the main constituents of the species [88]. Therefore, the authors recommend that P.
juliflora must constitute no more than 20% of any feed in order to avoid animal
health risks [87].
Regarding specific applications, which require complex analyzes and further
scientific research, several synthetic insecticides have been employed in order to
control agricultural pests; however, their constant use has led to the development of
insecticide resistance, promotion of harmful effects on humans, and other nontarget
organisms, along with severe environmental damage. In order to overcome these
events, the search for alternative pest control methods involving natural plant
products has increased substantially. In this context, previous studies have demonstrated larvicidal activity of P. juliflora seed pod hexane extract against Spodoptera
litura, with an LC 50 of 200.40 ppm, which, according to the authors, may be due to
the presence of 9-Octadecyne, the main compound of the afore mentioned extract
[89]. Other studies regarding P. juliflora leaf aqueous extracts have also demonstrated its mortality against whitefly eggs (43.6%) and nymphs (75.1%) at a concentration of 10% [47], taken together with the insecticidal activity towards
mosquito vectors of malaria, dengue, Chikungunya, and filariasis [90, 91]; this
suggests that P. julifora derivatives may act not only as biopesticides but also in
disease control.
According to the literature, all parts of P. julifora have been explored in folk
medicine [13, 52, 92]. The tree’s flour is used in syrup as an expectorant, and its tea
infusion, to treat skin lesions and improve digestion [92]. Additionally, its bark
extract is used as an antiseptic, the decoction of its wood chips is applied for skin
tonification, and its gum is used to treat eye infection [93].
Besides folk medicine application involving P. juliflora, several studies have
demonstrated the potential of the species regarding pharmaceutical technology
[52]. The gum from the species is very similar to Arabic gum and has been described
as an emulsifying agent for oil-water (O/W) emulsions [94–96] and as a good
encapsulating agent for essential oils and natural dyes [97–99]. These properties of
P. juliflora gum can be easily employed by the cosmetic industry, in regard to, for
instance, the development of emulsion cosmetic formulations and encapsulated
aromatic oils. Due to this property, the P. juliflora gum can be used in food,
cosmetology, and pharmaceutical industries as natural viscosity modifier to improve
the formulation stability. Rincón, Muñoz, Ramírez, Galán, and Alfaro [58] studied
the rheology of aqueous dispersion of galactomannan (to 0.6 from 1.4%) from P.
juliflora and related its use as a natural thickener with different applications.
Polysaccharides present in P. juliflora, such as galactomannan, have demonstrated a good disintegrating and binding efficiency, when applied to the pharmaceutical industry as plant excipients, and have shown importance over the years, due
to their abundance in nature, their safety, and economic viability [100]. Previously,
Reis, Cavalcanti, Rubira, and Muniz [101] have chemically modified galactomannan
obtained from P. juliflora, with glycidil methacrylate, suggesting that this new
component may be used by the pharmaceutical industry as an alternative to develop
controlled release systems. In the cosmetology field, the polysaccharides have been
used as a moisturizing agent. Barreto et al. [102] evaluated the skin moisturizing
22 Prosopis juliflora: Phytochemical, Toxicological, and Allelochemicals
533
juliflora must constitute no more than 20% of any feed in order to avoid animal
health risks [87].
Regarding specific applications, which require complex analyzes and further
scientific research, several synthetic insecticides have been employed in order to
control agricultural pests; however, their constant use has led to the development of
insecticide resistance, promotion of harmful effects on humans, and other nontarget
organisms, along with severe environmental damage. In order to overcome these
events, the search for alternative pest control methods involving natural plant
products has increased substantially. In this context, previous studies have demonstrated larvicidal activity of P. juliflora seed pod hexane extract against Spodoptera
litura, with an LC 50 of 200.40 ppm, which, according to the authors, may be due to
the presence of 9-Octadecyne, the main compound of the afore mentioned extract
[89]. Other studies regarding P. juliflora leaf aqueous extracts have also demonstrated its mortality against whitefly eggs (43.6%) and nymphs (75.1%) at a concentration of 10% [47], taken together with the insecticidal activity towards
mosquito vectors of malaria, dengue, Chikungunya, and filariasis [90, 91]; this
suggests that P. julifora derivatives may act not only as biopesticides but also in
disease control.
According to the literature, all parts of P. julifora have been explored in folk
medicine [13, 52, 92]. The tree’s flour is used in syrup as an expectorant, and its tea
infusion, to treat skin lesions and improve digestion [92]. Additionally, its bark
extract is used as an antiseptic, the decoction of its wood chips is applied for skin
tonification, and its gum is used to treat eye infection [93].
Besides folk medicine application involving P. juliflora, several studies have
demonstrated the potential of the species regarding pharmaceutical technology
[52]. The gum from the species is very similar to Arabic gum and has been described
as an emulsifying agent for oil-water (O/W) emulsions [94–96] and as a good
encapsulating agent for essential oils and natural dyes [97–99]. These properties of
P. juliflora gum can be easily employed by the cosmetic industry, in regard to, for
instance, the development of emulsion cosmetic formulations and encapsulated
aromatic oils. Due to this property, the P. juliflora gum can be used in food,
cosmetology, and pharmaceutical industries as natural viscosity modifier to improve
the formulation stability. Rincón, Muñoz, Ramírez, Galán, and Alfaro [58] studied
the rheology of aqueous dispersion of galactomannan (to 0.6 from 1.4%) from P.
juliflora and related its use as a natural thickener with different applications.
Polysaccharides present in P. juliflora, such as galactomannan, have demonstrated a good disintegrating and binding efficiency, when applied to the pharmaceutical industry as plant excipients, and have shown importance over the years, due
to their abundance in nature, their safety, and economic viability [100]. Previously,
Reis, Cavalcanti, Rubira, and Muniz [101] have chemically modified galactomannan
obtained from P. juliflora, with glycidil methacrylate, suggesting that this new
component may be used by the pharmaceutical industry as an alternative to develop
controlled release systems. In the cosmetology field, the polysaccharides have been
used as a moisturizing agent. Barreto et al. [102] evaluated the skin moisturizing
22 Prosopis juliflora: Phytochemical, Toxicological, and Allelochemicals
533