A Systematic Approach to Agastache mexicana Research: Biology, Agronomy, Phytochemistry, and Bioactivity.

Mexico is the center of origin of the species popularly known as toronjil or lemon balm (Agastache mexicana Linton & Epling). Two subspecies have been identified and are commonly called purple or red (Agastache mexicana Linton & Epling subspecies. mexicana) and white (Agastache mexicana subspecies xolocotziana Bye, E.L. Linares & Ramamoorthy). Plants from these subspecies differ in the size and form of inflorescence and leaves. They also possess differences in their chemical compositions, including volatile compounds. Traditional Mexican medicine employs both subspecies. A. mexicana exhibits a broad range of pharmacological properties, such as anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, and antioxidant. A systematic vision of these plant's properties is discussed in this review, exposing its significant potential as a source of valuable bioactive compounds. Furthermore, this review provides an understanding of the elements that make up the species' holistic system to benefit from lemon balm sustainably.

Lentil sprouts: a nutraceutical alternative for the elaboration of bread.

The pro-health action of germinated lentils could be useful to be added with wheat flour in the production of box bread. In this work, we spectroscopically evaluate the germinated and non-germinated lentils, and use them at the concentrations of 5 and 10% for the production of box bread. The chemical and physical tests of the bread and its determination of phenolic acids and flavonoids (by HPLC) were also performed. As well as the evaluation of the quality of flour and dough used to produce the bread and the acceptance of the germinated lentil bread with a population of 20 people with diabetes or with diabetic relatives It is shown that: (1) The amplitude of photoacoustic signal obtained by photoacoustic spectroscopy is modified as a function of the percentage of germinated lentil (GL) flour (0, 5 or 10%) add to the bread; being higher the photoacoustic amplitude to higher concentration of GL in the absorption band of 300-425 nm, which is related to higher content of phenols and flavonoids. (2) The contents of phenolic acids (Sinapinic, ß- resorcylic, Chlorogenic and Ferulic) and flavonoids (Quercetin and Isorhamnetin) tended to increase in the germinated lentil bread with 10% concentration of germinated lentil flour with respect to the control bread (0% GL). (3) The addition of germinated lentils flour to 5 and 10% into wheat flour to produce bread with higher hardness and less cohesiveness than bread based on wheat flour only. The Falling number indicate that there is no significant difference between the control sample and the 5% GL flour, while in the 10% GL flour there was a reduction of 21 s, with respect to the control. The effect of the germinated lentil flour percentage on the pasting properties of the flours was significant between the control and 10% GL flour. In general, the quality of the dough and flour are modified due to the addition of germinates lentils, and this affectation increases with the increase in the concentration of GL. (4) The bread added with germinated lentil has sensory acceptance with a group of people with diabetes and/or diabetic relatives in their attributes in general. The obtained results thus support the production of wheat bread with mixed germinated lentils flour, as a nutraceutical option for human consumption.

Variation in Terpenoid and Flavonoid Content in Different Samples of Salvia semiatrata Collected from Oaxaca, Mexico, and Its Effects on Antinociceptive Activity.

Salvia semiatrata Zucc. (Lamiaceae) is endemic to Oaxaca, Mexico, and is known for its analgesic properties. Terpenoids and phenolic compounds with antinociceptive potential have been characterised from this species. The aim of this research was to determine the variation in terpenoids and flavonoids in ethyl acetate extracts of S. semiatrata collected from ten different localities, as well as to evaluate the antinociceptive effect between plants with higher and lower contents of these secondary metabolites. Quantification of S. semiatrata compounds was performed via HPLC-DAD, whereas in vivo evaluation of the antinociceptive effect was performed via formalin test. The results showed that the most abundant groups of metabolites are oleanolic acid (89.60-59.20 µg/mg), quercetin (34.81-16.28 µg/mg), catechin (11.30-9.30 µg/mg), and 7-keto-neoclerodan-3,13-dien-18,19:15,16-diolide (7-keto) (8.01-4.76 µg/mg). Principal component and canonical correspondence analysis showed that the most contrasting localities in terms of compound content and climatic variables are Miahuatlán and Santiago Huauclilla. The differences in metabolite content between the two locations did not affect the antinociceptive effects evaluated at a dose of 300 mg/kg, p.o. In conclusion, the results indicate that S. semiatrata is effective in relieving pain, regardless of the site of collection, reinforcing its traditional use as analgesic.