Biomass productoon and heavy metal absorptionbyfour plants grown at the moraviia dump, medellín, Coommbia. / Producción de biomasa y absorción de metales pesados por cuatro plantas crecidas en el basurero Morovia, Medellín, Colombia.

Dumps are sites where the presence of high heavy metal (HM) concentration is a common occurrence, creating the need for implementing restoration processes immediately after their closure. In the 7.6 ha and 45 m high Morro de Moravia dump, arose from the disposal of Medellín solid wastes from 1974 to 1984, previous studies have demonstrated high contents of contaminants, including HM, prompting the need to identify effective mechanisms to implement its restoration. The objective of this study was to evaluate the adaptation, growth and phytoremediation capacity of Bidens pilosa, Lepidium virginicum, Brachiaria decumbens and Arachis pintoi. Content of HM (mg/kg) in Moravia residue matrix went from 17 to 8193 for Pb, 44 to 564 for Cr, 0.2 to 339 for Cd and 77 to 1679 for Ni. Measurements of plant cover, plant height and dry matter production at all plant species studied suggested adequate growth and adaptation to the Moravia dump conditions. Plant absorption of HM showed the pattern Cr > Cd > Ni > Pb. Estimated bioconcentration factors were generally low, and maximum values were 0.36 in A. pintoi (Cr), 2.96 in B. pilosa (Cd) and 0.26 in B. decumbens (Ni). However, our estimations of the phytoremediation potential of the assayed species, suggested they possess low remediation efficiency. Further investigation should be carried out in order to identify more efficient HM accumulators, and to test the use of technologies such as modification of pH, rhizoremediation or the use of genetically enhanced accumulators to increase HM availability to plants.

En los basureros se observan altas concentraciones de metales pesados (MP), creando la necesidad de conducir procesos de restauración en dichos lugares. En el Morro de basuras de Moravia, con 7,6 ha y 45 m de altura, conformado por la disposición de los residuos sólidos de la ciudad de Medellín entre 1974 y 1984, estudios anteriores demostraron alto contenido MP, evidenciando la necesidad de identificar mecanismos efectivos para su restauración. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la adaptación, crecimiento y capaci-dad fitorremediadora de Bidens pilosa, Lepidium virginicum, Brachiaria decumbens y Arachis pintoi. El contenido de MP (mg/kg) en la matriz de residuos de Moravia varió entre 17 y 8.193 para Pb, 44 a 564 para Cr, 0,2 a 339 para Cd y 77 a 1.679 para Ni. Las mediciones de cobertura, altura y producción de materia seca mostraron que todas las especies evaluadas tuvieron un nivel adecuado de adaptación y crecimiento a las condiciones del basurero de Moravia. La absorción de MP presentó el orden Cr > Cd> Ni > Pb. Los factores de bioconcentración estimados fueron bajos, siendo los valores máximos: 0,36 (A. pintoi, Cr), 2,96 (B. pilosa, Cd) y 0,26 (B. decumbens, Ni). Sin embargo, nuestras estimaciones del potencial de fitorremediación de las plantas evaluadas sugieren que éstas poseen baja eficiencia fitorremediadora. Debe dirigirse investigación con el fin de identificar especies acumuladoras de MP más eficientes o introducir tecnologías que aumenten la disponi-bilidad de los MP, tales como la modificación del pH, rizorremediación o el uso de plantas acumuladoras genéticamente modificadas.

Aluminio en pacientes con terapia de reemplazo renal crónico con hemodiálisis en dos unidades renales en Bogotá / Aluminium in chronic renal replacement therapy patients undergoing haemodialysis in two renal units in Bogotá

Objetivo Determinar las concentraciones de aluminio en suero de pacientes con terapia de reemplazo renal crónico con hemodiálisis y las concentraciones en agua de redes de distribución y diálisis en dos unidades renales en Bogotá. Material y Métodos Estudio descriptivo en 63 pacientes en hemodiálisis y 20 individuos sanos. Las concentraciones de aluminio se determinaron por espectrofotometría de absorción atómica horno de grafito con corrección de lámpara de deuterio. Resultados El promedio de las concentraciones de aluminio en suero de los pacientes fue de 26,5 µg/L (11,2 a 49,2 µg/L, DE=8,03), en individuos sanos de 8,05 µg/L (menor al Límite de Detección a 17,2 µg/L, DE=4,31), en agua de diálisis fue menor a 2 µg/L y en agua de las redes de distribución menor a 200 µg/L. Conclusiones Las concentraciones de aluminio en el agua de la red de distribución y diálisis estudiadas se encontraron por debajo de los valores establecidos internacionalmente indicando un adecuado tratamiento de las mismas. Igualmente las concentraciones de aluminio pre-HD y post-HD observadas en los pacientes se encontraron por debajo de las reportadas en la literatura. El consumo de hidróxido de aluminio aumenta significativamente la concentración de aluminio en suero. Variables como edad, género, estado civil y situación laboral no son factores de riesgo que alteren significativamente las concentraciones de aluminio en suero.

Objective Determining aluminium concentrations in the serum of patients undergoing chronic renal replacement therapy with haemodialysis and concentration in distribution network water and dialysis in two renal units in Bogotá. Material and Methods This was a descriptive study of 63 haemodialysed patients and 20 healthy subjects. Aluminium concentration was determined in water and serum using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry with deuterium lamp background corrector. Results Average aluminium concentration was 26.5 µg/L in patients (ranging from 11.2 to 49.2 µg/L; 8.03 standard deviation) and 8.05 µg/L in healthy individuals (ranging from undetectable to 17.2 µg/L; 4.31 standard deviation). Aluminium concentration in dialysis water and distribution network water was below 2 µg/L and 200 µg/L, respectively. Conclusions Aluminium concentration in water and serum in this study was below international standard values, thereby indicating appropriate treatment. Additionally, aluminium concentration in pre-HD and post-HD sera was below that reported previously. Aluminium hydroxide uptake increases aluminium concentration in serum. Personal situation regarding age, gender, civil and work status were not risk factors determining aluminium concentrations in serum.

Nueva fuente de quinoles, la superficie foliar de Pentacalia ledifolia y Pentacalia corymbosa y sus propiedades antifúngicas / Nova fonte de quinóides, a superficie foliar de Pentacalia lediflora e Pentacalia corymbosa e suas propriedades antifúngicas / New source of quinols, the surface of Pentacalia ledifolia and Pentacalia corymbosa leaves and its antifungal activity

Foi demonstrada a ação antifúngica do extrato clorofórmico e de duas substâncias isoladas da superfície foliar de Pentacalia ledifolia (H.B.K.) Cuatr. e P. corymbosa (Benth) Cuatr. frente aos fungos fitopatógenos Fusarium oxysporum e Botrytis cinerea, cultivados em BDA (batata-dextrose-ágar). Destes extratos foram isolados, além de cumarinas já identificadas em estudos anteriores, dois derivados quinóides: (1-hidroxi-4-oxo-2,5-ciclohexadienil) acetato de metila ou jacaranona e (1-hidroxi-4-oxo-2,5-ciclohexadienil) acetato de etila ou metiljacaranona. Para o (1-hidroxi-4-oxo-2,5-ciclohexadienil) acetato de etila foi calculado CI50 de 650 μg/mL para os dois tipos de fungos e o (1-hidroxi-4-oxo-2,5-ciclohexadienil) acetato de metila teve um CI50 de 660 μg/mL.

Quinols identified in the surface waxes of Pentacalia ledifolia (H.B.K.) Cuatr and P. corymbosa (Benth) Cuatr. leaves, possess antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum and Botrytis cinerea, cultured on PDA (potato-dextrose-agar) medium. These extracts were prepared by dipping fresh leaves in chloroform for 5 min, and afforded ethyl-(1-hydroxy-4-oxocyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-yl) acetate and methyl-(1-hydroxy-4-oxocyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-yl) acetate, the major surface compounds.

Principio activo citotoxico de Espeletia killipii Cuatr. sobre células tumorales y su toxicidad frente a células normales humanas / Princípio ativo citotóxico de Espeletia killipii Cuatr. sobre células tumorais e sua toxicidade frente a células normais humanas

De Espeletia killipi Cuart. foi isolado uma sesquiterpenlactona identificada como acetato de longipilina que mostrou atividade citotóxica. A citotoxidade foi avaliada em células normais obtidas de sangue periférico, tiróide, testículo e epitélio da boca. Células da medula óssea de pacientes com leucemia crônica mielóide, linfoma de Hodking (do Instituto Nacional de Câncer de Bogotá, Colômbia) e células K562 também foram avaliadas. A citotoxidade foi determinada através do teste MTT (3-(4,5-dimethyldiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyl Tetrazolium Bromid). Os ensaios mostraram que a substância não é tóxica para células normais mas a 3 mg/mL apresentou significante atividade em células tumorais e linhagem K562. Conseqüentemente, lavando-se em conta essa significante ação, novas investigações podem ser consideradas plausíveis.

The compound responsible for the citotoxic effect was identified as longipilin acetate, a sesquiterpenelactone isolated from Espeletia killipi Cuatr. Citotoxicity was assessed by using normal cells obtained from peripheral blood, thyroid, testicle and mouth epithelium. Bone marrow cells from patients with chronic myeloid leukemia, Hodking lymphoma (from Cancer National Institute, Bogotá Colombia) and the cell line K562 were also assayed. Citotoxicity was determined by the MTT cell viability test (3-(4,5-dimethyldiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyl Tetrazolium Bromid]. The assays revealed that the substance is risk-free on normal cells but at 3 mg/mL has significant activity on tumor cells and K562 cell line. Consequently, taken into account this significant action, new research approaches can be foreseen.

Efectos citotoxicos in vitro de extractos y fracciones de Espeletia killipii Cuatr. frente a lineas celulares tumorales humanos / Efeitos citotóxicos in vitro de extratos e frações de Espeletia killipii Cuatr. frente a linhas celulares tumorais humanas / In vitro cytotoxic effects of extract and fractions of Espeletia killipii Cuatr. against human tumor cell lines

O extrato etanólico e as frações de Espeletia killipii (espécie endêmica da vegetação dos páramos do altiplano Cundiboyacense); mostraram atividade citotóxica significativa in vitro nas linhagens celulares tumorais humanas de câncer de mama MCF-7, CSC-1170, CSC-1595, CSC-3322, CSC-3325 e na linhagem Hep-2 de laringe. A fração CH2Cl2 e suas sub-frações foram ativas contra as linhagens celulares cancerígenas de mama na concentração de 50 µg/mL, obtendo-se percentagens de viabilidade entre 13 e 20 por cento. O principio ativo ainda não identificado foi obtido por ensaios bioguiados sucessivos e apresentou valores de Concentração Citotóxica media (CC50) menores que 1 µg/mL para as linhagens celulares colombianas CSC-1170, CSC-1595, CSC-3322 e CSC-3325; CC50 = 1 µg/mL contra MDA MB 435 e NCl-H23; contra MCF-7 uma CC50 = 2 µg/mL e uma CC50 superior a 16 µg/mL contra PC-3 e U-251.

It was found that the ethanol extracts and fractions of Espeletia killipii (an endemic species of the páramo vegetation of the Cundiboyacense plateau) exhibited cytotoxic activity against several human tumor cell lines. Thus, the extracts and fractions exhibited significant cytotoxic activity against both the human tumor cell lines of breast cancer MCF-7, CSC-1170, CSC-1595, CSC-3322, CSC-3325 and the Hep-2 cell lines of laryns. The CH2Cl2 fraction and its sub-fractions were active against the breast lines at concentration of 50 µg/mL, with a viability percentage between 13 and 20 percent. The active principle, not identified yet, was obtained by successive bio-directed assays. It showed activity against the Colombian cell lines CSC-1170, CSC-1595, CSC-3322 and CSC-3325 at a half Cytotoxic Concentration (CC50) less than 1 µg/mL, against MDA MB-435 and NCI-H23 at CC50= 1 µg/mL against MCF-7 at CC50= 2 µg/mL, and against PC-3 and U-251 at CC50 greater than 16 µg/mL.

Triterpenos aislados de corteza de Bursera graveolens (Burseraceae) y su actividad biologica

Bursera graveolens (Burseraceae), known in Colombia as "sasafrás", is useful for its medicinal properties and is rich in secondary metabolites. In our research, we carried out antimicrobial tests of several fractions and ethanolic extracts from aerial parts against Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus, that showed growth inhibitory activity when applied at 250 mg/mL for extracts and 150 mg/mL for fractions. We carried out an antiinflamatory assay also, that showed 71 por ciento of inhibition by extracts (81 por ciento of Indomethacin) and 70 por ciento of inhibition by fractions (78 por ciento of Indomethacin). Phytochemical investigation of the bark of Bursera graveolens (Burseraceae) yielded three tetracyclic triterpene acids that have oxygenation in C-3, carboxylic acid in C-21 and unsaturation in C-24 and have been identified as 3-oxotirucalla-8,24-dien-21-oic acid (b-elemonic acid), 3a-hydroxytirucalla-8,24-dien-21-oic acid (a-elemolic acid) and 3a-hydroxytirucalla-7,24-dien-21-oic acid. The isolated compounds were identified using spectroscopic methods including one and two-dimensional Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (COSY, HMQC, HMBC, NOESY) experiments and comparison with published data. This is the first report of the isolated compounds in Bursera graveolens and they have a very important chemotaxonomic significance within the Burseraceae family and related families from the order Rutales.