Ibervillea sonorae (S. Watson) Green a potential resource of bioactive compounds: Systematic analysis of a Mexican plant used in traditional medicine

Abstract

Ibervillea sonorae (S. Watson) Green (Cucurbitaceae) is a tuber succulent known as “wareke,” which grows in dry desert landscapes in northwestern Mexico and the southwestern United States. Indigenous tribes use I. sonorae as a remedy against cancer, inflammation, rheumatism, skin infections, and diabetes. The great popularity of wareke in traditional medicine has motivated various working groups to investigate its pharmacological properties. The antiproliferative, antitumoral, antifungal, hypoglycemic, antiinflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial potential of this plant has been established. Chemical studies showed that I. sonorae is a potential resource of bioactive compounds, cucurbitacin-type triterpenoids, and phytosterols, the main secondary metabolites. The objective of this chapter is to systematically analyze the phytochemical knowledge of the plant (isolated and identified compounds), describe the biological activities of different extracts, isolated ingredients, and phytopreparations, and discuss their possible applications.