Prosopis Explained

Prosopis is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. It contains around 45 species of spiny trees and shrubs found in subtropical and tropical regions of the Americas, Africa, Western Asia, and South Asia. They often thrive in arid soil and are resistant to drought, on occasion developing extremely deep root systems. Their wood is usually hard, dense and durable. Their fruits are pods and may contain large amounts of sugar. The generic name means "burdock" in late Latin and originated in the Greek language.[1]

Selected species

Formerly placed here

Taxonomic reclassification

Genomic research published in 2022 concludes that species grouped under the genus Prosopis actually represent multiple genera including Anonychium, Neltuma, Prosopis, and Strombocarpa.[2]

Phytochemistry

Prosopis species have been found to contain 5-hydroxytryptamine, apigenin, isorhamnetin-3-diglucoside, l-arabinose, quercetin, tannin, and tryptamine.[3]

Prosopis species known to contain alkaloids
Prosopis alba Beta-phenethylamine and tryptamine[4]
Prosopis alpataco "Aerial parts" contain tryptamine, phenethylamine derivatives.[5]
Prosopis argentina "Aerial parts" contain tryptamine, phenethylamine derivatives.
Prosopis chilensis "Aerial parts" contain beta-phenethylamine and derivatives plus tryptamine[6]
Prosopis argentina Exudate contains tryptamine, phenethylamine derivatives.
Prosopis glandulosa Alkaloids in bark and roots, tyramine and N-methyltyramine (a stimulant) in leaves[7]
Prosopis juliflora 5-HTP (plant) and tryptamine (plant).[8]
Prosopis nigra Harman, eleagnine, and N-acetyltryptamine[9]
Prosopis pugionata "Aerial parts" contain tryptamine, phenethylamine derivatives.
Prosopis tamarugo Phenethylamine

The tannins present in Prosopis species are of the pyrogallotannin and pyrocatecollic types.[10] The tannins are mainly found in the bark and wood, while their concentration in the pods is low.[11]

Some species, such as P. africana or P. velutina, produce a gum (mesquite gum).[12]

As an introduced and invasive species

The species Prosopis pallida was introduced to Hawaii in 1828 and now dominates many of the drier coastal parts of the islands, where it is called the kiawe tree and is a prime source of monofloral honey production.[13]

In Australia, invasive Prosopis species are causing severe economic and environmental damage. With their thorns and many low branches, Prosopis shrubs form impenetrable thickets which prevent cattle from accessing watering holes, etc. They also take over pastoral grasslands and suck up scarce water. Prosopis species cause land erosion due to loss of grassland that are habitats for native plants and animals. Prosopis thickets also provide shelter for feral animals such as pigs and cats.[14]

For more information on invasiveness of mesquite species, see Prosopis glandulosa and Prosopis juliflora.

Eradication

Eradicating Prosopis is difficult because the plant's bud regeneration zone can extend down to 6inches below ground level;[15] [16] the tree can regenerate from a piece of root left in the soil. Some herbicides are not effective or only partially effective against mesquite. Spray techniques for removal, while effective against short-term regrowth, are expensive, costing more than $70/acre ($170/hectare) in the USA. Removing large trees requires tracked equipment; costs can approach $2,000 per acre. In Australia, several techniques are used to remove Prosopis.[14]

See also

References

Notes

General references

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Quattrocchi, Umberto . CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names . 4 M-Q . CRC Press . 2000 . 978-0-8493-2677-6 . 2171.
  2. Hughes, Colin E. . Ringelberg, Jens . Lewis, G. P. . Catalano, Santiago . Disintegration of the genus Prosopis L. (Leguminosae, Caesalpinioideae, mimosoid clade) . 205 . PhytoKeys . August 2022 . 147–189 . Pensoft Publishers . 10.3897/phytokeys.205.75379. 36762004 . 9849005 . free .
  3. http://medplant.nmsu.edu/mesquite4.htm Medicinal Plants of the Southwest
  4. Graziano MN, Ferraro GE, Coussio JD . Alkaloids of Argentine medicinal plants. II. Isolation of tyramine, beta-phenethylamine and tryptamine from Prosopis alba . Lloydia . 34 . 4 . 453–4 . December 1971 . 5173440 .
  5. Tapia A, Egly Feresin G, Bustos D, Astudillo L, Theoduloz C, Schmeda-Hirschmann G . Biologically active alkaloids and a free radical scavenger from Prosopis species . J Ethnopharmacol . 71 . 1–2 . 241–6 . July 2000 . 10904169 . 10.1016/S0378-8741(00)00171-9.
  6. Luis Astudillo . Guillermo Schmeda-Hirschmann . Juan P Herrera . Manuel Cortés . Proximate composition and biological activity of Chilean Prosopis species . J Sci Food Agric . 80 . 5 . 567–573 . April 2000 . 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0010(200004)80:5<567::AID-JSFA563>3.0.CO;2-Y . 2000JSFA...80..567A . https://archive.today/20121216153200/http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/72510396/ABSTRACT?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0. dead. 2012-12-16.
  7. Web site: Prosopis glandulosa. www.hort.purdue.edu. 2008-05-01.
  8. http://www.ars-grin.gov/duke/ Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases
  9. Book: Constantino Manuel Torres . David B. Repke . Anadenanthera: visionary plant of ancient South America . 15 March 2006 . Psychology Press . 978-0-7890-2642-2 . 134–.
  10. P. juliflora as a source of food and medicine for rural inhabitants in Rio Grande do Norte. ROCHA, R. G. A. In: The Current State of Knowledge on Prosopis juliflora. (Eds.) M. A. Habit and J. C. Saavedra. FAO,, 1990 Rome, Italy, pages 397-403
  11. Book: 978-0-905343-30-3 . Pasiecznik, N.M. . Felker, P. . Harris, P.J.C. . Harsh, L.N. . Cruz, G. . Tewari, J.C. . Cadoret, K. . Maldonado, L.J. . The Prosopis juliflora—Prosopis pallida Complex: A Monograph . 2001 .
  12. 11338777. 2001. Adikwu. MU. Ezeabasili. SI. Esimone. CO . Charles Esimone. Evaluation of the physico-chemical properties of a new polysaccharide gum from Prosopis africana. 140. 1. 40–5. Bollettino Chimico Farmaceutico.
  13. http://www.hear.org/Pier/species/prosopis_pallida.htm Prosopis pallida species info
  14. Web site: "Mesquite (Prosopis species)" Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Canberra..
  15. http://mojavedesert.net/trees/mesquite/ Mesquite Info
  16. http://www.desertusa.com/mag06/may/mesquite.html The Mesquite

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