Estrategia estatal de conservación de las cícadas (Zamiaceae): una propuesta para el estado de Hidalgo, México / State strategy for Cycad (Zamiaceae) conservation: A proposal for the State of Hidalgo, Mexico

Mexico has the second largest cycad diversity in the world, and the Sierra Madre Oriental (SMO) is one of the richest biogeographic regions for these plants. Despite there is a general Cycad National Program in the country, there are no state-level cycad conservation strategies or programs. Thus the aim of this study was to propose a cycad conservation strategy for the state of Hidalgo, which is located in the Southern part of the SMO. For this, a cycad species inventory was made in the state, for which three methods were used: review of published literature; consultation in the main Mexican herbaria to verify botanical specimens; and exhaustive field research to compare findings with previously reported species and to recognize new records at the county and state level. The proposed research work strategy combined the following elements: prioritize the county and local areas with greatest cycad species richness; prioritize the species least resistant to environmental change and/or having restricted geographic distribution; and to consider the main uses of these plants by local residents. The results showed that Hidalgo has three genera and eight species of cycads: Ceratozamia fuscoviridis, C. latifolia, C. mexicana, C. sabatoi, Dioon edule, Zamia fischeri, Z. loddigesii and Z. vazquezii, all of which are considered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This study added two new species records for Hidalgo and 21 at the county level. The species are distributed in 26 counties, of which Chapulhuacán and Pisaflores are notable for their high species richness. Hidalgo has the fourth-greatest cycad species richness among Mexican states, although its area accounts for only 1.07% of the country. The state’s diversity is greater than in other states with larger area, and even than in some other entire countries in Mesoamerica. The presented state cycad conservation strategy proposes that a total of some 11 325ha to be conserved in nine zones, including different vegetation types, distributed in seven counties. The strategy involves a mixed scheme that incorporates conservation in Protected Natural Areas (ANP), Small Farmer Reserves (Reservas Campesinas) and Environmental Management Units (UMA in Spanish). This proposal will be useful for government agencies to take into account in the process of designating land use for the Cloud Forest Biological Corridor (CBBMM in Spanish), a ANP in creation. The state of Hidalgo urgently needs a detailed analysis of trends in changes in vegetation cover and land use, and demographic studies of the cycads. It is recommended that the implementation phase of this state strategy be carried out jointly with local communities, academia, and state and federal agencies responsible for biodiversity conservation.

México es el segundo país con mayor diversidad de cícadas en el mundo. En él, la Sierra Madre Oriental (SMO) es una de las regiones biogeográficas con mayor riqueza de estas plantas. El objetivo de este estudio fue plantear la estrategia de conservación de cícadas para el estado de Hidalgo, ubicado en la parte sur de la SMO; para esto se revisó la literatura científica, se consultaron los principales herbarios de México y se hicieron recorridos de campo. Los resultados muestran que Hidalgo alberga tres géneros y ocho especies: Ceratozamia fuscoviridis, C. latifolia, C. mexicana, C. sabatoi, Dioon edule, Zamia fischeri, Z. loddigesii, Z. vazquezii, posicionándose en el cuarto lugar nacional en riqueza de cícadas. Las especies se distribuyen en 26 municipios. Se encontró que la diversidad de cícadas es mayor a la de otras entidades con mayor superficie e incluso a la de algunos países de Centroamérica. La estrategia estatal de conservación de cícadas aquí desarrollada propone conservar cerca de 11 325ha, distribuidas en siete municipios, bajo un esquema mixto de conservación. Esta propuesta será útil para que las instancias gubernamentales establezcan nuevas ANP’s en la región biogeográfica de la SMO.

Sago haemolytic disease: towards understanding a novel food-borne toxicosis

Sago haemolytic disease is a rare but sometimes fatal disease found primarily in the coastal regions of Papua New Guinea and among groups in which sago is a primary source of carbohydrate. It has been known since 1961 and fungi consistently have been suspected of being involved. Investigations carried out on stored sago and samples recovered from poisoning episodes have failed to indicate the consistent presence of mycotoxins. However, fungi (especially Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium, Trichoderma) with strong haemolytic activity have been associated with sago, particularly when stored in open-weave baskets and sago-leaf-wrapped bundles. The haemolytic activity has been attributed to fatty acids (principally oleic, palmitic, linoleic) contained primarily in the fungal hyphae. It is hypothesized that when these acids are released through hyphal breakdown during digestion and are present in individuals with a low serum albumin level, free fatty acid excess occurs resulting in red cell membrane destruction and intravascular haemolysis. In extreme cases, blood transfusion is required. Methods of storage providing high levels of access to oxygen favour the development of fungi: eg, leaf-encased bundles and open-weave storage favour growth over that seen in starch stored under water, such as in earthen vessels. Ensuring storage does not exceed 3-4 weeks, encouraging anaerobic conditions of the starch and maintaining protein nutrition in communities where sago is relied upon should alleviate outbreak episodes.

Efecto de D-004, un extracto lipídico extraído de las frutas de la palma real (Roystonea regia) sobre las contracciones provocadas por la Fenilefrina sobre la próstata aislada de rata / Effect of D-004, a lipid extract from royal palm (Roystonea regia) fruits, on phenylephrine-induced contractions of isolated rat prostate

D-004, a lipid extract of Roystonea regia fruits, inhibits norepinephrine-elicited contraction in rat vas deferens. Nevertheless, the effect of D-004 on a1-adrenergic contractile responses in isolated prostate preparations had not been studied. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of D-004 on phenylephrine-induced contractions in isolated rat prostate strips. D-004 (125-500 mg/mL) was added to prostate preparations in which contractions were induced with phenylephrine (10-6-10-4 M) or with ClK (50 mM). D-004 (250-500 mg/mL) significantly (p < 0,01).and dose-dependently inhibited the phenylephrine-induced contractions through a non-competitive mechanism, since it reduced (12-60 percent) the maximal contraction to phenyle phrine with respect to control preparations. D-004 at 500 mg/mL inhibited similarly both ClK and phenylephrine-contractile responses. Tamsulosin (0.01 mg/mL) abolished (100 percent inhibition) the phenylephrine, but unaffected the ClK-induced contractions.

D-004, un extracto lipídico de las frutas de Roystonea regia, inhibe la contracción provocada por la norepinefrina en el vas deferens de las ratas. No obstante, el efecto de D-004 sobre las respuestas contráctiles adrenérgicas a1 en las preparaciones aisladas de la próstata no ha sido estudiado. Por lo tanto, este estudio investigó los efectos de D-004 sobre las contracciones provocadas por la fenilefrina en las extracciones aisladas de la próstata de la rata. D-004 (125-500 mg/mL) fue adicionado a las preparaciones a partir de la próstata en la que las contracciones fueron provocadas por la fenilefrina (10-6-10-4 M) o por CIK (50 mM). D-004 (250-500 mg/mL) en forma significativa y la dosis en forma dependiente inhibieron las contracciones provocadas por la fenilefrina mediante un mecanismo no competetitivo, reduciendo así (12-60 por ciento) la contracción máxima por la fenilefrina con respecto a las preparaciones controles. D-004 a 500 µg/mL inhibieron de la misma forma tanto CIK como las respuestas contráctiles-fenilefrina. Tamsulosin (0,01 mg/mL) eliminó la acción de la fenilefrina (100 por ciento de inhibición), pero no afectó las contracciones provocadas por CIK.

Longitud del ciclo estral en ratas Sprague Dawley tratadas in útero con extracto de Roystonea regia / Estrus cycle length in Sprague Dawley rats in uterus using Roystonea regia extract

El D-004 consiste en una mezcla de ácidos grasos que inhibe significativamente la hiperplasia prostática inducida por testosterona en roedores. El objetivo del presente estudio fue evidenciar los posibles efectos adversos sobre el ciclo estral de hembras F1 expuestas in útero al D-004. Se utilizaron ratas Sprague Dawley, distribuidas aleatoriamente en 4 grupos: un control y 3 tratados con D-004 a las dosis de 500, 750 y 1 000 mg/kg; las hembras recibieron la administración de la dosis por vía oral desde 15 días antes del apareo y hasta el fin de la lactancia. A una hembra por camada de la generación F1 se le estudió la citología vaginal y se calculó la longitud aproximada del ciclo, la cual no se vio afectada ya que no existieron diferencias significativas (p= 0,1537) entre los grupos tratados y el control. Estos resultados indican que el D-004 no reveló alteraciones del ciclo estral de las crías hembras expuestas in útero(.

D-004 is a mix of fatty acids inhibiting significantly Testosterone- induced prostatic hyperplasia in rodents. The aim of present paper was to demonstrate the potential side effects on estrus cycle of F1 female rats exposed in uterus to D-004. We used Sprague Dawley rats, distributed randomly in 4 groups: a control one and another three treated with D-004 at a dosage of 500, 750 and 1 000 mg/kg; in the female rats we administered the dose by mouth from the 15 days before mating, and up to breast feeding termination. In each female rat by litter of F1 generation, the vaginal cytology was studied, and we estimated the approximate length of cycle, remained un-affected since there were not significant differences (p= 0,1537) among treatment groups and the control one. These results show that D-004 fails to reveals alterations in the estrum cycle of female litters exposed in uterus.

Effect of date Palm pollen grain and Date Pits on reducing blood glucose of diabetic rats

Many herbal medicines have been recommended for the treatment of diabetes. The antidiabetic effect of date pits powder and date pollen grains powder investigated in normal and Alloxan -induced diabetic rats. The rats were divided into 4 groups, first group as normal rats, 2 as diabetic rats without treatment, 3 fed on 25% of date pits powder and 4 fed on 2% of date pollen grains powder. The nutritional experiment was continued for 45 days. Blood samples of non-diabetic and diabetic rats were collected, after 3 days, 15 days and 45 days from administration of Alloxan where serum glucose change were estimated. Other biochemical assays were estimated after 3 days and 45 days only. The results show that the basal diet supplemented by date pits powder and date pollen grains powder induced a decrease in serum glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides and total lipids and increase in urea and creatinine. The basal diet supplemented with date pits powder or date pollen grains powder showed decrease in weights of liver, kidney and pancreas. While, it showed increase in heart weight. The results from histopathology show no changes in kidney, heart, spleen and pancreas. But, the liver in experimental rats fed on 2% date pollen grains powder showed no change except activation of kupffer cells

RAPD and SCAR molecular markers linked to the sexuality of cycads (Cycas tanqingii D. Y. Wang) / 生物工程学报

The random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique was used to amplify DNA fragment, aiming at finding markers linked to the sex trait in Cycas tanqingii D. Y. Wang. A total number of 160 random primers were screened in the RAPD-PCR and more than 2500 RAPD fragments were generated from the male or the female plants. One fragment of about 500 bp was amplified steadily and repeatedly by the S0465 (CCCCGGTAAC) primer only from female plants but not male plants. The RAPD marker was then converted into female-linked dominant SCAR (Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions) marker named STQC-S465-483. The development of this sex-linked SCAR marker provides a possibility of identifying the sex of Cycas tanqingii before sexual maturation, which is very important to in situ or ex situ conservation.