Phytochemical Diversity and Antimicrobial Potential of Fabaceae Species Occurring in Tamaulipas, Mexico: A Systematic Review

TL;DR

This review explores the phytochemical and antimicrobial potential of Fabaceae plants in Tamaulipas, Mexico, highlighting their underutilized value for new therapies.

Contribution

The study systematically reviews the underexplored Fabaceae species in Tamaulipas, linking their phytochemistry to antimicrobial activity.

Findings

Only 60 of 347 Fabaceae species in Tamaulipas have been studied for phytochemistry.

Phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and alkaloids show antimicrobial efficacy against major pathogens.

Tamaulipas is identified as a strategic reservoir for bioprospecting new therapeutic alternatives.

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance represents a critical challenge to global public health, driving the search for bioactive compounds in medicinal plants. The Fabaceae family stands out for its chemical richness and pharmacological properties; however, in the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico—an area of high diversity due to its location between the Nearctic and Neotropical regions—this flora remains largely unexplored. The objective of this review was to analyze the global scientific literature on the Fabaceae of Tamaulipas, integrating floristic records, phytochemistry, and antimicrobial activity. Of the 347 species recorded in the state, only 60 have phytochemical studies, and 43 have documented medicinal uses. The results show that extraction methods predominantly use polar solvents to isolate phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and alkaloids, which show efficacy against pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. Despite limited local ethnobotanical documentation, the potential demonstrated by these species in other regions positions Tamaulipas as a strategic reservoir. This review identifies research gaps and emphasizes the need for systematic studies that validate traditional uses and prioritize bioprospecting of the flora of northeastern Mexico for the development of new therapeutic alternatives.

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