HPLC-Based Metabolomic Analysis and Characterization of Amaranthus cruentus Leaf and Inflorescence Extracts for Their Antidiabetic and Antihypertensive Potential.

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of Amaranthus cruentus flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol, catechin, hesperetin, naringenin, hesperidin, and naringin), cinnamic acid derivatives (p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, and caffeic acid), and benzoic acids (vanillic acid and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid) as antioxidants, antidiabetic, and antihypertensive agents. An analytical method for simultaneous quantification of flavonoids, cinnamic acid derivatives, and benzoic acids for metabolomic analysis of leaves and inflorescences from A. cruentus was developed with HPLC-UV-DAD. Evaluation of linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantitation, precision, and recovery was used to validate the analytical method developed. Maximum total flavonoids contents (5.2 mg/g of lyophilized material) and cinnamic acid derivatives contents (0.6 mg/g of lyophilized material) were found in leaves. Using UV-Vis spectrophotometry, the maximum total betacyanin contents (74.4 mg/g of lyophilized material) and betaxanthin contents (31 mg/g of lyophilized material) were found in inflorescences. The leaf extract showed the highest activity in removing DPPH radicals. In vitro antidiabetic activity of extracts was performed with pancreatic α-glucosidase and intestinal α-amylase, and compared to acarbose. Both extracts exhibited a reduction in enzyme activity from 57 to 74%. Furthermore, the in vivo tests on normoglycemic murine models showed improved glucose homeostasis after sucrose load, which was significantly different from the control. In vitro antihypertensive activity of extracts was performed with angiotensin-converting enzyme and contrasted to captopril; both extracts exhibited a reduction of enzyme activity from 53 to 58%. The leaf extract induced a 45% relaxation in an ex vivo aorta model. In the molecular docking analysis, isoamaranthin and isogomphrenin-I showed predictive binding affinity for α-glucosidases (human maltase-glucoamylase and human sucrase-isomaltase), while catechin displayed binding affinity for human angiotensin-converting enzyme. The data from this study highlights the potential of A. cruentus as a functional food.

Anti-Leishmania activity of the Mayan medicinal plant Thouinia paucidentata Radlk extracts.

Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula is an endemic area of cutaneous leishmaniasis, locally known as the chiclero's ulcer, and Mayan traditional medicine which refers to the use of Thouinia paucidentata Radlk, known as k'an chuunup. Aqueous and organic leaves extracts were evaluated against promastigotes and amastigotes of Leishmania mexicana. Toxicity tests of extracts were performed using Vero and J774A.1 macrophage cell lines. The composition of the most active extracts was analysed by GC-MS. The n-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts showed potent anti-Leishmania activity against the promastigote form, and remarkably, n-hexane extract exhibited potent activity against the amastigote form. Both extracts showed low toxicity on Vero both not on J774A.1 cells. Analysis of both bioactive extracts identified as more abundant compounds, germacrene D-4-ol and thunbergen in n-hexane, and thunbergol in ethyl acetate extracts. Our study presents T. paucidentata as anti-Leishmania phytomedicine supporting its medicinal use and contributes to the understanding of its phytochemical composition.

Antimicrobial potential of the Mayan medicine plant Matayba oppositifolia (A. Rich.) Britton against antibiotic-resistant priority pathogens.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The bark of Matayba oppositifolia (A. Rich.) Britton (commonly known as "huaya" or "palo huacax") is commonly utilized in traditional Mayan medicine for treating diarrhea and for canker and other sores. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was to investigate the in-vitro antimicrobial activity of M. oppositifolia bark extracts against drug-susceptible and -resistant ESKAPE-E pathogens. In addition, the phytochemical composition of the best antibacterial extract was analyzed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The bark extracts were prepared with different solvents, including water, n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol. These were tested against ESKAPE-E (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter spp., including Escherichia coli) strains using Resazurin Microtiter Assay. In addition, the composition of the most active extract was analyzed by GC-MS. RESULTS: The aqueous and organic bark extracts showed activity on drug-susceptible and -resistant ESKAPE-E microbes (MIC = 1000-31.25 µg/mL). The n-hexane bark extract was more active against the superbugs carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (MIC = 500-31.25 µg/mL) and A. baumannii (MIC = 250-125 µg/mL). The GC-MS analysis of this extract allowed the identification of 12 phytochemicals as the potential antibacterial compounds. The major compounds identified were palmitic acid (1), friedelan-3-one (2) and 7-dehydrodiosgenin (3). CONCLUSION: The present study reveals the strong in-vitro antibacterial activity of the n-hexane extract from the bark of M. oppositifolia and demonstrates the potential of natural products as a source of antibacterial compounds or phytomedicines that are specifically effective against drug-resistant ESKAPE-E bugs. Additionally, our investigation contributes to the ethnopharmacological knowledge and reappraisal of Mayan medicinal flora, as well as supports the traditional use of the bark of the medicinal plant M. oppositifolia for the treatment of infectious diseases.

Extracellular Self- and Non-Self DNA Involved in Damage Recognition in the Mistletoe Parasitism of Mesquite Trees.

Psittacanthus calyculatus parasitizes mesquite trees through a specialized structure called a haustorium, which, in the intrusive process, can cause cellular damage in the host tree and release DAMPs, such as ATP, sugars, RNA, and DNA. These are highly conserved molecules that primarily function as signals that trigger and activate the defense responses. In the present study, we generate extracellular DNA (exDNA) from mesquite (P. laevigata) tree leaves (self-exDNA) and P. calyculatus (non-self exDNA) mistletoe as DAMP sources to examine mesquite trees' capacity to identify specific self or non-self exDNA. We determined that mesquite trees perceive self- and non-self exDNA with the synthesis of O2•-, H2O2, flavonoids, ROS-enzymes system, MAPKs activation, spatial concentrations of JA, SA, ABA, and CKs, and auxins. Our data indicate that self and non-self exDNA application differs in oxidative burst, JA signaling, MAPK gene expression, and scavenger systems. This is the first study to examine the molecular biochemistry effects in a host tree using exDNA sources derived from a mistletoe.

Exposure to Landfill Leachates Affects the Embryonic Development of Zebrafish, Danio rerio: A Case Study in Yucatan, Mexico.

We report the chemical characterisation and toxic effects of municipal solid waste landfill leachates on the embryonic development of Danio rerio. The results of the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed the presence of nitrogen-containing groups and aromatic functional groups associated with highly toxic pollutants such as ammonia and heavy metal-humic complexes. Mortalities of up to 93 and 100% were observed in 1:64 and 1:32 landfill leachate dilutions, v/v, respectively. The hatching percentages of the fish were also severely affected, with very low percentages ranging from 0 to 33.3% for 1:32, 1:64 and 1:128 dilutions, v/v. Morphologically, a developmental arrest was evident for all treatments. This study reveals the high toxicity of landfill leachates that could contaminate the aquifer of the Yucatan Peninsula and threaten the health of living organisms.

Pesticide treatment in biobed systems at microcosms level under critical moisture and temperature range using an Orthic Solonchaks soil from southeastern Mexico amended with corn husk as support.

Agriculture effluents from cleaning and handling equipment used in pesticide applications can contaminate superficial and groundwater sources when not correctly disposed of. Biobeds using soil enriched with amendments represent a viable technology to control and minimize pesticide pollution of soil and water in farmlands. They are usually installed outdoors without protection, making them vulnerable to rain flooding, lack of moisture, drought, and intense heat or cold. Temperature (T) and moisture (M) of the biomixture are considered two of the most important physical factor affecting pesticide dissipation. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of T and M on the dissipation of five of the most used pesticides (carbofuran, atrazine, 2,4-D, diazinon, and glyphosate) in Yucatan State, Mexico. Three experiments using miniaturized biobeds considering optimal temperature and moisture (T of 30 ± 2 °C and 90% water holding capacity [WHC]) were performed. The optimal dissipation time and the effect of T, M variations, and volatilization was determined. The optimal dissipation time was over 14 days. Carbofuran was the least dissipated pesticide and glyphosate the most. The primary factor affecting pesticide dissipation was T (P < 0.05), reaching rates of dissipation of 99% at 45 °C. Variations of M in the biomixture were not significant on pesticide dissipation (P > 0.05). The white-rot fungi were observed; its presence was related to increments of T. Head Space analysis (at 45 °C) showed low pesticide volatilization (≤0.03%) for all pesticide used were quantified; water vapor condensation could reduce the pesticide volatilization for experimental conditions.

Experimental Methodology for the Separation Materials in the Recycling Process of Silicon Photovoltaic Panels.

As the use of photovoltaic installations becomes extensive, it is necessary to look for recycling processes that mitigate the environmental impact of damaged or end-of-life photovoltaic panels. There is no single path for recycling silicon panels, some works focus on recovering the reusable silicon wafers, others recover the silicon and metals contained in the panel. In the last few years, silicon solar cells are thinner, and it becomes more difficult to separate them from the glass, so the trend is towards the recovery of silicon. In this paper, we investigate the experimental conditions to delaminate and recovery silicon in the recycling process, using a combination of mechanical, thermal, and chemical methods. The conditions of thermal treatment to remove the ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) layer were optimized to 30 min at 650 °C in the furnace. To separate silicon and metals, the composition of HF/HNO3 solution and the immersion time were adjusted considering environmental aspects and cost. Under the selected conditions, panels from different manufacturers were tested, obtaining similar yields of recovered silicon but differences in the metal concentrations.

Toxicological Screening of Four Bioactive Citroflavonoids: In Vitro, In Vivo, and In Silico Approaches.

Many studies describe different pharmacological effects of flavonoids on experimental animals and humans. Nevertheless, few ones are confirming the safety of these compounds for therapeutic purposes. This study aimed to investigate the preclinical safety of naringenin, naringin, hesperidin, and quercetin by in vivo, in vitro, and in silico approaches. For this, an MTT-based cytotoxicity assay in VERO and MDCK cell lines was performed. In addition, acute toxicity was evaluated on Wistar rats by OECD Guidelines for the Testing of Chemicals (Test No. 423: Acute Oral Toxicity-Class Method). Furthermore, we used the ACD/Tox Suite to predict toxicological parameters such as hERG channel blockade, CYP450 inhibition, and acute toxicity in animals. The results showed that quercetin was slightly more cytotoxic on cell lines (IC50 of 219.44 ± 7.22 mM and 465.41 ± 7.44 mM, respectively) than the other citroflavonoids. All flavonoids exhibited an LD50 value > 2000 mg/kg, which classifies them as low-risk substances as OECD guidelines established. Similarly, predicted LD50 was LD50 > 300 to 2000 mg/kg for all flavonoids as acute toxicity assay estimated. Data suggests that all these flavonoids did not show significant toxicological effects, and they were classified as low-risk, useful substances for drug development.

A Rapid and Green Method for the Determination of Veterinary Pharmaceuticals in Swine Wastewater by Fluorescence Spectrophotometry.

A growing concern exists over water contamination by veterinary pharmaceuticals from small pig farms in Yucatan, Mexico, where the anaerobic digesters installed as the wastewater treatment system are not operated properly. Therefore, considerable interest exists to develop analytical methods to detect these compounds and characterize their fate in the environment. In this study, the detection of three antibiotics (enrofloxacin, oxytetracycline and sulfamethoxazole) and a ß-agonist (ractopamine) was carried out using fluorescence spectrophotometry, with a semi-quantitative approach and a low environmental impact. Wastewater samples from 10 pig farms were analyzed, detecting concentrations of approximately 0.043 µg mL-1 for enrofloxacin, 1.427 µg mL-1 for oxytetracycline, and 9.748 µg mL-1 for sulfamethoxazole. The detection of these pharmaceuticals in the effluents of treated wastewater from the biodigesters of the pig farms suggests the need to optimize the system and prevent the entry of these compounds into the environment.