American Journal of Applied Sciences 6 (6): 1076-1085, 2009 ISSN 1546-9239 © 2009 Science Publications Corresponding Author: Norma Almaraz-Abarca, Interdisciplinary Research Centre for Integral Regional Development-Durango, National Polytechnique Institute (CIIDIR-IPN-Dgo.), Sigma s/n, Durango, Dgo., Mexico, 34220 Tel/Fax: (52 618) 8142091 1076 Profiling of Phenolic Compounds of Somatic and Reproductive Tissues of Agave Durangensis Gentry (Agavaceae) Norma Almaraz-Abarca, Elí Amanda Delgado-Alvarado, Vicente Hernández-Vargas, Margarita Ortega-Chávez, Gildardo Orea-Lara, Armando Cifuentes-Díaz de León, José Antonio Ávila-Reyes and Raúl Muñiz-Martínez Interdisciplinary Research Centre for Integral Regional Development-Durango, National Polytechnique Institute (CIIDIR-IPN-Dgo.), Sigma s/n, Durango, Dgo., Mexico, 34220 Abstract: Problem statement: In Durango, Mexico, mescal is elaborated from wild plants of Agave durangensis. This species shows a high morphological variability within and among populations, what makes its taxonomic delimitation a hard task. Approach: In this study the pollen and foliar phenolic compositions of Agave durangensis were analyzed by HPLC/DAD with the aim of determining the significance of phenol profiles to delimit this taxon. Results: The foliar phenol compositions were evaluated within and among two populations and between juvenile and adult plants. Agave asperrima Jacobi, Dasylirion sp. and juvenile samples of A. shrevei Gentry subsp. shrevei, A. shrevei Gentry subsp. matapensis Gentry and A. wocomahi Gentry, were also analyzed to stand comparisons with. The results from this study indicated that pollen and foliar tissues of Agave durangneisis were rich in kaempferol glycoside derivatives (13 and 23 different compounds can be present, respectively). Principal coordinates analysis (PCO), based on foliar profiles of adults, indicated the presence of several chemotypes within the Type locality of Agave durangensis and revealed chemical differences between the both analyzed populations. Conclusion/Recommendations: Chemical and morphological differences and biogeographical evidence suggest the recognition of two different taxonomic entities in this morphological variable group. Key words: Pollen flavonoids, foliar flavonoid profiles, Agave phenolic variability INTRODUCTION Agave is the biggest genus of the family Agavaceae, with around 166 species, from which 125 grow in Mexico [1,2] . Relevant ethnobotanic relationships have been established between the elements of this genus and the ancient and present cultures of Mexico [3,4] . Several authors have described the use of Agave as source of fibers, food and beverages [5] . In addition, Agave is used as natural fences to avoid the soil erosion and as cattle food [6] . At the present, the relevance of Agave has increased meanly because of the increased demand of alcoholic beverages like tequila and mescal [7] and the research on potential sources of prebiotics [8] . In all the cases, the authentification of the species of Agave to be used is an important requirement in the quality control of the manufacturing processes. In Mexico, with exception of Agave tequilana Weber var. azul, species like Agave durangensis, which support local industries of alcoholic beverages and which with just begin an industrialization process, techniques are needed to guarantee the botanical origin of plants, according to the respective origin denomination statement. Agave durangensis Gentry is one of the 24 species of genus Agave occurring in Durango, Mexico [9] . This species belongs to group Ditepalae of subfamily Agavoideae, proposed by Gentry [3] and can be found from Southern Durango to Northern Zacatecas [3,10] . In two localities of Durango (“Sierra of Registro”, the type locality and “Mezquital”), populations of Agave, traditionally called “agave mezcalero” or ”agave cenizo”, presumably A. durangensis, maintains a thriving mescal industry. Actually, studies have not been done to confirm that in all the cases the raw material to elaborate mescal is composed of that species [10] . In Durango, the manufacturing of mescal is mainly based on the gathering of agaves from their natural populations [7] . Recently, producers have been interested in the establishment of plantations of