Hunting Bioactive Molecules from the Agave Genus: An Update on Extraction and Biological Potential.

Misael Bermúdez-Bazán,Antonio Escobedo-Reyes,Gustavo Adolfo Castillo-Herrera,Judith Esmeralda Urias-Silvas,Mirna Estarrón-Espinosa

doi:10.3390/molecules26226789

Abstract

Agaves are plants used in the production of alcoholic beverages and fibers. Ever since ancient times, pre-Hispanic cultures in Mexico have used them in traditional medicine to cure different ailments. Over the years, studies of the active principles responsible for the therapeutic benefits of agaves have increased. Leaves and fibers are the main agro-wastes generated in tequila and mezcal production, while fibers are the main waste product in the textile sector. Different investigations have referred to the agro-waste from agave processing as a source of bioactive molecules called secondary metabolites (SM). Among them, phenols, flavonoids, phytosterols, and saponins have been extracted, identified, and isolated from these plants. The role of these molecules in pest control and the prospect of metabolites with the biological potential to develop novel drugs for chronic and acute diseases represent new opportunities to add value to these agro-wastes. This review aims to update the biological activities and recent applications of the secondary metabolites of the genus Agave.

Highlights

The agaves are perennial plants that use Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM), which allows their adaptation to arid weather ecosystems [1]
The hunting of novel bioactive molecules of the genus Agave and their biological activities shows that these plants are a valuable source of therapeutic agents, which can help generate new therapies for autoimmune, inflammatory, and chronic degenerative diseases
Its use to obtain natural products might be a strategy to revalorize the agave agro-wastes, which could benefit the livestock and agricultural sectors due to the presence of secondary metabolites that play a protective role in bioweapons in pest control

Summary

Introduction

The agaves are perennial plants that use Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM), which allows their adaptation to arid weather ecosystems [1]. The Agave genus is the largest of nine subgenres of the Asparagaceae family, with 210 species, of which 119 are endemic in Mexico; it is considered the center of diversity of these plants [2,3]. It is distributed within an area stretching from the southern United States to Ecuador [2]. While the mezcal industry reportedly produced 27,663,459 liters, no official data regarding agro-waste generation of this beverage exist [5]

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Methods

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Conclusion