Phenolic Profile, Antioxidant and Anti-Proliferative Activities of Methanolic Extracts from Asclepias linaria Cav. Leaves

Asclepias linaria Cav. (Apocynaceae) is a shrubby plant endemic of Mexico which has been used in traditional medicine. However, the bioactive potential of this plant remains unexplored. In this study, the phenolic composition, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities of A. linaria leaves were determined. In order to estimate the phenolic composition of the leaves, the total phenolic, flavonoid, and condensed tannins contents were determined. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity was measured by the scavenging activity of the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) and 2,2′-azino-bis[3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid] (ABTS•+) radicals and the total antioxidant capacity. The phenolic compounds identified in the A. linaria leaves by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) include phenolic acids, such as p-coumaric and ferulic acid, as well as flavonoids, such as rutin and quercetin. The leaves’ extracts of A. linaria showed a high scavenging activity of DPPH• and ABTS•+ radicals (IC50 0.12 ± 0.001 and 0.51 ± 0.003 µg/mL, respectively), high total antioxidant capacity values (99.77 ± 4.32 mg of ascorbic acid equivalents/g of dry tissue), and had a cytotoxic effect against K562 and HL60 hematologic neoplasia cells lines, but no toxicity towards the normal mononuclear cell line was observed. These results highlight the potential of A. linaria and could be considered as a possible alternative source of anticancer compounds

Characterization of <i>Cosmos sulphureus</i> Cav. (Asteraceae): Phytochemical Screening, Antioxidant Activity and Chromatography Analysis

Cosmos sulphureus Cav. (Asteraceae), and endemic plant of Mexico is used in herbal medicine. In this study, the phytochemical composition, phenolic content, and antioxidant activity of ethanolic and methanolic extracts from C. sulphureus leaves and flowers were determined. The phytochemical analysis showed the presence of compounds such as terpenoids, phenolic compounds, tannins, and flavonoids and the absence of alkaloids, saponins, glycosides, and anthraquinones. The experimental results showed that the extracts have high contents of phenolic, flavonoid, and condensed tannins contents. The phenolic compounds identified in the C. sulphureus extracts by high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) include phenolic acids such as chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid as well flavonoids such as rutin and quercetin. The C. sulphureus extracts showed a relevant free radical scavenging activity, ferric-reducing antioxidant power, lipid peroxidation inhibition ability, and oxygen radical antioxidant capacity. This research highlights the phytochemical profile and antioxidant activity of phenolic compounds-rich extracts from C. sulphureus leaves and flowers

Quantitative Analysis of Rutin by HPTLC and In Vitro Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Phenolic-Rich Extracts from Verbesina sphaerocephala

Verbesina sphaerocephala A. Gray, like other wild plants of the genus Verbesina, has been used in herbal medicine. There is information for other species of the genus related to their phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, and isolation of bioactive compounds with antimicrobial activity. However, there are no reports for V. sphaerocephala, although it has an important presence in the state of Michoacán, México. In this study, the phenolic composition, quantification of rutin, and in vitro antioxidant and antibacterial activities of methanolic extracts from V. sphaerocephala leaves and flowers were determined. The results showed that all the investigated extracts have high phenolic and flavonoid contents. The flavonoid rutin was identified in all the extracts from V. sphaerocephala by high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC). The V. sphaerocephala extracts showed scavenging activity against DPPH• and ABTS•+ radicals (IC50 and 5.83 ± 0.50 and 0.93 ± 0.01 mg/mL, respectively) as well as relevant antioxidant capacity (51.05 ± 0.36 mg of ascorbic acid/g of dry tissue). The experimental results show that V. sphaerocephala extracts possessed a strong antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. This research indicates that V. sphaerocephala could be considered as a potential source of natural compounds from the point of ethnopharmacological usage

Quantitative Analysis of Rutin by HPTLC and In Vitro Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Phenolic-Rich Extracts from <i>Verbesina sphaerocephala</i>

Verbesina sphaerocephala A. Gray, like other wild plants of the genus Verbesina, has been used in herbal medicine. There is information for other species of the genus related to their phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, and isolation of bioactive compounds with antimicrobial activity. However, there are no reports for V. sphaerocephala, although it has an important presence in the state of Michoacán, México. In this study, the phenolic composition, quantification of rutin, and in vitro antioxidant and antibacterial activities of methanolic extracts from V. sphaerocephala leaves and flowers were determined. The results showed that all the investigated extracts have high phenolic and flavonoid contents. The flavonoid rutin was identified in all the extracts from V. sphaerocephala by high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC). The V. sphaerocephala extracts showed scavenging activity against DPPH• and ABTS•+ radicals (IC50 and 5.83 ± 0.50 and 0.93 ± 0.01 mg/mL, respectively) as well as relevant antioxidant capacity (51.05 ± 0.36 mg of ascorbic acid/g of dry tissue). The experimental results show that V. sphaerocephala extracts possessed a strong antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. This research indicates that V. sphaerocephala could be considered as a potential source of natural compounds from the point of ethnopharmacological usage

In Vitro Antifungal Activity of Plant Extracts on Pathogenic Fungi of Blueberry (Vaccinium sp.)

Three pathogenic fungi of blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) responsible for dieback disease, identified as Pestalotiopsis clavispora, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae, were isolated in the northwestern region of the state of Michoacán, Mexico. The mycelial growth in vitro of these fungi was inhibited by extracts from Lantana hirta, Argemone ochroleuca and Adenophyllum porophyllum, medicinal plants collected in Sahuayo, Michoacán, Mexico. The extracts showed different degrees of inhibition; the most effective were: M5L extract from L. hirta and M6LFr extract from A. ochroleuca, both of which inhibited 100% of the mycelial growth of P. clavispora and C. gloeosporioides; and M4LS extract from A. porophyllum, which inhibited 100% of the mycelial growth of the three pathogens. The extracts were fractionated by thin layer and column chromatography, and the most active fractions were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The major compounds identified in L. hirta extract were Phytol and α-Sitosterol. The compounds identified in A. ochroleuca were Toluene and Benzene, 1,3-bis(3-phenoxyphenoxy)-. In A. porophyllum, the compound identified was Hexanedioic acid, bis(2-ethylhexyl) ester. These results show the potential of L. hirta, A. ochroleuca and A. porophyllum as a source of antifungal compounds

CARACTERIZACIÓN DE FENOLES DE Fouquieria splendens, Dodonaea viscosa y Physalis angulata POR TÉCNICAS CROMATOGRÁFICAS: RESULTADOS PRELIMINARES

Se prepararon extractos etanólicos para obtener compuestos fenólicos de tejidos foliares de Fouquieria splendens, Dodonaea viscosa y Physalis angulata. Los resultados de los análisis de cromatografía preparativa en papel (PC) y de cromatografía líquida de alta resolución con detector de arreglo de diodos (HPLC‐DAD) revelaron que los principales compuestos fenólicos presentes en las hojas de Fouquieria splendes fueron flavonoles y acidos fenólicos; los de Dodonaea viscosa fueron ácidos fenólicos, dihidroflavonoides, flavonas, y derivados glicósidos de los flavonoles quercetina y canferol; y los de Physalis angulata fueron ácidos fenólicos y derivados glicósidos de quercetina y canferol. Ya que tanto los ácidos fenólicos como los derivados de quercetina han sido reportados como compuestos antioxidantes, los resultados del presente trabajo sugieren que las tres especies pueden ser fuente importante de antioxidantes naturales

MARCADORES RAPD, HERRAMIENTA PARA LA DISCRIMINACIÓN ESPECÍFICA EN EL GÉNERO Zea

Artículo de Investigació

Ecogeography of teosinte

<div><p>Adaptation of crops to climate change has motivated an increasing interest in the potential value of novel traits from wild species; maize wild relatives, the teosintes, harbor traits that may be useful to maize breeding. To study the ecogeographic distribution of teosinte we constructed a robust database of 2363 teosinte occurrences from published sources for the period 1842–2016. A geographical information system integrating 216 environmental variables was created for Mexico and Central America and was used to characterize the environment of each teosinte occurrence site. The natural geographic distribution of teosinte extends from the Western Sierra Madre of the State of Chihuahua, Mexico to the Pacific coast of Nicaragua and Costa Rica, including practically the entire western part of Mesoamerica. The Mexican annuals <i>Zea mays</i> ssp. <i>parviglumis</i> and <i>Zea mays</i> ssp. <i>mexicana</i> show a wide distribution in Mexico, while <i>Zea diploperennis</i>, <i>Zea luxurians</i>, <i>Zea perennis</i>, <i>Zea mays</i> ssp. <i>huehuetenangensis</i>, <i>Zea vespertilio</i> and <i>Zea nicaraguensis</i> had more restricted and distinct ranges, representing less than 20% of the total occurrences. Only 11.2% of teosinte populations are found in Protected Natural Areas in Mexico and Central America. Ecogeographical analysis showed that teosinte can cope with extreme levels of precipitation and temperatures during growing season. Modelling teosinte geographic distribution demonstrated congruence between actual and potential distributions; however, some areas with no occurrences appear to be within the range of adaptation of teosintes. Field surveys should be prioritized to such regions to accelerate the discovery of unknown populations. Potential areas for teosintes <i>Zea mays</i> ssp. <i>mexicana</i> races Chalco, Nobogame, and Durango, <i>Zea mays</i> ssp. <i>huehuetenangensis</i>, <i>Zea luxurians</i>, <i>Zea diploperennis</i> and <i>Zea nicaraguensis</i> are geographically separated; however, partial overlapping occurs between <i>Zea mays</i> ssp. <i>parviglumis</i> and <i>Zea perennis</i>, between <i>Zea mays</i> ssp. <i>parviglumis</i> and <i>Zea diploperennis</i>, and between <i>Zea mays</i> ssp. <i>mexicana</i> race Chalco and <i>Zea mays</i> ssp. <i>mexicana</i> race Central Plateau. Assessing priority of collecting for conservation showed that permanent monitoring programs and <i>in-situ</i> conservation projects with participation of local farmer communities are critically needed; <i>Zea mays</i> ssp. <i>mexicana</i> (races Durango and Nobogame), <i>Zea luxurians</i>, <i>Zea diploperennis</i>, <i>Zea perennis</i> and <i>Zea vespertilio</i> should be considered as the highest priority taxa.</p></div