Nemesio Villa-Ruano

Anti-Iipase and antioxidant properties of 30 medicinal plants used in Oaxaca, México

We report the results of in vitro anti-lipase and antioxidant assays using crude ethanolic extracts from 30 plants grown in Oaxaca, México. Anti-lipase tests were performed by using porcine pancreatic lipase (PPL) [EC 3.1.1.3] from Affymetrix/USB. The extracts of Solanum erianthum, Salvia microphylla, Brungmansia suaveolens and Cuphea aequipetala showed up to 60% PPL inhibition. The effect of these extracts on the kinetic parameters of PPL (Km= 0.36 mM, and Vmax=0.085 mM min -1) revealed that the alcoholic preparations of S. erianthum and C. aequipetala engendered a non-competitive inhibition (Vmax=0.055 mM min -1; Vmax= 0.053 mM min -1), whereas those of S. microphylla and B. suaveolens produced a mixed inhibition (Km= 0.567 mM, Vmax=0.051 mM min _1; Km=0.643 mM, Vmax= 0.042 mM min ¹). In addition to these findings, seven extracts from different plants were able to inhibit PPL in the range of 30-50%. Antioxidant tests against 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) confirmed that Arctostaphylos pungens, Gnaphalium roseum, Crotalaria pumila, Cuphea aequipetala, Rhus chondroloma, and Satureja laevigata possess relevant antioxidant activity (IC(5)0=50-80 μg mL¹). The general composition of the most effective ethanolic extracts was obtained in order to confirm their known chemistry reported by previous works. Comprehensive chemical analysis of the ethanolic extracts and their poisoning effects suggests that S. microphylla, C. aequipetala and A. pungens could be considered as the best sources with both desired properties.

Biosynthesis of uterotonic diterpenes from Montanoa tomentosa (zoapatle)

Montanoa tomentosa (zoapatle) is a Central American plant used in Mexico in traditional herbal medicine to ease childbirth labor and to cure certain female disorders. Recently, crude extracts of M. tomentosa have been reported to have an aphrodisiacal effect on male rats. The bioactive molecules are the uterotonic diterpenes kaurenoic acid (KA), grandiflorenic acid (GF), and monoginoic acid (MO). Roots of M. tomentosa contain all three diterpenes, whereas in leaves only kaurenoic and GF are present. However, despite the pharmacological importance of these compounds, specific information about their biosynthesis and localization in the plant is not available. In this investigation, we followed the metabolic transformation of a tritium-labeled diterpene-precursor via geranylgeranyl diphosphate into each of the three diterpenes. Inhibitors of gibberellin biosynthesis were used to elucidate the sequence of conversion of the intermediates. Our results suggest the biosynthetic conversion of KA into GF by a putative cytochrome P450-like desaturase. Partial characterization of the enzyme revealed that it requires NADPH and O2 but is inhibited by 50 microM paclobutrazol, suggesting a cytochrome P450 desaturase like enzyme (EC 1.14.14.-). Optimal reaction conditions are 32 degrees C and a pH of 7.6, respectively. Apparent kinetics parameters for KA gave a K(m,app) of 36.31 microM, and a V(max, app) of 13.6 nmol KA mg(1)protein h(-1). Based on the data presented, a putative biosynthetic pathway is proposed for the uterotonic diterpenes of M. tomentosa.

Genetic epidemiology on casual theories and pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Carlos Jonnathan Castro-Juárez1, Sergio Alberto Ramírez-García1, Nemesio Villa-Ruano1 and Diana García-Cruz2 1Institute of Public Health Research, Universidad de la Sierra Sur, Miahuatlán de Porfirio Díaz, Oax.; 2Instituto de Genética Humana Dr. Enrique Corona Rivera, Department of Molecular Biology and Genomics, University Center of Health Sciences, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jal. Mexico

1 H NMR-based metabolomic profiling for identification of metabolites in Capsicum annuum cv. mirasol infected by beet mild curly top virus (BMCTV)

Beet mild curly top virus (BMCTV) is associated with an outbreak of curly top in chili pepper, tomato and other Solanaceae species, which can cause severe crop losses. The aim of this work was to obtain the 1H NMR metabolomic profiling of both healthy chili peppers (cv. mirasol) and infected chili peppers with BMCTV in order to find chemical markers associated to the infection process. Significant differences were found between the two groups, according to principal component analysis and orthogonal projections to latent structure discriminant analysis. Compared to the asymptomatic peppers, the symptomatic fruits had higher relative abundance of fructose, isoleucine, histidine, phenylalanine and tryptophan. Contrarily, the asymptomatic samples showed greater amounts of malonate and isobutyrate. These results suggest that in diseased chili peppers there are metabolic changes related to the viral acquisition of energy for replication and capsid assembly. This is the first study describing the chemical profiling of a polar extract obtained from Capsicum annuum infected by BMCTV under open field conditions.

Chemical profile and pharmacological effects of the resin and essential oil from Bursera slechtendalii : A medicinal “copal tree” of southern Mexico

This study reports on the volatile profile and pharmacological activities of the essential oil and resin from Bursera slechtendalii, an aromatic medicinal tree commercialized in southern Mexico. The essential oil contained 25 volatiles including p-cymen-8-ol (25.4-35.7%), n-hexyl hexanoate (6.8-17.6%) and n-octyl hexanoate (7.6-14.8%), whereas the crystallized resin contained 14 volatiles, including n-octyl acetate (29.6-34.2%), limonene (15.8-18.7%) and n-octyl butyrate (12.6-17-6%). The inhalation of vapors from the resin and essential oil caused a significant anxiolytic-like effect (p < .01) in ICR mice after 20 min of exposure at a dose of 50-150 mg L-1. The prolonged inhalation of the essential oil (for 40 days, for 15 min, twice a day) produced a significant decrease (p < .01) in total cholesterol and LDL-c content as well as an increase of HDL-c levels in the same murine model. Interestingly, levels of hepatic lipid hydroperoxide decreased, whereas the hepatic activity of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase was significantly enhanced (P < .05). The detection of p-cymen-8-ol and n-octyl acetate in the plasma of mice strongly suggests their bioavailability and possible role in the biological activities described herein. Also, both the resin and essential oil from B. slechtendalii, as well as their main volatiles, showed a potent repellence activity against Aedes aegypti (p < .01).

Volatile Profiling, Insecticidal, Antibacterial and Antiproliferative Properties of the Essential Oils of Bursera glabrifolia Leaves

The present article describes the chemical composition and biological activities of the essential oils of B. glabrifolia leaves obtained in four consecutive years (2015–2018). The essential oils contained α‐terpineol (17.9–29.7 %), α‐terpinene (12.6–17.4 %), limonene (14.9–26.8 %) and β‐pinene (2.1–16.7 %) as the most abundant volatiles. The essential oils and these volatiles showed a significant adulticide activity (p<0.01; LC50 <100 μg mL−1) on the maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais) with a 100 % mortality rate within a period of 5 h. Also, the essential oils showed a strong antibacterial activity on Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 (MIC, 132.7–173.6 μg mL−1) and Helicobacter pylori ATCC 43504 (MIC, 74.8–199.2 μg mL−1). The assessment of the main volatiles revealed α‐terpineol as the principal antibacterial agent (MIC, 78.6–149.7 μg mL−1). Similarly, the essential oils exhibited a substantial in vitro antiproliferative activity on the human prostate cancer cell lines PC‐3 (LC50, 15.2–19.4 μg mL−1), the human ovarian carcinoma cell lines OVCAR‐3 (LC50, 27.3–53.7 μg mL−1) and the myelogenous leukemia cell lines K‐562 (LC50, 32.4–75.9 μg mL−1). α‐Terpineol (LC50, 32.4–75.9 μg mL−1) exhibited the strongest antiproliferative effect on these cancer cell lines (LC50, 22.4–48.1 μg mL−1).

Chapter 3 – Kaurenoic Acid: A Diterpene With a Wide Range of Biological Activities

Abstract Beyond its vital role in plant metabolism, kaurenoic acid (KA) has acquired remarkable importance in the fields of medicinal chemistry and pharmacology. Here, we show and discuss the most recent scientific literature on the extraordinary versatility of KA, which is reflected in its hypoglycemic, analgesic, and selective cytotoxic properties. The scientific evidences originated from several studies support the fact that this compound is up to now, the most relevant tetracyclic diterpene of natural origin with pharmacological activity and a very attractive substrate for the development of novel drugs.