Collagen-Inducing Compounds from Chihuahuan Desert Plants for Potential Skin Bioink 3D Printing Applications: A Narrative Review

This review synthetizes experimental evidence on collagen-related bioactivity and the biomaterial potential of plant species native to the Chihuahuan Desert, aiming to identify natural compounds that could enhance next-generation dermal bioinks for 3D bioprinting. A structured search across major databases included studies characterizing plant extracts or metabolites, with reported effects on collagen synthesis, fibroblast activity, inflammation, oxidative balance, or interactions with polymers commonly used in skin-engineering materials being developed. Evidence was organized thematically to reveal mechanistic patterns despite methodological heterogeneity. Several species, among them Larrea tridentata, Opuntia spp., Aloe spp., Matricaria chamomilla, Simmondsia chinensis, Prosopis glandulosa, and Artemisia ludoviciana, repeatedly demonstrated the presence of bioactive metabolites such as lignans, flavonoids, phenolic acids, terpenoids, and polysaccharides. These compounds support pathways central to extracellular matrix repair, including stimulation of fibroblast migration and collagen I/III expression, modulation of inflammatory cascades, antioxidant protection, and stabilization of ECM structures. Notably, several metabolites also influence viscoelastic and crosslinking behaviors, suggesting that they may enhance the printability, mechanical stability, and cell-supportive properties of collagen-, GelMA-, and hyaluronic acid-based bioinks. The review also reflects on the bioethical and sustainability considerations regarding endemic floral resources, highlighting the importance of responsible sourcing, conservation extraction practices, and alignment with international biodiversity and access to benefit/sharing frameworks. Taken together, these findings point to a promising, yet largely unexplored, opportunity: integrating regionally derived phytochemicals into bioinks to create biologically active, environmentally conscious, and clinically relevant materials capable of improving collagen remodeling and regenerative outcomes in 3D-printed skin.