| Summary: | There are approximately 250 species of <i>Eryngium</i> L. distributed throughout the world, with North America and South America being centers of diversity on this continent. In the central-western region of Mexico there may be around 28 species of this genus. Some <i>Eryngium</i> species are cultivated as leafy vegetables, ornamental, and medicinal plants. In traditional medicine they are used to treat respiratory and gastrointestinal conditions, diabetes, and dyslipidemia, among others. This review addresses the phytochemistry and biological activities, as well as traditional uses, distribution, and characteristics of the eight species of <i>Eryngium</i> reported as medicinal in the central-western region of Mexico: <i>E. cymosum</i>, <i>E. longifolium</i>, <i>E. fluitans</i> (or <i>mexicanum</i>), <i>E. beecheyanum</i>, <i>E. carlinae</i>, <i>E. comosum</i>, <i>E. heterophyllum</i>, and <i>E. nasturtiifolium</i>. The extracts of the different <i>Eryngium</i> spp. have shown biological activities such as hypoglycemic, hypocholesterolemic, renoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant, among others. <i>E. carlinae</i> is the most studied species, and phytochemical analyses, performed mainly by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS), have shown its content of terpenoids, fatty acids, organic acids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, sterols, saccharides, polyalcohols, and aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes. According to the results of this review on <i>Eryngium</i> spp., they constitute a relevant alternative as a source of bioactive compounds for pharmaceutical, food, and other industries. However, there is a lot of research to be conducted regarding phytochemistry, biological activities, cultivation, and propagation, in those species with few or no reports.
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