Pharmacological importance of Manilkara zapota and its bioactive constituents / Importancia farmacologica de Manilkara zapota y sus constituyentes bioactivos

Manilkara zapota (Sapotaceae), commonly known as Sapodilla, is widely known for its delicious fruit. Various parts of this plant are also used in folk medicine to treat a number of conditions including fever, pain, diarrhoea, dysentery, haemorrhage and ulcers. Scientific studies have demonstrated analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cytotoxic, antimicrobial, antidiarrheal, anti-hypercholesteremic, antihyperglycemic and hepatoprotective activities in several parts of the plant. Phytochemical studies have revealed the presence of phenolic compounds including protocatechuic acid quercitrin, myricitrin, catechin, gallic acid, vanillic acid, caffeic acid, syringic acid, coumaric acid, ferulic acid, etc. as main constituents of the plant. Several fatty acids, carotenoids, triterpenes, sterols, hydrocarbons and phenylethanoid compounds have also been isolated from M. zapota. The present review is a comprehensive description focused on pharmacological activities and phytochemical constituents of M. zapota.

Manilkara zapota (Sapotaceae), comúnmente conocida como Sapodilla, es ampliamente conocida por su delicioso fruto. Variadas partes de esta planta se usan en medicina popular para tratar una serie de afecciones, como fiebre, dolor, diarrea, disentería, hemorragia y úlceras. Estudios científicos han demostrado actividad analgésica, antiinflamatoria, antioxidante, citotóxica, antimicrobiana, antidiarreica, antihipercolesterolémica, antihiperglucémica y hepatoprotectora en diferentes partes de la planta. Los estudios fitoquímicos han revelado la presencia de compuestos fenólicos que incluyen ácido protocatechúico, quercitrina, miricitrina, catequina, ácido galico, ácido vanílico, ácido cafeico, ácido sirínico, ácido cumárico, ácido fúnico y ácido ferúlico como componentes principales de la planta. Varios ácidos grasos, carotenoides, triterpenos, esteroles, hidrocarburos y compuestos feniletanoides también han sido aislados de M. zapota. La presente revisión es una descripción exhaustiva centrada en las actividades farmacológicas y los constituyentes fitoquímicos de M. zapota.

Lipophilic metabolite profiling of maize and sorghum seeds and seedlings, and their pest spotted stem borer larvae: A standardized GC-MS based approach.

In order to better understand the biochemical interactions and to identify new biomarkers for plant resistance against insects, we proposed a suitable lipophilic profiling method for insects and their host plants. The critical components of GC-MS based analysis are: sample amount, extraction, derivatization, temperature gradient, run time, and identification of peaks. For lipophilic metabolite profiling of maize and sorghum, and their insect pest, spotted stem borer larvae, we recommend 100 mg sample weight for seeds and insect samples (whole insect body), and 200 mg for seedlings. Maize and sorghum seeds required less time for fat extraction in comparison to their seedlings and the pest fed on these seedlings. GC-MS was standardized for better separation and intensity of peaks using different temperature gradients in the range of 180-300 C. A total of 48 lipophilic compounds encompassing various classes based on their functional groups such as fatty acids, fatty alcohols, hydrocarbons, sterols and terpenoids, vitamin derivative, etc. were separated in the seedlings (30), seeds (14), and the pest (26) in the retention time range of 3.22 to 29.41 min. This method could be useful to study nutritional aspects of different field crops in relation to various stresses apart from the analysis of lipophilic compounds for better understanding of insect-plant interactions.

Pentacyclic triterpenes from Ficus pandurata hance fruit

From Ficus pandurata Hance fruits, six triterpenes and three sterols were isolated. The structure of these compounds were elucidated using physical and spectral characters including IR, [1]H, [13]C-NMR including DEPT experiment and MS

Phytochemical study of two plantago species: part I: sterols and flavonoids

The chemical investigation of Plantago major L. and P. lagopus L. was carried out. Oleanolic acid, beta sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol were isolated from the light petroleum extract. Luteolin and 6-hydroxy luteolin were isolated from the ether fraction of both plants. While the ethyl acetate fraction of P. major L. afforded three phenolic glycosides, viz; acteoside, luteolin-7-O-glucoside and 6-hydroxy luteolin-7-O-glucoside, that of P. lagopus L. afforded three 7-O-arabinosides of apigenin, luteolin and 6-hydroxy luteolin. The chemotaxonomic significance of the isolated arabinosides from P. lagopus L. was discussed

Investigación de Esteroles en productos lácteos por cromatografia de gases / Study of sterols in dairy products for gas chromatography

Se describe un nuevo método de análisis cualitativo para detectar la presencia de colesterol y de grasas vegetales en la mantequila y en otros productos lácteos, basado en la parte insaponificable de los ésteres glicéridos constituyentes de la grasa láctea, con el objeto de separar la parte insaponificable (la cuál esta constituida por los esteroides: colesterol, sitosterol, etc.), de la parte saponificable. La saponificación es seguida de la extracción con el solvente adecuado, para la posterior identificación de los compuestos señalados