Ramiro Cruz-Durán

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.

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).

EL GÉNERO ORMOSIA JACKS. (LEGUMINOSAE, PAPILIONOIDEAE) EN EL ESTADO DE GUERRERO, MÉXICO

Se registra por primera vez la presencia del genero Ormosia para el estado de Guerrero, Mexico, con dos especies: Ormosia carinata y O. oaxacana (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae, tribe Sophoreae). Se incluyen las descripciones de ambas, datos referentes a los ejemplares, una clave dicotomica para diferenciarlas, y la ilustracion de O. carinata. Ormosia carinata era conocida como elemento endemico de los estados de Veracruz y Oaxaca, en las regiones de Los Tuxtlas y de Uxpanapa

Magnolia guerrerensis (Magnoliaceae), a new species of cloud forest in the state of Guerrero, Mexico

Resumen es: Resumen: Se propone e ilustra a Magnolia guerrerensis (Magnoliaceae) como una entidad nueva del bosque mesofilo de montana en el estado de Guerrero, Mex...