Flavonoids, Sterols and Lignans from Cochlospermum vitifolium and Their Relationship with Its Liver Activity

The sterols β-sitostenone (1), stigmast-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one (2), β-sitosterol (3) and stigmasterol (4), the aromatic derivatives antiarol (5) and gentisic acid (6), the phenylpropanes coniferyl alcohol (7), epoxyconiferyl alcohol (8) and ferulic acid (9), the apocarotenoid vomifoliol (10), the flavonoids naringenin (11), 7,4′-dimethoxytaxifolin (7,4′-dimethoxydihydroquercetin, 12), aromadendrin (13), kaempferol (14), taxifolin (dihydroquercetin, 15), prunin (naringenin-7-O-β-d-glucoside, 16), populnin (kaempferol-7-O-β-d-glucoside, 17) and senecin (aromadendrin-7-O-β-d-glucoside, 18) and the lignans kobusin (19) and pinoresinol (20), were isolated from the dried bark of Cochlospermum vitifolium Spreng (Cochlospermaceae), a Mexican medicinal plant used to treat jaundice, liver ailments and hepatitis C. Fourteen of these compounds were isolated for the first time from this plant and from the Cochlospermum genus. Compounds 3–4, 6–7, 9–11, 13–17 and 20 have previously exhibited diverse beneficial liver activities. The presence of these compounds in C. vitifolium correlates with the use of this Mexican medicinal plant

Phytochemical Study and Anti-inflammatory, Antidiabetic and Free Radical Scavenger Evaluations of Krameria pauciflora Methanol Extract

The plant Krameria pauciflora MOC et. Sessé ex DC. is used as an anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic in traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vivo anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic effects of a methanol extract from the roots of K. pauciflora. Dichloromethane and ethyl acetate extracts obtained by partitioning the methanol extract were also evaluated. Complete methanol and dichloromethane extracts showed anti-inflammatory effects at 3 mg/kg. An anti-inflammatory effect similar to indomethacin (10 mg/kg) was observed when the methanol and dichloromethane extracts, which contain a cycloartane-type triterpene and an sterol, were administered orally at several doses (3, 10, 30 and 100 mg/kg), whereas no anti-inflammatory effect was observed at any dose for the ethyl acetate extract, which contains catechin-type flavonoids. The antidiabetic effect of each extract was also determined. An antihyperglycaemic effect was observed in diabetic rats, but no effect in normoglycaemic animals was observed when the methanol extract was administrated at 30 mg/kg. All of the extracts exhibited radical scavenger activity. Additionally, constituents from all of the extracts were identified by NMR. This article supports the use of K. pauciflora as an anti-inflammatory because it exhibits a similar effect to indomethacin. However, its antidiabetic effect is not completely clear, although it could be useful for preventing diabetic complications

Antimalarial Activity of Ultra-Short Peptides

Ultra-short peptides 1-9 were designed and synthesized with phenylalanine, ornithine and proline amino acid residues and their effect on antimalarial activity was analyzed. On the basis of the IC50 data for these compounds, the effects of nature, polarity, and amino acid sequence on Plasmodium berghei schizont cultures were analyzed too. Tetrapeptides Phe-Orn-Phe-Orn (4) and Lys-Phe-Phe-Orn (5) showed a very important activity with IC50 values of 3.31 and 2.57 μM, respectively. These two tetrapeptides are candidates for subsequent in vivo assays and SARS investigations

Seasonal variation of chemical profile of Ruta graveolens extracts and biological activity against Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium proliferatum and Stemphylium vesicarium

Ruta graveolens L. is a plant of agricultural interest due to its biological activity against phytopathogenic microorganism. This activity has been attributed to the presence of alkaloids, furanocoumarins, terpenes and fatty acids. The accumulation of these compounds is affected by environmental factors. The aim of this work was to analyze the seasonal variation the chemical profile of rue and to evaluate the biological activity against phytopathogenic fungi. Extracts were obtained in January, April, June and September 2017, chemically characterized by GC-MS. The antifungal activity was determined by absorbance, four concentrations were evaluated: 4, 8, 16 and 32 mg/mL. In extracts from the aerial parts, fatty acids were the most abundant group in the January sample (29.7%), and alkaloids in the April and June (27.7%) samples. In extracts from the roots, alkaloids were the most abundant group in the four collections. The highest percentage of growth inhibition on Fusarium and Stemphylium was obtained with the extracts of the January sample. Ruta graveolens can be considered an alternative for the management of phytopathogenic fungi of crops of economic importance.L.R.V. acknowledges CONACYT for the doctoral grant 449402. M.B. acknowledges MINECO for the “Juan de La Cierva-Formación” FJCI-2016-30902 and MICIU for the “Juan de La Cierva-Incorporación” IJC 2018-037830-I postdoctoral grants. Authors acknowledge to SIBE and EDI, IPN.Peer reviewe

Efecto de la utilización de bagazo de naranja como extensor funcional sobre las propiedades fisicoquímicas y texturales de jamón cocido

The substitution effect of carrageenan, soy protein and potato starch by orange bagasse on physico-chemical characteristics of cooked ham was evaluated. A 33 factorial design was used, with substitution levels of 0, 50 and 100%. The results indicate that the substitution of potato starch for orange bagasse results in increase in the ham yield, but to replace the carrageenan and/or soy protein by orange bagasse, cause decrease in yield below that non-substituted ham. Moreover, if even yields increase with substitution of potato starch by orange bagasse, however, the textural characteristics of the product obtained showed deficiency in comparison with thenon-substituted ham. Apparently orange bagasse substitution does not alter the matrix stability formation in ham, so there was no significant difference in expressible moisture. Substitution of carrageenan, soy protein and potato starch by orange bagasse in ham has highest influence on pH and color parameters, this due probably to compounds presents in the fruit (citric acid and carotenoids). Orange bagasse has high potential as a novel source of dietary fiber in food industry.Se evaluó el efecto de la sustitución de la carragenina, fécula de papa y proteína de soya, por bagazo de naranja sobre las características físico-químicas de jamón cocido, para lo cual se utilizó un diseño factorial 33, teniendo como niveles de sustitución de cada componente 0, 50 y 100%, los resultados indicaron que la sustitución de fécula de papa por bagazo de naranja, permite obtener menores pérdidas con respecto a la muestra estándar por efecto del tratamiento térmico, sin embargo al sustituir la carragenina o proteína de soya, las pérdidas se incrementan. Por otra parte, aun cuando los rendimientos se incrementan con la sustitución de fécula de papa por bagazo de naranja, el producto muestra deficientes características texturales en comparación con la muestra estándar. Aparentemente, la sustitución con bagazo de naranja, no altera la estabilidad de la matriz formada en el jamón, por lo que no hubo diferencia significativa en la humedad exprimible. Los parámetros en los que se observó mayor influencia de la sustitución con bagazo fueron pH y color, esto se debe a los compuestos que contiene el fruto (ácido cítrico y carotenoides). El bagazo de naranja tiene un alto potencial para ser utilizado en la industria cárnic

Exilio y migración forzada : tendencias latinoamericanas

La presente obra que lleva por título Exilio y migración forzada: tendencias latinoamericanas, presenta un panorama de la dinámica de los referidos temas en América Latina y el Caribe. Se trata de dos de las características políticas más relevantes en el escenario regional desde el siglo xix. Los textos que conforman el libro ofrecen un enfoque analítico de ambos fenómenos desde la política, la sociología y la economía con una visión latinoamericana y ponen el acento en determinados actores exiliados, desterrados y migrantes forzados de nuestra América.Trabajo realizado con el apoyo del Programa UNAM DGAPA-PAPIIT IG40011