Rhodolirium andicola: a new renewable source of alkaloids with acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity, a study from nature to molecular docking

ABSTRACT Acetylcholinesterase is an important target for control of neurodegenerative diseases causing cholinergic signaling deficit. Traditionally, galanthamine has been used as an Amaryllidaceae-derived acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, although new Amaryllidaceae plants could serve as source for better acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. Therefore, the objective of this study was to characterize the alkaloid composition from bulbs of Rhodolirium andicola (Poepp.) Traub, a native Chilean Amaryllidaceae specie, and assess their inhibitory activity on acetylcholinesterase by in vitro and in silico methodologies. Alkaloidal extracts from R. andicola exhibited an inhibitory activity with IC50 values between 11.25 ± 0.04 and 57.78 ± 1.92 µg/ml that included isolated alkaloid, galanthamine (2.3 ± 0.18 µg/ml), Additionally, 12 alkaloids were detected using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and identified by comparing their mass fragmentation patterns with literature and database NIST vs.2.0. To better understand the bioactivity of isolated compounds and alkaloidal extracts against acetylcholinesterase, a molecular docking approach was performed. Results suggested that alkaloids such as lycoramine, norpluvine diacetate and 6α-deoxy-tazettine expand the list of potential acetylcholinesterase inhibitors to not only galanthamine. The role of R. andicola as a source for acetylcholinesterase inhibitors is further discussed in this study.

Marsupialización modificada de ránula gigante intraoral: reporte de caso / Modified marsupialisation of a giant intraoral ranula: case report

La ránula intraoral es una enfermedad benigna seudoquística de extravasación que tiene su origen en las glándulas salivales sublinguales. Es una entidad poco prevalente. Es más frecuente en niños y adolescentes, con características clínicas propias que la diferencian de otras entidades de la boca. Su tratamiento es quirúrgico y varias técnicas han sido descritas en la literatura: marsupialización simple y modificada, enucleación de la lesión, extirpación de la glándula junto con enucleación de la ránula. Si bien la extirpación de la glándula junto con la enucleación de la lesión es el tratamiento definitivo radical y más aceptado, la marsupialización modificada puede ser útil como alternativa de tratamiento quirúrgico conservador en casos de ránulas intraorales gigantes, disminuyendo los riesgos de morbilidad quirúrgica y presentando bajos índices de recurrencia, mientras su aplicación sea cuidadosa. El siguiente reporte de caso describe el manejo clínico de forma quirúrgica conservadora mediante marsupialización modificada, con un seguimiento de 12 meses sin signos de recidiva.

The intraoral ranula is a benign pseudo-cystic extravasation with its origin in the sublingual salivary glands. It is an infrequent disease. It is more common in children and adolescents, with its own clinical characteristics that differentiate it from other entities in the mouth. The treatment for this condition is surgical, and several techniques have been described in the literature: simple and modified marsupialisation, enucleation of the lesion, and removal of the gland with enucleation of the ranula. While the removal of the gland with enucleation of the lesion is the widely accepted radical and definitive treatment, marsupialisation may be useful as an alternative to conservative surgical treatment in cases of giant intraoral ranula, reducing the risk of surgical morbidity, and presenting with low rates of recurrence, while its application should be performed with care. The case is presented that describes the conservative surgical treatment with marsupialisation in its clinical management, with a 12 months follow up without signs of recurrence.

Perfil bioquímico en sangre de cordón en prematuros extremos y crecimiento fetal / Intrauterine growth and biochemical levels in cord blood samples in infants less than 31 weeks gestation

Introducción: Con mayor aporte de proteínas y energía en la primera semana se ha observado hipofosfemia en prematuros extremos. Los menores niveles de fósforo se han presentado en prematuros con antecedentes de restricción de crecimiento intrauterino. Objetivos: Caracterizar los niveles plasmáticos bioquímicos en el cordón de prematuros extremos, nacidos adecuados (AEG) y pequeños para edad gestacional (PEG) y la relación con calcemia y fosfemia en la primera semana de vida. Pacientes y método: Estudio clínico realizado en Neonatología del Hospital Doctor Sótero del Río, en los años 2013 y 2014. Se analiza el perfil bioquímico en el cordón y la calcemia y fosfemia en los primeros 7 días de vida, registrados en la ficha clínica según fueran AEG o PEG, según las curvas de Alarcón-Pittaluga. Análisis con significación de p < 0,05. Resultados: Los niveles de colesterol, transaminasas, albúmina y creatinina fueron similares para los PEG y AEG. Los niveles de pH, fósforo, calcio, y fosfatasas alcalinas fueron menores en los PEG. El nitrógeno ureico, el ácido úrico y los triglicéridos fueron mayores en los PEG. Los PEG muestran marcada reducción de fosfemia en la primera semana, la calcemia tiende a subir proporcionalmente al descenso de la fosfemia. Conclusiones: En prematuros extremos la desnutrición intrauterina se expresa en modificación de los niveles plasmáticos de calcio, fósforo, fosfatasas alcalinas, nitrógeno ureico, ácido úrico y triglicéridos. Posnatalmente, al recibir aporte nutricional, se manifiesta una disminución de la fosfemia y un aumento de calcemia, concordante con aportes insuficientes de fósforo durante el período.

Introduction: The use of greater amounts of protein and energy during the first week of life is associated with hypophosphataemia in extreme preterm babies. The lowest phosphorus levels are described in intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR) babies. Objectives: To describe biochemistry levels in cord blood plasma in extreme premature, adequate and small for gestational age babies (AGA/SGA) and their relationship with plasma calcium and phosphorus levels during the first week of life. Patients and method: A descriptive clinical study was performed in the Neonatology Service at Hospital Dr. Sótero del Río during 2013 and 2014. A biochemical analysis of cord blood was performed on 43 premature babies, as well as plasma calcium and phosphorus levels during the first week. The adequacy for gestational age was obtained using Alarcón- Pittaluga growth curves. Statistical significance was P < .05. Results: Cholesterol, transaminases, albumin and creatinine levels were similar for both AGA and SGA babies. Levels of pH, phosphorus, calcium and alkaline phosphatase were significantly lower in SGA babies. Urea nitrogen, uric acid and triglycerides levels were higher in SGA. The analysis during the first week showed a strong reduction in phosphorus levels, as well as an increase in calcium levels in proportion to the decrease in phosphorus in the SGA sub- group. Conclusions: Intrauterine malnutrition in preterm babies is expressed in the modulation of plasma levels of calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, urea nitrogen, uric acid and triglycerides. During post-natal life, when nutritional intake begins, a decrease in phosphorus and an increase in calcium levels appear, consistent with insufficient phosphorus intake during this period.

Actividad antioxidante y antimicrobiana de mieles monoflorales de plantas nativas chilenas / Antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of unifloral honeys of plants native to Chile

Chile has a great diversity of endemic and native species which gives floral origin to honey. Due the diversity of unifloral and multifloral honey previously identified it would be necessary to have information about the antioxidant content and biological activity. The objective of this study was to determine total phenols, antioxidant activity (DPPH and FRAP methods) and biological activity of unifloral honeys of native plants from Chile. For this purpose 59 beehoneys of different geographical origin were analyzed by melisopallinological method to determine the pollen present. Antimicrobial activity was tested against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes determining minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC). Results indicate that Chilean native honeys showed significant differences in their antioxidant as well as biological activity, which depends on the botanical and geographical origin, and it can be associated with polyphenol content.

Chile presenta una gran diversidad de especies vegetales endémicas y nativas que pueden dar origen a mieles producidas por Apis mellifera. En base a la diversidad de mieles poliflorales y monoflorales que han sido identificadas anteriormente en Chile, se propuso estudiar la actividad antioxidante y biológica para controlar el crecimiento de microorganismos patógenos. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar el contenido de fenoles totales, actividad antioxidante (Métodos de FRAP y DPPH) y la actividad antibacteriana de mieles monoflorales de plantas nativas chilenas. Se utilizaron 59 mieles de diferente origen geográfico para determinar su origen botánico, mediante análisis melisopalinológico. La actividad antibactariana se evaluó contra Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus y Streptococcus pyogenes, determinando la concentración mínima bactericida (CMB). Los resultados indicaron que las mieles nativas de Chile muestran diferencias significativas tanto en la actividad antioxidante como en la actividad contra patógenos, la que depende del origen botánico y geográfico, pudiendo estar asociada al contenido de polifenoles.