This is a presentation given at the 57th Annual Meeting of the Society for Economic Botany, hosted at Pine Mountain Settlement School in Kentucky, USA from June 5th-9th, 2016.

TITLE
Unraveling the mysteries of Ibervillea sonorae, a phenom of Mexican traditional medicine.

AUTHORS
Andrew, Semotiuk [1], Emma, Hernandez-Romano [2], Patricia, Colunga-García Marín [3], Luis, Salazar-Olivo [2], Exequiel, Ezcurra [1].
1 – University of California Riverside, Botany & Plant Sciences, 900 University Ave, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
2 – IPICYT, Biologia molecular, Camino a la presa, San Luis Potosi, SLP, Mexico
3 – CICY, Unidad de recursos naturales, Colonia Chuburna Hidalgo, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico

ABSTRACT
The surge of diabetes in Mexico and people of ancestry from the Americas is particularly widespread. In this same scenario, traditional and herbal medicine use by Mexicans is particularly strong. Here, one phenom of herbal medicine is the caudex of Ibervillea sonorae (S. Watson) Greene, Cucurbitaceae, has rose to prominence as a supplement with hypoglycemic properties. In this study we examine the hypothesis that traditional knowledge can guide our understanding of medicinal plant mechanisms. Further, we hypothesized that Ibervillea sonorae (S. Watson) Greene acts through pathways currently employed to treat diabetes. Healer and shopkeeper interviews revealed prescriptions similar to those for the α-glucosidase inhibitor, acarbose. Inhibition studies revealed dose dependent, and competitive inhibition of α-glucosidase by aqueous I. sonorae extract. Further, aqueous extract stimulated insulin secretion from RINm5F pancreatic β-cells. Taken together, these results display the role of ethnobotanical fieldwork in identifying mechanisms of local remedies. Understanding these mechanisms supports patient care by identifying the mechanism of this popular supplement so physicians can avoid contraindications. It also shows the value of continued pharmacological studies on this species.