The waste generated during metal mining activities contains mixtures of heavy metals (HM) that are not biodegradable and can accumulate in the surrounding biota, increasing risk to human and environmental health. Plant species with the capacity to grow and develop on mine tailings can be used as a model system in phytoremediation studies. Dodonaea viscosa (L.) Jacq. is a shrub with wide geographical distribution and the ability to establish itself in mine tailings. The Sierra de Huautla Biosphere Reserve in Mexico contains a metallurgic district where mining activities have generated 780 million kg of waste with large concentrations of toxic heavy metals, mainly cadmium and lead. The present study evaluated the phytoremediation potential of D. viscosa in in situ conditions on soils contaminated with HMs (exposed) and reference sites (non-exposed) for one year. Also, the effects of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) exposure in D. viscosa were analyzed via DNA damage (comet assay) morphological and physiological characters in exposed vs non-exposed individuals. The concentration of Cd and Pb was measured through atomic absorption spectrophotometry in the roots and leaves of plants. In total, 120 D. viscosa individuals were established, 60 growing in exposed and 60 in non-exposed soils. Exposed individuals of D. viscosa hyperaccumulated Cd and Pb in roots and leaves. At the end of the experiment, eight out of twelve characters under evaluation decreased significantly in HM-exposed plants in relation to individuals growing in non-exposed soils, except for stomatal index, stomatal coverage, and fresh leaf biomass. The micro-morphological and physiological traits of D. viscosa were not influenced by Cd and Pb bioaccumulation. In contrast, the bioaccumulation of Cd and Pb significantly influenced the macro-morphological characters and genetic damage; this last biomarker was 3.2 times higher in plants growing in exposed sites. The bioconcentration factor (BCF) of Cd and Pb in root and leaf tissue increased significantly over time. The mean BCF in root and leaf tissue was higher for Pb (877.58 and 798.77) than for Cd (50.86 and 23.02). After 12 months of exposure, D. viscosa individuals growing on mine tailing substrate showed that the total HM phytoextraction capacity was 7.56 kg∙ha⁻¹ for Pb and 0.307 kg∙ha⁻¹ for Cd. D. viscosa shows potential for phytoremediation of soils contaminated with Cd and Pb, given its capacity for establishing and developing naturally in contaminated soils with HM. Along with its bioaccumulation, biomass production, abundance, and high levels of bioconcentration factors, but without affecting plant development and not registering associated herbivores, it may incorporate HM into the trophic chain.

The chemical analysis of the melliferous plant Viguiera dentata (Asteraceae) yielded cycloartanes 1–9 (including the new compounds 7–9 ), ent ‐kaurenes ( 10–15 ), diversifolin ( 16) and other constituents. The structure of 9 was confirmed by X‐ray analysis. To evaluate the insecticidal potential of its constituents, in silico pesticide‐likeness calculations for structures 1–16 were performed indicating no violations of the Tice rules. Tests for activity against acetylcholinesterase revealed that only cycloartanes 1 (78.85 µM) and 6 (53.54 µM) inhibited the enzyme. Molecular docking analysis showed interactions between compounds 1 , 10 , and 13 , with Y337, a key amino acid in the catalytic site. A bioassay against Spodoptera frugiperda revealed that compounds 1 , 2 , 9 , 10 , and 13 displayed activity (50% lethal concentration for larval mortality [LC ₅₀ ] 51.61, 84.56, 99.66, 24.69, and 62.40 ppm, respectively; reference: betulinic acid LC ₅₀ 94.25 ppm). Thus, specific cycloartanes and ent ‐kaurenes were identified as insecticidal compounds of V. dentata against S. frugiperda .

Background: Medicinal plants used in traditional Mexican medicine represent a valuable source of bioactive compounds with potential anticancer activity. Beyond cytotoxic potency, selectivity toward cancer cells over normal cells is a critical toxicological parameter for identifying safer therapeutic candidates. This study aimed to evaluate the selective cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects of extracts from four Mexican medicinal plants across human cancerous and non-cancerous cell lines. Methods: Hexane, acetone, and methanolic extracts from Semialarium mexicanum, Eryngium heterophyllum, Piper auritum, and Cochlospermum vitifolium were evaluated in a panel of human cancer cell lines and non-tumoral models, including primary human uterine fibroblasts (HUFs). Cytotoxicity was assessed after 48 h of treatment using increasing extract concentrations, and selectivity indices were calculated. Cell cycle distribution and nuclear morphology analyses were performed to explore antiproliferative effects. Additionally, GC–MS-based chemical profiling was conducted on selected extracts to obtain a tentative characterization of major bioactive constituents. Results: The extracts exhibited differential cytotoxic profiles depending on plant species and solvent polarity. The hexane extract of Semialarium mexicanum showed the highest cytotoxic potency and selectivity toward cervical cancer cells, with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀); values of 15.9 ± 1.8 µg/mL and 17.2 ± 2.8 µg/mL in HeLa and SiHa cells, respectively, and selectivity index (SI) values > 5 when compared with primary human uterine fibroblasts (HUF). Extracts of Eryngium heterophyllum displayed moderate cytotoxic activity (IC₅₀ = 20–30 µg/mL in HeLa cells) with intermediate selectivity, whereas Cochlospermum vitifolium showed solvent-dependent effects and Piper auritum exhibited limited cytotoxicity. Cell cycle analysis revealed an increased sub-G1 population, and nuclear morphology assays demonstrated chromatin condensation and fragmentation in cancer cells, supporting an antiproliferative mechanism. GC–MS analysis of the hexane extract of Semialarium mexicanum suggested the presence of triterpenoid-related and other lipophilic compounds potentially associated with its selective anticancer activity. Conclusions: These findings provide in vitro evidence of selective anticancer activity of Mexican medicinal plant extracts and establish a basis for future mechanistic studies medicinal plant extracts and lay the groundwork for future mechanistic investigations.

The armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is the main pest that attacks corn, and it has acquired resistance to chemical insecticides. In this study, the insecticidal and insectistatic activity of hexanic, acetonic, methanolic, and aqueous extracts of four genotypes of physic nut Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae) seeds (Utim 1, Utim 2, Ahuehuetzingo, and Ceprobi) against S. frugiperda larvae was assessed. The acetonic extract at 5,000 ppm of the Utim 1 genotype, presented insectistatic activity by decreasing the weight gain of S. frugiperda larvae at 7 days by 66.7 % and at 14 days by 71.8 %, and prolonged larval development by 13 days, in addition to causing larval and pupal mortality of 72 and 84 %, respectively. The hexanic extract of Utim 2 showed insecticidal activity with a larval and pupal mortality of 80 % at 5,000 ppm. On the other hand, the acetonic extract of the Ahuehuetzingo genotype showed greater insecticidal activity at 5,000 ppm, with 100 % mortality of S. frugiperda larvae and pupae. The hexanic extract of the Ceprobi genotype presented insectistatic activity at 5,000 and 2,500 ppm, by reducing the weight gain of the larvae at 7 and 14 days by 47.6 and 74.3 % for 5,000 ppm and 28.5 and 53.0 % for 2,500 ppm. In addition, the acetonic and aqueous extracts at 5,000 ppm caused mortality of 76 and 80 % in S. frugiperda larvae and pupae, respectively. All concentrations of the Utim 2 and Ahuehuetzingo genotypes caused a phagostimulant effect on the feeding of insect pest larvae. J. curcas seed extracts can be explored as a useful alternative for the agroecological control of S. frugiperda.

Background: Medicinal plants used in traditional Mexican medicine represent a valu-able source of bioactive compounds with potential anticancer activity. Beyond cyto-toxic potency, selectivity toward cancer cells over normal cells is a critical toxicologi-cal parameter for identifying safer therapeutic candidates. This study aimed to evalu-ate the selective cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects of extracts from four Mexican medicinal plants across human cancerous and non-cancerous cell lines. Methods: Hexane, acetone, and methanolic extracts from Semialarium mexicanum, Eryngium heterophyllum, Piper auritum, and Cochlospermum vitifolium were evaluated in a panel of human cancer cell lines and non-tumoral models, including primary human uterine fibroblasts (HUF). Cytotoxicity was assessed after 48 h of treatment using in-creasing extract concentrations, and selectivity indices were calculated. Cell cycle dis-tribution and nuclear morphology analyses were performed to explore antiprolifera-tive effects. Additionally, GC–MS-based chemical profiling was conducted on selected extracts to obtain a tentative characterization of major bioactive constituents. Results: The extracts exhibited differential cytotoxic profiles depending on plant spe-cies and solvent polarity. Semialarium mexicanum, particularly its hexane extract, showed the highest cytotoxic potency and selectivity toward HeLa cervical cancer cells, achieving selectivity indices higher than those observed for paclitaxel when compared with HUF cells. Hexane extracts of Semialarium mexicanum and Eryngium heterophyllum, were generally more active than polar extracts, whereas Piper auritum displayed limited cytotoxicity and Cochlospermum vitifolium showed moderate, sol-vent-dependent effects. Cell cycle perturbations and nuclear alterations supported an antiproliferative response. Chemical profiling suggested the presence of lipophilic triterpenoid-related compounds in non-polar extracts and phenolic constituents in polar fractions. Conclusions: These findings provide in vitro evidence of selective anticancer activity of Mexican medicinal plant extracts and establish a basis for future mechanistic stud-ies medicinal plant extracts and lay the groundwork for future mechanistic investigations.

The use of botanical extracts derived from Jatropha spp. offers a sustainable alternative for controlling insect pests, thereby reducing the reliance on synthetic chemical insecticides. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to summarize the published evidence on the insecticidal activity of these extracts. Electronic database searches were conducted to identify relevant studies evaluating Jatropha ssp. botanical extracts against insect pests, including mortality, antifeedant activity, time of development, oviposition inhibition, and repellency. A random-effects meta-analysis for continuous variables with 95% confidence intervals was employed to compare treated insects against a control group. The study encompassed 77 articles, which evaluated the extracts from various botanical parts of J. curcas and J. gossypifolia against insects from nine taxonomic orders. The results of the meta-analyses demonstrated that aqueous, ethanolic, and methanolic extracts from leaves and seeds were effective in increasing the mortality rate of treated insects. These extracts also affected the insects by prolonging development time, reducing weight gain in larvae and pupae, inhibiting oviposition, and increasing the percentage of repellency. Consequently, botanical extracts obtained from the leaves and seeds of J. curcas and J. gossypifolia should be considered a sustainable and agroecological alternative for pest management.