Genomic characterization of a multidrug-resistant uropathogenic Escherichia coli and evaluation of Echeveria plant extracts as antibacterials.

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the most common bacterial agent associated with urinary tract infections, threatening public health systems with elevated medical costs and high morbidity rates. The successful establishment of the infection is associated with virulence factors encoded in its genome, in addition to antibacterial resistance genes, which could limit the treatment and resolution of the infection. In this sense, plant extracts from the genus Echeveria have traditionally been used to treat diverse infectious diseases. However, little is known about the effects of these extracts on bacteria and their potential mechanisms of action. This study aims to sequence a multidrug-resistant UPEC isolate (UTI-U7) and assess the multilocus sequence typing (MLST), virulence factors, antimicrobial resistance profile, genes, serotype, and plasmid content. Antimicrobial susceptibility profiling was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion. The antibacterial and anti-adherent effects of the methanol extracts (ME) of Echeveria (E. craigiana, E. kimnachii, and E. subrigida) against UTI-U7 were determined. The isolate was characterized as an O25:H4-B2-ST2279-CH40 subclone and had resistant determinants to aminoglycosides, ß-lactams, fluoroquinolones/quinolones, amphenicols, and tetracyclines, which matched with the antimicrobial resistance profile. The virulence genes identified encode adherence factors, iron uptake, protectins/serum resistance, and toxins. Identified plasmids belonged to the IncF group (IncFIA, IncFIB, and IncFII), alongside several prophage-like elements. After an extensive genome analysis that confirmed the pathogenic status of UTI-U7 isolate, Echeveria extracts were tested to determine their antibacterial effects; as an extract, E. subrigida (MIC, 5 mg/mL) displayed the best inhibitory effect. However, the adherence between UTI-U7 and HeLa cells was unaffected by the ME of the E. subrigida extract.

Complete mitochondrial genome of Gnathostoma binucleatum.

This report describes the mitochondrial genome of the parasite Gnathostoma binucleatum (G. binucleatum), which was obtained from naturally infected freshwater fish in Sinaloa, Mexico (22°46'00.1″N 105°40'21.8″W). G. binucleatum is responsible for human gnathostomiasis and is endemic to Mexico. It belongs to the Spirurida order of the Secernentea class of Nematoda.

Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, and anti-hyperglycemic activity of chickpea protein hydrolysates evaluated in BALB-c mice.

Chickpea (ICC3761) protein hydrolysates have shown high in vitro antioxidant activity (AoxA) and antidiabetic potential. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vivo activities (i.e., antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, and anti-hyperglycemic) of chickpea albumin hydrolysates (CAH) obtained with alcalase and pepsin-pancreatin (fractions ≤ 10 kDa). The CAH were analyzed for degree of hydrolysis (DH), electrophoretic and chromatographic profiles, and in vitro AoxA (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazolin)-6-sulfonic acid [ABTS], 2,2-diphenyl-1-pycrilhydrazyl [DPPH]). They were also evaluated for AoxA, anti-inflammatory and hypo- and anti-hyperglycemic activities in BALB-c mice. The DH was 20% for the alcalase CAH and 50% for the pepsin-pancreatin CAH, while the AoxA by ABTS (1 mg/mL) was 64.8% and 64.9% and by DPPH (5 mg/mL) was 48.0% and 31.1%. In the in vivo AoxA assay, mice of non-damaged control and those treated with both CAH showed similar alkaline phosphatase values, control and pepsin-pancreatin treated groups had similar malondialdehyde levels, while treated and non-damaged control groups had higher glutathione levels than the damaged control. Liver histopathology revealed that the pepsin-pancreatin CAH mitigated most of the pathological changes associated with the induced oxidative damage. Both CAH (2 mg/ear) reduced croton oil-induced ear edema in mice. The α-glucosidase inhibition of CAH (100 mg/mL) was 31.1% (alcalase) and 52.4% (pepsin-pancreatin). Mice treated with alcalase CAH (100 mg/mL) and glibenclamide exhibited similar hypoglycemic activities, whereas only those treated with the pepsin-pancreatin CAH (200 mg/kg body weight) showed anti-hyperglycemic activity. The results indicate that CAH can be used as a source of bioactive peptides with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, and anti-hyperglycemic activities.

Multidrug resistance and class 1 integron presence in Escherichia coli isolates from a polluted drainage ditch's water.

The impact of contamination of water drainage ditches in the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has been scarcely studied in Mexico. In this regard, 101 isolates of E. coli were obtained from water samples from a ditch in Sinaloa, during one year. The antimicrobial resistant profiles, the presence of the class 1 integron and evolutionary relationship of intI1 sequences were determined. The 47.5% of strains were resistant and 5.9% multidrug resistant (MDR) with an average multiple antibiotic resistance index value of 0.45. The highest resistance was registered with ß-lactam (39.6%) and quinolone (9.9%). The intI1 gene was detected in 11.9% of the isolates, and no association with MDR was found. Sequence were associated with human and animal host isolates. MDR E. coli isolates with intI1 gene highlight the potential risk of the ditch's water to human health. An attenuation effect of MDR E. coli isolates in the outlet water was observed.

Caprylic acid in Vitex mollis fruit and its inhibitory activity against a thiabendazole-resistant Colletotrichum gloeosporioides strain.

BACKGROUND: Colletotrichum gloeosporioides causes anthracnose in a large number of crops. Synthetic fungicides are employed to prevent this disease, even though their effectiveness and safety is questionable. Thus, effective and innocuous antifungal compounds are proposed as natural alternatives against anthracnose. The hexane fraction of Vitex mollis pulp (HF-VM) reduces anthracnose incidence in papaya fruit; however, the active compounds and antifungal mechanism of HF-VM are unknown. The aims of this study were to characterize the activity of HF-VM sub-fractions (sHF1 -sHF7 ) against a thiabendazole-resistant Colletotrichum gloeosporioides strain, identify the chemical components and investigate the mechanism of the most active sub-fraction. RESULTS: The sHF3 showed the highest inhibitory activity against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides with a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.5 mg mL-1 , whereas thiabendazole (TBZ) had a MIC value higher than 2 mg mL-1 . The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis showed that the compounds in sHF3 were methyl 4-decenoate, caprylic acid, and 24-methylencycloartanol. These compounds are rarely found in fruits and are reported for the first time on Vitex species. The purified 24-methylencycloartanol was inactive (MIC > 0.5 mg mL-1 ). In contrast, the commercial standard of caprylic acid presented an elevated activity (MIC = 0.125 mg mL-1 ), indicating that this compound is the main one responsible for the antifungal properties of sHF3 . Furthermore, the sHF3 inhibited the spore germination and induced membrane disruption in both the spore and mycelium of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. CONCLUSION: Vitex mollis fruit is a novel source of antifungal caprylic acid that could be employed as a marker to prepare standardized extracts with antifungal properties. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effect of 4-hydroxychalcone as preventive and curative treatment in Wistar rats with liver injury.

The increasing prevalence and complications related to liver diseases (caused by infection, toxic agents, or metabolic syndrome), together with insufficient existence of treatments, make evident the need for better therapeutic alternatives. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of 4-hydroxychalcone (4-HC) as preventive and curative treatment in acute and chronic liver injury, respectively. Liver damage was induced with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in Wistar rats. Rats were divided into two groups: (1) acute liver injury and (2) chronic liver injury. In turn, each group was divided into four subgroups: (i) control (water); (ii) dimethyl sulfoxide 10%; (iii) CCl4; and (iv) 4-HC. The pre-treatment with 4-HC decreased transaminases, IL-6 serum levels, and hepatic malondialdehyde, increased IL-10 serum levels and hepatic glutathione, and decreased liver damage (necrosis, steatosis, and inflammatory infiltrate). In contrast, treatment with 4-HC after the induction of chronic liver injury decreased IL-6 serum levels and liver damage (steatosis, inflammatory infiltrate, ballooning cells, steatofibrosis, and fibrosis degree). Thus, the 4-HC treatment is proposed as a preventive treatment against acute liver injury; moreover, these results suggested the potential of 4-HC as a curative treatment against chronic liver injury, but other scheme treatments must be evaluated in future.

Genomic Profiling of Antibiotic-Resistant Escherichia coli Isolates from Surface Water of Agricultural Drainage in North-Western Mexico: Detection of the International High-Risk Lineages ST410 and ST617.

Aquatic environments are recognized as one of the main reservoirs for the emergence and dissemination of high-risk lineages of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria of public health concern. However, the genomic characteristics of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli isolates from aquatic origins remain limited. Herein, we examined the antibiotic resistance and virulence genomic profiles of three E. coli recovered from surface water in northwest Mexico. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing, whole-genome sequencing (WGS), and in-depth in silico analysis were performed. Two E. coli exhibited MDR phenotypes. WGS-based typing revealed genetic diversity, and phylogenetic analysis corroborated a notable divergent relationship among the studied E. coli. One E. coli strain, harboring enterotoxigenic and extraintestinal pathogenic-associated virulence genes, was assigned to the ST4 lineage. MDR E. coli, belonging to the international high-risk clones ST410 and ST617, carried genes and mutations conferring resistance to aminoglycosides, ß-lactams, quinolones, sulfonamides, tetracyclines, and trimethoprim. This study describes, for the first time, the detection and genomic profiling of high-risk lineages of E. coli ST410 and ST617 from surface water in Mexico. Additionally, our results underscore the role of surface water as a reservoir for critical pathogenic and MDR E. coli clones and the need for the surveillance and monitoring of aquatic environments via WGS from the One Health perspective.

Bacteriostatic effect of Echeveria extracts on diarrheagenic E. coli pathotypes and non-cytotoxicity on human Caco-2 cells.

INTRODUCTION: Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli pathotypes are important aetiological agents of diarrhoeal illness among children from less developed areas, worldwide. Diarrheagenic E. coli pathotypes strains are increasingly becoming drug resistant, thus effective and accessible therapeutic alternatives are required for their treatment; herbal extracts may be a potential alternative. AIMS: to evaluate Echeveria craigiana, E. kimnachii, and E. subrigida methanol extracts antibacterial effect on six diarrheagenic E. coli reference strains and on human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells viability and cytokine production. METHODOLOGY: Diarrheagenic E. coli pathotypes reference strains: typical enteropathogenic E2348/69, enterotoxigenic H10407, enterohaemorrhagic O157:H7/EDL933, enteroinvasive E11, diffusely adherent C18451-A, and enteroaggregative 042 E. coli. E craigiana, E. kimnachii, and E. subrigida leaves, collected at Sinaloa, Mexico, were freeze-dried and macerated in methanol solvent. Antibacterial activity was determined by a novel method developed in our laboratory, bacterial oxygen consumption by polarographic oxygen electrode technique and membrane integrity by two methods (live/dead and protein leakage assays). Colorectal adenocarcinoma cells viability by MTT assay and cytokine production using a Cytometric Bead Array kit. RESULTS: Extracts concentrations of 100 µg/mL and 5-hour incubation, reduced more than 93% the growth of all diarrheagenic E. coli pathotypes tested strains and significantly decreased bacterial oxygen consumption, like bacteriostatic antibiotics. After 24-hour incubation methanol extracts had a differential antibacterial effect on each diarrheagenic E. coli pathotypes strain. Echeveria extracts did not have any effect on viability and cytokine production of colorectal adenocarcinoma cells. CONCLUSIONS: Echeveria methanol extracts have a bacteriostatic effect on all diarrheagenic E. coli pathotypes strains, thus potentially they could be used as antibacterial agents on diarrheagenic E. coli pathotypes-contaminated products and on patients with diarrheagenic E. coli pathotypes infections.

Metabolic changes associated with chilling injury tolerance in tomato fruit with hot water pretreatment.

Hot water treatment (HWT) of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) fruit reduces the symptoms of chilling injury (CI). The aim of this study was to identify metabolites associated with HWT-induced CI tolerance in tomato fruit cv. Imperial. Mature green tomatoes with HWT (42°C/5 min) and control were stored under chilling conditions (5°C/20 days) and then ripened (21°C/7 days). Methanol extracts from pericarp were analyzed for total phenolics (TP), antioxidant activity (AoxA), and metabolic profiling by UPLC-DAD-MS and GC-MS. After cold storage and ripening, HWT fruit showed less CI, higher TP, and AoxA than control. It also showed an increased accumulation of phenolics, sugars, and some alkaloids that may be mediated by azelaic acid, glutamine, and tryptophan. The levels of N-feruloyl putrescine, esculeoside AII, and hydroxy-α-tomatine II were reduced. The better metabolic performance of HWT fruit under cold storage was associated with a higher accumulation of several metabolites (e.g., antioxidants and osmolytes) in ripening fruit. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The identification of metabolites associated with the reduction of chilling injury (CI) symptoms in HWT tomato fruit extends the understanding of the mechanisms involved in CI tolerance. This information provides targets that could be used to develop strategies for preventing CI (e.g., genetic improvement of tomato, direct application of key metabolites). The application of such strategies will increase the economic value and decrease postharvest losses.

Characterization of peptides with antioxidant activity and antidiabetic potential obtained from chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) protein hydrolyzates.

Alcalase hydrolyzates were prepared from the albumin (AH) and globulin (GH) fractions of eight chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes from Mexico and 10 from other countries. Protein content, antioxidant activity (AA) (ABTS, DPPH), and degree of hydrolysis were evaluated and the best genotype was selected by principal component analysis. The hydrolyzates of the chosen genotype were analyzed for its antidiabetic potential measured as inhibition of α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4). Peptide profiles were obtained by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-DAD-MS), and the most active peptides were analyzed by molecular docking. The average antioxidant activity of albumin hydrolyzates was higher than that of globulin hydrolyzates. ICC3761 was the selected genotype and peptides purified from the albumin hydrolyzate showed the best antioxidant activity and antidiabetic potential (FEI, FEL, FIE, FKN, FGKG, and MEE). FEI, FEL, and FIE were in the same chromatographic peak and this mixture showed the best ABTS scavenging (78.25%) and DPP4 inhibition (IC50  = 4.20 µg/ml). MEE showed the best DPPH scavenging (47%). FGKG showed the best inhibition of α-amylase (54%) and α-glucosidase (56%) and may be a competitive inhibitor based on in silico-predicted interactions with catalytic amino acids in the active site of both enzymes. These peptides could be used as nutraceutical supplements against diseases related to oxidative stress and diabetes. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This study showed that chickpea protein hydrolyzates are good sources of peptides with antidiabetic potential, showing high antioxidant activity and inhibition of enzymes related to carbohydrate metabolism and type 2 diabetes. These hydrolyzates could be formulated in functional foods for diabetes.

Bioguided isolation of N-malonyl-(+)-tryptophan from the fruit of Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.) Benth. that showed high activity against Hymenolepis nana.

Pithecellobium dulce is distributed in America and Asia where is widely used in traditional medicine. This study describes the bioguided fractionation of the methanol extract (ME) obtained from the P. dulce fruit that showed in vitro activity against Hymenolepis nana; Artemia salina assay was used to determine toxicity; and the purified compound was computationally analysed to obtain its absorption-distribution-metabolism-excretion-and-toxicity properties (ADMET). The ME and its fractions were more active than praziquantel (PZQ), and the purified compound was characterized as N-malonyl-(+)-tryptophan (NMT). Parasites treated with NMT showed shorter paralysis and death times (5 and 7 min) than those treated with PZQ (15 and 30 min), both used at 20 mg/mL. Toxicity and ADMET prediction results supported the slight-hazardousness and efficacy of the assayed fractions/compound. This is the first report of the antiparasitary activity of both the P. dulce ME and NMT, showing their potential to treat human H. nana infections.

Phenolic profile associated with chilling tolerance induced by the application of a hot water treatment in bell pepper fruit.

Hot water treatment (HT) has proved to alleviate chilling injury (CI) in bell pepper and other Solanaceae species, this has been associated with the presence of metabolites such as sugars and polyamines, which protect the plasmatic membrane. However, it is unknown if the phenolic compounds in bell pepper play a role in the CI tolerance induced by the application of a HT. The aim of this study was to identify the specific phenolics associated with induced CI tolerance in bell pepper by HT (53 °C, 1 to 3 min). Fruit treated for 1 min (HT-1 min) exhibited CI tolerance (the lowest symptom development, electrolyte leakage, and vitamin C loss) and was the chosen treatment for further experiments. The phenolic composition was affected by HT-1 min and CI. Phenolics presented a strong correlation with the antioxidant activity. In fruit with CI tolerance, the concentration of seven compounds was increased, being quercetin-O-rhamnoside-O-hexoside and chlorogenic acid the most remarkable. Quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside was accumulated only in fruit with induced tolerance, meanwhile orientin was particularly sensitive to heat and cold exposure. Thus, HT-1 min (53 °C, 1 min) is a useful technology to induce CI tolerance in bell pepper and such tolerance is associated with the phenolic composition that may reduce the prevalence of oxidative stress during the storage under CI conditions. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Phenolics induced by CI and HT may be useful to detect early stages of heat and chilling injuries in bell pepper and prevent the negative effect of such stresses even before its harvest and during commercial storage. Additionally, the phenolics associated with CI tolerance may be used as markers in breeding programs to create new chilling resistant cultivars.

Molecular Identification of the Etiological Agent of Human Gnathostomiasis in an Endemic Area of Mexico.

Human gnathostomiasis, which is endemic in Mexico, is a worldwide health concern. It is mainly caused by the consumption of raw or insufficiently cooked fish containing the advanced third-stage larvae (AL3A) of Gnathostoma species. The diagnosis of gnathostomiasis is based on epidemiological surveys and immunological diagnostic tests. When a larva is recovered, the species can be identified by molecular techniques. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the second internal transcription spacer (ITS-2) is useful to identify nematode species, including Gnathostoma species. This study aims to develop a duplex-PCR amplification method of the ITS-2 region to differentiate between the Gnathostoma binucleatum and G. turgidum parasites that coexist in the same endemic area, as well as to identify the Gnathostoma larvae recovered from the biopsies of two gnathostomiasis patients from Sinaloa, Mexico. The duplex PCR established based on the ITS-2 sequence showed that the length of the amplicons was 321 bp for G. binucleatum and 226 bp for G. turgidum. The amplicons from the AL3A of both patients were 321 bp. Furthermore, the length and composition of these amplicons were identical to those deposited in GenBank as G. binucleatum (accession No. JF919679), corroborating our previous morphological finding that G. binucleatum is the etiological agent for human gnathostomiasis in the endemic area of Sinaloa, Mexico.

Association of phylogenetic distribution and presence of integrons with multidrug resistance in Escherichia coli clinical isolates from children with diarrhoea.

BACKGROUND: Escherichia coli strains include both commensal and virulent clones distributed in different phylogenetic groups. Antimicrobial resistance is an increasingly serious public health threat at the global level and integrons are important mobile genetic elements involved in resistance dissemination. This paper aims to determine the phylogenetic groups and presence of class 1 (intl1) and 2 (intl2) integrons in E. coli clinical isolates from children with diarrhoea, and to associate these characteristics with their antimicrobial resistance. METHODS: Phylogeny and presence of integrons (intl1 and intl2) were analysed by PCR and amplicon sequencing in 70 E. coli isolates from children with and without diarrhoea (35 of each group) from Sinaloa, Mexico; these variables were analysed for correlation with the antimicrobial resistance profile of the isolates. RESULTS: The most frequent phylogroups were A (42.9%) and B2 (15.7%). The E. coli isolates from children with diarrhoea were distributed in all phylogroups; while strains from children without diarrhoea were absent from phylogroups C, E, and clade I. The 17.1% of the isolates carried integrons (15.7% intI1 and 1.4% intI2); 28.6% of the isolates from children with diarrhoea showed the class 1 integron. Strains of phylogroup A showed the highest frequency of integrons (33.3%). The association of multidrug resistance and the presence of integrons was identified in 58.3% of strains isolated from children with diarrhoea included in phylogroups A and B2. The sequence analysis of intl1 and intl2 showed silent point mutations and similarities with plasmids of some APEC and AIEC strains. CONCLUSION: Commensal E. coli strains are potential disseminators of antimicrobial resistance, and the improvement in the use of antimicrobials to treat childhood diarrhoea is essential for the control of such resistance.

Soluble melanins of the Randia echinocarpa fruit - Structural characteristics and toxicity.

The water-soluble melanins (SM) of Randia echinocarpa fruit possess interesting biological activities and have been scarcely characterized. In this study, SM were obtained at boiling (SMBT) and room (SMRT) temperatures and characterized by UV-Vis, IR, thermogravimetric analysis, and GC-MS of the hydrolysis products of the SM; besides, the solid-state 13 C NMR, elemental analysis, and acute and sub-acute toxicity of the SMBT were determined. SMBT and SMRT contain organic acids and carbohydrates and their spectroscopic signals and thermograms were similar, but the SMBT yield was higher. The SMBT were characterized by their elemental composition (C 48.260 ± 0.011%, N 3.693 ± 0.009% and H 6.093 ± 0.076%) consistent with the presence of aromatic rings and eumelanins, degradation temperature at 300°C, 13 C NMR signals supporting melanin-bonding with carbohydrates and organic acids, and innocuity in Balb/C mice (acute assay, LD50  > 5 g/kg b.w.; sub-acute assay, no lethality at 500 mg/kg b.w. for 30 days). PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The consumption of melanins has been associated with health benefits because of their biological activities (e.g., antioxidant, immunostimulatory, UV- and radiation-protective). Randia echinocarpa is employed in Mexican traditional medicine against chronic degenerative diseases (e.g., cancer and diabetes) and ailments of organs (e.g., kidney and lung) and systems (e.g., circulatory and gastrointestinal). The R. echinocarpa fruit contains water-soluble melanins (SM) that inhibit carbohydrate-digestive enzymes and show high antioxidant activity; thus, SM could be useful for the prevention and treatment of diabetes. This study showed that the SM structure contains melanin-bonding organic acids and carbohydrates, which could be associated with the SM solubility and higher yield, and that SMBT were innocuous in the acute and sub-acute assays in mice. Thus, the R. echinocarpa SMBT could be used as safe potential ingredients to develop functional products.

Anthocyanins of Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.) Benth. Fruit Associated with High Antioxidant and α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activities.

Red arils of Pithecellobium dulce fruit, commonly known as guamuchil, show high antioxidant (AOx) and α-glucosidase inhibitory (IαG) activities, which have been mainly associated with the content of unknown anthocyanins. In this study, the AOx (i.e., DPPH and ABTS as Trolox equivalents, µmol TE/g) and IαG (as half-maximal inhibitory concentration, IC50, mg/mL) activities of the anthocyanin-rich fraction (ARF) obtained from red arils were contrasted with those of the methanol extract (ME), and the main ARF anthocyanins were characterized by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS, GC-MS and 1H-NMR. The AOx and IαG values of the ARF (DPPH = 597.8; ABTS = 884.01; IαG = 0.06) were better than those of the ME (DPPH = 41.5; ABTS = 142.3; IαG = 17.5); remarkably, the ARF IαG value was about 42 times lower than that of acarbose. The main anthocyanins in ARF were pelargonidin 3-O-glucoside and cyanidin 3-O-glucoside. Thus, the consumption of red P. dulce arils could provide health benefits for prevention/treatment of chronic degenerative diseases such as diabetes.

Phenolic profiles and their contribution to the antioxidant activity of selected chickpea genotypes from Mexico and ICRISAT collections.

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes, nine kabuli from Mexico and 9 desi from other countries, were investigated for their phenolic profiles and antioxidant activity (AA). Phenolics in methanol extracts (ME) were analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode array detection and mass spectrometry (UPLC-DAD-MS), whereas the AA was measured as Trolox equivalents (TE) by ABTS, DPPH and FRAP methods. Twenty phenolic compounds were identified in the ME and their levels showed a great variability among the chickpea genotypes. Phenolic acids and flavonoids were the most abundant compounds in kabuli and desi genotypes, respectively. The AA values (µmol TE/ 100 g dw) by ABTS (278-2417), DPPH (52-1650), and FRAP (41-1181) were mainly associated with the content of sinapic acid hexoside, gallic acid, myricetin, quercetin, catechin, and isorhamnetin, suggesting they are the main compounds responsible for the AA. The sum of the AA obtained for standards of these compounds evaluated at the concentration found in the extracts accounted for 34.3, 69.8, and 47.0% of the AA in the extract by ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP, respectively. In the AA by DPPH, most of the mixtures of these compounds resulted in synergistic interactions. Three desi genotypes with black seeds (ICC 4418, ICC 6306, and ICC 3761) showed the highest AA and flavonoids content, whereas the most promising kabuli genotypes were Surutato 77, Bco. Sin. 92, and Blanoro that showed the highest values of phenolic acids. These genotypes represent good sources of antioxidants for the improvement of nutraceutical properties in chickpea.

Plantas silvestres consumidas como tés recreativos por grupos de rancheros en Baja California Sur, México / Wild plants consumed as recreational teas by groups of ranchers in Baja California Sur, Mexico

Antecedentes y Objetivos: Los tés recreativos son bebidas preparadas, por infusión/ebullición, de diferentes partes de plantas que se consumen en un entorno social/alimenticio. Se consideran generalmente saludables y con usos medicinales, aunque ese no es su único propósito de consumo. En México, los tés recreativos prácticamente no se mencionan en los estudios etnobotánicos. Este estudio describe la etnobotánica, contenido de fenólicos y actividad antioxidante de plantas silvestres empleadas como tés recreativos en dos rancherías de las zonas montañosas de la región de Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, México: Reserva de la Biosfera Sierra La Laguna y comunidad San Blas-Cacachilas. Métodos: La información etnobotánica se obtuvo mediante encuestas semi-estructuradas y estancias con los rancheros de ambas comunidades. Se calculó el porcentaje de citas, preferencia y valor cultural de cada especie registrada, además de describir sus usos medicinales adicionales. El contenido de fenólicos y actividad antioxidante se determinó por métodos colorimétricos y fueron correlacionados con parámetros etnobotánicos. Resultados clave: Se registraron 12 taxa de plantas silvestres para elaborar tés recreativos, 11 en Sierra La Laguna y seis en San Blas-Las Cacachilas. La damiana (Turnera diffusa) obtuvo el mayor valor cultural (71.2%), seguido de margarita (Aloysia barbata) (41.1%) y anís silvestre (Tagetes filifolia/T. micrantha) (21.5%). Los tés recreativos tuvieron sus principales usos medicinales como antigripales/antitusivos y relajantes generales. El contenido de antioxidantes presentó correlación negativa con el porcentaje de citas y la preferencia. Los usos etnofarmacológicos de A. barbata y el helecho peyote (Pellaea ternifolia) son descritos por primera vez, y se documentaron nuevos usos para la damiana y el cerezo (Prunus serotina). Conclusiones: Los rancheros de Baja California Sur tienen gran afinidad por el consumo de tés recreativos de plantas silvestres, y aquellos usados para tratar padecimientos comunes como gripe/tos o estrés son los preferidos. El presente es el primer estudio etnobotánico específico para tés recreativos en México.

Synthesis of leading chalcones with high antiparasitic, against Hymenolepis nana, and antioxidant activities

The hymenolepiosis by Hymenolepis nana is a major public health problem in developing countries, and the commercial drugs against this parasitosis are not enough effective. The combination of antiparasitic and antioxidant agents has improved the treatment of some parasitoses. Thus, the development of new cestocidal and antioxidant agents to treat the hymenolepiosis cases is important. In the present study, four hydroxy- and four dihydroxy-chalcones were synthesized using the catalyst boron trifluoride diethyl etherate (BF3•OEt2). The antioxidant activity and antiparasitic against H. nana of chalcones were tested, as well as the toxicity by the brine shrimp lethality bioassay and the method of Lorke. The antioxidant activity was measured by three radical scavenging assays: 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The hydroxyl substitution pattern (number and position), mainly in ring B, was responsible for the chalcone antiparasitic activity. At least one meta or para hydroxyl group in ring B was essential for activity of the synthetic chalcones against H. nana; The time taken for the parasite to die by the 3b and 3e chalcones (20 mg/mL) treatment was up to six times lower than the control drug Praziquantel. On the other hand, chalcones with catechol structure in ring B (3g and 3h) showed the highest antioxidant values. The toxicity evaluations suggests that synthetic hydroxychalcones with cestocidal (3b and 3e) and antioxidant (3g and 3h) activities are safe compounds and potential in vivo agents to treat this parasitosis

Effect of the Combination Hot Water - Calcium Chloride on the In Vitro Growth of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and the Postharvest Quality of Infected Papaya.

Anthracnose of papaya fruit caused by the fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides is one of the most economically important postharvest diseases. Hot water immersion (HW) and calcium chloride (Ca) treatments have been used to control papaya postharvest diseases; however, the effect of the combination HW-Ca on the pathogen growth and the development of the disease in infected papaya fruit has been scarcely studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the HW-Ca treatment on the in vitro growth of C. gloesporioides conidia and the quality of infected papaya. In vitro, the HW-Ca treated conidia showed reduced mycelial growth and germination. In vivo, the HW-Ca treatment of infected papaya delayed for 5 days the onset of the anthracnose symptoms and improved the papaya postharvest quality. The combined treatment HW-Ca was better than any of the individual treatments to inhibit the in vitro development of C. gloeosporioides and to reduce the negative effects of papaya anthracnose.