Larrea Zygophyllaceae

The similarity between the profiles of the North American and Argentinean species suggests the possibility of a closer relationship between them than between any other pair of taxa in the genus, including between the Argentinean and Peruvian 

Flavonoids glycosides of the genus were also studied in detail and again L. tridentata, with 17 of the 18 identified compounds, exhibited the most complex array. The close relationship between L. tridentata and L. divaricata was again 

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LT027 Bohnstedt, C. E., and T. J. Mabry. The volatile constituents of the genus Larrea (Zygophyllaceae). Rev Latino-amer Quim 1979 10 128—131. 

Downum, K. R., Dole, J. and Rodriguez, E. 1988. Nordihyroguaiaretic acid inter- and intrapop-ulational variation in the Sonoran Desert creosote bush (Larrea tridentata, Zygophyllaceae). Biochem. Syst. Ecol. 16 551-555... 

LT023 Sakakibara, M., T. J. Mabry, M. L. Bouillant, and J. Chopin. 6,8-Di-C-glucosylflavones from Larrea tridentata (Zygophyllaceae). Phytochemistry... 

The lipophilic material found on the surface of Larrea species (Zygophyllaceae) is comprised of several methylated flav-onoid aglycones and lignans such as nordihydroguaiaretic acid. 

Larrea tridentate (DC) Coville(Zygophyllaceae) has been used as contraceptive agent in Mexico, and reported to display nterine relaxation activity in vitro. 3 -Demethoxy-6-0-demethylisognaiacin (211) was isolated and showed orally active anti-implantative activity in rats [176]. 

On page 682 of Hartwell s book there is a citation for the species Larrea tridentata of the family Zygophyllaceae. This is the common creosote bush, or greasewood, or chaparral of the desertlike regions of the Southwest. It is reported in the praiul-timate column of Hartwell s compilation that a tea made from the leaves and stems of this plant may cure stomach cancer, hver cancer, leukemia, lung cancer, and kidney cancer. This information is buried in the central files of the National Cancer Institute. 

The lipophilic material found on the surface of Larrea species (Zygophyllaceae) is composed of several methylated flavonoid aglycones and lignans such as nordihydroguaiare-tic acid see Chapter 8). This resinous material was shown to act as an antiherbivore substance and appeared to reduce digestibility of the plant for several herbivores (Seigler, 1983). 

The simple lignan nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) from chaparral Larrea tridentata (Zygophyllaceae) is a potent antioxidant. 

Source Larrea tridentata (Sesse M09. ex DC) Coville (Family Zygophyllaceae). 

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