Phytochemical study of cuachalalate (Amphiptherygium adstringens, Schiede ex Schlecht)

Cuachalalate is an endemic plant of Mexico and belongs to the Julianiaceae family. It is a resinous and dioecious plant and is a medicinal plant commo nly used in Mexico. Its curative properties are: cholesterol lowering, anti -inflammatory, antiulcerous agent. The collection site is in Barranca Honda , Morelos, Mexico. Three samplings were made during the research period. A decortication of four trees per sex was carried out. An additional collecti on of resin was made during the last sampling, in order to verify the prese nce of the compounds of interest. Masticadienonic, alpha-hydroxymasticadien onic and masticadienonic/isomasticadienonic acid mixtures were isolated and identified. Major accumulations of masticadienonic, alpha-hydroxymasticadi enonic acids and masticadienonic/isomasticadienonic acid mixtures were rela ted to female plants and a mixture of alpha-hydroxymasticadienonic acid and an unknown compound with male plants. Major accumulation of masticadienoni c acid occurred in February, and alpha-hydroxymasticadienonic was mainly fo und in November. An anti-inflammatory test with the alpha-hydroxymasticadie nonic acid was made and strong inhibition of the inflammation was observed in a preliminary test. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights re served.