The term “nervios” is referred as a folk illness recognized by Mexican Traditional Medicine, and also widely reported across many countries in Latin America. “Nervios” are characterized by a “state of bodily and mental unrest”, which decreases the ability to achieve daily goals. The causes are varied; in fact, any situation that alters the emotional state or mood is interpreted as a possible triggering agent. Depression and anxiety are psychiatric disorders, which share symptoms, or can be included in the same group of disorders with “nervios”. The therapies are designed to reassure health, i.e. “calm the nerves”. For this propose, the oral administration of plants infusions is common. In this review we compile information regarding the plants used for the treatment of “nervios” in México, along with those for which reports of anxiolytic or/and antidepressive activity exist. We found 92 plant species used in folk medicine for the treatment of “nervios”, among these, sixteen have been studied experimentally. The most studied plant is Galphimia glauca Cav., Malpighiaceae, which current clinical studies have validated its efficacy in patients, and their active components, the triterpenes galphimine A, B, and C, identified. Interestingly only nine plants were found to be reported in folk medicine for the treatment of sadness or/and depression, but their antidepressant activity has not been investigated. However, among the plants used in folk medicine for treatment of “nervios”, several, as Litsea glaucescens Kunth, Lauraceae, have been proven to show antidepressant activity in experimental models, and some of their active compounds have been determined. These species could be a potential source of compounds with activity in the central nervous system.

Bernardino de Sahagún, Martin de la Cruz, and Francisco Hernández compiled during the XVI century the herbal understanding of the habitants of the current Mexican territory. Their extraordinary works are real a window in time to pre-Columbian medical and botanical knowledge. In this contribution we briefly review their lives and writings, as well as, the chemistry and biological properties of plant species that they recorded, mainly Montanoa tomentosa (Asteraceae) known 500 years ago as "cihuapatli" = "women's medicine". Several compounds explain whole or in part its ancient medicinal applications.

Bernardino de Sahagún, Martin de la Cruz y Francisco Hernández compilaron durante el siglo XVI los conocimientos herbolarios de los antiguos habitantes del territorio mexicano. Sus extraordinarios trabajos son verdaderas ventanas en el tiempo que permiten conocer el saber médico y botánico en la época precolombina. En este artículo presentamos una breve semblanza de las vidas y obras de estos autores, así como una breve revisión química y de las propiedades biológicas de algunas especies vegetales que ellos registraron, en especial Montanoa tomentosa (Asteraceae) conocida hace 500 años como "cihuapatli" = "medicina de mujer". Varios de estos compuestos explican racionalmente, ya sea en todo o en parte, sus antiguas aplicaciones médicas.

El SIDA es un problema de salud pública mundial, por lo que es necesario coordinar los esfuerzos para combatir esta enfermedad. En esta perspectiva, se revisan las investigaciones tendientes al descubrimiento y desarrollo de nuevos fármacos contra el virus de inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) a partir de metabolitos secundarios de origen vegetal aislados de especies de la familia Clusiaceae. En particular, la revisión se enfoca en las cumarinas tetracíclicas inhibidoras de la transcriptasa reversa del VIH-1, como el (+)-calanólido A. También se presenta una semblanza sobre la biología del VIH y de los estudios llevados a cabo en México referentes a la búsqueda de compuestos antiVIH a partir de la flora local.

AIDS being a worldwide public health problem, it is necessary to coordinate efforts to fight the disease. Under this viewpoint, we review research aiming at the discovery and development of new drugs against the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from secondary metabolites of vegetal origin, isolated from species of the clusiaceae family. Particularly, the review centers on tetracyclic cumarines that inhibit the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase, such as the (+)-calanolide A. A summary of HIV biology and the studies carried out in Mexico concerning the search of anti-HIV compounds from the local flora is also presented.

A AIDS é um problema de saúde pública mundial, pelo qual é necessário coordenar os esforços para combater esta enfermidade. Nesta perspectiva, se revisam as investigações tendentes ao descubrimento e desenvolvimento de novos fármacos contra o virus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV) a partir de metabólitos secundários de origem vegetal isolados de espécies da família Clusiaceae. Em particular, a revisão é focada nas cumarinas tetracíclicas inibidoras da transcriptase reversa do HIV-1, como o (+)-calanolide A. Também é apresentado um esboço sobre a biologia do HIV e dos estudos levados a efeifo no México referentes à procura de compostos anti-HIV a partir da flora local.