Francisco Daniel Hernández-Castillo

Chapter 14 An overview of the antimicrobial properties of Mexican medicinal plants

Publisher Summary Mexico is one of the countries with the greatest biological diversity. This chapter reviews 12 species from different families in terms of their characteristics, distribution in Mexico, and bioactive compounds identified for controlling fungi, microorganisms, and insects. The plants considered in the chapter are presented in order of importance in terms of their use and knowledge of their bioactive compounds. The list presents the scientific and most common name of the plants in Mexico, including Larrea tridentata (Gobernadora), Flourensia cernua (Hojase), and Chenopodium ambrosioides (Epazote). All of the species are presently used as ‘‘multipurpose’’ materials ranging from shamanism to medicinal or building materials; most of them are known for their curative properties against different diseases. The information about chemical composition and bioactive compounds reviewed in the chapter includes reports in the open literature and that generated at the institutions where the authors are working.