Montanoa tomentosa

Most Asteraceae are herbs or little shrubs. The trees of the genus Montanoa (tree daisy) therefore stand out as very unusual plants. They also are very showy during the flowering season. But the genus also includes one of the most important medicinal plants of Mexico, Montanoa tomentosa. 

In this chapter, we summarize the current knowledge of interesting terpenes found in Mexican medicinal plants, with special emphasis on the zoapatle (Montanoa tomentosa), a plant originally called "cihuapahtli." This means woman s medicine, and it was used to assist women during difficult labor because of its specific uterus contraction effect caused by the diterpene active substances. Finally, some aspects of the current use of medicinal plants in different cultural environments will be discussed. 

Zea mays (pelos de elote) Montanoa tomentosa (zoapatle)... 

Encelin from Montanoa speciosa is inhibitory to growth and development of fungal cells of Mucor rouxii. Other cytotoxic sesquiterpene lactones from Montanoa tomentosa ssp. microcephala have been reported.45,46 A number of kaurane diterpenes and e/tf-kauranoids have been reported that are potentially useful because of their cytotoxicity against human tumor cells, anti-HIV activity, and trypanosomicidal activity.47 56 New structures are frequently discovered, and probably we will learn new effects in humans and animals in the future.57,58 Paradoxically, these plant natural products probably have specific and important effects in the plants, but we are still ignorant of these roles. 

CABALLERO, Y., WALLS, F., Productos naturales del zoapatle (Montanoa tomentosa Cerv.), Bol. Inst. Qulm. Univ. Nac. Autom. Mex., 1970,22,79. 

GEISSMAN, T. A., GRIFFIN, T., Sequiterpene lactones. Tomentosin from Montanoa tomentosa Cer., Rev. Latinoam. Quim., 1971,2,81. 

LANDGREN, B.M., AEDO, A.R., HAGENFELDT, K., DICZFALUSY, E., Clinical effects of orally administered extracts of Montanoa tomentosa in early human pregnancy., Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol., 1979,135,480-484. 

BEJAR, E LOZOYA, X., ENRIQUEZ, R ESCOBAR, L Comparative effect of zoapatle (Montanoa tomentosa) products and of verapamil on the in vitro uterine contractility of rat., Arch. Invest. Med. (Mex), 1984,15,223-238. 

BEJAR, E., Preliminary investigation of the estrogenic potential of grandiflorenic acid from Montanoa tomentosa., J. Ethnopharmacol., 1988,23,329-331. 

ENRIQUEZ, R,G., MIRANDA, C,E., ORTIZ B LEON, I., MAGOS, G., PENA, A., REYNOLDS, W,F., GNECCO, D., The unambiguous detection of kaurenic derivatives in aqueous infusions of Montanoa tomentosa by GC-MS and 2D-NMR spectroscopy An answer to contradictory reports., Planta Med., 1996,62,569-571. 

TOPQU, G., CORDELL, G.A., FARNSWORTH, N.R. FONG, N.H., Studies on zoapatle. VIII. Novel cytotoxic sesquiterpene lactones from Montanoa tomentosa ssp. microcephala., J. Pharm. Sci., 1988, 77,553-556. 

Fig. (1). Montanoa tomentosa (Cerv.) spp. tomentosa (Funk) grown in the Valley of Mexico.

A number of PAF activators and inhibitors have been recently found in plants including a series of terpenes. We predict PAF activating or inhibiting effects of Montanoa tomentosa and its phytochemicals should keep active this area of research in the near future. 

C20HJ4O4, Mr 338.49, yellowish oil. A diterpene found together with montanol (C21H3SO4, Mr 352.51, oil) in Montanoa tomentosa (Asteraceae). 10 kg plant material furnish 1.22 g Z. The name is derived from the Mexican name of the plant, Zoapatl. Natives of Mexico for centuries have used a tea made from the plant for abortive purposes. Z. was isolated as the active principle and induces menstruation and rejection of the fetus in pregnant hamsters. 

In many parts of South America, extracts of the leaves and twigs of Montanoa tomentosa are used as a contraceptive, to stimulate menstruation, to facilitate labor, and as an abortifacient. The compound responsible for these effects is zoapatanol ... 

Enriquez RG, Escobar LI, Romero ML, Chavez MA et al. 1983 Determination of grandiflorenic acid in organic and aqueous extracts of Montanoa tomentosa (Zoapatle) by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. J Chromatogr 258 297-301... 

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