Eysenhardtia Polystachya Research Articles

One‐Step DES‐Mediated Synthesis of Au Nanoparticles Using Eysenhardtia polystachya Extract and Evaluation of Their Proapoptotic and Anti‐Inflammatory Activities

AbstractThe synthesis of nanomaterials using plant extracts is considered to be a safer, environmentally friendly, and cost‐effective alternative method. In this work, Eysenhardtia polystachya (EP) extract and choline chloride/urea (ChCl/urea)‐based deep eutectic solvent (DES) were used for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), without an additional stabilizing agent, which is of great interest in the field of biomedicine. The antioxidant capacity of the extract and the phenolic content, involved in the reduction of Au3+ ions of the precursor were evaluated. The AuNPs were characterized by ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, dynamic light scattering, ζ‐potential, confocal laser scanning microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The nanoparticles are mostly quasi‐spherical shape, with a multiply‐twinned structure, an average particle size of 36 nm, and a characteristic absorption peak at 545 nm. The colloidal stability was confirmed with a ζ‐potential value of −32.8 mV. Finally, the AuNPs were tested for their potential in cancer therapy using human prostate adenocarcinoma PC‐3 cells. The anti‐inflammatory activity of the EP extract and AuNPs was also evaluated. The results showed that the synthesized AuNPs could potentially induce cell death and have an anti‐inflammatory effect.

Adaptación de leguminosas arbóreas en un sistema silvopastoril para ovinos en clima templado

The objective was to evaluate, over a one-year period, the survival, production, and nutritional value of forage from tree legumes as well as grasses and weeds in a silvopastoral system. A mixed protein bank was established, consisting of two plots: in the first plot, planting orientation was East to West, and in the second, North to South. The planted tree species were leguminous: pata de vaca (Bauhinia forficata), albizia (Albizia lebbeck), leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala), and palo dulce (Eysenhardtia polystachya). Three planting densities were used, with tree spacings of 70x70, 90x90, and 110x110 cm. Survival was assessed visually and manually by identifying the species and recording their condition as either alive (1) or dead (0). A three-way classification model with an unequal number of repetitions was used, employing the Generalized Linear Models procedure of the statistical analysis system under a fixed effects model. The nutritional value of thetree legumes ranged from 11% to 18% protein. Differences (p ≤ 0.05) were observed between treatments and orientation regarding height. There was a significant effect (p ≤ 0.05) of treatment, orientation, period, and species on foliage production. Differences (p ≤ 0.05) were found in species survival, with albizia (Albizia lebbeck) being notable. The period also significantly influenced (p ≤ 0.05) tree survival. It is concluded that the survival rate of forage tree legume species determines their capacity to establish silvopastoral systems in a subhumid temperate climate in mixed protein bank arrangements

Pre-germination treatments on kidneywood(Eysenhardtia polystachya)seeds

Pre-germination treatments on kidneywood(Eysenhardtia polystachya)seeds

Structure and phenology characterization of four tree species of tropical deciduous forests

Objective: To determine the structural and phenological characteristics of four major tree species in the tropical deciduous forests. Design/Methodology/Approach: To determine their structure, ≥ 10 cm wide trees were registered at a height of 1.30 m in 30 sites of 500 m2. For phenological purposes, seven sites were selected. The following phenological stages were evaluated: dormancy, vegetative, flowering, fruiting, and seeding. Results: Four hundred and five individuals belonging to the four species under study were found: copal ancho (Bursera copallifera (Sessé & Moc.) ex DC. Bullock), Mexican kidneywood (Eysenhardtia polystachya (Ortega) Sarg.), tecolhuixtle (Mimosa benthamii (J.F. Macbr. var. bentha-mii)), and tepemezquite (Lysiloma divaricatum (Jacq.) Macbride). Tepemezquite ranked first according to the Relative Importance Value Index. Based on the phenological characteristics observed, three species lost foliage at some time of the year and only tecolhuixtle was evergreen. Study Limitations/Implications: The results and conclusions are limited only to individuals with ≥ 10 cm in diameter. Further results can be extrapolated from this data. Findings/Conclusions: The structural and phenological features of the four species evaluated in ejido El Limón have similar characteristics to those that have been described for this type of vegetation in other locations in Mexico.

Antimicrobial effect of Eysenhardtia polystachya homemade extracts on bacteria causing urinary tract infections

Objective: To evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial effect of homemade preparations of Eysenhardtia polystachya, obtained by maceration or by infusion, on bacteria that cause urinary tract infections. Methodology: Microdilution assays were performed in 96-well plates where bacterial suspensions were co-incubated with different dilutions of homemade extracts, as well as a control for comparison using a commercial extract of the plant. Subsequently, the absorbance at 600 nm was measured to be considered as a direct measure of bacterial growth. For each culture, the values were normalized to growth percentage from the absorbance value obtained in the wells without extract. Contribution: The results show that the homemade extracts have a partial antimicrobial effect on the growth of the bacteria used in this work. The effect was the same between the extract by infusion and the extract by maceration against Gram negative bacteria. On the other hand, the extract by infusion showed a better effect than the extract by maceration on Gram positive bacteria. None of the homemade extracts achieved the antimicrobial effect of the commercial extract. This work corroborates the empirical knowledge of the use of homemade preparations of Eysenhardtia polystachya to treat urinary tract infections.

Plants Used in Mexican Traditional Medicine for the Management of Urolithiasis: A Review of Preclinical Evidence, Bioactive Compounds, and Molecular Mechanisms.

Urolithiasis (UL) involves the formation of stones in different parts of the urinary tract. UL is a health problem, and its prevalence has increased considerably in developing countries. Several regions use plants in traditional medicine as an alternative in the treatment or prevention of UL. Mexico has known about the role of traditional medicine in the management of urinary stones. Mexican traditional medicine uses plants such as Argemone mexicana L., Berberis trifoliata Hartw. ex Lindl., Costus mexicanus Liebm, Chenopodium album L., Ammi visnaga (L.) Lam., Eysenhardtia polystachya (Ortega) Sarg., Selaginella lepidophylla (Hook. & Grev.) Spring, and Taraxacum officinale L. These plants contain different bioactive compounds, including polyphenols, flavonoids, phytosterols, saponins, furanochromones, alkaloids, and terpenoids, which could be effective in preventing the process of stone formation. Evidence suggests that their beneficial effects might be associated with litholytic, antispasmodic, and diuretic activities, as well as an inhibitory effect on crystallization, nucleation, and aggregation of crystals. The molecular mechanisms involving these effects could be related to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. Thus, the review aims to summarize the preclinical evidence, bioactive compounds, and molecular mechanisms of the plants used in Mexican traditional medicine for the management of UL.

Germination of seven species of shrubs in semiarid central Mexico: Effect of drought and seed size

Background: In semiarid ecosystems, many plant species are tolerant to drought. However, increased aridity as a result of climatic change could modify the capacity of germination and establishment.
 Hypothesis: Under drought conditions, small-seeded species will tend to germinate in higher proportions than large-seeded species because the former have larger surface-to-volume ratio, allowing for more rapid water uptake.
 Study species: Ageratina espinosarum , Flourensia resinosa , Montanoa tomentosa and Gymnosperma glutinosum (Asteraceae), Dalea bicolor , Eysenhardtia polystachya and Mimosa pringlei (Fabacecae) . 
 Study site: Hidalgo, Mexico. September 2015. Methods: We evaluated the effect of five water potential treatments on seed germination. Four dishes (replicates), each with 25 seeds, were used in each treatment. Seeds of each species were weighed and the relationship between seed germination under water stress and seed size was obtained.
 Results: Germination decreased as water potential was reduced; almost no seeds germinated at -0.8 MPa. The least sensitive species was Eysenhardtia polystachya , whose germination reached 35 % at -0.6 MPa. A positive relationship was found between seed size and germination proportion under water stress.
 Conclusions: Contrary to expectation, germination was higher in the large-seeded species in all drought treatments, suggesting that large seeds may have a greater capacity to retain water in dry environments.

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes produced after forest fires improve germination and development of Eysenhardtia polystachya.

BackgroundMulti-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are nanoparticles with countless applications. MWCNTs are typically of synthetic origin. However, recently, the formation of MWCNTs in nature after forest fires has been documented. Previous reports have demonstrated the positive effects of synthetic MWCNTs on the germination and development of species of agronomic interest; nevertheless, there is practically no information on how synthetic or natural MWCNTs affect forest plant development. In this report, based on insights from dose-response assays, we elucidate the comparative effects of synthetic MWCNTs, amorphous carbon, and natural MWCNTs obtained after a forest fire on Eysenhardtia polystachya plant.MethodsE. polystachya seeds were sown in peat moss-agrolite substrate and conserved in a shade house. Germination was recorded daily up to 17 days after sowing, and plant development (manifested in shoot and root length, stem diameter, foliar area, and root architecture parameters) was recorded 60 days after sowing.ResultsThe treatments with natural MWCNTs accelerated the emergence and improved the germination of this plant, thus while untreated seeds achieve 100% of germination within 16th day, seeds supplemented with natural MWCNTs at doses of 20 µg/mL achieve the above percentage within the 4th day. Natural MWCNTs also promoted fresh and dry biomass in all applied treatments, specially at doses of 40 µg/mL where natural MWCNTs significantly promoted leaf number, root growth, and the dry and fresh weights of shoots and roots of seedlings. Seeds supplemented with doses between 20 and 40 µg/mL of amorphous carbon achieving 100% of germination within the 6th day; however, seeds supplemented either with doses of 60 µg/mL of the above carbon or with synthetic MWCNTs at all the tested concentrations could achieve at most 80 % and 70% of germination respectively within the 17 days. Finally, neither treatments added with amorphous carbon nor those added with synthetic MWCNTs, showed significant increases in the fresh and dry biomass of the tested plant. Likewise, the survival of seedlings was reduced between 10 and 20 % with 40 and 60 µg/mL of amorphous carbon, and with synthetic MWCNTs in all the doses applied was reduced at 30% of survival plants.ConclusionsThese findings indicate that MWCNTs produced by wildfire act as plant growth promoters, contributing to the germination and development of adapted to fire-prone conditions species such as E. polystachya.

Fluorescence decay rate of selected compounds from Eysenhardtia polystachya extracts and their viability as biosensors.

Eysenhardtia polystachya (EP) is an endemic Mexican plant that has been widely studied for its antidiabetic, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties. Several studies had reported the main components of EP, but their fluorescence properties had not been broadly studied. In a previous study we obtained extracts with different composition from this plant and they presented florescence. In this work we study fluorescent compounds from EP and evaluate their fluorescence properties. EP extracts were obtained by Soxhlet extraction with ethanol, samples were dried, and compounds were separated by column chromatography. Fluorescent fractions were classified apart from other fractions and characterized by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-Vis, Raman, FTIR and 1H NMR spectra. Additionally, we obtained functional nanomaterials (using silica nanoparticles). TD-DFT molecular calculations of the fluorescent components were carried out to compare their theoretical UV-Vis spectra to experimental results. Nine fractions were obtained by chromatography and five of them showed fluorescence. Fluorescence of extracts from Eysenhardtia polystachya is due to more than one component and we suggest that could be other hydrochalcones for which we present possible structures. This finding would help to dissipate questions about which component is responsible for fluorescence in extracts from the plant and in this way determinate the appropriate use for these fluorophores. Finally, the application and viability as a biosensor using pulmonary epithelium fibroblast cell culture IMR-90 was proved, and in the concentration used are non-toxic materials.

3'-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-α,4,2',4',6'-pentahydroxy-dihydrochalcone, from Bark of Eysenhardtia polystachya Prevents Diabetic Nephropathy via Inhibiting Protein Glycation in STZ-Nicotinamide Induced Diabetic Mice.

Previous studies have shown that accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) can be the cause of diabetic nephropathy (DN) in diabetic patients. Dihydrochalcone 3′-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl α,4,2′,4′,6′-pentahydroxy–dihydrochalcone (1) is a powerful antiglycation compound previously isolated from Eysenhardtia polystachya. The aim was to investigate whether (1) was able to protect against diabetic nephropathy in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice, which displayed renal dysfunction markers such as body weight, creatinine, uric acid, serum urea, total urinary protein, and urea nitrogen in the blood (BUN). In addition, pathological changes were evaluated including glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in the kidney, as well as in circulation level and pro-inflammatory markers ICAM-1 levels in diabetic mice. After 5 weeks, these elevated markers of dihydrochalcone treatment (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) were significantly (p < 0.05) attenuated. In addition, they ameliorate the indices of renal inflammation as indicated by ICAM-1 markers. The kidney and circulatory AGEs levels in diabetic mice were significantly (p < 0.05) attenuated by (1) treatment. Histological analysis of kidney tissues showed an important recovery in its structure compared with the diabetic group. It was found that the compound (1) attenuated the renal damage in diabetic mice by inhibiting AGEs formation.

ENSAYO DE LEGUMINOSAS PARA LA REFORESTACIÓN DE LA 2a SECCIÓN DEL BOSQUE DE CHAPULTEPEC

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; La Segunda Sección del Bosque de Chapultepec es un sitio de preservación ecológica, generación de servicios ambientales y de beneficios recreativos, principalmente, para los habitantes de la Ciudad de México. En los últimos años se ha registrado una declinación y disminución de su cubierta forestal, por lo que es necesario llevar a cabo programas de reforestación que se realicen con las especies apropiadas al sitio. Se realizó un ensayo de seis leguminosas arbóreas con el objetivo de evaluar su supervivencia y tasas de crecimiento en altura y diámetro basal; en el primer rubro, el valor final fue de 100 a 92.59%, en función de la especie, aunque no hubo diferencias significativas entre ellas. La tasa de crecimiento en altura fue mayor y significativamente diferente en Albizzia occidentalis y Senna multiglandulosa, respecto a los otros taxa; mientras que la correspondiente al diámetro resultó superior en S. multiglandulosa, Acacia angustissima y A. occidentalis. En contraste, Leucaena esculenta presentó las cifras más bajas en ambas variables, pero no difirió significativamente de Eysenhardtia polystachya, ni de Lysiloma divaricata. En algunas plantas se registraron daños por vandalismo, así como por el ataque de plagas. A pesar de ello, los resultados permiten afirmar que estas son una buena opción para la reforestación del área de estudio, lo que confirma la importancia de realizar ensayos de especies previos a los programas de reforestación urbana.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;

Performance of two valuable species, Pinus pseudostrobus and Eysenhardtia polystachya, in a low fertility soil mediated by mycorrhizal fungi and fertilization

Interspecific relationships are fundamental to maintain ecological processes, and are particularly important for the recovery of plant cover in severely degraded sites. An experiment was set up to evaluate pairs of Pinus pseudostrobus–Eysenhardtia polystachya plants, the first inoculated with Pisolithus tinctorius and the second inoculated with P. tinctorius and/or Rhizophagus intraradices, plus inoculation controls, and phosphorus fertilization. Growth and biomass were measured as response variables. For the pines, only height and number of branches responded to factors directly applied to the tree: fertilization and inoculation with Pisolithus tinctorius. However, these variables also responded to inoculation of the legume with Rhizophagus intraradices, implying an indirect effect on the pine plant. Furthermore, this indirect effect was significant for pine biomass accumulation. Fertilization had a positive and significant effect for the legume plants increasing the values for almost all of the variables (apart from branch length) but for some variables the simultaneous presence of both mycorrhizal fungi was detrimental. Different combinations of fertilization and inoculation benefit growth of the pines and the legumes. When environmental restoration of production systems is considered, either conditions favoring the legume can be achieved (if protection of the soil in the short-term is desirable), or conditions favoring the pines can be implemented (if favoring the tree species is preferable).

Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized Using Eysenhardtia polystachya and Assessment of the Inhibition of Glycation in Multiple Stages In Vitro and in the Zebrafish Model

The aim was to investigate the inhibitory activities on AGE formation by testing silver nanoparticles fabricated using a methanol extract of Eysenhardtia polystachya (EP–AgNPs) and characterized using various physicochemical techniques. The in vitro glucose-albumin assay was used, and cell viability was carried out in RAW264.7 cells. For In vivo testing, we induced diabetes in adult zebrafish with by providing a high blood glucose concentration. EP–AgNPs showed an absorption peak at 413 nm in the UV–Vis spectrum, indicating surface plasmon resonance of the nanoparticles. TEM indicated that most of the particles were spherical, with a diameter of 10–12 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.197, and a zeta potential of − 32.25 mV, suggesting high stability of the nanoparticles. The biocompatible nature of the EP–AgNPs was demonstrated in RAW264.7 cells. EP–AgNPs markedly reduced the formation of AGEs, Amadorin-product/fructosamine, Ne-(carboxymethyl)-lysine, amyloid cross β-structure, and protein carbonyl content in BSA-glucose system and increased total thiol-group after 4 weeks in hyperglycemic zebrafish, EP–AgNPs provided a protective effect against glycation. Data suggest that the inhibitory activity of EP–AgNPs on formation of AGEs is developed through a multiple-stage mechanism of glycation. EP–AgNPs could therefore be an antiglycation agent for prevention diabetic complications.

Silver nanoparticles synthesized with a fraction from the bark of Eysenhardtia polystachya with high chalcone and dihydrochalcone content effectively inhibit oxidative stress in the zebrafish embryo model

Objective(s): In this study, we desvcribe a simple eco-friendly approach for the synthesis of a potent, stable and benign silver nanoparticles to carry and deliver chalcones and dihydrochalcones present in a methanol extract of Eysenhardtia polystachya (EP). Materials and Methods: In this process silver nanoparticles carring EP compounds (EP/AgNPs) are synthesized in a single step by eliminating the additional handling associated with incorporating EP compounds. The resulting nanoparticles (EP/AgNPs) were characterized using several physicochemical techniques. Cell viability was measured in vitro with RAW264.7 murine macrophage cells. In addition, we evaluated the ability of EP and EP/AgNPs to protect against glucose-induced oxidative in vivo stress using zebrafish embryos. Results: The synthesized EP/AgNPs showed an absorption peak at 413 nm on ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), revealing the surface plasmon resonance of the nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicated that most of the particles were spherical with a diameter of 10 to 12 nm, a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.197 and a zeta potential of –32.25 mV, suggesting high stability of these nanoparticles. This study also demonstrated the biocompatibility of the nanoparticles when tested in RAW264.7 cells and its protective efficacy against oxidative stress induced by the exposure of zebrafish embryos to high glucose concentrations. Treatment with EP/AgNPs increased the activity of anti-stress biomarkers such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and total soluble protein. Exposure of the embryos to EP/AgNPs significantly (P<0.05) suppressed the formation of malondialdehyde (MDA) and lipid oxidation (LPO). Conclusion: EP/AgNPs synthesized from E. polystachya extract provide an effective defense against oxidative stress in zebrafish embryos.

Pharmacological and toxicological study of a chemical-standardized ethanol extract of the branches and leaves from Eysenhardtia polystachya (Ortega) Sarg. (Fabaceae)

Eysenhardtia polystachya is used for the empirical treatment of cancer, infections, diarrhea, inflammation, and pain. This study identified, using GC-MS, the main chemical components in an ethanol extract of E. polystachya branches and leaves (EPE) and tested its cytotoxic, antimicrobial, anti-diarrheal, anti-inflammatory, and antinociceptive effects. The in vitro and in vivo toxicity of EPE was evaluated using the comet assay in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and the acute toxicity test in mice, respectively. The cytotoxic and the antimicrobial effects were performed using the MTT assay and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test, respectively. The levels of pro-inflammatory mediators in LPS-stimulated macrophages were measured to evaluate the in vitro anti-inflammatory effects of EPE. The antidiarrheal (castor oil test, small intestine transit, and castor oil-induced enteropooling), and anti-inflammatory activities (TPA and carrageenan) of EPE were also performed. The antinociceptive actions of EPE were carried out with the following tests: acetic acid, formalin, and hot plate. The hypnotic and locomotor effects were analyzed using pentobarbital and a rotarod system, respectively. The main component in EPE was D-pinitol (26.93%). The antidiarrheal and antinociceptive effects of D-pinitol were also evaluated. EPE showed low in vitro toxicity (DNA damage in PBMC at concentrations higher than 200 µg/ml), and low in vivo toxicity (LD50 > 2000 mg/kg i.p. and p.o.). Furthermore, EPE lacked cytotoxic activity (IC50 > 300 µg/ml) on human cancer cells, but showed good antimicrobial effects in E. coli (MIC=1.56 µg/ml) and S. aureus (MIC = 0.78 µg/ml). In multi-drug resistant microorganisms, EPE showed MIC> 100 µg/ml. EPE exerted in vitro anti-inflammatory effects, mainly, by the decrease in the production of H2O2 (IC50 = 43.9 ± 3.8 µg/ml), and IL-6 (73.3 ± 6.9 µg/ml). EPE (ED50 =7.5 ± 0.9 mg/kg) and D-pinitol (ED50 = 0.1 ± 0.03 mg/kg) showed antidiarrheal activity, and antinociceptive effects in the acetic acid test with ED50 = 117 ± 14.5 mg/kg for EPE and 33 ± 3.2 mg/kg for D-pinitol. EPE showed also antinociceptive activity in the phase 2 of the formalin test (ED50 = 48.9 ± 3.9 mg/kg), without inducing hypnotic effects or altering the locomotor activity in mice. The results here presented corroborate the folk medicinal use of Eysenhardtia polystachya in the treatment of infections, diarrhea, inflammation, and pain. D-pinitol, the main metabolite of EPE, showed antinociceptive and antidiarrheal effects with similar potency compared to standard drugs.

Protection of silver nanoparticles using Eysenhardtia polystachya in peroxide-induced pancreatic β-Cell damage and their antidiabetic properties in zebrafish.

BackgroundThe aim was to explore the efficacy of extract of Eysenhardtia polystachya-loaded silver nanoparticles (EP/AgNPs) on pancreatic β cells, INS-1 cells, and zebrafish as a valuable model for the study of diabetes mellitus.Materials and methodsEP/AgNPs were synthesized using methanol/water bark extract of E. polystachya and characterized using various physicochemical techniques.ResultsImmersion of adult zebrafish in 111 mM glucose solution resulted in a sustained hyperglycemic, hyperlipidemic state, and serum insulin levels decreased. The synthesized EP/AgNPs showed an absorption peak at 413 nm on ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, revealing the surface plasmon resonance of the nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy indicated that most of the particles were spherical, with a diameter of 10–12 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.197, and a zeta potential of −32.25 mV, suggesting high stability of the nanoparticles. EP/AgNPs promote pancreatic β-cell survival, insulin secretion, enhanced hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia in glucose-induced diabetic zebrafish. EP/AgNPs also showed protection of the pancreatic β-cell line INS-1 against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative injury.ConclusionThe results indicate that EP/AgNPs have good antidiabetic activity and therefore could be used to prevent the development of diabetes.

The Ethanolic Extract of Eysenhardtia polystachya (Ort.) Sarg. Bark and Its Fractions Delay the Progression of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Show Antinociceptive Activity in Murine Models.

Eysenhardtia polystachya is widely used in folk medicine as an anti-rheumatic and analgesic agent, but no systematic study of its effects on several markers associated with rheumatoid arthritis and its ethnomedical use as analgesic agent has been performed. We evaluated the anti-arthritic and antinociceptive properties of an ethanolic extract of E. polystachya (EE) bark and its rich-flavonoids fractions in murine models. The EE was administered orally at doses of 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/day, and its fractions at 25 mg/kg/day in all animal models. Anti-arthritic activity was evaluated using a complete Freund´s adjuvant (CFA)-induced rheumatoid arthritis model in rats. The severity of arthritis was evaluated by changes in paw oedema, body weight, arthritic index, radiological scores, histological assessment of synovial joints, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, haematocrit, haemoglobin, serum rheumatoid factor, serum C-reactive protein and serum levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-18, IFN-γ, GM-CSF, and anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4, IL-10, IL-13. Antinociceptive activity was evaluated using an acetic acid-induced abdominal contraction test and a hot-plate test in mice. EE and its rich-flavonoids fractions inhibited secondary inflammatory reactions, diminished the specific histopathological alterations in the joint capsule and reduced the serum concentrations of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF-α, and GM-CSF in arthritic rats. EE also reduced the number of writhes produced by acetic acid and increased the response time on the hot plate for mice. Our findings support the use of Eysenhardtia polystachya bark for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and pain management.

Biological effects of carbon nanotubes generated in forest wildfire ecosystems rich in resinous trees on native plants.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have a broad range of applications and are generally considered human-engineered nanomaterials. However, carbon nanostructures have been found in ice cores and oil wells, suggesting that nature may provide appropriate conditions for CNT synthesis. During forest wildfires, materials such as turpentine and conifer tissues containing iron under high temperatures may create chemical conditions favorable for CNT generation, similar to those in synthetic methods. Here, we show evidence of naturally occurring multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) produced from Pinus oocarpa and Pinus pseudostrobus, following a forest wildfire. The MWCNTs showed an average of 10 walls, with internal diameters of ∼2.5 nm and outer diameters of ∼14.5 nm. To verify whether MWCNT generation during forest wildfires has a biological effect on some characteristic plant species of these ecosystems, germination and development of seedlings were conducted. Results show that the utilization of comparable synthetic MWCNTs increased seed germination rates and the development of Lupinus elegans and Eysenhardtia polystachya, two plants species found in the burned forest ecosystem. The finding provides evidence that supports the generation and possible ecological functions of MWCNTs in nature.

Establishment of callus and cell suspension cultures of Eysenhardtia polystachya (Ortega) and fungistatic activity of their extracts

Eysenhardtia polystachya (Fabaceae) is a valuable medicinal plant from Mexico. There have been no cell culture studies of this plant to produce secondary metabolites. The aim of this work was to establish callus and cell suspension cultures of E. polystachya (Ortega) and to evaluate the content of phenols, total flavonoids, and fungicidal activity against Sclerotium cepivorum and Rhizoctonia solani from extracts of wild plant and cell cultures. An efficient protocol for callus induction and cell cultures was established. The maximum percentage of explants inducing callus (100 and 98%) was obtained using 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (8.28μM) plus kinetin (0.41μM) or picloram (4.14μM) plus kinetin (0.41μM), respectively. Only the cell suspension cultures from callus with picloram plus kinetin grew appropriately and the maximum dry biomass accumulation (14gL−1) occurred at 12days of culture. The leaves from wild plants yielded larger amounts of total phenols (155.17mggallic acid equivalentsg−1 dry weight) and total flavonoids (124.3mgquercetin equivalentsg−1 dry weight) compared to cell suspension cultures, which exhibited total phenols amounts of 73.98mggallic acid equivalentsg−1 dry weight and total flavonoids of 16.29mgquercetin equivalentsg−1 dry weight. The fungicide Cercobin® inhibited 100% the S. cepivorum mycelial growth, while 80.0 and 73.0% inhibition was achieved with the ethyl acetate fraction of the dichloromethane extracts from E. polystachya sapwood and heartwood, respectively. However, cell suspension cultures showed only 39% inhibition of S. cepivorum mycelial growth with methanol extracts. The maximum percentage inhibition of R. solani (66.0%) occurred using the hexane fraction of methanolic extracts from cell suspension cultures; however, Cercobin® presented only 33.0% growth inhibition. Extracts of E. polystachya cell suspension cultures can be used as a biotechnological option against phytopathogenic fungi.

Improved Z-scan adjustment to thermal nonlinearities by including nonlinear absorption

We propose a modified mathematical model of thermal optical nonlinearities which allow us to obtain the nonlinear refraction index and the nonlinear absorption coefficient with only one measurement. This modification is motivated by the influence that nonlinear absorption has on the measurement of the nonlinear refraction index at far field, when the material presents a large nonlinearity. This model, where nonlinear absorption is considered to adjust the curves of nonlinear refraction index obtained by Z-scan technique, has the best agreement with experimental data. The model is validated with two ionic liquids and the organic material: Eysenhardtia polystachya, in thin media. We present these results after comparing our proposed model to other reported models.