Yacon fructans (Smallanthus sonchifolius) extraction, characterization and activation of macrophages to phagocyte yeast cells.

Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) originates from the Andean region and has spread across South America, Europe and Japan. In contrast with most roots, yacon stores its carbohydrates in fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and contains approximately 37% of FOS in its root dry matter. Aqueous extracts of yacon were characterized through TLC, methylation, NMR, and ESI-MS. FOS of yacon showed as linear fructooligosaccharides containing almost exclusively (2→1)-linked ß-fructofuranosyl units, with terminal α-glucopyranosyl and ß-fructofuranosyl units. ESI-MS analyses indicated a wide degree of polymerization (DP) ranging from 2 to 10. The effect of the isolated FOS on non-specific immune activity by THP-1 cells was evaluated through phagocytic activity against heat-killed yeast (Saccharomices cerevisiae). The stimulant effect of yacon FOS was dose- and time-dependent, showing results more effective than branched FOS observed in previous studies. The results reinforce the use of linear yacon FOS as immunomodulators.

Phytochemical analysis and anti-inflammatory evaluation of compounds from an aqueous extract of Croton cajucara Benth.

Croton cajucara Benth. is a medicinal plant popularly used in the Brazilian Amazonia, where it is known as sacaca, being consumed as tea, decoction or infusion of the leaves and stem bark. From a decoction of the leaves, a comprehensive phytochemical analysis was developed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Many compounds were identified for the first time in C. cajucara, such as O-glycosides of kaempferol and quercetin, flavonoid-C-glycosides, tannins and cinnamic acid derivatives. These compounds were fractionated by polarity and assayed for their anti-inflammatory activity, using a model of mice edema, induced by an intraplantar injection of carrageenan. All fractions exhibited anti-inflammatory properties.