Creosote Bush, Part 2
The Creosote Bush can be easily identified by its pungent smell, once you know what to sniff for. Especially noticeable after a rain, this smell comes from a variety of volatile oils found in the leaves, including terpenes, limonene, and camphor, also found in pines, citrus and rosemary. The leaves also contain methanol and 2-undecanone, which lends its pungence to bananas, cloves, ginger and strawberries, and is an effective insect repellent.
NDGA
The Creosote Bush also produces a powerful antioxidant called Nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) that was discovered in the 1930's. It was commonly extracted and used to preserve food until the FDA ended the practice in the 1970's due to toxicity reports. It is still used sometimes as a nutritional supplement, and there is recent research that indicates it may reduce cancerous tumors in mice. A study in the 80's used NDGA to increase lifespan of male mice, and of female mosquitos by 50%.
NPS.
The Creosote Bush can be seen all over the American southwest and northern Mexico, and has a tendency to take over grasslands if fires don't keep it in check. Since it uses resources so efficiently, it will easily outcompete other plants, but it grows much more slowly. Grasses and other plants regrow quickly after a fire, giving them a chance to block out the Creosote Bush.