Effect on the Antioxidant Properties of Native Chilean Endemic Honeys Treated with Ionizing Radiation to Remove American Foulbrood Spores.

In Chile, honey is produced from several native species with interesting biological properties. Accordingly, those attributes are present in Chilean honeys owing to the presence of phenolic compounds inherited from specific floral sources. In recent years, the exported volume of Chilean honeys has been increased, reaching new markets with demanding regulations directed toward the fulfilment of consumers' expectations. Accordingly, there are countries with special requirements referring to Paenibacillus larvae spore-free honeys. This microorganism is the pathogen responsible for American foulbrood disease in beehives; however, antibiotics are not allowed when an apiary tests positive for P. larvae. On the other hand, it is mandatory to have an accurate method to remove the potential presence of spores in bee products intended for export. Exposure to ionizing radiation can be an efficient way to achieve this goal. In this work, 54 honey samples harvested from northern, central and southern Chile were analyzed for physicochemical patterns, total phenols, antioxidant activity and antiradical activity. Honeys with and without spores were exposed to ionizing radiation at three levels of intensity. Afterwards, the presence of spores and the effect on phenol bioavailability, antiradical activity and antioxidant activity were measured again. This research presents results showing a positive correlation between the percentage of prevalence of native endemic species in the set of honeys analyzed and the capacity to resist this process, without altering their natural attributes determined before irradiation treatments.

Suitable Areas for Apiculture Expansion Determined by Antioxidant Power, Chemical Profiles, and Pesticide Residues in Caldcluvia paniculata Honey and Beeswax Samples.

Forty-two samples of Tiaca Honey (Caldcluvia paniculata) obtained from beehives belonging to 14 apiaries (three honey samples per apiary) were collected at the end of January near Osorno (40°34' S, 73°8' W), Puyehue (40°40' S, 72°37' W) and Frutillar 41°7' S, 72°59' W) covering an area of 1240 km2. They presented the highest phenol contents (0.36 mg gallic acid equivalent/kg) and antioxidant power (1.27 mM equivalent of Fe+2/g of sample), and were among the highest for antiradical activity. Phenol contents and antioxidant power (r = 0.72, p-value < 0.01) and total phenol contents and antiradical activity (r = 0.69; p-value < 0.01) displayed linear correlations. Only two beeswax samples showed residues of the pesticide fenhexamid. The respective sites (Purranque [40°55' S, 73°10' W] and Coligual [40°49' S, 72°54' W]) were the only areas located near active farms. Additionally, the m/z value 163.1091 was found as an element to identify honeys. Data were used to construct a mapped suitability index ranking for pesticide-free areas with high biological quality. The provided chemical profiles will aid local beekeepers in obtaining international certifications, particularly for the EU market. In turn, the constructed maps indicate suitable areas for apiculture expansion, while differentiated pesticide detection in honey and beeswax requires further comparative research.

Biological applications of honeys produced by Apis mellifera.

Honey is a natural product with many attributes that are useful for humans. The consumption of honey is increasing because of its beneficial biological properties, including antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Even though honey is produced worldwide, many variants of this product have not been studied and their biological potential for alternative uses has not been evaluated. Because of its varied endemic native flora, Chile produces several types of honey. It is likely that these apian products have important biological properties inherited from specific floral sources, but it is absolutely necessary to conduct further chemical analyses to identify and characterize these biological attributes. Sadly, the potential antimicrobial and antitumor activities of Chilean honeys remain unproven at the present time. Further studies are needed to identify these attributes. In addition, the impact of human activities on the natural production of honey by bees should be considered. The use of honey as an environmental marker of pollution should also be considered, and care must be taken to diminish the effect of industry and human procedures on natural environmentsHoney is a natural product with many attributes useful for human beings. Nowadays, the consumption of honey is increasing due to its described biological properties such as antioxidant and antibacterial activities. However, honey is produced around the world and there still are many samples of this product that have not been studied or characterized in terms of their biological potential or alternative uses. Chile produces several kinds of honey, owing to the presence of a diverse endemic native flora. These bee products appear to have important biological properties inherited from specific floral sources, but further chemical analyses directed to determine the presence of biological attributes are absolutely necessary. Sadly, many potential effects against bacteria, fungi or antitumor or antiviral activities remain unknown at the present time. Further studies may reveal those attributes in the future. Another fact to be considered is the human activities that may affect the natural production of honey by bees. Despite the limited usefulness of honeys as environmental markers of pollution, they warn that industrial and human procedures should aim to decrease their impact on natural environments.

Biological applications of honeys produced by Apis mellifera

Honey is a natural product with many attributes that are useful for humans. The consumption of honey is increasing because of its beneficial biological properties, including antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Even though honey is produced worldwide, many variants of this product have not been studied and their biological potential for alternative uses has not been evaluated. Because of its varied endemic native flora, Chile produces several types of honey. It is likely that these apian products have important biological properties inherited from specific floral sources, but it is absolutely necessary to conduct further chemical analyses to identify and characterize these biological attributes. Sadly, the potential antimicrobial and antitumor activities of Chilean honeys remain unproven at the present time. Further studies are needed to identify these attributes. In addition, the impact of human activities on the natural production of honey by bees should be considered. The use of honey as an environmental marker of pollution should also be considered, and care must be taken to diminish the effect of industry and human procedures on natural environments.

Honey is a natural product with many attributes useful for human beings. Nowadays, the consumption of honey is increasing due to its described biological properties such as antioxidant and antibacterial activities. However, honey is produced around the world and there still are many samples of this product that have not been studied or characterized in terms of their biological potential or alternative uses. Chile produces several kinds of honey, owing to the presence of a diverse endemic native flora. These bee products appear to have important biological properties inherited from specific floral sources, but further chemical analyses directed to determine the presence of biological attributes are absolutely necessary. Sadly, many potential effects against bacteria, fungi or antitumor or antiviral activities remain unknown at the present time. Further studies may reveal those attributes in the future. Another fact to be considered is the human activities that may affect the natural production of honey by bees. Despite the limited usefulness of honeys as environmental markers of pollution, they warn that industrial and human procedures should aim to decrease their impact on natural environments.

Structural analysis and antiviral activity of a sulfated galactan from the red seaweed Schizymenia binderi (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta).

Aqueous extraction of gametophytic Schizymenia binderi afforded a polysaccharide composed of galactose and sulfate groups in a molar ratio of 1.0:0.89 together with uronic acids (6.8 wt%) and minor amounts of other neutral sugars. Alkali-treatment of the polysaccharide afforded a polysaccharide devoid of 3,6-anhydrogalactose. 13C NMR spectroscopy of the desulfated alkali-treated polysaccharide showed a backbone structure of alternating 3-linked beta-D-galactopyranosyl and 4-linked alpha-galactopyranosyl units that are predominantly of the D-configuration and partly of the L-configuration. Methylation, ethylation and NMR spectroscopic studies of the alkali-treated polysaccharide indicated that the sulfate groups are located mainly at positions O-2 of 3-linked beta-D-galactopyranosyl residue and at position O-3 of 4-linked-alpha-galactopyranosyl residues, the latter is partially glycosylated at position O-2. The sulfated galactan from S. binderi exhibited highly selective antiviral activity against Herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, with selectivity indices (ratio cytotoxicity/antiviral activity) >1000 for all assayed virus strains. This compound was shown to interfere with the initial adsorption of viruses to cells.

Sífilis congénita: una realidad latente / Congenital syphylis: a latent reality

Se realizó un análisis retrospectivo de los hallazgos clínicos, antecedentes prenatales, pruebas serológicas y tratamiento de seis recién nacidos y seis lactantes con sífilis congénita que fueron hospitalizados en el Hospital de Niños "J.M. de Los Ríos"

Sífilis congénita: artículo de revisión / Congenital syphilis: article of review

El resurgimiento de la sífilis en la población de edad fértil ha despertado nuevo interés por la sífilis congénita. La infección se adquiere en las últimas semanas del embarazo pero si la espiroquetemia no es tan intensa, pueden no identificarse en el nacimiento signos de enfermedad congénita, los cuales se manifestarán varias semanas más tarde. Por lo tanto la infección persistente puede ser sintomática o asintomática