Denisse de Loera’s research while affiliated with Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí and other places

Snow mountain garlic is traditionally eaten by Himalayan locals for its medicinal properties. Although different species of the genus Allium are known to have other biological effects, such as antiplatelet and antithrombotic activities, little is known about the anticoagulant effect of Snow mountain garlic, a member of the genus Allium. Therefore, the present study examined the in vitro anticoagulant effect of the aqueous extract, the lyophilized aqueous extract, and the isoflavone extract from the lyophilized aqueous extract of Snow mountain garlic in samples from 50 human blood donors. Compared to the control, concentrations of 25, 12.5, and 6.25 mg/100 µL lengthened the clotting times of prothrombin, and concentrations of 25 and 12.5 mg/100 µL lengthened the activated partial thromboplastin time (p ˂ 0.05). The isoflavone extract from the lyophilized aqueous extract containing isoflavones, organosulfur compounds, a polyphenol, and a steroid glycoside showed a significant effect (p ˂ 0.05) on the prothrombin time and the activated partial thromboplastin time at a dose of 20 µL (volume) compared to the control. The results regarding the use of Snow mountain garlic as a preventive measure and aid in treating thromboembolic disease are promising.

Background: Salvia urica Epling is taxonomically and phylogenetically related to Salvia amarissima Ortega. The last species has pharmacological relevance by its contents of bioactive metabolites. Nowadays, Salvia urica has no reports about its chemical constituents and pharmacological activities. Hypothesis: Does the close relationship between S. amarissima and S. urica led both species produce similar specialized metabolites? Does Salvia urica display similar pharmacological effects as S. amarissima? Studied species: Salvia urica Epling (Lamiaceae). Study site and dates: The plant material was collected in Teopisca, Chiapas, Mexico, in December 2021. Methods: Metabolites of the acetone extract from Salvia urica were identified by GC-MS and HPLC-PDA profiling. In parallel, a phytochemical study was conducted, and the individual constituents purified, previously characterized by 1D NMR, were assayed on antihyperglycemic effect in diabetic mice and a charcoal-gum arabic-induced hyperperistalsis model in rats. Results: The volatile compounds identified by GC-MS were alkanes, aromatics and triterpenes. The principal constituents of the acetone extract of Salvia urica were amarissinin A and 5,6-dihydroxy-7,3',4'-trimethoxyflavone, which were also quantified by HPLC-PDA. The extract and both metabolites isolated showed an antihyperglycemic effect on streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice, suggesting a possible synergic effect. In addition, the compound 5,6-dihydroxy-7,3',4'-trimethoxyflavone (IC50 = 0.79 mg/kg) showed a better antipropulsive effect than loperamide (IC50 = 16.6 mg/kg). Conclusions: The phytochemical composition of an acetone extract of Salvia urica was determined by first time. The metabolites isolated from this plant support the phylogenetic relationship of S. urica with Salvia amarissima, and they showed antipropulsive and antihyperglycemic effects.

The HPLC–PDA profiling of an acetone-soluble extract of the leaves of Salvia circinnata Cav. (Syn. Salvia amarissima Ortega), Lamiaceae, collected at Patzcuaro, Michoacan, Mexico, indicated this population corresponds to the chemotype “amarisolide A.” The phytochemical study of the extract led to the isolation of two new diterpenoid glucosides, amarisolide H and 15-epi-amarisolide H, which were obtained as an epimeric mixture, together with the known compounds amarisolides A, D, G, 16-epi-amarisolide G, and 5,6-dihydroxy-7,3′,4′-trimethoxyflavone. The structures of compounds amarisolide H and 15-epi-amarisolide H were determined by the analyses of their NMR and HRMS data. The cytotoxicity and anti-multidrug resistance (MDR) effects of compounds amarisolide H, 15-epi-amarisolide H, amarisolide A, amarisolide G, and 16-epi-amarisolide G in MCF-7 cancer cells sensible and resistant to vinblastine were essayed.

Z‐bixin is the main metabolite contained in Achiote, which is widely used as a food condiment and pigment. Z‐bixin plays an important role in photosynthesis. It is used to develop artificial solar cells and scavenge radical oxygen and nitrogen species. In this work, the photochemistry of Z‐bixin with solar irradiation and lamps at 365 and 410 nm was determined in solution. The ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy (UV‐Vis) and Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC) analysis showed that elaidinization of Z‐bixin to E‐bixin can be reached under radiation. This is in accordance with the computational evaluation that indicates that the mechanism consists of three bond rotations with an energy requirement of 5.43 and 5.23 kcal/mol for the first and second steps and no energy barriers to the last step. After elaidinization, total degradation was observed through a cascade reaction that generated CO, CO2, H2CO, and HCl.

The remarkable properties of garlic A. sativum L. have been described, but little is known about Snow mountain garlic. Understanding general aspects of this garlic composition, including the presence of phenolics, will establish its possible use for health or infer which compounds can contribute to improving it. This study aimed to determine the ash content, lipid profile, and characterization of phenolics in Snow mountain garlic. The organic content was obtained by common techniques (oven drying, calcination, Kjeldahl method, etc.). The quantitative analysis of the ashes was made by Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission Spectrometry. The fatty acid profile was determined by Gas Chromatography. The presence of phenolics was determined by foam, Libermann-Burchard, Dragendorff, Salkowski, ferric chloride, vanillin, catechin, Constantinescu, and Shinoda reactions. The total phenolic content was determined via the Folin-Ciocalteu method, and antioxidant activity was determined using the DPPH radical method. The bromatological analysis showed a 51.1% humidity, and the main organic compounds were carbohydrates (46.7%). Ash analysis showed 287.46 g/kg of potassium. The fatty acid profile showed 75.61% of polyunsaturated fatty acid. Phenolics like saponins, alkaloids, triterpenes, tannins, and flavonoids were present. Antioxidant activity was found by radical DPPH of 25.64 (±0.78) µmol TE/1 g dw. Snow mountain garlic shares a composition similar to those found in other garlic.

Struthanthus quercicola (Schltdl. & Cham.) D.Don, Loranthaceae, is the true Mexican mistletoe has been used by traditional healers for the treatment of diabetes mellitus in the Teenek area from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, regardless of its harvest host tree species. To validate the biological effect of S. quercicola collected from two different host trees, in vitro and in vivo assays were set up. The results demonstrated that S. quercicola decoction exhibited both antihyperglycemic and hypoglycemic activities and demonstrated the capacity of the plant decoction to maintain long-term glucose homeostasis without inducing hepatotoxicity. Rapid ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-photo-diode array analysis showed the presence of vitexin, vitexin-2-O-rhamnoside, quercetin-3-β-d-glucoside, and epi-catechin in the aqueous extracts. These studies provide evidence to support the traditional use of decoctions, and the results obtained from the hepatotoxic analysis suggest a safe use of the plant with a traditional dosage to develop alternative therapies for the treatment of diabetes.

Struthanthus quercicola, a hemiparasitic plant known as “seca palo,” is used by Nahuatl traditional healers against diabetes, wounds, and rashes. We aimed to investigate the effects of different S. quercicola extracts, which were selected based on their traditional use in Tamazunchale, San Luis Potosí, on the cell viability and antioxidant activity in HeLa cell cultures. S. quercicola growing on Guazuma ulmifolia and Citrus sp. hosts was collected, and methanolic and ethanolic extracts as well as decoctions, infusions, and microwave-assisted extracts were obtained. The terpenoid, alkaloid, flavonoid, saponin, and tannin contents of each extract were evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively. The effects of different extracts on the viability of cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa) cells were tested using an MTT assay. The differences in the total flavonoid and phenolic contents and free-radical scavenging activity in relation to the host and the extract were also determined. In assessments of the effects of the extracts on cell viability, eight organic extracts (4 from G. quercicola grown on Host 1 and 4 from G. quercicola grown on Host 2) were shown to decrease cell viability significantly in comparison with the control. However, the extract obtained by percolation (PMeOH) caused a significant increase in cell viability (p < 0.05), especially with the plant grown on Host 1. The microwave aqueous and methanolic extracts of the plants grown on both hosts showed a significant increase in the percentage of apoptosis (p < 005). In conclusion, different extracts of Struthanthus quercicola showed variable effects on cell viability and apoptosis. Isolation of the molecule or molecules with inhibitory and proliferative effects on cells should be conducted to evaluate their possible use as antineoplastic agents.