Maria Isabel Calvo

• Universidad de Navarra

Background: Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, or type 2 diabetes, is one of the diseases of greatest concern worldwide, and research into natural compounds that are capable of regulating glycemia and insulin resistance is therefore gaining importance. In the preclinical stages, Caenorhabditis elegans is considered a promising in vivo model f...

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive memory loss and cognitive impairment due to a severe loss of cholinergic neurons in specific brain areas. It is the most common type of dementia in the aging population. Although many anti-acetylcholinesterase (AChE) drugs are already available on the market, their perf...

Ranunculus macrophyllus Desf. is a lesser-known yet regularly used vegetable in Mediterranean folk diets for its nutritional and medicinal properties. There is a lack of scientific data on its nutritional value and functionality. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the nutritional and the phytochemical composition and the effect of...

Aging-related diseases can be triggered by multiple factors such as oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants, so today, compounds capable of reducing or neutralizing free radicals are being studied for a therapeutic use. Origanum vulgare L. is a traditional medicinal plant used for a wide number of h...

The characterization of compounds with antioxidant activity is of great interest due to their ability to reduce reactive oxygen species production and, therefore, prevent some age-related diseases. Its antioxidant capacity can be analyzed by different methods both in vitro and in vivo. Caenorhabditis elegans is an in vivo model widely used in agein...

The addition of a blackthorn branch extract (Prunus spinosa L.) to a gel emulsion system containing microalgal oil was examined in order to obtain a functional ingredient (APG), for use as fat replacer in beef patties. Chromatographic analysis indicated that catechins were the major polyphenols present in the Prunus spinosa L. extract. The antioxid...

Melissa officinalis, Lavandula latifolia and Origanum vulgare are widely used medicinal plants and spices. Their extracts were evaluated as potential antioxidants for functional food formulations. After being submitted to an in vitro gastrointestinal digestion, all the extracts showed antioxidant activity (measured by DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, TPC). Furthe...

Gelled emulsions with carrageenan are a novel type of emulsion that could be used as a carrier of unsaturated fatty acids in functional foods formulations. Lipid degradation through volatile compounds was studied in gelled emulsions which were high in polyunsaturated oils (sunflower or algae oil) after 49 days of storage. Aqueous Lavandula latifoli...

The bioaccessibility and antioxidant activity of rutin, caffeic acid and rosmarinic acid were evaluated using three in vitro gastrointestinal digestion models: filtration, centrifugation and dialysis. At intestinal level, a significant degradation of all compounds was observed when results were expressed on concentration basis (mg/mg lyophilised sa...

This paper provides important ethnopharmacological information on plants used in neurological and mental disorders in Navarra. Information was collected using semi-structured ethnobotanical interviews with 667 informants in 265 locations. In order to confirm the pharmacological validation of the uses claimed by the informants, monographs from Offic...

This paper provides important ethnopharmacological information on plants used in musculoskeletal disorders in Navarra. Information was collected using semi-structured ethnobotanical interviews. In order to confirm the pharmacological validation of the uses, monographs from Official International Agencies (ESCOP, Commission E, WHO and EMA) were revi...

Cholesterol oxidation products (COPs) constitute a known health risk factor. The antioxidant effect of a lyophilized aqueous Melissa officinalis extract against cholesterol degradation and COPs formation during a heating treatment was evaluated in a model system (180 °C, 0–180 min) at a ratio of 2 mg extract/100 mg cholesterol. Furthermore, the pla...

This paper provides important ethnopharmacological information on plants used in respiratory affections in Navarra.Material and methodsInformation was collected using semi-structured ethnobotanical interviews with 667 informants in 265 locations. In order to confirm the pharmacological validation of the uses claimed by the informants, monographs fr...

Ethnopharmacological relevance: This paper provides significant ethnopharmacological information on plants used to treat cardiovascular diseases in Navarra, Spain. Material and methods: Information was collected using semi-structured ethnobotanical interviews with 667 informants (mean age 72; 55.47% women, 44.53% men) in 265 locations. Official...

A study to establish relationship between the petal colour, extraction solvent, phenolic, flavonoid, anthocyanin content and antioxidant activity in three varieties of Viola × wittrockiana (yellow, red and violet) is reported in this article. Identification and quantification of flavonoids and anthocyanins using HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS is also presented. T...

This applied research was done in order to obtain cooked products (bologna sausages) with significantly lower amount of energy, total fat and saturated fat and higher amount of ω-3 fatty acids than conventional ones. Two subsequent experiments were performed. Experiment 1 aimed a pork back-fat reduction and allowed to obtain sausages with 84 g kg(-...

Introduction To provide significant ethnopharmacological information on the plants used to treat digestive problems in the Navarra region of Spain. Materials and methods Information was collected using semi-structured, ethnobotanical interviews with 667 informants (mean age 72; 55.47% women, 44.53% men) in 265 locations. Monographs from the Europe...

Reduced-energy and reduced-fat Bologna products enriched with ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids were formulated by replacing the pork back-fat by an oil-in-water emulsion containing a mixture of linseed-algae oil stabilized with a lyophilized Melissa officinalis extract. Healthier composition and lipid profile was obtained: 85kcal/100g, 3.6% fat, 0.6...

This paper provides significant ethnopharmacological information on plant used in dermatological affections in Navarra. Information was collected using semi-structured ethnobotanical interviews with 667 informants (mean age 72; 55.47% women, 44.53% men) in 265 locations. In order to confirm the pharmacological validation of the uses reports, the Eu...

Anagallis arvensis L. and Anagallis foemina Mill. (Primulaceae) have been used in Navarra (Spain) as wound healing remedies within a context of traditional medicine. The species have previously demonstrated antimicrobial and COX-inhibiting properties. Cytotoxic effects of the plants have never been established though they are popularly known to be...

The effect of storage temperature (65 °C, 48 h) on the oxidative stability of a food-grade water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) emulsion was studied by comparison with an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion. The emulsions were prepared with linseed oil or olive oil, and in each case, two antioxidants were evaluated, an aqueous Melissa lyophilized extract and BHA....

Flavonoids are new promising potential natural compounds for treating Alzheimer's disease (AD). Actually most promising drugs for symptomatic treatment of AD are acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEI). Flavonoids with AChE inhibitory activity and due to their well known antioxidant activity could be new multipotent drugs for AD treatment. This wor...

Melissa officinalis L. (Lamiaceae) is consumed as a traditional herbal tea in the Mediterranean region. The cytotoxic effect of the 50% ethanolic and aqueous extract, determined by the MTT and NR assays, was evaluated in vitro on Human Colon Cancer Cell Line (HCT-116), using Triton 10% as positive control. The 50% ethanolic extract showed significa...

CONTEXt: Stem and leaves infusion of Chuquiraga spinosa (R&P) Don. (Asteraceae) is used in the Peruvian traditional medicine for its anti-inflammatory properties and for the treatment of vaginal infections. This study evaluated the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antifungal activities of C. spinosa for the first time. Extracts of methanol, 50% m...

Anagallis arvensis and Anagallis foemina are traditionally used in Navarra (Spain) for dermatological purposes regarding wound healing properties. In some cases they are also used to threat internal infections although they are known to be toxic at high doses. Due to lack of studies, we decided to evaluate the potential of the plants as wound heali...

Tea is a popular beverage whose consumption is associated with prevention of certain disorders. The objective of the study was to investigate the potential neuroprotective effect of white tea extract (WTE) on hydrogen peroxide induced toxicity in PC12 cells. Cells were treated with various doses of WTE (10-250 μg/ml) before exposition to 250 μM hyd...

A new formulation of bologna-type sausage enriched in ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (8.75% linseed oil) was developed, using a lyophilized aqueous-ethanolic extract of Melissa officinalis. A comparison with the effectiveness of butylhydroxy anisole (BHA) synthetic antioxidant to decrease the oxidation of PUFAs was performed. The formulatio...

This paper provides significant ethnobotanical information on pharmaceutical plant uses in the Riverside of Navarra. Thereby, it will extend and complement a recent previous study carried out in the Northern Navarra. This paper aim to collect, analyse and evaluate the ethnobotanical knowledge about medicinal plants in the Riverside of Navarra (Iber...

To collect, analyze and evaluate the ethnopharmacologic knowledge in Nor-Yauyos in order to protect it. This paper reports the results of an ethnopharmacological survey on the uses of medicinal plants by inhabitants of the Andean region Nor-Yauyos, Peru. In this region one surviving ethnic group, the Jaqaru-Quichuas, has been identified. Field work...

Mints are aromatic plants with a tradition as medicinal remedies and culinary herbs. With the aim of investigating potential central nervous system (CNS) activities of traditional medicinal plants, four species and one hybrid of the genus Mentha (M. aquatica, M. longifolia, M. pulegium, M. suaveolens and M. x piperita) were selected. Methanolic ext...

This paper provides significant ethnobotanical information on pharmaceutical plant uses in Northern Navarra from an area known both for its high biological diversity and its cultural significance, suggesting the survival of uses lost elsewhere. Collect, analyze and evaluate the ethnobotanical knowledge about medicinal plants in Northern Navarra (Ib...

The present study was conducted to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of Jungia paniculata (DC.) A. Gray (Asteraceae), used traditionally in Peru. The dry leaves were extracted with methanol, 50% methanol, and water. The anti-inflammatory activity of this plant was studied using in vitro (nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7...

To collect, analyze and evaluate the ethnoveterinary knowledge about medicinal plants in a northern Iberian region (Navarra, 10,421 km(2), 620,377 inhabitants). Field work was conducted between 2003 and 2007, using semi-structured questionnaire and participant observation as well as transects walks in wild herbal plant collection areas. We performe...

Antioxidant activity, neuroprotective effect and acetylcholinesterase inhibitor activity were studied in acetylated flavones from Galeopsis ladanum L. (Lamiaceae), previously isolated and identified by UV-spectra, UPLC–MS/MS and 1H-NMR spectroscopy. Structure–activity relationships of flavonoids have been determined in many antioxidant assays, gene...

A new formulation of dry fermented sausage, including ingredients that improve the nutritional and health benefits of this type of product is presented. Se yeast (2g/kg), iodized salt (26g/kg), linseed:algae (3:2) emulsion (62.5g/kg), and lyophilized water extract of Melissa officinalis L. as a source of natural antioxidants (686mg/kg), yielded dry...

Previous work pointed out the possibility to enhance the nutritional value of meat products using long chain omega-3 PUFA enriched emulsions. Oil-in-water emulsions elaborated with a mixture of algae and linseed oils (15:10) in order to be used as functional ingredient were stabilized with BHA (butylhydroxyanisol) or with a lyophilized water extrac...

Phlomis lychnitis L. (Lamiaceae) is consumed as a traditional herbal tea in Spain. The antioxidant-protective effects as well as its phytoconstituents have never been established. The ability of the methanolic extract to protect cells from oxidative stress was evaluated in rat pheochromocytoma cells (PC12) using hydrogen peroxide as toxic agent. Th...

Correlations have been sought among different parameters (total polyphenols, anthocyanins and flavonoids, monomeric anthocyanins, Zn, Cu, Mn, and Fe) analyzed in two consecutive vintages of a Tempranillo wine. A comparative study of those parameters with color characteristics (both CIELAB and Glories parameters) is presented for these wines. Princi...

Melissa officinalis has traditionally been used due to its effects on nervous system. Both methanolic and aqueous extracts were tested for protective effects on the PC12 cell line, free radical scavenging properties and neurological activities (inhibition of MAO-A and acetylcholinesterase enzymes and affinity to the GABA(A)-benzodiazepine receptor)...

The antioxidant activity, neuroprotective effect and acetylcholinesterase activity of the dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, methanol and water extracts of seeds, leaves and roots of Galeopsis ladanum L. were investigated. Ethyl acetate, methanol and water extracts of leaves showed the highest antioxidant activity (DPPH). Methanol and water extracts o...

Quail poisoning is known to produce an acute myoglobinuric syndrome called coturnism. The cause of this syndrome is still unknown, although it has been postulated that Galeopsis ladanum L. seeds, in particular lipidic compounds or stachydrine, are responsible for this toxicity. Thus, we aimed to study the implication of this plant in coturnism in o...

Nine flavonol glycosides (quercetin-3-O-glucuronide, quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, kaemperol-3-O-glucuronide, kaemperol-3-O-rutinoside, kaempherol-3-O-glucoside, isorhamnetin-3-O-glucuronide, isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside and isorhamnetin-3-O-glucoside) were isolated from the aerial parts of Chuquiraga spinosa (R. et P.) D. Don (...

A new spectrophotometric assay for the quantification of polyphenolic content has been validated. It is based on Prussian Blue method and adapted to microplate spectrophotometry. Prussian Blue reaction is critically dependent on reaction time, but microplate spectrophotometry permits exact measures of many samples at the same time. This new method...

Three new homoisoflavanones, namely ledebourin A (1), ledebourin B (2) and ledebourin C (3) were isolated from the bulbs of Ledebouria floribunda. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of detail spectroscopic analyses. This is the first report of this type of homoisoflavanones. Ledebourin B (2) and ledebourin C (3) exhibited potent antioxid...

Colloidal matter formed along vinification has been characterized for two consecutive vintages in order to a better understanding of the final solid residues obtained by freezing stabilisation. The polyphenolic content, metal concentrations and antioxidant activity of these residues have been determined. Vintage 2003 of a Vitis vinifera (Tempranill...

Correlations have been sought among different parameters (total polyphenols, anthocyanins and flavonoids, monomeric anthocyanins, Zn, Cu, Mn, and Fe) analyzed in two consecutive vintages of a Tempranillo wine. A comparative study of those parameters with color characteristics (both CIELAB and Glories parameters) is presented for these wines. Princi...

The bulbs of Ledebouria floribunda (Baker) Jessop have yielded two novel compounds, 7-O-[alpha-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-glucopiranosyl]-5-hydroxy-3-(4-methoxybenzyl)-chroman-4-one (1) and 7-O-[alpha-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-glucopiranosyl]-5-hydroxy-3-(4'-hydroxybenzyl)-chroman-4-one (2) along with five other known compounds, 5,7-dihydroxy-...

Dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, methanol, and aqueous extracts obtained from 16 Spanish medicinal plants were screened for their antioxidant and antifungal activities. The radical scavenging capacity was evaluated by the DPPH method using a rapid screening by TLC and a spectrophotometric assay. Polar extracts obtained from Jasonia glutinosa L. (Lam...

The scavenging activity against DPPH (1,1-diphenil-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical and the antifungal effect against chloroform, ethyl acetate and 50% methanolic extracts of Verbena officinalis leaves were investigated. The activity of different fractions of 50% methanolic extract and some isolated compounds were also investigated. The results suggest th...

A reversed-phase column liquid chromatographic method for the separation and quantification of mescaline present in “peyote” has been developed using a Symmetry C18 column and isocratic profile. The method can be utilised for the quantitative determination of other alkaloids. This method is economical in terms of the time taken and the amount of so...

Eighty-eight extracts of different polarity obtained from 18 Lamiaceae medicinal and aromatic plants were screened for their antioxidant and antifungal properties. A TLC analysis combined with two bioassays were used to detect these activities. In most cases the highest radical scavenger capacity was detected in methanolic and aqueous extracts and...

Medicinal Plants used in the Navarre Pyrenees.

An ethnobotanical and medical study was carried out in the Navarre Pyrenees, an area known both for its high biological diversity and its cultural significance. As well as the compilation of an ethnopharmacological catalogue, a quantitative ethnobotanical comparison has been carried out in relation to the outcomes from other studies about the Pyren...

This article analyzes whether the distribution or area of use of 18 medicinal plants is influenced by ecological and cultural factors which might account for their traditional use and/or phytonymy in Navarra. This discussion may be helpful for comparative studies, touching as it does on other ethnopharmacological issues: a) which cultural and ecolo...

Verbena officinalis has traditionally been used in herbal medicine in Navarra, Spain, in the treatment of topical inflammation. Due to the anti-inflammatory activity of Verbena officinalis 50% methanolic extract in i.p. and topical administration, the effects of several formulations were prepared and studied using carrageenan-induced edema and form...

Tempranillo grape variety (Vitis vinifera) samples obtained from a 0–345-day period of vinification were analysed. Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn were quantified as well as polyphenols and anthocyanins. A good correlation has been found for both Fe and Cu with total polyphenols and anthocyanins. A selected sample was fractionated through an open column, allowin...

The aim of this work is the quantitative determinations of iridoids, flavonoids and verbascoside by HPLC in leaves of Verbena officinalis during three vegetative periods. The effects of plant age, date of harvest, type of soil, climate, as well as a comparision between two different locations, Ilundain and Lezaun, are been investigated in order to...

The anti-inflammatory activity of a 50% methanol extract of the leaves of Verbena officinalis L. was investigated on topical and oral administration. In the TPA-induced ear inflammation model, the extract showed a high reduction of edema, but in the carrageenin-induced rat paw edema the effect observed was less at the two doses employed. These resu...

A qualitative reversed-phase HPLC method has been developed for the analysis of 50% MeOH extracts ofVerbena officinalis L. (Verbenaceae) leaves. The method enables separation of the main constituents: iridoids, flavonoids and phenolic acid derivatives. Simultaneous detection at different wavelengths, measurement of the UV spectrum of each separated...