
Coahuila, México Universidad de Sonora
Sonora, México
Ramírez-Rodríguez, Y
Instituto Potosino de Investigación Téllez-López, M. A
Científica y Tecnológica Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango
San Luis Potosí, México. Durango, México

Ramos-González, R Torres-León, C
Autonomus University of Coahuila Autonomous University of Coahuila
Coahuila, México Coahuila, México

Reyes-de la Luz, M Torres-Moreno, H

Universidad Interserrana del Estado de Puebla Universidad de Sonora
Ahuacatlán Sonora, México
Puebla, México
Trujillo, J
Robledo-Olivo, A Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y
Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Tecnológica
Narro San Luis Potosí, México.
Coahuila, México Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología
Ciudad de México, México.
Rodríguez-Martínez, K. L
Universidad Estatal de Sonora Tucuch-Peréz, M. A
Sonora, México. Greencorp Biorganiks de México
Coahuila, México.
Sánchez-Salas, J
Universidad Juárez del Estado de Valenzuela-Núñez, L. M
Durango Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango
Durango, México Durango, México
 Chapter 1

Introduction to Plant Taxonomy: Vascular

and Non-vascular Plants with Medicinal Use

Gisela Muro-Pérez, Jaime Sánchez-Salas, Omag Cano-Villegas,

Raúl López-García, and Luis Manuel Valenzuela-Nuñez

CONTENTS
1.1 The Arid and Semi-arid Areas of Mexico 1
1.2 Plant Taxonomy 2
1.3 Plant Resources in Arid and Semi-arid Zones and Levels of Use 2
1.3.1 Medicinal Uses of Vascular Plants 3
1.3.2 Medicinal Uses of Non-vascular Plants 5
References 5

1.1 THE ARID AND SEMI-ARID AREAS OF MEXICO

The American continent is known for the great breadth of its desert surface. In North America, it
is estimated that one-third of the surface can be considered arid or semi-arid. Understanding arid
and semi-arid as the total rainfall expressed in millimeters (mm) per year, and considering some
socioeconomic indicators, the National Commission of Arid Zones (CONAZA, 1994) considers
that a little more than 40% of Mexico are arid and semi-arid zones in which approximately 18%
of the national population lives. There is an erroneous idea that these areas lack both plant and
fauna diversity. In the Mexican territory, the Sonoran Desert is distinguished, covering the lower
parts of the states of Sonora and Baja California Norte and Baja California Sur, extending into
part of the United States. The other is the Chihuahuan Desert Region (RDCH), which is located
in the states of SLP, Zacatecas, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Chihuahua, Tamaulipas, Durango and
extends into part of the United States. The Tamaulipeca semi-arid zone encompasses the states
of Tamaulipas, part of Nuevo León and Coahuila. Other semi-arid zones are the Hidalguense,
which encompasses the states of Querétaro and Hidalgo and the Poblano-Oaxaqueña, encom-
passing the states of Puebla and Oaxaca (Rzedowski, 1978). Many of the communities settled in
the arid and semi-arid zones have vast knowledge of the natural resources that surround them,
mainly of the flora of each place, including what plants grow in the area, what they can be used
for, where they can be found and how the plants can be consumed. However, there is also a loss of
this knowledge due to the lack of transculturation. In this sense, these communities have gradu-
ally changed part of their economy, and many of the needs are satisfied from outside their envi-
ronment; however, they still depend, to a large extent, on spontaneous plant resources for their

DOI: 10.1201/9781003251255-1 1
2 Introduction to Plant Taxonomy

economy, either directly or indirectly, through the exploitation of wild fauna or species under
domestication.
It is common that in many of the areas where agricultural activities were carried out, after
removal and cultivation (be it beans, corn, etc.), the growth of species such as the “gobernadora”
(Larrea tridentata) is normal, establishing a plant community where the dominance of this spe-
cies is almost absolute. Other species that appear immediately are the “Hojasen” (Flourensia cer-
nua), the “Sangre de Grado” (Jatropha dioica) and others.
There is a vast collection of different plants with different uses, which drastically affects the
natural populations. As we well know, “lechuguilla” (Agave lechuguilla) in northern Mexico is
exploited for the extraction of “ixtle” that is used for the manufacture of sacks, brooms, rope,
etc.; from “candelilla” (Euphorbia antisyphilitica), wax is extracted for use in the food industry
to give shine to fruits and in the pharmaceutical industry for the production of capsules, etc.;
from “guayule” (Parthenium argentaum), a latex is extracted that is known as “natural rubber”
and is used to make car tires, gloves, condoms, tubes, etc. Guayule resins are used to make wood
preservatives, pesticides and plasticizers, and the latex extraction residues are used as fuel in
mixtures to produce paper.

1.2 PLANT TAXONOMY
Also known as taxonomic botany, some authors restrict the field of plant taxonomy to the study
of species classification; however, we will approach taxonomic botany as the study that deals
with the diversity of plants and their identification, nomenclature and classification (Jones &
Luchsinger, 1986). According to Jones and Luchsinger, taxonomic botany is based on five objec-
tives: 1) inventorying the flora of each region, 2) providing a method for the identification of plant
species, 3) producing a universal classification system, 4) demonstrating the evolutionary impli-
cations of plant diversity and 5) providing a scientific name for each group of plants through
nomenclature.
“Flora” is understood as the set of plants that grow in a certain area. “Identification” is the
recognition of certain characteristics of a plant and its application. Recognition occurs when a
floristic specimen is similar to a previously known plant. If the characteristics of the specimen
coincide with those of the studied specimen, we are talking about the same species, and if it
differs in some of the characteristics, we are talking about a new one. This is where the term
“classification” comes from, which is nothing more than the orderly arrangement of plants in
groups that share common characteristics (Chiang, 1989). Therefore, a hierarchical system of
ranks or categories results, which we commonly know as families, genera, species, subspecies,
varieties, etc.

1.3 PLANT RESOURCES IN ARID AND SEMI-

ARID ZONES AND LEVELS OF USE
The arid and semi-arid zones of Mexico occupy a little more than 40% of the country’s total. Plant
diversity and the genetic richness of plants is reflected in the large number of endemisms rep-
resented in families such as Cactaceae, Asteraceae and Fabaceae. Many of the substances pro-
duced by some of the desert plants are resins, latex, waxes and rubbers, which are concentrated
 1.3 Plant Resources in Arid and Semi-arid Zones and Levels of Use 3

in some part of the plant such as fruits, seeds, stems, roots, etc. The inhabitants of these areas
take advantage of them in different ways:
a) Collection and direct use (edible, ornamental, medicinal, fodder).
b) Collection and incipient transformation of use (producers of fibers, other plant species
are soaked, carved or dyed for handicrafts).
c) Collection and more processed treatment (such as that required by the “cerote” process
of candelilla wax, making basketry, hat making or jarcería).
d) Industrialization of the product, as in the case of “jojoba” for the extraction of oil for
shampoo.

1.3.1 Medicinal Uses of Vascular Plants

According to Villaseñor (2004), there are 23,424 species of vascular plants registered in Mexico
that are grouped into 2,804 genera included in 304 families. In addition, 618 introduced and nat-
uralized plant species are recognized (Villaseñor & Espinosa-García, 2004). The exploitation of
plant species in the arid and semi-arid zones of northern Mexico, such as oregano, mesquite,
lechuguilla, sotol, candelilla, “queen of the night” (also known as “deer egg”), “chamiza” (or “cow
rib”), lagrima de San Pedro (or “thunderstorm”), guayule, granjeno, among others, is carried out
intensively, which places the country in first place of use of plants.
Lippia graveolens, commonly known as oregano, belongs to the Verbenaceae family; it is a
shrub with aromatic leaves, and when the leaves are dried, it is used as a condiment. There are
many wild plant species considered as oregano (Robledo, 1990). Almeida (1991) mentions that the
fundamental importance of the species known as oregano lies mainly in their organoleptic prop-
erties derived from their attributes as flavorings or food seasonings. Other species that are also
important in Mexico, from an economic point of view, are Lippia berlandierii and Lippia palmeri.
Martínez (1997) reports that the 16 most commonly used species in Mexico belong to different
families such as Verbenaceae, Labiadas, Compuestas and Legumiosas (Maldonado, 1991).
Prosopis sp., known as mesquite, has been a valuable resource since ancient times for the
inhabitants of arid zones, as multiple benefits were found in the species because all parts of
the plant can be used. The species has been considered a common cultural denominator
for the nomadic hunter-gatherer peoples who inhabited northern Mexico and the southern
United States (CONAZA, 1994). The most common species in northern Mexico are Prosopis
laevigata, P. glandulosa, P. juliflora, among others. The irrational and excessive exploitation to
which it has been subjected has led to the accelerated degradation of mesquite communities,
which is reflected not only in the loss of the resource but also in the deterioration of the soil.
Therefore, these phenomena have led to the alteration of the ecological balance of the thickets
known as mosqueles, which, in turn, has greatly affected the rural communities of those sites
(CONABIO, 2000).
Agave lechuguilla is an agave or maguey from which the “ixtle” (fiber obtained from the leaves
of the lechuguilla) is extracted to make brushes for industrial use, cords, furniture padding and
car seats, rugs and carpets, ropes, hats, fabrics, among others (Rössel et al., 2003). When mixed
with resins, it is used in the manufacture of doors, ceilings, walls, sheets, shelves and furniture
(Mayorga et al., 2004). In addition, due to its detergent properties, it is used in the manufacture
of liquid soaps or shampoo (Zapien, 1981). According to Sheldom (1980) in Baca (2000), archae-
ological finds are documented in different regions of northern Mexico (mainly in Coahuila).
Lechuguilla fiber (ixtle) is exported to Europe, Asia and North and South America. The plant is
4 Introduction to Plant Taxonomy

bushy in shape, composed of a crown of 20 to 30 thick and fibrous leaves arranged in a whorled
shape, giving a rosette appearance (Martínez, 2013; De la Garza, 1985; De la Cruz & Medina,
1988). It is a semelparous species, as it presents a single sexual reproductive event (it flowers only
once) during its life cycle (Begon et al., 1986). It is distributed in xeric scrub in the Chihuahuan
Desert at altitudes below 1,000 meters above sea level and up to 24,000 meters above sea level
(Rzedowski, 1978).
Dasylirion leiophyllum, known as “sotol”, is a plant that lives in the Chihuahuan Desert and
blooms in spring or early summer (Benson, 1981) and bears fruit in the months of August–
September (Cano, 2006). It is a species used in an artisanal alcoholic beverage known as “aguardi-
ente” (Melgoza & Sierra, 2003). The distribution area of ​​Dasylirion is reported in the physiographic
zone of the Mexican Altiplano, in the range of 1,000–2,000 meters above sea level. Its inflores-
cence is used in construction as fencing to demarcate property lines, on roofs for shade and as
fodder for livestock (Cano, 2006). It is also possible to extract inulin sugar, which is of great value
to the pharmaceutical industry (Ibave et al., 2001). It is a common species in rosetophilous desert
scrub, in grassland areas and in submontane scrub. Henrickson and Johnston (1977) report nine
species in Mexico. According to Olivas and Rivera (1984), sotol plants are selected by their weight
(10 to 12 kilograms for extraction), and the foliage is first removed with a “Bowie knife” and then
the pineapple is removed from the ground.
Euphorbia antisyphilitica, commonly known as “candelilla”, was exploited around 1905, when
Connek and Landress investigated the composition, whitening and properties of candelilla wax.
It is a plant with a wide range of distribution in the region of the Chihuahuan Desert. The impor-
tance of this species lies in the waxy covering of the stems, which is made up of hydrocarbons,
esters, lactones and resins. It is mainly used in the cosmetic, food and textile industries as a coat-
ing for chocolates, sweets and chewing gum as well as for the manufacture of candles, leather
products, paints, polishes, matches, spark plugs, tires, etc. (CONABIO, 2000).
Peniocereus gregii known as “queen of the night” or “deer egg” (due to the shape of the root tuber),
has between 18 and 20 known species (Guzmán et al., 2003; Gómez-Hinostrosa & Hernández, 2005).
It is distributed in northern Mexico and part of Texas in the United States at elevations from 1,200
meters above sea level (Sánchez-Salas et al, 2009; Hernández & Gomez, 2005). It is common to find
the species with associations of Prosopis laevigata (Perroni, 2007). The illegal collection of this spe-
cies is taking it to brink of disappearance and has been classified as needing special protection
according to NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010 (SEMARNAT, 2010). It is highly sought after by foreign
collectors for its nocturnal and beautiful flowering, is also collected by locals because they attribute
medicinal properties to the root of this plant with benefits for kidney problems.
Atriplex canescens, commonly known as “cow rib” or “chamizo”, belongs to the Chenopodiaceae
family. It is distributed in northern Mexico and the southeastern United States. It is a branched
bush of 1 to 1.5 meters (m) with ash green leaves. In some indigenous populations of southwest-
ern Texas and New Mexico, they chew the leaves with a pinch of salt, followed by a drink of water
to relieve stomach pains. The leaves are also cooked and used as an emetic (disgorge) (Grajales,
2015). The plant is also used as fodder for sheep and goats (Kearney et al. 1960).
Tecoma stans also known as “tronadora” or San Pedro’s tear, belongs to the Bignoniaceae fam-
ily. It is considered a shrub, although it also has the growth form of a tree. It has compound leaves
elongated with serrated margins and funnel-shaped flowers arranged in clusters. It is distrib-
uted from central Mexico to the southern United States. The leaves are used for the treatment of
syphilis and diabetes. Made into an infusion, the leaves also help to calm cough and asthma and
respiratory problems as well as stabilize temperature. It is considered a natural analgesic and
anti-inflammatory (González, 1998; Adame & Adame, 2000; Naranjo et al., 2003).