Oscar Pérez-Veyna

Oxidative stress modulation by Rosmarinus officinalis in CCl4‐induced liver cirrhosis

Rosmarinus officinalis (Lamiaceae) possesses antioxidant activity and hepatoprotective effects, and so may provide a possible therapeutic alternative for chronic liver disease. The effect produced by a methanolic extract of Rosmarinus officinalis on CCl4‐induced liver cirrhosis in rats was investigated using both prevention and reversion models. Over the course of the development of cirrhosis, the increased enzymatic activities of gamma‐glutamyl transpeptidase and alanine aminotransferase, and the rise in bilirubin levels caused by CCl4 administration, were prevented by Rosmarinus officinalis co‐administration. When the cirrhosis by oxidative stress was evaluated as an increase on liver lipoperoxidation, total lipid peroxides, nitric oxide in serum, and loss of erythrocyte plasma membrane stability, R. officinalis was shown to prevent such alterations. On cirrhotic animals treated with CCl4, histological studies showed massive necrosis, periportal inflammation and fibrosis which were modified by R. officinalis. These benefits on experimental cirrhosis suggest a potential therapeutic use for R. officinalis as an alternative for liver cirrhosis. Copyright

Compositional Nutrient Diagnosis in Maize Grown in a Calcareous Soil

ABSTRACT Preliminary compositional nutrient diagnosis (CND) norms for maize (Zea mays L.) were developed from a small database as means and standard deviations of row-centered log ratios V X of five nutrients [nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg)] and a filling value R, which comprised all nutrients not chemically analyzed and quantified in 72 leaves of hybrid ‘Pioneer 3044.’ Norms were derived from maize grain yields higher than 7.7 t ha−1. Principal-component analysis performed using CND nutrient indexes allowed us to identify an antagonism between N and Mg explained by the calcareous nature of the soil and the relevant N fertilization with ammonium (NH4 +), and a positive interaction between P and K, and P-Ca and K-Ca antagonisms. Maize plants tended to take up lower amounts of N and K and higher amount of Mg in our calcareous soil than the concentrations of these nutrients reported to be optimum.

Competitividad, eficiencia e impacto ambiental de la producción de frijol (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) en Zacatecas, México

A principios de la decada de los noventa en Mexico se iniciaron una serie de programas para coadyuvar a la competitividad de los productores rurales frente al retiro del estado en el apoyo a la produccion, comercializacion y servicios sectoriales, asi como en su incorporacion en el proceso de liberalizacion comercial. Zacatecas es el principal productor de frijol (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) nacional. La mayor parte de la produccion se cultiva en temporal. Escasa precipitacion pluvial, baja eficiencia en riego agricola y sobreexplotacion de los acuiferos provoca danos ambientales. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el impacto de la politica agricola en los sistemas de produccion de frijol del estado de Zacatecas a traves de la determinacion de las tecnologias de produccion competitivas y eficientes, considerando las fallas de mercado relacionadas al ambiente. Se determinaron los indicadores de competitividad y eficiencia a traves de la aplicacion de la matriz de analisis de politica ampliada (MAPA). La investigacion se desarrollo con informacion del ciclo agricola primavera-verano 2009. El marco de analisis fueron los Distritos de Desarrollo Rural de Zacatecas, Fresnillo, Rio Grande y Ojocaliente. Con excepcion de las tecnologias TCS del DDR de Zacatecas, BCF y TCS de Ojocaliente, todos los sistemas de produccion mostraron ser competitivos en la situacion actual. Los sistemas de produccion cultivados con tecnologias competitivas tambien resultaron eficientes, exceptuando el TCSL de Fresnillo y BMF de Ojocaliente. La adopcion de practicas sostenibles reducira el deterioro de la competitividad y eficiencia de los sistemas de produccion