TITLE:
The Phenols of the Genus Agave (Agavaceae)
AUTHORS:
Norma Almaraz-Abarca, Eli Amanda Delgado-Alvarado, José Antonio Ávila-Reyes, José Natividad Uribe-Soto, Laura Silvia González-Valdez
KEYWORDS:
Genus Agave; Phenol Profiles; Homoisoflavanoids; Biological Activity; Chemotaxonomic Markers
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biomaterials and Nanobiotechnology,
Vol.4 No.3A,
June
26,
2013
ABSTRACT: A review is presented about the studies that have
been carried out on the phenolic composition of the species of the genus Agave in order to show which species of the genus has been
analyzed, what is the potential of the species of Agave as source of phenolics with important biological activities,
and what is the significance of the phenolic profiles as chemotaxonomic markers
in the genus. The results of the analysis of a dozen of Agave species reveal an important richness of phenolic compounds,
including flavonoids, homoisoflavonoids, and phenolic acids, and a broad
diversity of biological activities associated to those compounds, as
antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antinematod, and immunomodulatory capabilities. The phenols of Agave also have a major potential as
specific chemotaxonomic markers.