Chemical composition, mineral content and antioxidant activity of Verbena officinalis L.

Aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts from Verbena officinalis L. were obtained and characterised. The analysis by HPLC-DAD and LC–MS allowed the detection and identification of three iridoids, fifteen flavonoids and four phenolic acid derivatives. Four flavonoids, scutellarein 7-diglucuronide (9), scutellarein 7-glucuronide (13), pedalitin 6-galactoside (15) and scutellarein 7-glucoside (19) are reported for the first time from this plant. In addition, three new flavonoids have been isolated: scutellarein 7-O-(2-O-feruloyl)-diglucuronide (5), pedalitin 6-O-diglucuronide (6) and pedalitin 6-O-(2-O-feruloyl)-diglucuronide (13). To our knowledge, these flavonoids have not been reported as natural products. Both extracts showed significant antioxidant activity using three in vitro model systems and the results have been correlated with total phenolic and total flavonoid contents. The results have allowed establishing an important relation structure–activity and significant correlations have also been found between the mineralcontent and the flavonoids present in both extracts

Study of the effects of tropical highland blackberry (Rubus adenotrichos) on the metabolic syndrome

La mûre tropicale de montagne (Rubus adenotrichos Schltdl.) est largement cultivée et consommée au Costa Rica. Cependant, il existe peu de recherches scientifiques sur ce fruit. Par conséquent, nos travaux ont pour but de valoriser la mûre au travers de l’étude de ses activités biologiques sur le syndrome métabolique. Le jus microfiltré de mûre a démontré être riche en polyphénols (377,5 équivalents d’AG/100g), spécialement en ellagitanins (90,39-141,89 équivalents d’AE/100g) et anthocyanes (56,93-73,31 équivalents de cyanidine-3-glucoside/100g). Le pouvoir antioxydant du jus de mûre a été déterminé par les méthodes ORAC (4253,53 µmol ET/100g), FRAP (4703,84 µmol ET/100g), ABTS (1,075 μmol ET/100g) et LPO (15,88 µM de hydroperoxyde) et par des mesures de la capacité antioxydante des enzymes superoxyde dismutase (767,33 U/ml) et catalaseCAT (70,33 nmol/min/ml). Le jus de mûre a inhibé la production du NO induite par LPS+IFNγ lorsqu'il a été utilisé comme prétraitement sur les cellules J774A.1. L’inhibition a été de 51,95% pour le jus de mûre à 1000 g/ml, sans affecter ni la viabilité cellulaire ni la concentration de protéines dans les cellules. Cette activité antiinflammatoire a été confirmée par la diminution du taux de la synthase inductible de l'oxyde nitrique dans ces mêmes cellules par une analyse Western Blot. Cette étude a utilisé un modèle in vivo pour évaluer l'effet de la consommation du jus de mûre chez des rats insulino-résistants. L'apport en mûre a provoqué une diminution des triglycérides sériques (-50,2%), du cholestérol total (-15,6%), du cholestérol LDL (-48,2%) et de la pression artérielle systolique des rats par rapport aux témoins, sans influencer les concentrations de cholestérol HDL ni la glycémie. L’effet hypotenseur du jus a été confirmé par une réduction de la pression artérielle diastolique de 54,2% lors de la mesure de la pression artérielle après l’injection du jus de mûre chez le rat anesthésié. L’effet du jus de mûre chez homme a été évalué lors d’un essai clinique avec des patients dislypidémiques, après lequel on a observé une réduction significative du tour de taille, du glucose, de la pression artérielle diastolique et des triglycérides (-20,3%) chez les patients qui ont consommé du jus de mûre à 40% v/v durant 6 semaines. En outre, lors de la fermentation du jus de mûre costaricienne avec des levures du type Saccharomyces cerevisiae, la teneur en sucres (glucose, fructose et saccharose) a été réduite presque totalement au bout de 10 jours et le séchage par atomisation d’un jus fermenté avec 10% de maltodextrine 6DE et 1% de Aerosil, à un débit de pulvérisation de 3 ml/min et avec un débit d’air chaud (150°C) de 650 L/h garantit l’obtention d’une poudre avec un rendement élevé de séchage. Enfin, cette étude suggère que la mûre Rubus adenotrichos présente un bénéfice potentiel sur la santé, spécialement contre toutes les pathologies liées au syndrome métabolique. Mots clés: Rubus adenotrichos, mûre, jus microfiltré, syndrome métabolique, dyslipidémie, antioxydante, antiinflammatoire, hypotensionTropical highland blackberry (Rubus adenotrichos Schltdl.) is widely cultivated and consumed in Costa Rica. However, there is little scientific research on this fruit. Therefore, our work aims to enhance blackberry importance through the study of its biological activity on the metabolic syndrome.Blackberry microfiltered juice has been shown to be rich in polyphenols (377.5 GA equivalents /100g), especially ellagitannins (from 90.39 to 141.89 EA equivalents/100g) and anthocyanins (from 56.93 to 73, 31 equivalents of cyanidin-3-glucoside/100g). The antioxidant power of blackberry juice was determined by the ORAC (4253.53 µmol TE/100g), FRAP (4703.84 µmol TE/ 100g), ABTS (1.075 µmol TE/100g) and LPO (15.88 µmol of hydroperoxide) methods and by measuring the antioxidant capacity of superoxide dismutase (767.33 U/ml) and catalase (70.33 nmol/min/ml) enzymes.Blackberry juice inhibited NO production induced by LPS+IFN gamma when used as a pretreatment on J774A.1 cells. Inhibition was 51.95% for the blackberry juice at 1000 µg/ml, without affecting neither cell viability nor the concentration of proteins in J774A.1 cells. The anti-inflammatory activity has been confirmed by the decrease in the rate of inducible nitric oxide synthase in these cells by Western blot analysis.This study used an in vivo model to assess the effect of blackberry juice consumption in insulin-resistant rats. The intake of blackberry caused a decrease in serum triglycerides (-50.2%), total cholesterol (-15.6%), LDL cholesterol (-48.2%) and in the systolic blood pressure of rats compared to controls, without affecting HDL cholesterol or blood sugar levels. The hypotensive effect of the juice has been confirmed by a reduction of 54.2% of the diastolic blood pressure in the measurement of blood pressure after injection of the blackberry juice in the anesthetized rat.The effect of blackberry juice on humans was evaluated in a clinical trial with patients suffering dyslipidemia, after which a significant reduction in waist circumference, glucose, diastolic blood pressure and triglycerides (-20,3%) was observed in patients who consumed 40% v/v blackberry juice for 6 weeks.Also, during fermentation of blackberry juice with yeasts of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae type, the sugar content (glucose, fructose and sucrose) was reduced almost totally after 10 days and the spray drying of the fermented juice with 10% maltodextrin 6DE and 1% Aerosil, at a spraying rate of 3 ml/min and with a flow of hot air (150°C) of 650 L/h ensures to obtain a powder and a high efficiency in drying.Finally, this study suggests that the blackberry specie Rubus adenotrichos presents a potential health benefit, especially against all diseases related to metabolic syndrome.Keywords: Rubus adenotrichos, blackberry, microfiltered juice, metabolic syndrome, dyslipidemia, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypotensio

Modelo de planificación estratégica y mejoramiento de la eficiencia y eficacia aplicable en el sector ganadero de Pérez Zeledón: análisis del caso de los ganaderos que comercializan en la Cámara de Ganaderos Unidos del Sur

Licenciatura en administración con énfasis en gestión financieraMostrar una investigación sobre el manejo de las herramientas administrativas de los ganaderos que comercializan en la Cámara de Ganaderos Unidos del Sur, para optar por el grado de Licenciatura en Administración de Empresas, es en un inicio la fuente de inspiración más importante a la hora de plantearnos el reto de llevar a cabo este trabajo. En el contacto directo con el sector, con el ganadero quien ama lo que hace, pero no encuentra la forma de enfrentar las dificultades que la actividad le genera, éste, que con una formación deficitaria da lo mejor de sí para llevar adelante una empresa que la más de las veces le presenta mayores dificultades que satisfacciones, sin lugar a dudas fue la motivación que finalmente inspiro que continuáramos adelante. No podemos obviar otro factor importante el cual es la situación en que se encuentra la producción de carne en el ámbito nacional, la misma muestra una desaceleración inquietante, la producción de pollo, hoy por hoy, se muestra sólida y en constante crecimiento, pareciera que la cultura alimentaría del costarricense se mueve hacia este nuevo sector. Por otro lado, Costa Rica al igual que la mayoría de los países del orbe se encuentra inmerso en la vorágine, la más de las veces incomprensible, de los procesos de globalización, y hoy a las puertas de la firma de un Tratado de Libre Comercio con la economía más fuerte del mundo (EUA), sentimos que nuestra pequeña economía no esta preparada para dar el salto, el Estado costarricense, creemos, no está preparado o no está dando las respuestas organizadas que demanda el país entero de cara al cambio que se avecina. El TLC, moverá los cimientos de la economía costarricense, y con este movimiento se verán afectados todos los sectores nacionales. Creemos que este tratado pondrá en jaque a nuestro frágil ordenamiento jurídico, que tendrán que venir cambios profundos estructurales en toda la materia de legislación comercial y lo más preocupante se tendrá que adaptar nuestra constitución al impulso de los nuevos tiempos. Este trabajo de investigación desde la perspectiva que se impone, evidentemente no pretende ni podrá dar todas las soluciones que demanda el sector ganadero de cara al proceso que se viene gestando en el ámbito mundial, pero al menos pretende darle al productor de carne de la Zona Sur de nuestro país, entre otros objetivos propuestos, en primer lugar, una contribución práctica, tratando de mostrarle cuáles son las principales debilidades que lo aquejan y cuáles sus posibles fortalezas, y en segundo lugar, una serie de herramientas que le posibiliten realizar una gestión empresarial con sólida base científica, las cuales podrá poner en práctica de forma inmediata.To show an investigation on the management of the administrative tools of the cattlemen who commercialize in the Cámara de Ganaderos Unidos del Sur, to opt for the degree of Bachelor in Business Administration, is at the beginning the most important source of inspiration at the time of posing us the challenge to carry out this work. In direct contact with the sector, with the cattle rancher who loves what he does, but does not find the way to face the difficulties that the activity generates, this one, who with a deficient formation gives the best of himself to carry out an enterprise that more often than not presents him with greater difficulties than satisfactions, was undoubtedly the motivation that finally inspired us to go ahead. We cannot ignore another important factor which is the situation of meat production in the national level, it shows a disturbing slowdown, chicken production, today, is solid and growing steadily, it seems that the Costa Rican food culture is moving towards this new sector. On the other hand, Costa Rica like most of the countries of the world is immersed in the maelstrom, most of the times incomprehensible, of the globalization processes, and today at the doors of the signing of a Free Trade Agreement with the strongest economy in the world (USA), we feel that our small economy is not prepared to make the leap, the Costa Rican State, we believe, is not prepared or is not giving the organized responses that the whole country demands in the face of the coming change. The FTA will move the foundations of the Costa Rican economy, and with this movement all national sectors will be affected. We believe that this treaty will put our fragile legal system in check, that deep structural changes will have to come in all matters of commercial legislation and the most worrying thing is that our constitution will have to be adapted to the impulse of the new times. This work of investigation from the perspective that is imposed, evidently does not pretend nor will be able to give all the solutions that the cattle sector demands in the face of the process that is coming up in the world-wide scope, but at least it tries to give to the meat producer of the South Zone of our country, among other proposed objectives, in the first place, a practical contribution, trying to show him which are the main weaknesses that afflict him and which are his possible strengths, and in second place, a series of tools that make possible him to carry out a managerial management with solid scientific base, which will be able to put into practice immediately.Universidad Nacional, Costa RicaSede Regional Brunca, Campus Pérez Zeledó

Servicios ambientales del bosque: ensayo en una cuenca atlántica europea con base en la experiencia de Centroamérica

Se presenta la síntesis de un estudio piloto llevado a cabo en la Reserva de la biosfera de Urdaibai (España atlántica), en la cuenca del río Golako, donde se estudió 250 hectáreas durante 8 meses. El objetivo fue definir un índice cuantitativo de conservación del territorio (IC), basado en la evaluación individual de 9 unidades de paisaje (UP) que sintetizan las características de la zona. Luego, se formuló un método de compensación económica (PSA = euros), que permite la conservación de las áreas naturales de calidad que son propiedad privada. Dicho planteamiento se basa en la premisa de que el bosque natural, como todos los ecosistemas naturales, posee un valor social que puede ser cuantificado. Los resultados del estudio indican que el 60% del territorio está representado por plantaciones de Pinus radiata, y que la superficie ocupada por el bosque natural en estados variables de conservación está extraordinariamente fragmentada (82% por debajo de 1 ha). En este contexto, se desarrolla un concepto de Pago por Servicios Ambientales (PSA) propio, diseñado tomando en cuenta: las características específicas del territorio; los estudios de Costa Rica; los planes estratégicos y jurídicos vascos; el estudio del impacto de la actividad forestal; y las funciones del bosque natural como estabilizador de sistema

Servicios ambientales del bosque: ensayo en una cuenca atlántica europea con base en la experiencia de Centroamérica

Se presenta la síntesis de un estudio piloto llevado a cabo en la Reserva de la biosfera de Urdaibai (España atlántica), en la cuenca del río Golako, donde se estudió 250 hectáreas durante 8 meses. El objetivo fue definir un índice cuantitativo de conservación del territorio (IC), basado en la evaluación individual de 9 unidades de paisaje (UP) que sintetizan las características de la zona. Luego, se formuló un método de compensación económica (PSA = euros), que permite la conservación de las áreas naturales de calidad que son propiedad privada. Dicho planteamiento se basa en la premisa de que el bosque natural, como todos los ecosistemas naturales, posee un valor social que puede ser cuantificado. Los resultados del estudio indican que el 60% del territorio está representado por plantaciones de Pinus radiata, y que la superficie ocupada por el bosque natural en estados variables de conservación, está extraordinariamente fragmentada (82% por debajo de 1 ha). En este contexto, se desarrolla un concepto de Pago por Servicios Ambientales (PSA) propio, diseñado tomando en cuenta: las características específicas del territorio; los estudios de Costa Rica; los planes estratégicos y jurídicos vascos; el estudio del impacto de la actividad forestal; y las funciones del bosque natural como estabilizador de sistema.Environmental services of the forest: an essay in an European Atlantic river basin based on a Central American experience. A Conservation Interest Index (CI) was designed to numerically assess the natural quality or value of a given terrestrial area. This CI has been applied along the Golako River Watershed (Biosphere Reserve, Basque Country, Spain). The area, although benefiting from some protection, is strongly influenced by human activities (forestry and cattle breeding). The CI is based on both available cartographic information about vegetation and fieldwork, the later needed to provide estimations for the various descriptors included in this index: in this way, a particular vegetation fragment received a final score on a scale from 0 to 1 000. A set of 9 Vegetation Units has been defined to analyze the current vegetation profile and, a ten plot (500 x 500 m) uniformly distributed sampling design has been implemented. Landscape homogenization is high where main land use relies on timbering, contrasting with the more heterogeneous and fragmented profile related to rural activities. At a height of more than 150 m forest appears to be dominant while human occupation becomes patchy, whereas abruptness restraints farms to locations below 100 m. Concerning the index performance, gradual differences have been displayed by the forest, which appears as the only vegetation unit attaining values above 500 (50% in the index scale), mature forest ranking highest (860), followed closely by the riparian forest. We have developed a formula to translate environmental value into economic benefit to promote conservation work at private property level, imitating the initial work undergone in Central American countries, where environmental services are rewarded irrespective of their conservation status. Rev. Biol. Trop. 56 (4): 2087-2098. Epub 2008 December 12

Membrane processing effect of blackberry (Rubus adenotrichos) on cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic activities against cancer cell lines

Berries are considered an important source of bioactive compounds. In the tropics, Rubus adenotrichos is commonly cultivated, and it is consumed mostly in processed forms. This study assessed the effect of industrial processing in the polyphenol composition and cytotoxic activity against cancer cell lines of four samples of blackberry: fruit, pulp, microfiltered juice, and diafiltered juice. The juice samples showed differences in phenolic concentrations compared with the fruit samples; whereas anthocyanins undergo a 30% to 32% decrease in concentration, the ellagitannins decreased a 93% to 95%. The cytotoxicity assays were performed in stomach (AGS), colon (SW-620), liver (HepG2), and skin (SK-Mel-28) cancer cell lines, and only the fruit and pulp polyphenols achieved IC50 below 200 μg/ml. The IC50 values for the juice samples were over 300 μg/ml. Besides, the pro-apoptotic activity of the fruit polyphenols was assessed and up to 41% of the cells showed early apoptosis with phenolic treatments between 84 to 211 μg/ml.Universidad de Costa Rica/[422-B7-099]/UCR/Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Salud::Facultad de Medicina::Escuela de MedicinaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Agroalimentarias::Centro Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos (CITA)UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacéuticas (INIFAR

Hypolipidaemic, hypoglycaemic and antioxidant effects of a tropical highland blackberry beverage consumption in healthy individuals on a high-fat, high-carbohydrate diet challenge

BACKGROUND: Blackberries have a high content of bioactive compounds such as anthocyanins and ellagitannins, which are associated with health benefits against cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and other inflammatory conditions. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effect of a tropical highland blackberry (Rubus adenotrichos Schltdl.) beverage (50% v/v) on lipids, glucose and antioxidant parameters of healthy individuals. METHODS: Thirteen healthy individuals of both sexes were assigned into two groups in a randomized crossover design. Each participant was subjected to a high fat and high carbohydrate diet challenge and drank 250 mL of either blackberry beverage or water with every meal, three times a day for 14 days. Total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, glucose level, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) enzymatic activities were assessed from plasma. RESULTS: Plasma levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, and glucose levels significantly decreased (p  0.05). CAT and SOD enzymatic activities increased slightly, although not statistically significant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Drinking a beverage from a blackberry micro-filtered juice improved plasma lipid and glucose profiles, as well as CATand SOD enzymatic activities in healthy participants.European Commission FP6/[PAVUC project INCO contract 015279]/EU/FranciaUniversidad de Costa Rica/[817-A6-329]/UCR/Costa RicaCITAUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Agroalimentarias::Centro Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos (CITA)UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacéuticas (INIFAR)UCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Ciencias Básicas::Facultad de Ciencias::Escuela de Químic

Urokinase combination chemotherapy in small cell lung cancer. A phase II study

Background and Methods. Fifty-one patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) were treated with alternating urokinase (UK)-cyclophosphamide-doxorubicin (Adriamycin, Adria Laboratories, Columbus, OH)-vincristine and cisplatin-etoposide-vincristine. UK was given as a loading dose of 3000 pg/kg body weight, followed by 3000 pg/kg/h for 6 hours. Thoracic irradiation with split technique (46 Gy) and prophylactic cranial irradiation (25 Gy) were administered to responding patients. A second staging was performed in patients exhibiting a clinical complete response (CR) after 1 year. Results. In 27 patients with limited disease, there were 23 CR and 8 partial responses (PR) (CR, 85.1%; 66.2- 95.8% at 95% confidence intervals); in 24 patients with extensive disease, there were 17 CR, 4 PR, and 3 cases with progression. Pathologically proven CR were observed in 59.2% patients with limited disease and 33.3% patients with extensive disease. Survival rates were as follows: in patients with limited disease, 1 year, 85.1%; 2 years, 55.5%; and 3 years, 25.9%; in patients with extensive disease, 1 year, 54.1; and 2 years, 16.9%. Median survival times were 26.3 months (patients with limited disease) and 13.3 months (patients with extensive disease). UK-related toxic effects included four episodes of mild to moderate bleeding, one allergic reaction, and one cerebrovascular accident. Myelotoxicity was severe, with a median of two episodes of Grade 111-IV (World Health Organization classification) aplasia per patient. These results are consistent with a potential benefit of fibrinolytic therapy in combination with chemotherapy in patients with SCLC with limited disease. Additional trials are indicated. Cancer 1992; Conclusions. 70:2624-30

Hypoglycaemic, hypolipidaemic and antioxidant effects of blackberry beverage consumption in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Abnormal glucose metabolism, hyperlipidaemia profiles and high levels of radical oxygen species (ROS) are classic features of diabetes. This study evaluates the effect of the consumption of two different blackberry beverages at 25 and 12.5% given orally for 40 days to rats with streptozotocin induced diabetes. The lower dose of blackberry (12.5%) non-statistically decreased glycaemia (−10.4%), triacylglycerols (−4.6%) and cholesterol (−21.0%). These differences were not statistically significant. The higher dose of blackberry (25%) significantly decreased glucose (−48.6%), triacylglycerols (−43.5%) and cholesterol (−28.6%). The higher dose of blackberry (25%) improved plasma antioxidant capacity, reduced the levels of lipid peroxidation in plasma (−19%) and in kidney (−23%). Blackberry intake did not improve catalase, suggesting that attenuation of oxidative stress via scavenging activities rather than improving the activities of antioxidant enzymes. These results provide promising data for this blackberry as a dietary adjuvant to the pharmacological management of diabetes.Consejo Nacional de Rectores/[801-B1-655]/CONARE/Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Agroalimentarias::Centro Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos (CITA