Abstract

Studies on the biological properties of extracts from Mexican plants used in traditional medicine have evidenced a great potential for their use as preservatives, antioxidant sources and functional agents; however the phytochemistry of these plants is poorly documented. Phytochemical screening of the ethanolic extracts of the plants Lippia berlandieri Shauer, Larrea tridentata Cov., Fluorensia cernua DC, Carya illinoensis k. andYucca filifera Chabaud was carried out using chromatographic techniques  and  revealed the presence of terpenes, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, polyphenolic compounds, ellagic acid, tannic acid, gallic acid, catechin, quercitine, methyl gallate, cinamic acid, 2-hydroxycinamic acid and resorcinol. This study therefore validates these plants as excellent sources of potent bioactive compounds.

Key words: Chemical screening, Mexican semiarid plants, chromatographic separations.