Title:Larrea tridentata and its Biological Activities
Volume: 21
Issue: 26
Author(s): Karen Y. Reyes-Melo, Adrián A. Galván-Rodrigo, Isaí E. Martínez-Olivo, Guillermo Núñez-Mojica, Francisco G. Ávalos-Alanís, Abraham García and María del Rayo Camacho-Corona*
Affiliation:
- Facultad de Ciencias Quimicas, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, San Nicolas de los Garza, CP 66455, Nuevo Leon,Mexico
Keywords:
Larrea tridentata, Lignans, Flavonoids, Antibacterial, Antiviral, Anticancer, Antioxidant.
Abstract:
Background: Larrea tridentata is a dominant shrub in the deserts of North America and
is recognized for its various traditional uses. More than 50 traditional uses have been recorded. Regarding
its chemical composition, the products of the mevalonate, shikimate, and malonate pathways
are predominant. L. tridentata has nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), one of its most studied
secondary metabolites that exhibited remarkable different biological activities: sequestration of reactive
oxygen species, inhibition of lipoxygenases (LOX) and activation of the endogenous antioxidant
response mediated by nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2).
Objective and Methods: This review seeks to draw attention to metabolites other than NDGA and
which also contribute to the various biological activities of L. tridentata. Therefore, the present review
includes those reports focused on the pharmacological properties of the organic extracts of L.
tridentata and its natural products with promising values.
Results and Conclusion: Among the most promising and widely reported metabolites from L. tridentata,
are: 3’-demethoxy-6-O-demethylisoguaiacin, 3’-O-methyldihydroguaiaretic acid, meso-dihydroguaiaretic
acid, and tetra-O-methylnordihydroguaiaretic acid. These have been reported to exhibit
antibacterial, antiprotozoal, anthelmintic, antifungal, antiviral, anticancer, and antioxidant activities.
