Calidad microbiológica del macerado de plantas medicinales utilizadas para el consumo de tereré en Asunción y Gran Asunción del Paraguay / Microbiological Quality of macerated medicinal plants used for the consumption of Tereré in Asuncion and the Great Asuncion regions of Paraguay

Introducción. En Paraguay, son utilizadas 269 especies de plantas medicinales, ya sea con fines preventivos, curativos o paliativos. Objetivo. Evaluar la calidad microbiológica de los macerados de plantas medicinales utilizadas para el consumo del tereré en Asunción y Gran Asunción entre los meses julio a agosto de 2018. Materiales y método. Se realizó un estudio, observacional descriptivo de corte transversal, no probabilístico por conveniencia en 180 muestras del macerado de plantas medicinales (Mentaí, Kokü y Santa Lucia) comercializadas en 45 puestos de ventas. Resultados. Los 180 macerados de plantas estuvieron contaminados con bacterias (Bacilos Gram Negativos); 75,6% con hongos, 7,22 % con parásitos protozoarios intestinales, de los cuales 5% correspondieron a Blastocystis hominis, 2,2% a Entamoeba coli, y 0,6% a helmintos intestinales (Strongiloides stercoralis). Por otra parte, se observó contaminación con algas en 77,8% de las muestras. Conclusiones. Los resultados evidencian serias deficiencias en la calidad microbiológica de los macerados de las tres plantas medicinales estudiadas. Existe gran variabilidad en los tipos de microorganismos presentes. Se determinó alta contaminación con bacterias que tienen repercusión en la salud e igualmente se encontraron hongos, algas y parásitos intestinales que representan riegos para la salud humana. Con los resultados obtenidos se sugiere que el consumo directo de plantas medicinales puede representar un riesgo para la salud humana, por lo que se requiere mejorar la calidad higiénica de dichas plantas medicinales.

Introduction. In Paraguay, 269 species of medicinal plants are used, either for preventive, curative or palliative purposes. Objective. To evaluate the microbiological quality of macerates of medicinal plants used for the consumption of the Tereré in Asunción and Gran Asunción between July and August 2018. Materials and method. A descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study, not probabilistic for convenience, was carried out in 180 samples of the macerated medicinal plants (Mentaí, Kokü and Santa Lucia) marketed in 45 sales positions. Results. All 180 samples were contaminated with bacteria (Gram Negative Bacilli); 75.6% with fungi, 7.22% with intestinal protozoan parasites, of which 5% corresponded to Blastocystis hominis, 2.2% to Entamoeba coli, and 0.6% to intestinal helminths (Strongiloides stercoralis). On the other hand, algae contamination was observed in 77.8% of the samples. The results show serious deficiencies in the microbiological quality of the macerates of the three medicinal plants studied. There is great variability in the microbial load and types of microorganisms present. High contamination with bacteria that have an impact on health was determined and fungi, algae and intestinal parasites that represent risks to human health were also found. With the results obtained, it is suggested that the direct consumption of medicinal plants may represent a risk to human health, so it is necessary to improve the hygienic quality of said medicinal plants.

Metal-independent reduction of hydrogen peroxide by semiquinones.

The quinones 1,4-naphthoquinone (NQ), tetramethyl-1,4-benzoquinone (DQ), 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (MNQ), 2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone (UBQ-0), 2,6-dimethylbenzoquinone (DMBQ), 2,6-dimethoxybenzoquinone (DMOBQ), and 9,10-phenanthraquinone (PHQ) enhance the rate of H2O2 reduction by ascorbate, under anaerobic conditions, as detected from the amount of methane produced after hydroxyl radical reaction with dimethyl sulfoxide. The amount of methane produced increases with an increase in the quinone one-electron reduction potential. The most active quinone in this series, PHQ, is only 14% less active than the classic Fenton reagent cation, Fe(2+), at the same concentration. Since PHQ is a common toxin present in diesel combustion smoke, the possibility that PHQ-mediated catalysis of hydroxyl radical formation is similar to that of Fe(2+) adds another important pathway to the modes in which PHQ can execute its toxicity. Because quinones are known to enhance the antitumor activity of ascorbate and because ascorbate enhances the formation of H2O2 in tissues, the quinone-mediated reduction of H2O2 should be relevant to this type of antitumor activity, especially under hypoxic conditions.

Lupus neuropsiquiátrico: Reporte de Caso y revisión de la literatura / Neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus: Case report and review of literature

Se presenta el caso de una mujer de 42 años de edad que inicia manifestaciones neurológicas caracterizadas por parestesias y hemiparesia corporal derecha. Con importante duda diagnóstica en su debut, pero la características de las lesiones (localización en corteza, ausencia en sustancia -lanca, falta de distribución arterial), serología positiva para LES y proteinuria, determino el diagnóstico de Lupus eritematoso Sistémico Neuropsiquiátrico (LENSP). El propósito de este manuscrito es informar la baja prevalencia (menor al 4%)¹ de esta manifestación y como representa un reto diagnóstico.

The case of a 42-year-old woman who presented neurologic symptoms characterized by paresthesias and right hemiparesis is presented here. Although the diagnosis was difficult at the beginning; yet, the features of the lesions (located in the cerebral cortex but not in the white matter; no arterial distribution), positive serology for SLE and proteinuria, determined the diagnosis of Neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus. The purpose of this work is to inform about the low prevalence (<4%) of the disease and how it is a diagnostic challenge.