Chemical characterization, antioxidant activity, -amylase and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory potential of Angelica pancicii Vandas ex Velen / Caracterización química, actividad antioxidante, potencial inhibidor de -amilasa y acetilcolinesterasa de Angelica pancicii Vandas ex Velen

Abstract: Comparative study GC - FID /M S of essential oils of fruits, leaves and roots of the endemic plant Angelica pancicii Vandas ex Velen. revealed a significant difference in their chemical composition. The enantiomeric purity of the main component in the fruit oil (+) - ß - phellandrene was a lso confirmed. In addition, imperatorin, isoimperatorin, oxypeucedanin, oxypeucedanin hydrate, angeloylpangelin and umbelliprenin were isolated from the fruit hexane extract. The content of these coumarins in the hexane extracts from different plant parts was further determined by HPLC. The essential oils and hexane extracts were assessed for their antioxidant potential and inhibitory effect towards  - amylase and acetylcholinesterase enzymes. The fruit and leaf essential oils (> 80%) as well as the fruit he xane extract (> 62%) significantly inhibited acetylcholinesterase enzyme. Distinguish free radical scavenging properties were detected for the leaf (Inh. 95.0 ± 2.2 %) and the root (Inh. 66.0 ± 2.4 %) extracts.

Resumen: Estudio comparativo GC - FID / MS de aceites esenciales de frutas, hojas y raíces de la planta endémica Angelica pancicii Vandas ex Velen revelaron una dife rencia significativa en su composición química. También se confirmó la pureza enantiomérica del componente principal del aceite de fruta (+) - ß - felandreno. Además, se aislaron imperatorina, isoimperatorina, oxipeucedanina, hidrato de oxipeucedanina, angeloi lpangelina y umbeliprenina del extracto de hexano del fruto. El contenido de estas cumarinas en los extractos de hexano de diferentes partes de la planta se determinó adicionalmente mediante HPLC. Los aceites esenciales y extractos de hexano se evaluaron p or su potencial antioxidante efecto inhibidor de las enzimas -  - amilasa y acetilcolinesterasa. Los aceites esenciales de frutas y hojas (> 80%), así como el extracto de hexano de frutas (> 62%) inhibieron significativamente la enzima acetilcolinesterasa. Se detectaron propiedades de captación de radicales libres diferenciadas para los extractos de hoja (Inh. 95,0 ± 2,2%) y de raíz (Inh. 66,0 ± 2,4%).

Antimicrobial activity and acetylcholinesterase inhibition by extracts from chromatin modulated fungi

ABSTRACT Major health challenges as the increasing number of cases of infections by antibiotic multiresistant microorganisms and cases of Alzheimer's disease have led to searching new control drugs. The present study aims to verify a new way of obtaining bioactive extracts from filamentous fungi with potential antimicrobial and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities, using epigenetic modulation to promote the expression of genes commonly silenced. For such finality, five filamentous fungal species (Talaromyces funiculosus, Talaromyces islandicus, Talaromyces minioluteus, Talaromyces pinophilus, Penicillium janthinellum) were grown or not with DNA methyltransferases inhibitors (procainamide or hydralazine) and/or a histone deacetylase inhibitor (suberohydroxamic acid). Extracts from T. islandicus cultured or not with hydralazine inhibited Listeria monocytogenes growth in 57.66 ± 5.98% and 15.38 ± 1.99%, respectively. Increment in inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity was observed for the extract from P. janthinellum grown with procainamide (100%), when compared to the control extract (39.62 ± 3.76%). Similarly, inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity increased from 20.91 ± 3.90% (control) to 92.20 ± 3.72% when the tested extract was obtained from T. pinophilus under a combination of suberohydroxamic acid and procainamide. Concluding, increases in antimicrobial activity and acetylcholinesterase inhibition were observed when fungal extracts in the presence of DNA methyltransferases and/or histone deacetylase modulators were tested.

Casos de intoxicación aguda por plaguicidas en la colonia Puerto Pirapó, Itapúa, Paraguay, febrero de 2014 / Cases of acute pesticide poisoning in Colonia Puerto Pirapó, Itapúa, Paraguay, February, 2014

RESUMEN En Paraguay, los plaguicidas, principalmente los compuestos organofosforados, son el agente causal del 13,7 % de las intoxicaciones reportadas. Las intoxicaciones con estos compuestos inhiben la enzima acetilcolinesterasa y pueden generar tres cuadros clínicos: la intoxicación aguda, el síndrome intermedio y una neurotoxicidad tardía. Se presentan 15 casos de intoxicación aguda en diez mujeres y cinco hombres entre los 5 y los 67 años de edad, procedentes de una comunidad rural, cuyos síntomas se iniciaron después de haber utilizado el agua contaminada con plaguicidas de la red comunitaria. Los síntomas más frecuentes fueron náuseas y vómito, seguidos de dolor abdominal, cefalea, fiebre, prurito, hiperemia conjuntival y sudoración. En cinco de los pacientes se hizo el hemograma y se midieron los valores de las funciones renal y hepática, así como de la colinesterasa sérica, con resultados dentro de los valores de referencia; solo uno de los afectados presentó alteración de las enzimas hepáticas. En dos muestras de agua de la red comunitaria, se detectó un compuesto organofosforado cuyo ingrediente activo era el profenofos. Es fundamental que el personal de atención primaria en salud, sobre todo en las zonas rurales, sea capaz de detectar los casos de intoxicaciones agudas por plaguicidas de manera oportuna, con el fin de brindar el tratamiento adecuado. Además, es necesario que las instituciones responsables supervisen el cumplimiento de las leyes ambientales en estas zonas, con el fin de evitar este tipo de incidentes.

ABSTRACT In Paraguay, pesticides are the causative agent in 13.7% of poisonings, especially organophosphorus compounds. Such poisoning produces the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase generating three possible clinical conditions: acute poisoning, intermediate syndrome or late neurotoxicity. We present 15 cases of acute poisoning, ten women and five men from a rural community between 5 and 67 years of age, whose symptoms began after using water contaminated by pesticides from the community network. The most common symptoms were nausea and vomiting, followed by abdominal pain, headache, fever, itching, red eyes and sweating. Five patients underwent blood tests for blood count, renal and liver function and serum cholinesterase, with results within the reference values; just one patient had high liver enzymes. In two samples from the community water supply network the active compound detected was profenophos. It is essential to train primary health care personnel to identify cases of acute pesticide poisoning in a timely manner to provide appropriate treatment, especially in rural areas. Additionally, it is necessary that responsible institutions monitor compliance with environmental regulations in these areas to avoid such incidents.

Partial purification and characterization of acetylcholinesterase isozymes from adult bovine filarial parasite Setaria cervi.

Filariasis is a major health problem, affecting millions of people in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. The isolation and characterization of parasite-specific enzyme targets is essential for developing effective control measures against filariasis. Acetylcholinesterase (AchE, E.C. 3.1.1.7), an important enzyme of neuromuscular transmission is found in a number of helminths including filarial parasites and may be playing a role in host-parasite interactions. Earlier, we demonstrated the presence of two isozymes of AchE, different from the host enzyme in the human (Brugia malayi) and bovine (Setaria cervi) filarial parasites. In the present study, two isozymes of AchE (pAchE1 and pAchE2) were isolated from S. cervi adults and characterized biochemically and immunochemically. The AchE was partially purified on Con-A Sepharose column and then subjected to preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) for separation of the isozymes. The AchE activity was localized by the staining of gel and the isozymes were isolated from the PAGE strips by electroelution. Both isozymes preferentially utilized acetylcholine iodide as substrate and were strongly inhibited by the true AchE inhibitor (BW284c51), suggesting that they were true AchE. The polyclonal antibodies produced against the isozymes showed significant cross-reactivity with B. malayi AchE, but not against the host enzyme. These findings suggested that both the isozymes were biochemically (in terms of their substrate specificity and inhibitor sensitivity) and immunochemically similar, but different from the host enzyme.