Antiplatelet and antibacterial activities of Essential Oils obtained from rhizomes and leaves of <i>Hedychium coronarium</i> J. Koening

Hedychium coronarium J. Koening, belonging to Zingiberaceae family, is a perennial herb with fleshly aromatic rhizomes. There are no information about the antiplatelet properties of essential oils (EOs) from rhizomes (HCR) and leaves (HCL) of this herb, additionally, there are reports about the antibacterial activity of the Zingiberaceae species, however, no studies have been carried out in the Colombian Amazon Region. The EOs were characterized by GC-MS, the antiaggregant activity was assessed by ADP and Collagen as platelet agonist and the antibacterial activity against E. faecalis and S. aureus were evidenced by the determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). A high content of oxygenated monoterpenes were found in HCL essential oil (EO) and 20 compounds were identified in HCR EO. The HCL EO showed antiaggregant activity when collagen was used and HCR EO showed a concentration-dependent activity against ADP and collagen, meanwhile only the HCR EO showed antibacterial activity against E. faecalis and S. aureus.Facultad de Ciencias ExactasInstituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicada

Exploring Mexican adolescents' perceptions of environmental health risks: a photographic approach to risk analysis

The objective of this study was to explore Mexican adolescents' perceptions of environmental health risks in contaminated urban areas, and to test the environmental photography technique as a research tool for engaging adolescents in community-based health research. The study was conducted with 74 adolescents from two communities in the city of San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Participants were provided with disposable cameras and asked to take photographs of elements and situations which they believed affected their personal health both at home and outside their homes. They were also asked to describe each photograph in writing. Photographs and written explanations were analyzed by using quantitative and qualitative content analysis. Risk perception plays a crucial role in the development of Risk Communication Programs (RCPs) aimed at the improvement of community health. The photography technique opens up a promising field for environmental health research since it affords a realistic and concise impression of the perceived risks. Adolescents in both communities perceived different environmental health risks as detrimental to their well-being, e.g. waste, air pollution, and lack of hygiene. Yet, some knowledge gaps remain which need to be addressed

Evaluación fisicoquímica y bromatológica de la guayaba agria (psidium araca) en dos estados de maduración

En este trabajo, se realizó un estudio fisicoquímico y bromatológico de la fruta conocida comúnmente como guayaba agria (Psidium araca), en dos estados de maduración, y en cada uno con piel y sin piel. Se determinaron porcentajes de humedad, cenizas, extracto etéreo, proteína, fibra, extracto no nitrogenado y azúcares totales; también se evaluaron algunos nutrientes como vitamina C y los elementos potasio, sodio, hierro, fósforo y calcio. Los resultados mostraron elevados contenidos de vitamina C (rango 477 - 351 mg en 100 g de fruta), también se evidenció un comportamiento muy general en las frutas durante la maduración: la degradación de carbohidratos poliméricos que origina la disminución del porcentaje de fibra y el aumento del porcentaje de azúcares. Debido a la síntesis de enzimas involucradas en este y otros procesos degenerativos, aumentó la cantidad de proteína durante la maduración en las frutas con cáscara