Nephroprotective Effect Assessment From Arid Lands Fruits Extracts in an Experimental Model With Cisplatine-Induced Nephrotoxicity

Objectives The study aimed to assess the nephroprotective effect of Escontria chiotilla, Myrtillocactus geometrizans, and Stenocereus griseus extracts. Methods Forty male Wistar rats (200–250 g) were randomly divided into 8 groups. The vehicle (V) and cisplatin (CP) groups were administered (i.p.) with saline solution 0.09% and a dose of 6.5 mg/Kg, respectively. Three groups were administered by gavage (p.o.) with 4 mL/24hr during 7 days of each extract Escontria chiotilla (J), Myrtillocactus geometrizans (G), and Stenocereus griseus (P). The rest of the groups were administered with CP plus J, G, or P at same doses. Fruit extracts were administrated 72 h before and after CP administration. In the end, blood samples were collected from aorta and both kidneys were removed to carry out physiological and biochemistry studies. The serum creatinine (Cr) and Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) levels were determined. The malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were quantified in kidney tissue. For the statistical analysis, an ANOVA followed by a Bonferroni's multiple comparisons test was performed. A P ≤ 0.05 value was considered statistically significant. Data are presented as mean ± SEM. Results Rats from the CP group had elevated levels of Cr and BUN serum, and MDA renal levels vs. V. The Cr and BUN serum were significantly reduced in groups with fruit extracts (0.58 ± 0.01, 0.66 ± 0.03, 0.57 ± 0.03 vs. 1.4 ± 0.06; and 22 ± 1.2, 26 ± 3.5, 20 ± 2.1 vs. 58 ± 4.8 with J, G and P vs CP, respectively) same effect was observed in MDA levels where reduction of 55, 64, 66% with J, G and P, was seen. Conclusions Our results showed that extracts from dry land fruits had nephroprotective effects in the CP nephrotoxicity model by reduction of the serum creatinine, BUN and MDA levels. Those effects had almost the same magnitude, however, is a need to perform more experiments to know the mechanisms involved. Funding Sources IPICYT-CONACYT.

Functional Attributes and Anticancer Potentialities of Chico (Pachycereus Weberi) and Jiotilla (Escontria Chiotilla) Fruits Extract

Mexico has a great diversity of cacti, however, many of their fruits have not been studied in greater depth. Several bioactive compounds available in cacti juices extract have demonstrated nutraceutical properties. Two cactus species are interesting for their biologically active pigments, which are chico (Pachycereus weberi (J. M. Coult.) Backeb)) and jiotilla (Escontria chiotilla (Weber) Rose)). Hence, the goal of this work was to evaluate the bioactive compounds, i.e., betalains, total phenolic, vitamin C, antioxidant, and mineral content in the extract of the above-mentioned P. weberi and E. chiotilla. Then, clarified extracts were evaluated for their antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity (cancer cell lines) potentialities. Based on the obtained results, Chico fruit extract was found to be a good source of vitamin C (27.19 ± 1.95 mg L-Ascorbic acid/100 g fresh sample). Moreover, chico extract resulted in a high concentration of micronutrients, i.e., potassium (517.75 ± 16.78 mg/100 g) and zinc (2.46 ± 0.65 mg/100 g). On the other hand, Jiotilla has a high content of biologically active pigment, i.e., betaxanthins (4.17 ± 0.35 mg/g dry sample). The antioxidant activities of clarified extracts of chico and jiotilla were 80.01 ± 5.10 and 280.88 ± 7.62 mg/100 g fresh sample (DPPH method), respectively. From the cytotoxicity perspective against cancer cell lines, i.e., CaCo-2, MCF-7, HepG2, and PC-3, the clarified extracts of chico showed cytotoxicity (%cell viability) in CaCo-2 (49.7 ± 0.01%) and MCF-7 (45.56 ± 0.05%). A normal fibroblast cell line (NIH/3T3) was used, as a control, for comparison purposes. While jiotilla extract had cytotoxicity against HepG2 (47.31 ± 0.03%) and PC-3 (53.65 ± 0.04%). These results demonstrated that Chico and jiotilla are excellent resources of biologically active constituents with nutraceuticals potentialities.

Physicochemical Composition, Antioxidant Profile and Anticancer Potentialities of Chico (Pachycereus Weberi) and Jiotilla (Escontria Chiotilla) Fruits Extract

Mexico has a great diversity of cacti, however, many of their fruits have not been studied in greater depth. Several bioactive compounds available in cacti juices extract have demonstrated nutraceutical properties. Two cactus species are interesting for their biologically active pigments, which are chico (Pachycereus weberi (J. M.Coult.) Backeb)) and jiotilla (Escontria chiotilla (Weber) Rose)). Hence, the goal of this work was to evaluate the bioactive entities, i.e., betalains, total phenolic, vitamin C, antioxidant activity, and mineral content in the extract of the above-mentioned P. weberi and E. chiotilla. Then, clarified extracts were evaluated for their antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity (cancer cell lines) potentialities. Based on the obtained results, Chico fruit extract was found to be a good source of vitamin C (27.19±1.95 mg L-Ascorbic acid/100g fresh sample). Moreover, chico extract resulted in a high concentration of micronutrients, i.e., potassium (517.75±16.78 mg/100 g) and zinc (2.46±0.65 mg/100 g). On the other hand, Jiotilla has a high content of biologically active pigment, i.e., betaxanthins (4.17±0.35 mg/g dry sample). The antioxidant activities of clarified extracts of chico and jiotilla were 80.01±5.10 and 280.88±7.62 (DPPH method), respectively. From the cytotoxicity perspective against cancer cell lines, i.e., CaCo-2, MCF-7, HepG2, and PC-3, the clarified extracts of chico showed cytotoxicity in CaCo-2 (49.7±0.01) and MCF-7 (45.56±0.05). Normal fibroblast cell line (NIH/3T3) was used as a control for comparison purposes. While, jiotilla extract had cytotoxicity against HepG2 (47.31±0.03) and PC-3 (53.65±0.04). These results demonstrated that Chico and jiotilla are good resources of biologically active constituents with nutraceuticals potentialities.

Propagación in vitro de especies de Echinocereus, Escontria, Mammillaria, Melocactus y Polaskia (Cactaceae)

In vitro propagation systems by means of areole activation were developed for Echinocereus knippelianus, Echinocereus schmollii, Mammillaria carmenae, M. carmenae fo. rubrisprina, M. herrerae, M. theresae, Melocactus curvispinus, Escontria chiotilla and Polaskia chichipe. In vitro germinated seedlings were used as source of explants. Multiple shoot formation from areoles was achieved on MS basal medium supplemented with 3% sucrose, 10 g L-1 agar and 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) or 6-(, -dimethylallylamino)purine (2iP). Efficiencies ranged from 6.0 shoots per explant in M. carmenae fo. rubrisprina to 13.5 shoots per explant in Echinocereus schmollii. Rooting of the in vitro generated shoots was achieved in MS basal medium, or MS basal medium supplemented with indoleacetic acid, indolebutyric acid or activated charcoal. Finally, 49-98% of these plants survived.

Morfo-anatomía de plántulas en especies de Pachycereeae: ¿hasta cuando son plántulas?

Se describe y compara la morfo-anatomía de plántulas de la tribu Pachycereeae con el objetivo de establecer diferencias entre las fases del crecimiento inicial y establecimiento y distinguir así la diferenciación entre plántula e individuo juvenil. El registro de los cambios morfo-anatómicos se obtuvo de una muestra de más de 500 plántulas de seis especies representantes de cinco géneros de esta tribu, de las cuales se tomaron semanalmente tres plántulas durante los tres primeros meses y posteriormente cada mes hasta completar 24 meses de crecimiento, con el propósito de registrar sus cambios morfo-anatómicos. Se encontraron diferencias (P < 0.05) para altura de la plántula, longitud de la raíz, altura y diámetro del tallo entre las especies en las diferentes edades. El retardo en el desarrollo del tallo y la raíz fue característico de Escontria chiotilla y Myrtillocactus geometrizans provenientes de semillas pequeñas. Las especies comparten atributos de los tejidos dérmico, fundamental y vascular, pero se destacan los cuerpos de proteína en Pachycereus grandis y los cristales prismáticos en epidermis-hipodermis de las especies de Neobuxbaumia. Al establecerse el cámbium vascular sólo se diferencian elementos de vaso y traqueidas de banda ancha, y las fibras aparecen hasta después del año de edad en algunas especies. Se concluye que la desaparición de cotiledones, presencia de costillas, establecimiento de cámbium vascular, mayor acumulación de xilema secundario y diferenciación de haces vasculares medulares permiten establecer el límite entre la etapa de plántula y planta joven en Pachycereeae.