Chemical Composition and Pharmacological Activity of a Propolis Extract from Ecuador

Aims: Propolis is a resinous substance accumulated by bees from resinous plants material, produced by different botanical processes. It has been used since ancient times for its therapeutic benefits. The chemical composition of propolis is mostly influenced by the geographic zone and also by botanic sources that the honey bee has used. In this sense, the aim of this study was to analyse the phytochemical profile and pharmacological activity of a sample of propolis from Ecuador. Methodology: Chemical composition was analyzed by using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The anti-inflammatory activity was determined by ear edema induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13 acetate and antinociceptive activity was analyzed by using writhing test induced by acetic acid. Results: The chemical composition showed the presence of sugars, fatty acids, flavonoids and triterpenes in the sample. The analysis of the relative abundance of the detected signals suggested that triterpenes represent 25.38% of the total components of the mixture and 9,19-cyclo-9-beta-lanostane-24-on-3-beta-iloxyl (cycloartenol), the majority compound. Propolis induced a maximun inhibition (77.2 %) in TPA model at a dose of 3 mg/ear, reducing dermal edema, cellular infiltration and ear thickness induced by TPA. Also, it produced a dose-related inhibition of acetic acid-induced writhing response with a maximal antinociceptive effect (49.5%) at dose of 500 mg/kg po. Conclusion: The chemical analysis showed a predominant triterpene profile, being cycloartenol the majority compound in the sample and its anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities were confirmed by in vivo models.

Nitric oxide synthase activity and endogenous inhibitors in rats recovered from allergic encephalomyelitis

We have previously reported that in comparison with normal rats, the presence of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) leads to decreased endogenous inhibitory activity (EIA) of Ca2+-dependent nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in both brain and serum, and increased expression of protein 3-nitrotyrosine (NT) in brain. In this work we show that animals recovered from the clinical signs of EAE are not different from controls in terms of either brain NOS activity, EIA of NOS, or NT expression. These results suggest that parallel to the reversal of the disease symptoms, a normalization of the production of nitric oxide and related species occurs.

Estado nutricional de vitamina D en madres y neonatos de Ushuaia y Buenos Aires / Nutritional status of vitamin D in mothers and neonates of Ushuaia and Buenos Aires

Para evaluar el estado nutricional de vitamina D en mujeres embarazadas y neonatos de nuestro país se estudiaron al final del invierno los niveles séricos de calcio, fósfaro, fosfatasa alcalina (F.A.) y 25-hidroxi-vitamina D (250HD) en mujeres en el postparto inmediato y neonatos (sangre de cordón) del Grupo 1: Ushuia (55§S): 16 mujeres y 20 neonatos y Grupo 2: Buenos Aires (34§S) 21 mujeres y sus 21 neonatos. Los niveles en sangre de cordón de calcemia y fosfatemia fueron mayores y los de 250HD y FA menores que los maternos en ambos grupos. Los niveles de 250HD (X ñ DS) de las madres (6,3 ñ 4,8 ng/ml y neonatos (3,9 ñ 2,7 ng/ml) de Ushuaia fueron menores que los de las madres (14,4 ñ 8,7 ng/ml) y neonatos (11,3 ñ 6,0 ng/ml) de Buenos Aires (p < 0,001). La calcemia de las madres de Ushuaia (8,7 ñ 0,8 mg/dl) fue menor que en el grupo de Buenos aires (9,2 ñ 0,4 mg/dl) p < 0,05). No hubo diferencias en el resto de parámetros estudiados entre ambos grupos. Se encontraron niveles disminuidos de 250HD (< 8 ng/ml) en el 62// de las madres y en el 81// de los bebés de Ushuaia y en el 24// de las madres y 16// de los bebés de Buenos Aires. Se concluye: 1) La existencia de una población de riesgo de deficiencia de vitamina D en madres y neonatos de Ushuaia. 2) Una población con adecuado estado nutricional de vitamina D en la mayoría de las madres y bebés de Buenos Aires