Latin Americans show wide-spread Converso ancestry and imprint of local Native ancestry on physical appearance.

Historical records and genetic analyses indicate that Latin Americans trace their ancestry mainly to the intermixing (admixture) of Native Americans, Europeans and Sub-Saharan Africans. Using novel haplotype-based methods, here we infer sub-continental ancestry in over 6,500 Latin Americans and evaluate the impact of regional ancestry variation on physical appearance. We find that Native American ancestry components in Latin Americans correspond geographically to the present-day genetic structure of Native groups, and that sources of non-Native ancestry, and admixture timings, match documented migratory flows. We also detect South/East Mediterranean ancestry across Latin America, probably stemming mostly from the clandestine colonial migration of Christian converts of non-European origin (Conversos). Furthermore, we find that ancestry related to highland (Central Andean) versus lowland (Mapuche) Natives is associated with variation in facial features, particularly nose morphology, and detect significant differences in allele frequencies between these groups at loci previously associated with nose morphology in this sample.

Evaluación de la actividad analgésica central de las hojas de Maytenus macrocarpa (Ruiz & Pav.) Briq. (chuchuhuasi) / Evaluation of the central analgesic activity of the leaves of Maytenus macrocarpa (Ruiz & Pav.) Briq. (chuchuhuasi)

Introducción: Maytenus macrocarpa Ruiz & Pav.) Briq (chuchuhuasi), es una planta medicinal peruana, a la cual se le atribuyen efectos: antidisentérico, antidiarreico, analgésico, antiinflamatorio, entre otros. Objetivo: explorar la actividad analgésica central de las hojas de M. macrocarpa, en ratones, mediante el modelo de retirada de la cola. Métodos: a 50 ratones albinos (25 g promedio), divididos en 5 grupos, se les administró por la vía oral lo siguiente: M. macrocarpa 1000 y 1500 mg/kg, Tramadol 10 mg/kg, agua destilada (placebo) 0,1ml /10 g, y un grupo control. Se evalúo el dolor en el roedor, midiendo el promedio del período de latencia, después de 6 mediciones de intervalos de 30 minutos. Asimismo, se determinó el porcentaje del efecto máximo posible (% MPE, por sus siglas en inglés). Resultados: chuchuhuasi 1000 mg/kg, presentó un basal de 2,781 segundos, frente a 4,135 segundos a los 120 minutos. Chuchuhuasi 1500 mg/kg, presentó un basal de 2,467 segundos, frente a 4,385 segundos a los 180 minutos; frente al control presentaron un valor p>0,05. Tramadol tuvo un basal de 2,030 segundos, frente a 5,173 segundos, a los 30 minutos; frente al control presento un valor p<0,05. El grupo placebo fue no significativo. El % MPE fue de 19 % para chuchuhuasi 1000 mg/kg, 14 % para chuchuhuasi 1500 mg/kg, y 37 % para Tramadol. Conclusión: el efecto analgésico central de las hojas de M. macrocarpa en el modelo de retirada de la cola fue no significativo, el máximo % MPE fue de 19 %, con chuchuhuasi a 1000 mg/kg.

Introduction: Maytenus macrocarpa (Ruiz & Pav.) Briq (chuchuhuasi) is a Peruvian medicinal plant which has been attributed antidysenteric, antidiarrheal, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, among others. Objective: explore the central analgesic activity of M. macrocarpa leaves in mice using the tail-flick model. Methods: fifty albino mice (25 g average weight) were divided into 5 groups and administered the following substances by oral route: M. macrocarpa 1 000 and 1 500 mg/kg, Tramadol 10 mg/kg, distilled water (placebo) 0.1 ml/10 g, and a control group. Pain was evaluated by estimating the average latency period after taking 6 measurements at 30 minute intervals. Percent maximum possible effect (% MPE) was also determined. Results: baseline time for chuchuhuasi 1 000 mg/kg was 2.781 seconds vs. 4.135 seconds at 120 minutes. Baseline time for chuchuhuasi 1 500 mg/kg was 2.467 seconds vs. 4.385 seconds at 180 minutes; p value vs. control was p>0.05. Baseline time for Tramadol was 2.030 seconds vs. 5.173 seconds at 30 minutes; p value vs. control was p>0.05. The placebo group was not significant. % MPE was 19 % for chuchuhuasi 1 000 mg/kg, 14 % for chuchuhuasi 1 500 mg/kg and 37 % for Tramadol. Conclusion: the central analgesic effect of M. macrocarpa leaves on the tail-flick model was not significant. Percent maximum possible effect was 19 % with chuchuhuasi 1 000 mg/kg.