Metabolomics Approaches for Analyzing Effects of Geographic and Environmental Factors on the Variation of Root Essential Oils of Ferula assa-foetida L.

Environmental factors shape the production and accumulation processes of plant secondary metabolites in medical and aromatic plants and thus their pharmacological and biological activity. Using an environmental metabolomics approach, we determined chemotypes and specific compounds on the basis of essential oils (EOs) from roots of 10 Iranian Ferula assa-foetida L. populations and related them to geographical, climate, and edaphic data. GC-MS revealed three distinct chemotypes characterized by (I) monoterpenes and Z-1-propenyl sec-butyl disulfide; (II) eudesmane sesquiterpenoids and α-agarofuran; and (III) Z- and E-1-propenyl sec-butyl disulfide. NIRS measurements indicated a similar but less distinct pattern. Structural equation models showed that EO constituents and content were directly influenced by edaphic factors (texture, pH, and iron, potassium, and aluminum content) and temperature and predominantly indirectly by latitude, longitude, and altitude. Predicting EO constituents or chemotypes by geographical, climate, and soil factors can be used in F. assa-foetida to select populations with specific EO characteristics.

NMR-based metabolomic study of asafoetida.

Asafoetida, an oleo-gum-resin obtained from the exudates of Ferula assa-foetida L. roots, is traditionally used to treat various diseases including asthma, gastrointestinal disorders, and intestinal parasites. On the basis of Iranian traditional medicine, the main source of asafetida is F. assa-foetida roots. In folk medicine, however, different Ferula species have been used as sources of asafoetida. To identify the original asafoetida that possesses medicinal properties, we should compare metabolic profiles of different asafoetida sources which are commonly used for the oleo-gum-resin preparation.1H-NMR based metabolomics was used to obtain metabolic profiles of eight asafoetida oleo-gum-resin samples and forty-six samples of Ferula species roots from two main regions of Iran. The acquired data were analyzed using multivariate principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and orthogonal projection to latent structures discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) to identify the metabolic differences and similarities between the samples. Asafoetida is usually produced from Ferula species of southern and eastern regions of Iran. A clear metabolic differentiation was evident between asafoetida oleo-gum- resin samples from the southern and those of the eastern Iran. The distinguished metabolites, umbelliprenin, farnesiferol B, farnesiferol C, samarcandin and galbanic acid are significantly found in southern samples. Only southern asafoetida is obtained from F. assa-foetida. Asafoetida from eastern region of Iran is obtained from other species of Ferula such as F. alliacea and its metabolic profile is far different from that of southern asafoetida.

Manejo del paciente hemipléjico mediante la utilización de AFOs: puntos clave para la prescripción podológica de Afos / Managemente of the hemiplegic patient by applying AFO. Key points when prescribing AFO

El propósito de este trabajo es revisar los últimos estudios realizados sobre el uso de ayudas ortésicas en el tratamiento de pacientes hemipléjicos, y establecer unos criterios para determinar los usos de los diferentes modelos de ortesis. Las opciones disponibles son muchas y carecemos de datos a este respecto en la bibliografía, son pocas las publicaciones con evidencia científica que han medido la efectividad de dichas ortesis. Por los antecedentes, en el año 2003 se organiza la Conferencia de Consenso Internacional sobre el tratamiento ortésico de los pacientes con Ictus y se intenta unificar criterios. De manera general, el objetivo perseguido con el uso de las ortesis en pacientes hemipléjicos es el mantenimiento de la posición adecuada de los pies para obtener una marcha más funcional. Según los últimos estudios realizados al respecto en niños hemipléjicos, los AFOs articulados parecen ser más efectivos que los AFOs rígidos, por la aproximación biomecánica que pretenden ofrecer con respecto al movimiento normal del tobillo (AU)

The purpose of this work is to revise the latest studies on the use of orthotic devices when treating hemiplegic patients, and to establish criteria to determine the use of different models. There are many existing alternatives however there is a lack of bibliography. There are fexw publications with scientific evidence that have measured the effectiveness of those orthoses. In 2003, the International Consensus Conference on orthotic treatments on patients with ictus tried to unify criteria. In general, the main purpose of the orthoses applied to hemiplegic people is to maintain the adequate position of their feet in order to have a more functional gait. According to the most recent studies on hemiplegic children, the articulated AFO seems to be more effective than the rigid AFO, due to its biomechanical effect (AU)

[Study on standard of Ferula sinkinangensis seed quality classification].

OBJECTIVE: Study on the standard of Ferula sinkinangensis seed quality classification. METHOD: Chose 30 samples of Ferula sinkiangensis seed. Weight per 1000 seeds, seed germination percentage, seed viability, seed purity, and content of water were mensurated. According to the data, standard of the seed quality classification was set up. RESULT: Seed germination percentage and weight per 1000 seeds are described as major standard of seed quality classification and others as reference. The first grading seed were described as that, seed viability percentage more than 85.9% and weight per 1000 seeds more than 25.7 g. The second grading seed were described as that, seed viability percentage more than 59.1% and weight per 1000 seeds more than 22.1 g. CONCLUSION: Set up standard of Ferula sinkinangensis seed quality classification.

Conservation genetics of the endangered Iberian steppe plant Ferula loscosii (Apiaceae).

Ferula loscosii (Lange) Willk (Apiaceae) is a threatened endemic species native to the Iberian Peninsula. The plant has a narrow and disjunct distribution in three regions, NE, C and SE Spain. Genetic variability within and among 11 populations from its natural distribution was assessed using allozymes. Intermediate levels of genetic diversity were detected in F. loscosii (P(99%) = 36.83; H(E) = 0.125; H(T) = 0.152). However, the highest genetic diversity (58%) corresponded to the threatened populations from SE and C Spain (H(T) = 0.169) rather than the more abundant and larger populations from NE Spain (Ebro valley) (H(T) = 0.122). Low to moderate levels of genetic structure were found among regional ranges (G(ST) = 0.134), and several statistical spatial correlation analyses corroborated substantial genetic differentiation among the three main regional ranges. However, no significant genetic differentiation was found among the NE Spain populations, except for a northernmost population that is geographically isolated. Outcrossing mating and other biological traits of the species could account for the maintenance of the present values of genetic diversity within populations. The existence of an ancestral late Tertiary wider distribution of the species in SE and C Spain, followed by the maintenance of different Quaternary refugia in these warmer areas, together with a more recent and rapid post-glacial expansion towards NE Spain, are arguments that could explain the low genetic variability and structure found in the Ebro valley and the higher levels of diversity in the southern Iberian populations.

Analytical discrimination of poisonous and nonpoisonous chemotypes of giant fennel (Ferula communis L.) through their biologically active and volatile fractions.

Giant fennel (Ferula communis L.) from Sardinia is characterized by two chemotypes with different biological activities. One chemotype is poisonous, due to prenylcoumarins, and responsible for ferulosis, which mainly affects sheep and goats, cattle, and horses; the other chemotype is nonpoisonous and contains daucane esters. The two chemotypes cannot be distinguished botanically. High-performance liquid chromatography-diode array-ultraviolet detection-mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-UV-MS) analysis of the composition of the fractions containing the biologically active metabolites and of the volatile fractions, by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), of both essential oil and headspace sampled by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) are here shown to be effective in discriminating the poisonous and nonpoisonous chemotypes. HS-SPME with CAR/PDMS/DVB in combination with GC-MS has also been found to be a successful, fully automated one-step method for rapid and unequivocal discrimination of the two chemotypes, using aristolene and allohedycaryol as markers of the poisonous and nonpoisonous chemotypes, respectively.

Tratamiento rehabilitador de la enfermedad de Dupuytren / Rehabilitating treatment of dupuytren´s contracture

En este trabajo se ha revisado la bibliografía reciente sobre el tratamiento de la enfermedad de Dupuytren, seleccionando los aspectos de más interés relativos a la rehabilitación en el período postoperatorio. Se repasan la etiología, las manifestaciones clínicas, el tratamiento conservador, las diferentes intervenciones quirúrgicas y las posibles complicaciones que pueden derivarse de éstas. Se expone además el tratamiento postoperatorio, detallando el tipo de férulas que se pueden utilizar, el programa de ejercicios, la actuación sobre el edema y el tratamiento de la cicatriz. Después de la cirugía un tratamiento rehabilitador precoz puede mejorar los resultados y prevenir complicaciones (AU)

Traumatismos en dientes permanentes jóvenes: oportunidad del uso de férulas / Injuries in young permanent teeth: timing for using splints

Cuando un niño sufre un traumatismo en el que pueden estar involucrados dientes y tejidos de sostén, debe actuarse con rapidez y criterio preventivo a fin de evitar la pérdida del mismo. Nuestros recursos están basados en el empleo de férulas que son de fundamental importancia para la supervivencia del elemento dentario (AU)

Efecto del consumo de galactagogos en la producción de leche materna

Entre los meses de enero y marzo de 1993 se realizó un estudio en madres en período de lactancia, primíparas y con recién nacidos sanos y a término. En el primer mes de estudio las 24 madres recibieron educación sobre lactancia materna con el fin de homogenizar el grupo. Durante el segundo mes a 12 de estas madres se les suministró infusión de hinojo como sustancia galactagoga para determinar el efecto real de esta sustancia. Las 12 restantes siguieron una dieta normal para su estado actual, sin inclusión de hinojo. Se encontró un aumento en la producción de leche en aquellas madres que consumieron hinojo, además de un incremento mayor de peso en sus hijos comparados con aquellos que no consumieron ninguna sustancia galactagoga. Galactagogo: viene de la palabra galacto. Del griego galaktos que significa leche y agogos que significa conductor, es decir que aumenta la secreción de leche. Hinojo: Planta umbelífera, aromática y medicinal.