Flavonoid and Capsaicinoid Contents and Consumption of Mexican Chili Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Landraces

There is insufficient evidence to identify the precise health effects of chili pepper consumption. However, there is evidence of their topical use as an analgesic to decrease pain from rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, neuralgias, neuropathic diabetes, neuronal dysfunctions and inflammation, among others. In this work, the diversity and variety of consumed forms of chilis in Mexico, flavonoid and capsaicinoid content in fruits, and their potential health uses are documented, based on various research results and bibliographic information. In Mexico, more than 150 landraces of wild and cultivated origins are consumed and preserved and are distributed throughout the country; the greatest diversity is concentrated in the central and south-southeastern regions. Consumption per capita in urban households is from 8 to 9 kg, and in rural communities, it varies from 14 to 17 kg. Chili peppers contain up to 23 flavonoids and 20 capsaicinoids, differing among landraces because of crop management, maturation of fruits, postharvest management and ecological-environmental influences. Flavonoids and capsaicinoids confer antioxidant, anticarcinogenic properties on the fruit and have lipolytic and preventative effects on chronic degenerative diseases. However, in vitro and in vivo experimental trials of capsaicinoids and flavonoids with beneficial effects must be conducted with regard to human health

Variación del crecimiento en vivero entre procedencias de Pinus pseudostrobus Lindl.

Pinus pseudostrobus is a species with timber harvesting, distributed over a wide altitudinal gradient of 1,600-3,250 m, suggesting a genetic variance, which can be exploited by selecting trees that provide seeds in order to produce plants with high relative growth rates. Therefore, survival and early growth of Pinus pseudostrobus were evaluated under nursery conditions, based on the variation in offsprings of 38 outstanding trees (provenances) in natural stands from Sierra Norte of Oaxaca, Mexico. Seeds were sowing in February 2013 at a nursery located in Ixtlan de Juarez, near the collection site, to 2030 masl and a temperate climate. Survival from 54-166 days after planting (dap) was evaluated, five readings of plant height, basal stem diameter, four readings of number of brachyblasts were recorded, and the relative growth rate for plant height was estimated. Using analysis of variance and mean tests, significant differences among provenances were determined in all variables. In the evaluation, the plants in the nursery showed an exponential growth, an average of 0,8 to 1,5 mm in height/day of 54-166 dap and an average of 1-2 brachyblasts on primary and secondary branches per day in a range of 82-166 dap. From total provenances, four showed high growing rate.Pinus pseudotrobus es una especie con aprovechamiento maderable, distribuida en un amplio gradiente altitudinal, de 1.600 a 3.250 m, lo que sugiere una varianza genética que puede ser aprovechada mediante la selección de árboles que provean semillas que generen plantas con altas tasas de crecimiento relativo. Por lo anterior, se evaluó la sobrevivencia y crecimiento inicial de Pinus pseudostrobus en vivero, con base en la variación de progenies de 38 árboles sobresalientes (procedencias) en rodales naturales de la Sierra Norte de Oaxaca, México. La siembra se realizó en febrero de 2013 en un vivero localizado en Ixtlán de Juárez, cercano a la región de colecta, a 2030 msnm y un clima templado. Además de evaluar la sobrevivencia de 54 a 166 días después de la siembra (dds), se estimaron cinco lecturas de altura de planta, diámetro basal de tallo y cuatro lecturas de número de braquiblastos, y se calculó la tasa de crecimiento relativo para altura de planta. Mediante un análisis de varianza y comparación de medias se determinaron diferencias significativas entre procedencias, en todas las variables. En la evaluación se manifestó un crecimiento exponencial de plantas en vivero, con un promedio de 0,8 a 1,5 mm de altura/día de 54 a 166 dds y un promedio de 1 a 2 braquiblastos en ramillas primarias y secundarias por día en un intervalo de 82 a 166 dds. Del total de procedencias, cuatro de ellas mostraron una alta tasa de crecimiento

Effects of Growth Conditions on Phenolic Composition and Antioxidant Activity in the Medicinal Plant Ageratina petiolaris (Asteraceae)

Secondary metabolites, in addition to playing an essential role in the adaptation of plants to the environment and phytochemical responses in recovery processes to stress conditions, are the base material of the healing effect of medicinal plants. In this study, the effect of growth conditions and localities of origin of Ageratina petiolaris on phenolic compounds content and antioxidant activity was evaluated; the plant is used for medicinal purposes in Oaxaca, Mexico. Samples of stem and young leaves were collected from plants growing naturally (in situ) in two locations in Oaxaca and from propagules collected in situ; plants were grown ex situ to obtain a set of equivalent samples to the first sampling (in situ). In both sets of samples, total polyphenol and flavonoid contents and antioxidant activity were evaluated by spectrometry, and later the phenolic acids and flavonoids were also identified and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD). The growth conditions of A. petiolaris significantly influenced its phenolic composition and antioxidant activity, where samples collected in situ had a higher phenolic compounds content than did plants grown ex situ. Five phenolic acids and five flavonoids were identified, eight of which had not been reported in A. petiolaris: caffeic acid, ρ-coumaric acid, robinin, rutin, luteolin-7-glucoside, apigenin-7-glucoside, rosmarinic acid and kaempferol, in terms of HPLC-DAD analysis

Effects of Growth Conditions on Phenolic Composition and Antioxidant Activity in the Medicinal Plant <i>Ageratina petiolaris</i> (Asteraceae)

Secondary metabolites, in addition to playing an essential role in the adaptation of plants to the environment and phytochemical responses in recovery processes to stress conditions, are the base material of the healing effect of medicinal plants. In this study, the effect of growth conditions and localities of origin of Ageratina petiolaris on phenolic compounds content and antioxidant activity was evaluated; the plant is used for medicinal purposes in Oaxaca, Mexico. Samples of stem and young leaves were collected from plants growing naturally (in situ) in two locations in Oaxaca and from propagules collected in situ; plants were grown ex situ to obtain a set of equivalent samples to the first sampling (in situ). In both sets of samples, total polyphenol and flavonoid contents and antioxidant activity were evaluated by spectrometry, and later the phenolic acids and flavonoids were also identified and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD). The growth conditions of A. petiolaris significantly influenced its phenolic composition and antioxidant activity, where samples collected in situ had a higher phenolic compounds content than did plants grown ex situ. Five phenolic acids and five flavonoids were identified, eight of which had not been reported in A. petiolaris: caffeic acid, ρ-coumaric acid, robinin, rutin, luteolin-7-glucoside, apigenin-7-glucoside, rosmarinic acid and kaempferol, in terms of HPLC-DAD analysis

Effects of Annual Growth Conditions on Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Activity in the Roots of <i>Eryngium montanum</i>

Medicinal plants grown in natural settings are exposed to different adverse environmental conditions that determine their growth and development as well as the composition and concentration of secondary metabolites in their organs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of environmental conditions associated with localities and annual growth cycles on the contents of phenolic compounds and flavonoids, antioxidant activity and potentially bioactive phenolic acids in the roots of Eryngium montanum, a medicinal species from temperate Mexico. The samples for composition analysis were collected using a bifactorial design: Factor A consisted of the localities (Morelos and La Unión de San Martin Huamelulpam, Mexico) and Factor B was represented by the annual growth cycle (2020 and 2021). In each sample, the contents of polyphenols and equivalent flavonoids of quercetin and catechin and antioxidant activity were evaluated using spectrophotometry. Subsequently, chlorogenic, caffeic and rosmarinic acids were identified and quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD). The annual growth conditions and, to a lesser extent, the locality of origin of the samples significantly influenced the contents of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity. The environmental conditions that occurred in 2021 favored an increase in the contents of phenolic compounds compared to those in 2020, and the same pattern was observed for chlorogenic acid; however, for caffeic and rosmarinic acids, the opposite pattern was observed. The content of phenolic acids in the roots of E. montanum follows different and independent patterns between cycles based on the interaction between the locality of origin and annual growth cycle. This study quantifies the magnitude of the total environmental effect on the phenolic compound concentrations in E. montanum roots, which was measured via sampling during two annual growth cycles, where the sampling locations factor had little influence. The bioactive compounds identified in E. montanum roots have the potential for use as alternative medicines, as mentioned by different families from Oaxaca, Mexico

Plant and Growth Condition Interactions on the Phenolic Compound Contents and Antioxidant Activity in <i>Salvia circinata</i> Cav., a Medicinal Sage

The genus Salvia has a worldwide distribution, and its contribution to traditional medicine and as an aromatic plant has been recognized since ancient times, with few documented species having a similar phytochemical composition. In this study, the effects of natural growth conditions (in situ) and ex situ cultivation and sampling locations on the phenolic compound contents and antioxidant activity of methanolic extracts of Salvia circinata from Oaxaca, Mexico, were investigated. Stem and young leaf samples were collected from plants growing in situ in two locations in Oaxaca and later from plants propagated clonally or vegetatively from propagules obtained in situ but grown ex situ. In both sets of samples, the contents of total polyphenols and flavonoids and the antioxidant activity were evaluated by spectrophotometry, and subsequently, the contents of phenols and specific flavonoids were identified and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC–DAD). The growth conditions and locality of origin of the samples significantly influenced the contents of total polyphenols and flavonoids and antioxidant activity, with the in situ conditions in the locality of Reforma, Oaxaca, favoring higher levels. Two phenolic acids (chlorogenic and rosmarinic) and two flavonoids (isoquercitrin and rutin) were identified, and the concentrations of these compounds were influenced by the growth conditions and localities of origin of the samples

Caracterización física y química de la nuez y el aceite de nueve variedades de Macadamia integrifolia, M. tetraphylla e híbridos

La especie Macadamia pertenece a la familia Proteacea , y las únicas especies de interés comercial son M. integrifolia y M. tetraphylla . Existe una cr eciente demanda de las nueces debido a su alto valor nutrimental y funcional ya que numerosos estudios han demostrado los efectos protectores de su consumo disminuyendo el riesgo de padecer enfermedades cardiovasculares. Sin embargo, hay una alta variabili dad en la calidad de la nuez y sus productos derivados. Método . En la nuez se registraron los parámetros de color L*, a* y b* y se analizó humedad, azúcares, polifenoles y actividad antioxidante. En el aceite se evaluó humedad, índice de saponificación, ín dice de ácidos grasos libres (AGL) e índice de peróxido (IP). Resultados . La humedad de la nuez contrastó entre variedades (22.9 a 40.6 g 100 g - 1 ), contrario a los parámetros de color que fueron similares (L*= 60.2 a 68.8). La variedad Victoria por su mayo r contenido de azúcares (57.5 mg glucosa g - 1 ) podría destinarse para consumo en fresco. UCLA y Huatusco presentaron el mayor contenido de polifenoles (>1.2 mg EAG g - 1 ) y actividad antioxidante (>7.0 μmol Eq. trolox g - 1 ). El aceite presentó baja hum edad (≤0.22%) y de AGL; además, el IP fue inferior al límite permitido para aceites vegetales vírgenes (15 m Eq. O 2 kg - 1 ). Conclusión . De acuerdo con las características físico - químicas de la nuez y aceite de las distintas variedades se recomienda usos di ferenciados preferentemente en la industria alimentaria

Antioxidant and antiproliferative activity of blue corn and tortilla from native maize

Abstract Background Blue corn is a cereal rich in phenolic compounds used to make blue tortillas. Tortillas are an important part of the Mexican diet. Blue corn and tortilla represent an important source of the natural antioxidants anthocyanins. However, studies on their biological activity on cancer cell lines are limited. The goal of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant and antiproliferative activity of blue corn and tortilla on different cancer cell lines. Methods Total polyphenol content, monomeric anthocyanins, and antioxidant activity by the DPPH and TBARS methods of blue corn and tortilla were determined. The anthocyanin profile of tortilla was obtained by means of HPLC–ESI-MS. The antiproliferative activity of blue corn and tortilla extract on HepG2, H-460, Hela, MCF-7 and PC-3 was evaluated by the MTT assay. Results Blue corn had higher content of total polyphenols and monomeric anthocyanins as well as lower percentage of polymeric color than tortilla; however, both showed similar antioxidant activity by DPPH. In addition, although a higher degradation of anthocyanins was observed on tortilla extract, both extracts inhibited lipid peroxidation (IC50) at a similar concentration. The anthocyanin profile showed 28 compounds which are primarily derived from cyanidin, including acylated anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins. Blue corn and tortilla extracts showed antiproliferative effects against HepG2, H-460, MCF-7 and PC-3 cells at 1000 μg/mL, however Hela cells were more sensitive at this concentration. Conclusion This is the first report to demonstrate anticancer properties in vitro of tortilla derived from blue corn, suggesting that this product has beneficial health effects. In addition, blue corn could be a potential source of nutraceuticals with anticancer activity