Antonio Jiménez Aparicio

Prebiotic Potential of Agave angustifolia Haw Fructans with Different Degrees of Polymerization

Inulin-type fructans are the most studied prebiotic compounds because of their broad range of health benefits. In particular, plants of the Agave genus are rich in fructans. Agave-derived fructans have a branched structure with both β-(2→1) and β-(2→6) linked fructosyl chains attached to the sucrose start unit with a degree of polymerization (DP) of up to 80 fructose units. The objective of this work was to assess the prebiotic potential of three Agave angustifolia Haw fructan fractions (AFF) with different degrees of polymerization. The three fructan fractions were extracted from the agave stem by lixiviation and then purified by ultrafiltration and ion exchange chromatography: AFF1, AFF2 and AFF3 with high (3–60 fructose units), medium (2–40) and low (2–22) DP, respectively. The fructan profile was determined with high-performance anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD), which confirmed a branched fructan structure. Structural elucidation was performed by Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy. The AFF spectrum shows characteristic fructan bands. The prebiotic effect of these fractions was assessed in vitro through fermentation by Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus strains. Four growth patterns were observed. Some bacteria did not grow with any of the AFF, while other strains grew with only AFF3. Some bacteria grew according to the molecular weight of the AFF and some grew indistinctly with the three fructan fractions.

Scorpion antivenom effect of micropropagated Aristolochia elegans.

Aristolochia elegans Mast. (Aristolochiaceae) has been used to treat scorpion envenoming in Mexican traditional medicine. In vitro studies of the pharmacological activity of raw extracts from A. elegans roots have shown activity against scorpion bite. The aim of the present study was to determine for the first time the antagonistic effect of hexane and methanol extracts of the aerial parts and roots from micropropagated A. elegans plants in a model of isolated guinea-pig ileum contracted by scorpion bite. Results showed that the methanol extracts of aerial organs (74%) and roots (65%) of micropropagated plants have a similar antitoxin activity against scorpion poisoning to hexane extracts of wild plants (65%). These results suggest that using methanol extracts from the micropropagated plant material instead of wild plant root extracts from A. elegans is an alternative for treatment against scorpion bite symptoms, and will contribute to the conservation of this medicinal species.

Caracterización morfométrica de estructuras florales de Tagetes erecta L. y Tagetes patula L. (Asteraceae) utilizando análisis digital de imágenes y dimensión fractal

Las flores Tagetes erecta L. y Tagetes patula L. tienen usos ornamentales en Mexico, y tambien algunas industrias las utilizan en la coloracion de carne. El genero Tagetes presenta especies y variedades con diferentes colores y tonalidades en sus flores. Por lo que, una forma de distincion rapida y objetiva de estas variedades seria util para la industria. En este trabajo se desarrollo un metodo para distinguir y caracterizar la diversidad en dos variedades de T. erecta y T. patula a traves de la caracterizacion de las estructuras florales, utilizando tecnicas de analisis digital de imagenes y analisis fractal. Para esto, se capturaron imagenes de ligulas y capitulos florales, que posteriormente fueron binarizadas para obtener imagenes de objetos separados (ligulas y capitulos florales). El analisis de estas imagenes se realizo determinando diferentes parametros morfometricos, tales como perimetro, area proyectada, longitud maxima, factor de forma y compacidad. Adicionalmente, se determino la dimension fractal de contorno, de perimetro y de area. Los resultados mostraron que la dimension fractal y el factor de forma son los parametros que detectan con mayor sensibilidad las diferencias entre ligulas y entre capitulos florales, por lo que se proponen como parametro adecuados para caracterizar estructuras florales.

Optimization of the Microwave-Assisted Ethanosolv Extraction of Lignocellulosic Compounds from the Bagasse of Agave angustifolia Haw Using the Response Methodology

The main objective of this work was to optimize the process of fractionation of the bagasse of Agave angustifolia Haw, applying organosolv assisted with microwaves. The DCC was used to evaluate the effect of independent variables such as ethanol concentration (40, 50, and 60%) and reaction time (1, 1.5, and 2 h) on yield, cellulose and lignin percentages. Lignocellulosic fractions (F1 and F2) were obtained by means of organosolv assisted with microwave in an open system (atmospheric pressure) and a closed system (controlled pressure). The lignocellulosic fractions were microstructurally characterized. The highest extraction yields (70.39%) were reached in the open system at 50% ethanol for 1.5 h. The highest percentages of LK (5.05%) were obtained in the closed system at 60% ethanol for 2 h. The SEM photomicrograph showed that the microstructure of F1 was retained even after treatment with 60% ethanol for 2 h, and the exposure of the fibrillar part was observed obtaining the disposition of pectin.

Evaluation of Methanolic Extract of Bougainvillea glabra Choisy “Variegata” Against Spodoptera frugiperda1 Under Laboratory Conditions

Abstract. Many varieties of Bougainvillea glabra Choisy have medicinal and insecticidal activity. This study evaluated biological activity of methanolic extract of leaves of Bougainvillea glabra var. “Variegata” at concentrations of 1,000, 750, 500, 250, and 125 ppm against fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), with n = 25 with three replications under laboratory conditions. Methanolic extract at 13% from dried leaves from a nursery affected the susceptible larval stage of fall armyworm. Number killed ranged from 60 to 85%. The weights of larvae and pupae in all treatments were less than the check. All pupae were malformed and no adults emerged. We concluded that Bougainvillea glabra Variegata has potential to use as a bioinsecticide to control of larvae of insect pests because more than 50% of fall aryworm larvae were killed by all treatments.