Rito Vega-Aviña

Potential of vegetated ditches to manage organic pollutants derived from agricultural runoff and domestic sewage: A case study in Sinaloa (Mexico)

This case study presents the fate of selected organic, priority and emerging pollutants along a 3.6km sector of a vegetated, agricultural ditch situated in Sinaloa (Mexico). The ditch receives runoff of agriculture and domestic wastewater from an adjacent community. During 2013, the occurrence of 38 organic pollutants (pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), artificial sweeteners and pharmaceutical residues) was monitored monthly at five selected points in the ditch water. Additionally, sediment and Typha domingensis (cattail) plants were collected in March, June, and September 2013 and investigated concerning their ability to absorb and accumulate pollutants. The concentrations of the selected pollutants in the ditch water ranged from sub ngL-1 (metolachlor, atrazine) to μgL-1 (metalaxyl, acesulfame). The metabolites endosulfan sulfate and endosulfan lactone exceeded mostly the concentration of the precursor insecticide endosulfan. Sorption on sediments was of minor relevance for accumulation of pollutants in the ditch system. Concentrations in the sediments varied seasonally and ranged from 0.2 to 12,432μgkg-1 dry weight (d.w.). T. domingensis accumulated ten of the studied pollutants mainly in roots (5-1065μgkg-1 d.w.). Overall, the monitoring results of the ditch compartments indicated that downstream the concentrations of the target pollutants decreased. Under no-flow conditions in the hot season, the ditch revealed a noticeable potential to mitigate pollutants. Among the high microbial activity in the water and the subtropical climate conditions, the ditch vegetation contributed to natural attenuation of the selected pollutants.

Comparison of terpene and phenolic profiles of three wild species of Echeveria (Crassulaceae)

Echeveria species (Crassulaceae) are used in traditional medicine and some of their biological activities are demonstrated (e.g. antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer). However, their chemical composition has been scarcely studied. The methanol extracts (ME) of three Echeveria species (E. craigiana, E. kimnachii and E. subrigida) from Mexico were analyzed for the sterol (GC-MS) and phenolic (HPLC-DAD-ESI-MSn) composition. Eleven sterols were identified, E. kimnachii showed the highest total content (7.87 mg/g ME), and the main constituents were γ-sitosterol in E. craigiana (33.9%) and E. subrigida (54.4%), and lupenone in E. kimnachii (28.9%). The phenolic analysis showed differences among the Echeveria species, which contained flavonoids derivatives and tannins as the main components. The main flavonoids in E. craigiana were hexoside derivatives of quercetin and isorhamnetin, both with a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaroyl substituent; in E. subrigida hexosides of isorhamnetin, quercetin and kaempferol; and E. kimnachii showed the greatest diversity including proanthocyanidins and less common flavonoid derivatives of kaempferol O,O-disubstituted by acyl derivatives. The characteristic phytochemicals of each studied Echeveria species could be responsible of its specific biological activities and useful as chemotaxonomic markers. The kaempferol derivatives in E. kimnachii are rare in nature and they will be isolated and characterized.

Chemical composition and biological activities of Helicteres vegae and Heliopsis sinaloensis

Abstract Context: Helicteres vegae Cristóbal (Sterculiaceae) (Hv) and Heliopsis sinaloensis B.L. Turner (Asteraceae) (Hs) are endangered and poorly studied plant species; related plants have been used against chronic-degenerative and infectious diseases. Therefore, Hv and Hs could be sources of bioactive compounds against these illnesses. Objective: To determine the chemical composition and biological activities (antioxidant, antimutagenic and antimicrobial) of Hv and Hs leaves (L) and stems (S). Materials and methods: Methanol extracts (ME) of each plant/tissue were evaluated for their phytochemicals; phenolics (HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS); antioxidant activity (AA) (0.125–4 mg/mL) (DPPH, ABTS, ORAC and β-carotene discoloration); antimutagenicity (0.5 and 1 mg/plate) (Ames assay, tester strain Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium YG1024, 1-nitropyrene as mutagen); activity against human pathogens (1 mg/mL); and toxicity (0.01–2 mg/mL) (Artemia salina assay). Results: All ME showed flavonoids and triterpenes/steroids. The ME-SHv had the highest content of total phenolics (TP) (2245.82 ± 21.45 mg GAE/100 g d.w.) and condensed tannins (603.71 ± 1.115 mg CE/100 g d.w.). The compounds identified were flavonoids (kaempferol 7-O-coumaroylhexoside, and two kaempferol 7-O-rhamnosylhexosides) and phenolics [rosmarinic acid, and 3′-O-(8″-Z-caffeoyl) rosmarinic acid]. The ME-LHs showed the highest content of flavonoids (357.88 mg RE/g d.w.) and phenolic acids (238.58 mg CAE/g d.w.) by HPLC. The ME-SHv showed the highest AA. All ME were strong antimutagens (63.3-85.7%). Only the Hs extracts were toxic (ME-LHs, LC50 = 94.9 ± 1.7 μg/mL; ME-SHs, LC50 = 89.03 ± 4.42 μg/mL). Discussion and conclusions: Both Hv and Hs are potential sources of preventive and therapeutic agents against chronic-degenerative diseases.

Environmental traditional knowledge in a natural protected area as the basis for management and conservation policies

Ethnobotany is an adequate tool to identify the most import wild edible plants used by local people and to develop strategies for its sustainable use and policy making. This research records the wild edible plants used by the inhabitants of the Sierra la Laguna Biosphere Reserve, in Mexico, and identified priority species for sustainable development. The employed quantitative approach included the application of a food-oriented index named Food Significance Index (FSI), which integrated cultural, agricultural and food parameters; moreover, it used multivariate analysis to identify priority edible species for use and/or conservation. Fifty taxa were identified as the most important wild edible plants in the reserve, integrated into five priority groups. Foods in priority group 1 had the highest culinary diversity by grouping three fruits (Ficus petiolaris, Stenocereus thurberi, and Cyrtocarpa edulis), one almond-like seed (Cnidoscolus maculatus), one vegetable (Matelea cordifolia), and one condiment (Capsicum annuum). Priority groups 2-5 were selective for one or two types of food, such as fruits, teas, or seeds. Since group 1 was the most diverse, the FSI and the employed strategy permitted to identify the priority wild edible plant species with the highest potential for food security. The selected six species should be included in the future management program of the reserve as the priority wild edible plants to develop strategies for conservation, sustainable use, and improvement of the local population income. General policies to manage the selected six species are outlined.

Caracterización fisicoquímica y nutricional de las semillas de Ebenopsis caesalpinioides (Standl.) Britton & Rose, planta nativa de Sinaloa, México

Se realizó la primera caracterización fisicoquímica y nutricional de las semillas de Ebenopsis caesalpinioides, una leguminosa infrautilizada de Sinaloa, México. En estas semillas se registró: alto contenido de sustancias lipofílicas (triterpenos/esteroles y ácidos grasos); los principales componentes nutricionales fueron lípidos (274 g/kg b.h.), proteínas (271,5 g/kg b.h.), fibra dietaria (127,8 g/kg % b.h.), α-tocoferol (75,8 mg/kg), cobre (12,7 mg/kg), magnesio (2531 mg/kg), manganeso (7,7 mg/kg) y potasio (12686,9 g/kg); los ácidos grasos mayoritarios fueron oleico (619 g/kg), linoleico (122,2 g/kg) y palmítico (94,7 g/kg); proteínas con contenido alto de fenilalanina + tirosina (99,7 g/kg) y bajo en aminoácidos azufrados (14,8 g/kg) y lisina (8,3 g/kg); taninos (8,7 g/kg), ácido fítico (3,2 g/kg); y actividad antioxidante (ABTS = 23246,6 μmolET/kg). De acuerdo a sus propiedades, el consumo de semillas de E. caesalpinioides puede proveer beneficios a la salud para la prevención o manejo de enfermedades cardiovasculares.