Acacia Farnesiana Research Articles

Chemical composition of Acacia farnesiana (L) wild fruits and its activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and dysentery bacteria

Ethnopharmacological relevanceIn Mexico, plants are an important element of traditional medicine, and many are considered part of Mexican cultural heritage from prehispanic and colonial times. Nevertheless, relatively few systematic scientific studies have been conducted to fully characterize the chemical composition and pharmacological activities of Mexican medicinal plants. Acacia farnesiana is used in Mexican traditional medicine to treat dysentery and tuberculosis and therefore could have bioactive compounds that may explain its traditional use. Aims of the studyi) To isolate and characterize the compounds from the hexanic, chloroformic and methanolic extracts; ii) to identify the volatile compounds from methylated hexanic and chloroformic extracts using GC-FID and GC-MS methods; iii) to identify the compounds from methanolic and aqueous extracts using HPLC-Q-TOF-MS; iv) to test the activity of extracts and isolated compounds against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and dysentery bacteria. Material and methodsA. farnesiana fruits were collected in Acatlán de Osorio, Puebla, Mexico. Hexanic, chloroformic, methanolic and aqueous extracts were prepared and analyzed by different chromatographic techniques including column chromatography, flash chromatography, GC-FID, GC-MS and HPLC-Q-TOF-MS. Structural elucidation was carried out by NMR spectroscopic analysis. The activity of extracts, phytochemicals and semi-synthetic derivatives against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv and G122 as well as dysentery bacteria (Campylobacter jejuni, Shigella flexneri, Salmonella enteritidis, Yersinia enterocolitica and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli) was determined by the broth microdilution method and reported as minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC µg/mL). ResultsFrom both hexane and chloroform extracts, tetracosanoic acid (2S)-2,3-dihydroxypropyl ester (1) and (3β,22E)-estigmasta-5,22-dien-3-yl β-D-glucopyranoside (2) were isolated and characterized. From the methanolic extract, methyl gallate (3), gallic acid (4), (3β,22E)-estigmasta-5,22-dien-3-yl β-D-glucopyranoside (2), (2S) naringenin 7-O-β-glucopyranoside (prunin, 5), pinitol (6) and sucrose (7) were isolated and characterized. Furthermore, hexanic and chloroformic extracts were analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS and 18 methylated fatty acids were identified for each extract in addition to three sterols. The methanolic and aqueous extracts were analyzed separately by HPLC-Q-TOF-MS, and 15 compounds were identified in each extract. The compounds 1, 2, and 7, in addition to 13 fatty acids and eight phenolic compounds, were identified for the first time in A. farnesiana. The extracts showed antitubercular (MIC 100–200 µg/mL) and antidysentery activity (MIC 100–200 µg/mL). Methyl gallate and its acetylated derivative showed activity against the sensible strain M. tuberculosis H37Rv with MIC values of 50–25 µg/mL, respectively. The flavanone prunin showed activity against multidrug resistant M. tuberculosis G122 (MIC 50 μg/mL). Methyl gallate, gallic acid and prunin showed activity against C. jejuni (MIC 50 μg/mL). ConclusionsThe activity of tested extracts and isolated compounds against M. tuberculosis and dysentery bacteria justifies the ethnomedical use of A. farnesiana fruits for the treatment of tuberculosis and dysentery.

Patrones espectrales de la fenología del desarrollo vegetativo y reproductivo de arboles de huizache (Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd.).

La escala BBCH es ampliamente adoptada en todo el mundo para la descripción de las etapas de desarrollo del crecimiento de varios cultivos de importancia económica, pero nunca se ha desarrollado una descripción detallada de las etapas de crecimiento fenológico en huizache (Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd.) al mismo tiempo que se le da seguimiento con sensores remotos. El objetivo principal de este trabajo fue analizar los patrones espectrales y temporales de la fenología del desarrollo vegetativo y reproductivo (solo floración) del huizache (Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd.). Se dio seguimiento temporal a 11 árboles de huizache localizados en el parque urbano de “La presa San José”, San Luis Potosí, México. Las mediciones espectrales se realizaron en los segmentos del rojo (660 nm) e infrarrojo cercano (830 nm) que fueron los insumos para el índice normalizado de Vegetación para Floración y Follaje (IVFFn) propuesto por Casiano y Paz, al tiempo que se obtuvieron estadios fenológicos en la escala numérica BBCH. Los patrones fenológicos se analizaron en los espacios IVFFn-Tiempo, BBCH-Tiempo e IVFFn-BBCH. En los dos primeros espacios, los resultados mostraron una línea vertical donde se localizan los estadios del rápido desarrollo vegetativo sin estadios de floración como el patrón recurrente. El desarrollo vegetativo y floración como suceso simultáneo de estadios, se exhibe en un plano inclinado. En el espacio IVFFn-BBCH se logró establecer una clara relación entre las diferentes etapas fenológicas incluyendo la floración de huizache (Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd.) y los índices de vegetación, lo que aporta evidencia de campo del alcance del IVFF y su relación con los estadios fenológicos en la escala BBCH, que permiten plantear un esquema para la modelación de los fenoestadios para A. farnesiana (L.) Willd. a partir de datos espectrales.

Phenolic Compounds in Organic and Aqueous Extracts from Acacia farnesiana Pods Analyzed by ULPS-ESI-Q-oa/TOF-MS. In Vitro Antioxidant Activity and Anti-Inflammatory Response in CD-1 Mice.

Background: Acacia farnesiana (AF) pods have been traditionally used to treat dyspepsia, diarrhea and topically for dermal inflammation. Main objectives: (1) investigate the antioxidant activity and protection against oxidative-induced damage of six extracts from AF pods and (2) their capacity to curb the inflammation process as well as to down-regulate the pro-inflammatory mediators. Methods: Five organic extracts (chloroformic, hexanic, ketonic, methanolic, methanolic:aqueous and one aqueous extract) were obtained and analyzed by UPLC-ESI-Q-oa/TOF-MS. Antioxidant activity (DPPH•, ORAC and FRAP assays) and lipid peroxidation (TBARS assay) were performed. Assessment of anti-inflammatory properties was made by the ear edema induced model in CD-1 mice and MPO activity assay. Likewise, histological analysis, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, COX measurements plus nitrite and immunohistochemistry analysis were carried out. Results: Methyl gallate, gallic acid, galloyl glucose isomer 1, galloyl glucose isomer 2, galloyl glucose isomer 3, digalloyl glucose isomer 1, digalloyl glucose isomer 2, digalloyl glucose isomer 3, digalloyl glucose isomer 4, hydroxytyrosol acetate, quinic acid, and caffeoylmalic acid were identified. Both organic and aqueous extracts displayed antioxidant activity. All extracts exhibited a positive effect on the interleukins, COX and immunohistochemistry assays. Conclusion: All AF pod extracts can be effective as antioxidant and topical anti-inflammatory agents.

Pérdidas por intercepción en cuatro especies de matorral en el noreste de México

La intercepción de lluvia por la masa arbórea es un componente del ciclo hidrológico que está determinado por las condiciones climáticas y por las características de la vegetación. El objetivo del presente estudio fue cuantificar la redistribución de las precipitaciones vía: precipitación incidente, precipitación directa y escurrimiento fustal, a fin de estimar las pérdidas por intercepción y la capacidad del almacenamiento del dosel para cuatro especies presentes en el matorral del noreste de México. Para la medición de los componentes de precipitación incidente y directa se utilizaron cuatro canaletas por especie, y para la cuantificación del escurrimiento fustal, mangueras adheridas al fuste. El análisis de 47 eventos de lluvia, distribuidos entre el 23 de septiembre de 2016 al 1 de octubre del 2017, sumaron un total de 488.9 mm de precipitación incidente. Los resultados para Acacia farnesiana, Condalia hookeri, Leucaena leucocephala y Casimiroa greggii para la precipitación directa fueron valores de 77, 76, 86 y 83 %, respectivamente; mientras que el componente del escurrimiento fustal osciló de 1.12 % para C. hookeri a 1.73 % en A. farnesiana. Los análisis de regresión lineal entre la precipitación incidente y las pérdidas de intercepción arrojaron valores de 13, 16, 20 y 22 % para L. leucocephala, C. greggii, A. farnesiana y C. hookeri, respectivamente, especies clave al momento de tomar decisiones de manejo en el rendimiento de agua en una cuenca; con ello se rechaza con la hipótesis nula y se concluye que las pérdidas por intercepción difieren entre las especies evaluadas.

Heavy metal biomagnification and genotoxic damage in two trophic levels exposed to mine tailings: a network theory approach

BackgroundThe analysis of the negative effects of environmental metal pollution is complex and difficult to assess, because the great number of variables and levels of biological organization involved. Therefore, an integral interpretation of the structure of ecological interactions from the multifactorial toxicological vision can be achieved by the use of new analysis tools, such as the complex network theory analysis (CNT).ResultsOur results demonstrated that the trophic level has an effect on metal enrichment, being the detritivores who presented the highest bioaccumulation levels in comparison to plants, as well as higher biomagnification levels in the soil-plant-detritivores relationship. Also, Vachellia farnesiana displayed greater sensitivity to genotoxic damage than Eisenia fetida. Finally, the analysis of complex networks showed that detritivores are the key link in this dynamics, on which the interactions between heavy metals, plant and detritivores depend.ConclusionsThis study shows that there is an effect of the study site on heavy metal bioaccumulation and DNA damage induction, and that these responses are particular to each species and to each bioaccumulated metal, which in turn reveals specific sensitivity for each trophic level. Moreover, the application of CNT methodology allowed us to clarify in this particular system, the interaction types and the principal components of the trophic structure.

La transformación histórica de las coberturas naturales impulsa el potencial de invasión de plantas en los Bosques Secos del río Magdalena, Colombia

El Repositorio Institucional de Documentación Científica del Instituto Alexander von Humboldt tiene como propósito recopilar, almacenar, preservar y difundir la producción científica que genera el Instituto como resultado de sus investigaciones y en esa perspectiva busca retornar al país el conocimiento institucional sobre la biodiversidad colombiana.

Shelter Building and Extrafloral Nectar Exploitation by a Member of theAristotelia corallinaSpecies Complex (Gelechiidae) on Costa Rican Acacias

A new member of the unresolved Aristotelia corallina Walsingham species complex (Gelechiidae) from a Costa Rican dry forest (Parque Nacional Palo Verde) is reported. Its larval behavior and possible relationships to the rest of the complex are described and analyzed. Field and laboratory observations revealed that these caterpillars consumed the extrafloral nectar, Beltian bodies, and young foliage of two acacia species (Vachellia collinsii and Vachellia farnesiana; Fabaceae: Mimosoideae). The caterpillars were observed building individual silk webs surrounding a single stem node's thorns and leaf rachises. If open domatia are included in shelters, the caterpillars reside in the domatia between feeding bouts and during pupation. These caterpillars are the only non-myrmecophilous caterpillars known to regularly exploit a host plant's ant rewards. DNA barcoding of the Costa Rican specimens showed that they are significantly different from the United States members of A. corallina (12–13% difference in cox1 sequence). An examination of host plant herbarium material for caterpillar shelters demonstrated likely differences in host plant use, with webs consistent with A. corallina only found on specimens of United States Chamaecrista nictitans (Fabaceae: Caesalpiniodeae), but not Vachellia farnesiana. By contrast, webs were found on V. collinsii, V. cornigera, and V. farnesiana from Central America (including Mexico), but not on Central American C. nictitans. This ecological evidence suggests that the Costa Rican populations of A. corallina may be more closely related to the Mexican populations than to the US populations.

An endophytic strain of Methylobacterium sp. increases arsenate tolerance in Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd: A proteomic approach

Acacia farnesiana is an arsenic (As)-tolerant shrub, widely distributed in the arid zones of Mexico. Endosymbiotic plant-bacteria associations can modify As-tolerance and its bioaccumulation in plants. Both responses are related to mechanisms that stimulate antioxidant defense and compartmentalization of As, which are mediated by changes in protein abundance. Proteomic approaches allow the characterization of key proteins involved in stress-tolerance and endosymbiosis. With the aim of assessing the influence of an endosymbiotic plant-bacteria association on As-tolerance and bioaccumulation by A. farnesiana, 15-day-old plants associated, or not associated, with Methylobacterium sp. were exposed to 580μM arsenate for 15days; shoots were analyzed for As concentration, physiological changes, and differential protein abundance. Compared to endophyte-free shoots under As-stress, Methylobacterium sp. increased the As concentration from ~600mgkg−1 (dry weight) to ~1700mgkg−1 without reduction in biomass production, and enhanced the protein, chlorophyll and glutathione (GSH) concentration. Proteomic analysis evidenced an As-mediated metabolic disorder involving energy and carbon metabolism, which was alleviated by bacteria. Methylobacterium sp. contributes to the plant fitness in the presence of a phytotoxic arsenic concentration, through an improvement in the maintenance of both energy and redox homeostasis. The results indicate a central role of glutathione in the As-tolerance, and the participation of plant proteins, such as a translation inhibitor and proteins involved in protein folding (immunophilins), which were upregulated by the bacterium. Endosymbiosis contributes to strengthen the plant antioxidant system under stress conditions, and provide the energy requirement that could help cope with arsenic. This association can improve the effectiveness of phytoremediation strategies through the enhanced tolerance and accumulation of arsenic.

Fruits chemical composition and potential ruminal digestion of nine tree species in dry tropic region of Mexico

Chemical composition, in vitro gas production (GP), in vitro dry matter (DMD) and organic matter (OMD) digestibility, metabolizable energy (ME), gas yield (GY24h), short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and microbial mass production (MMP) were measured in fruits of nine trees species, using in vitro gas technique with and without polyethylene glycol (PEG:MW-4000) as chelating tannins agent. The fruits with the highest protein content (P < 0.001) (135.5–196.0 g/kg DM) were Leucaena esculenta, Pithecellobium acatlense, Acacia farnesiana and Enterolobium cyclocarpum, total phenols (P < 0.001) (349.8–553.1 g/kg DM) Lysiloma divaricata, A. farnesiana and Caesalpinia coriaria and condensed tannins (P < 0.001) L. divaricata and E. cyclocarpum with 95.7 and 71.7 g/kg DM, respectively. The highest DMD in fruits of C. coriaria, Pithecellobium dulce, A. farnesiana and L. esculenta (P < 0.001). The GP, OMD, ME, GY24h, SCFA and MMP, was different (P < 0.0001) between fruit trees. The PEG increased (P < 0.0001) the GP, ME, GY24h and SCFA in the fruits of Gliricidia sepium, L. esculenta and C. coriaria. In conclusion, the nutritional composition and in vitro fermentation parameters differs between fruits. The increase in PEG increased the value of GP, ME, OMD, GY24h and SCFA, indicating that the fruits contain phenolic compounds with biological activity that precipitate proteins.

Extracellular self-DNA as a damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) that triggers self-specific immunity induction in plants

Mammals sense self or non-self extracellular or extranuclear DNA fragments (hereinafter collectively termed eDNA) as indicators of injury or infection and respond with immunity. We hypothesised that eDNA acts as a damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) also in plants and that it contributes to self versus non-self discrimination. Treating plants and suspension-cultured cells of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) with fragmented self eDNA (obtained from other plants of the same species) induced early, immunity-related signalling responses such as H2O2 generation and MAPK activation, decreased the infection by a bacterial pathogen (Pseudomonas syringae) and increased an indirect defence to herbivores (extrafloral nectar secretion). By contrast, non-self DNA (obtained from lima bean, Phaseolus lunatus, and Acacia farnesiana) had significantly lower or no detectable effects. Only fragments below a size of 700 bp were active, and treating the eDNA preparation DNAse abolished its inducing effects, whereas treatment with RNAse or proteinase had no detectable effect. These findings indicate that DNA fragments, rather than small RNAs, single nucleotides or proteins, accounted for the observed effects. We suggest that eDNA functions a DAMP in plants and that plants discriminate self from non-self at a species-specific level. The immune systems of plants and mammals share multiple central elements, but further work will be required to understand the mechanisms and the selective benefits of an immunity response that is triggered by eDNA in a species-specific manner.

Anatomía de la madera de especies de la selva baja caducifolia de Tamaulipas, México

Se estudió la anatomía de la madera de 21 especies de la selva baja caducifolia de Tamaulipas, México, con el objetivo de contribuir al conocimiento anatómico y comparar sus atributos entre ellas y con las de otra selva baja caducifolia de México. Los resultados mostraron anillos de crecimiento; 52% de las especies tienen porosidad difusa; predominan las fibras libriformes con paredes gruesas en 43% de las especies y muy gruesas en Ebenopsis ebano, Drypetes lateriflora, Randia sp. y Vachellia farnesiana; el parénquima es comúnmente paratraqueal y los radios son heterocelulares, excepto en cinco especies de Fabaceae. Las tres especies cuya madera se describe por primera vez se distinguen porque en Harpalyce arborescens el parénquima axial y radial es estratificado, Ocotea tampicensis por sus vasos angostos y fibras cortas y Robinsonella discolor por sus fibrotraqueidas y cuerpos de sílice en los radios. Al comparar la anatomía de la madera a nivel de especie con sus respectivos grupos taxonómicos, se encontraron semejanzas propias de los grupos pero diferencias en el tamaño de los elementos celulares. Los caracteres cuantitativos de la madera se encuentran dentro de los valores registrados para la selva baja caducifolia de la reserva de Chamela; pero las longitudes de elementos de vaso y fibras son más cortas y el diámetro de los vasos es más angosto en las especies aquí estudiadas. La anatomía de ambas comunidades se relaciona con el tipo de clima que les permite sobrevivir durante las temporadas de sequía que se presentan anualmente.

Composition, structure and diversity of a mesquite in Pesquer\xeda (Northeastern Mexico)

BackgroundAlthough the mesquite (mesquital or mezquital in Spanish) is one of the representative ecosystems of the landscapes in the north of Mexico, it is also one of the least studied. This study evaluated the structure (horizontal and vertical) and diversity of a plant community of mesquite in Northeastern Mexico. Three plots of 1,600 m2 each were established. All trees and shrubs with a basal diameter (d0.10) ≥ 0.5 cm were recorded, and total height (h) and crown diameter (dcrown) were measured.ResultsThere were 8 families, 12 genera and 14 species. The genus presenting the most species was Acacia (three species). The most representative family was Fabaceae with seven species. The evaluated community presents a density of 375 N/ha and a crown area of 6,600 m2/ha. The species with the highest values on the Importance Value Index (IVI) were Prosopis glandulosa (15.95%), Acacia amentacea (14.50%), Havardia pallens (14.27%) and Acacia farnesiana (11.22%). These four species account for 55.94% of IVI. The value obtained from the Vertical Species Profile Index (A) was 3.03, with an Amax of 3.74 and an Arel of 81.15%, indicating high structural diversity in the high strata. The evaluated plant community had a Margalef Diversity Index value of DMg = 2.50 and a Shannon Index value of H′ = 2.28, values which are intermediate and considered to be common in the scrublands of Northeastern Mexico.Conclusions1) The studied community presents intermediate values that are considered as common in comparison to other arid and semi-arid vegetation associations of Northeastern Mexico. 2) The abundance curve of the species was well adjusted to the geometric model, and the distribution is associated with adverse environments such as semi-arid. 3) The family with greater importance for its contribution to the community is Fabaceae, while the genus with more species was Acacia. The research generated quantitative information of the plant community of a mesquite which is in a phase of mature ecological succession.

Vegetation and Arthropod Responses to Brush Reduction by Grubbing and Stacking

Grubbing is a mechanical brush-reduction technique that allows targeting of mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Vachellia farnesiana) and can be used to open lanes for hunting northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus). Follow-up treatments of stacking allow the piling up of downed brush. We initiated this study on the Santa Gertrudis Division of the King Ranch, Inc., Texas, to determine effects of grubbing and stacking on vegetation and arthropod communities important to bobwhite. We hypothesized that grubbing and stacking would be able to selectively remove mesquite and huisache while leaving mixed brush species largely intact. We hypothesized that soil disturbance treatments would lead to improved brooding, feeding, and nesting habitat for bobwhite through an increase in herbaceous food plants, arthropods, and nesting cover. We sampled vegetation prior to treatment during July 2012 and posttreatment during November 2012, March 2013, and July 2013. We sampled arthropods before treatment in July 2012 and monthly posttreatment until July 2013, a year marked by extreme drought in South Texas. We detected a positive response of bobwhite food grasses and/or sedges 1 year after initial treatments but detected no treatment effect on bobwhite food forbs. We detected no effects of treatments on nesting cover. Grubbing and stacking did not affect total Insecta abundance; however, Insecta biomass and Arachnida abundance and biomass responded both positively and negatively to treatments. To better understand the effects of grubbing and stacking, replication of this study during years of average and above average precipitation should be conducted.

ANÁLISIS DEL CONTENIDO NUTRICIONAL DE PLANTAS CONSUMIDAS POR CAPRINOS EN UNA LOCALIDAD DE LA CAÑADA, OAXACA

&lt;p class="CuerpoA"&gt;Results of the nutritional content of some consumed plants species by goats (&lt;em&gt;Capra hircus&lt;/em&gt;) in San Gabriel Casa Blanca in the Cañada region within the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve are reported. In November 2012 (rainy season) and May 2013 (dry season) 16 plants species commonly consumed by goats were collected. The parameters determined were crude protein, dry matter, ash, crude fat, crude fiber, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, calcium, phosphorus, &lt;em&gt;in vitro&lt;/em&gt; dry matter digestibility and metabolizable energy. The results were compared by multivariate analysis. From the rainy season analyzed species &lt;em&gt;Ceiba parvifolia, Waltheria indica, Prosopis leavigata, Solanum&lt;/em&gt; sp. and &lt;em&gt;Sanvitalia procumbens &lt;/em&gt;contributed with high content of crude protein, acid detergent fiber, nitrogen-free extract, phosphorus and crude fat; while in the dry season &lt;em&gt;Acacia farnesiana, Prosopis leavigata&lt;/em&gt; and &lt;em&gt;Ziziphus pedunculata &lt;/em&gt;were important source of crude protein, metabolizable energy and &lt;em&gt;in vitro&lt;/em&gt; dry matter digestibility. These results may have implications for management goats in the study region.&lt;/p&gt;

English

Acacia farnesiana L. is a species known for its uses in recovery of degraded pastures, animal feeding, medical and fungicide properties. However, it is one of the most problematic invasive species in agriculture, due to the little known dormancy aspects of its seeds that results in the propagation and dispersion to distinct areas and the establishment of the invasive plant. The knowledge on ecophysiological characteristics of invasive species seeds aiming at the dormancy process is important for the comprehension of aggressive regeneration unities, and allows the development of strategies against infestation of new areas and reduction of soil seed banks. The objective of this research was to assess how A. farnesiana seeds overcome dormancy using different temperatures and pre-germinative treatments. The study was conducted in Federal University of Paraiba, using seeds obtained from fruits of ten matrix trees in Paraiba State, Brazil. The completely randomized design was adopted, with treatments arranged in a 3 x 15 factorial scheme representing temperatures and pre-germinative treatments with four replicates. Parameters related to germination percentage, germination and emergency index were assessed, with best results observed in seeds scarified with sandpaper 80 followed by imbibitions of water at environmental temperature (25-30°C) for 24 h. Key words: Germination, invasive species, ecophysiological characteristics, dormancy process.

Effect of Microwave on Seed Germination and Plant Growth in Acacia Sp. (Acacia farnesiana and Acacia saligna)

Effect of Microwave on Seed Germination and Plant Growth in Acacia Sp. (Acacia farnesiana and Acacia saligna)

The anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of proteins extracted from Acacia farnesiana seeds

ABSTRACT Seeds of Acacia farnesiana are commonly sold in the local markets of northeastern Brazil as a therapeutic agent. The present work aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of proteins obtained from A. farnesiana seeds. Five different protein fractions (albumin, globulin, prolamin, acidic and basic glutelins) were obtained and investigated for the protein pattern, the presence of hemagglutinating and proteolytic activities. The globulin fraction (GLB) was also evaluated for anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. Globulins reduced the paw edema induced by carrageenan in a dose-dependent manner, which was accompanied by a reduction of myeloperoxidase activity (p &lt; 0.05). Additionally, GLB reduced the neutrophil peritoneal migration induced by carrageenan. However, GLB was not able to inhibit the edema triggered by dextran. Pre-treatment with globulins reduced the abdominal constrictions induced by acetic acid as well as the paw licking time induced by formalin (69.1% at first phase). However, it did not produce a significant antinociceptive effect in the hot plate test (55-56 °C). Treating the GLB with heat (at 100 °C for 30 min) abolished its anti-edematogenic and hemagglutinating activities. Our results showed that seeds from A. farnesiana are a source of proteins with anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.

Coleoptera Associated with Decaying Wood in a Tropical Deciduous Forest.

Coleoptera is the largest and diverse group of organisms, but few studies are dedicated to determine the diversity and feeding guilds of saproxylic Coleoptera. We demonstrate the diversity, abundance, feeding guilds, and succession process of Coleoptera associated with decaying wood in a tropical deciduous forest in the Mixteca Poblana, Mexico. Decaying wood was sampled and classified into four stages of decay, and the associated Coleoptera. The wood was identified according to their anatomy. Diversity was estimated using the Simpson index, while abundance was estimated using a Kruskal-Wallis test; the association of Coleoptera with wood species and decay was assessed using canonical correspondence analysis. Decay wood stage I is the most abundant (51%), followed by stage III (21%). We collected 93 Coleoptera belonging to 14 families, 41 genera, and 44 species. The family Cerambycidae was the most abundant, with 29% of individuals, followed by Tenebrionidae with 27% and Carabidae with 13%. We recognized six feeding guilds. The greatest diversity of Coleoptera was recorded in decaying Acacia farnesiana and Bursera linanoe. Kruskal-Wallis analysis indicated that the abundance of Coleoptera varied according to the species and stage of decay of the wood. The canonical analysis showed that the species and stage of decay of wood determined the composition and community structure of Coleoptera.

Cloning and expression of Aca f 1: a new allergen of Acacia farnesiana pollen.

Acacia farnesiana is the main source of allergenic pollen and one of the most important causes of respiratory allergic disease in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The purpose of this study was to produce a recombinant variety of allergenic Ole e 1-like protein from the pollen of this tree. To predict its allergenic cross-reactivity with other members of the Ole e 1-like protein family of common allergenic plants, the nucleotide sequence homology of the Acacia Ole e 1-like protein was evaluated. Amplification of cDNA strands encoding Acacia Ole e 1-like protein was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced. Following expression in Escherichia coli using the pET-21b(+) vector, the recombinant protein was purified using metal-affinity chromatography. IgE-binding competence of purified recombinant Ole e 1- like protein (rAca f 1) was analysed by immunoassay using 25 sera collected from Acacia pollen-sensitised patients. Nucleotide sequencing revealed an open reading frame of 453 bp encoding 150 amino acid residues that belonged to the Ole e 1-like protein family, and 11 patients (44%) had considerable specific IgE levels for the rAca f 1. Immunodetection and inhibition assays indicated that the purified rAca f 1 may be the same as that in the crude extract. Aca f 1, the second allergen from Acacia pollen, was identified as a member of the family of Ole e 1-like protein. A high degree of homology was found among amino acid sequences of Aca f 1 and several allergenic members of Ole e 1-like protein family.

Antioxidant activity and protection against oxidative-induced damage of Acacia shaffneri and Acacia farnesiana pods extracts: in vitro and in vivo assays.

BackgroundObesity is a worldwide public health issue, reaching epidemic condition in developing countries associated to chronic diseases. Oxidative damage is another side effect of obesity. Antioxidant activity from plant components regulates at some extent this imbalance. Main goal of the present study was to determine the antioxidant activity and protection against oxidative-induced damage of Acacia shaffneri (AS) and Acacia farnesiana (AF) pods extracts.MethodsTo evaluated antioxidant activity and radical scavenging capacity of AS and AF extracts, two experiments were performed: 1) pods extracts were challenged against H2O2 using kidney cells in an in vitro assay; and 2) (Meriones unguiculatus) was employed in an in vivo assay to observe the effect of pods extracts on scavenging properties in plasma.ResultsBoth pods extracts presented an important protective effect on radical scavenging capacity against ABTS• + and DPPH+, and also in TBARS formation in vitro. Vegetal pods extracts did not induce any pro-oxidative effect when added to kidney cells in DMEM. Cells damage in DMEM with addition of H2O2 was significantly higher than those when vegetal pods extracts were added at 50 (P < 0.05) or 200 ppm (P < 0.001). Plasma scavenging properties presented an important dose-dependent positive effect in those groups where pods extracts were administered.ConclusionsThe antioxidant protection of the acacia pods extracts reported in this study suggests the possible transference of antioxidant components and protective effects to animal products (milk, meat, and by-products) from Acacia pods when this vegetation is included in the diet. In order to evaluate, the possible transference of theirs antioxidant components to animal products, the incorporation of these non-conventional resources to ruminant feeding is a good opportunity of study. Profiling of Acacia farnesiana pods extract is necessary to identify the responsible bioactive compounds of protective properties.