Argemone species: Potential source of biofuel and high-value biological active compounds

The Argemone genus includes weed species of great importance in traditional medicine due to biological activities attributed to secondary metabolites, mainly alkaloids, distributed in all tissues of this species. In addition, their seeds contain a large amount of oil (30 to 40%). For this reason, several authors have discussed the potential of this species as a non-edible source to produce multi-purpose raw materials and a low cost-crop for example in the production of biofuels such as biodiesel. Argemone species grows in poor soils with low water and nutrient requirements. This makes the Argemone species an attractive economical and environmentally friendly candidate for biofuels production. Furthermore, the Argemone species can also provide high-value by-products for the agrochemical and pharmaceutical industry. In this work, we compiled the ethnomedical information, biochemical features, and biofuel production efforts that have been published by testing different Argemone species, in order to compare the research efforts and analyze its biotechnological potential. After analyzing the literature, we conclude that the genus has great potential for high-value pharmaceutical products and energy production purposes, and also to control plant pests. We also consider that other species of the genus may have also potential applications in this field.