Propolis is a bee-collected natural product that has been proven to have various bioactivities. This study tested the effects of a Mexican propolis on streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus in a murine model. The results showed that an ethanolic extract of propolis of Chihuahua (EEPCh) significantly inhibited increases in blood glucose and the loss of body weight in diabetic mice. EEPCh increased plasma insulin levels in STZ-diabetic mice, whereas, in untreated diabetic mice, there was no detection of insulin. EEPCh had a high antioxidant capacity (SA50 = 15.75 μg/mL), which was directly related to the concentrations of total phenols (314 mg GAE/g of extract) and flavonoids (6.25 mg QE/g of extract). In addition, increased activities of the enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase were observed in diabetic mice treated with EEPCh. Compounds such as pinocembrin, quercetin, naringin, naringenin, kaempferol, acacetin, luteolin, and chrysin were identified by HPLC-MS analysis. This investigation demonstrated that propolis of Chihuahua possesses hypoglycaemic and antioxidant activities and can alleviate symptoms of diabetes mellitus in mice. These effects may be directly related to the chemical composition of propolis, as most of the compounds identified in propolis are reportedly active in terms of the different parameters evaluated in this work.

Amphipterygium adstringens is an endemic species in Mexico commonly known as “cuachalalate.” Healers to treat gastritis, gastric ulcers, and gastrointestinal cancer have traditionally used the bark. We investigated the effects of alcoholic extract of A. adstringens (AaEE) in DSS-induced colitis in mice. The protective effect of AaEE was determined at 200 mg/kg by oral gavage for 10 days. We determine the effect of AaEE on clinical features (disease activity index), antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory activities in relation to the activity of SOD, CAT, and GPx, levels of proinflammatory cytokines, and changes both macroscopic and microscopic of the colonic mucosa. AaEE significantly reduced the inflammation of colon and significantly increased SOD and GPx activities. AaEE also significantly decreased TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-1β cytokine levels compared to DSS-treated mice and reduced both infiltration of inflammatory cells and the mucosal damage in colon. The results suggested the protective potential of AaEE in DSS-induced colitis and this might be attributed to its phytochemicals compounds that have been found to induce a wide spectrum of activities such as reduction in oxidative stress, suppression of inflammation, modulating numerous signal transduction pathways, and induction of apoptosis. The findings of this study suggest that AaEE has substantial potential for the treatment of inflammatory colitis.

Cyrtocarpa procera is a plant used in traditional Mexican medicine to treat different gastrointestinal problems. Here, we investigated the effects of a C. procera methanolic extract in DSS-induced colitis mice. Ulcerative colitis (UC) was induced by administering 4% DSS in drinking water to female BALB/c mice. Compared to untreated mice with UC, the treatment group receiving the C. procera extract presented less severe UC symptoms of diarrhea, bleeding, and weight loss. Additionally, colon shortening was significantly reduced, and at the microscopic level, only minor damage was observed. Levels of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IFNγ in serum as well as the MPO activity in the colon were significantly reduced in the C. procera methanolic extract-treated group. Moreover, the extract of C. procera reduced oxidative stress during UC, preventing the deterioration of the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as SOD, CAT, and GPx. Additionally, the extract decreased lipid peroxidation damage and its final products, such as malondialdehyde (MDA). In agreement with this, in vitro assays with the C. procera extract displayed good antioxidant capacity, probably due to the presence of polyphenolic compounds, in particular the flavonoids that were identified, such as chrysin, naringenin, kaempferol, and catechin, which have been reported to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Therefore, the improvement of UC by the C. procera methanolic extract may be related to the action mechanisms of these compounds.

Mangifera indica can generate up to 60% of polluting by-products, including peels. However, it has been shown that flavonoids and mangiferin are mainly responsible for the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial activities closely related to the wound-healing process. The chemical composition of MEMI (methanolic extract of M. indica) was analyzed by HPLC-DAD, as well as concentrations of total phenol (TPC) and flavonoids (TFC) and antioxidant activity (SA50). Wound-healing efficacy was determined by measurements of wound contraction, histological analysis, and tensiometric method; moreover, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and acute dermal toxicity (OECD 402) were also evaluated. Phenol, resorcinol, conjugated resorcinol, and mangiferin were detected. TPC, TFC, and SA50 were 136 mg GAE/g, 101.66 mg QE/g, and 36.33 µg/mL, respectively. Tensile strength and wound contraction closure did not show significant differences between MEMI and dexpanthenol groups. Histological analysis (after 14 days) shows a similar architecture between MEMI treatment and normal skin. MEMI exhibits a reduction in edema. Staphylococcus epidermidis had an MIC of 2 mg/mL, while Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli reached 4 mg/mL. The MEMI showed no signs of toxicity. Therefore, this study demonstrates multiple targets that flavonoids and mangiferin of MEMI may present during the healing process.

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis lacks effective and well-tolerated treatments. The current therapies mainly rely on antimonial drugs that are inadequate because of their poor efficacy. Traditional medicine offers a complementary alternative for the treatment of various diseases. Additionally, several plants have shown success as anti-leishmanial agents. Therefore, we sought to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo activity of MEBA against Leishmania mexicana . Materials and Methods: Methanolic extract of B. aptera was obtained by macetration, after we determined in vitro anti-leishmanial activity of MEBA by MTT assay and the induced apoptosis in promastigotes by flow cytometry. To analyze the in vivo anti-leishmanial activity, we used infected mice that were treated and not treated with MEBA and we determined the levels of cytokines using ELISA. The phytochemical properties were determined by CG-MS and DPPH assay. Results: We determined of LC 50 of 0.408 mg/mL of MEBA for in vitro anti-leishmanial activity. MEBA induced apoptosis in promastigotes (15.3% ± 0.86). Treated mice exhibited smaller lesions and contained significantly fewer parasites than did untreated mice; in addition, we found that IFN-γ and TNF-α increased in the sera of MEBA-treated mice. GC-MS analysis showed that podophyllotoxin was the most abundant compound. Evaluation of the activity by DPPH assay demonstrated an SC 50 of 11.72 μg/mL. Conclusion: Based on the above data, it was concluded that MEBA is a good candidate in the search for new anti-leishmanial agents.

The genus Fusarium causes many diseases in economically important plants. Synthetic agents are used to control postharvest diseases caused by Fusarium, but the use of these synthetic agents generates several problems, making it necessary to develop new alternative pesticides. Essential oils can be used as a new control strategy. The essential oils of Bursera morelensis and Lippia graveolens have been shown to have potent antifungal activity against Fusarium. However, for the adequate management of diseases, as well as the optimization of the use of essential oils, it is necessary to know how essential oils act on the growth and reproduction of the fungus. In this study, the target of action of the essential oils of B. morelensis and L. graveolens and of the pure compounds present in the essential oils (carvacrol, p-cymene, α-phellandrene, α-pinene, and Υ-terpinene) was determined by evaluating the effect on hyphal morphology, as well as on spore production and germination of three Fusarium species. In this work, carvacrol was found to be the compound that produced the highest inhibition of radial growth. Essential oils and pure compounds caused significant damage to hyphal morphology and affected spore production and germination of Fusarium species.

The appearance of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens has highlighted the need to search for new compounds that can effectively combat infectious diseases. A potential source of these compounds are the secondary metabolites of species that have been reported as effective traditional treatments of such diseases. Prosopis laevigata is a medicinal plant, and its chemical constituents have shown potential antimicrobial activity. In this study, the antimicrobial activities of the methanolic extract of the leaves of Prosopis laevigata against different bacterial and fungal strains of medical and agronomic interest were investigated in vitro. In addition, the chemical composition of this extract was investigated by HPLC–DAD, GC‒MS, and HPLC‒MS. The methanolic leaf extract contained 67 mg of GAE/g of total phenols (6.7%), 2.6 mg of QE/g of flavonoids (0.26%), and 11.87 mg of AE/g of total alkaloids (1.18%). Phenolic acids and catechol were the compounds identified by HPLC–DAD. The methanolic extract had strong antimicrobial activity, especially against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 0.62 mg/mL), Escherichia coli (MIC = 0.62 mg/mL), Candida tropicalis (MIC = 0.08 mg/mL) and Fusarium moniliforme (MIC = 4.62 mg/mL). These results suggest that the extract of P. laevigata leaves could be a source of antimicrobial molecules. However, it is necessary to delve into its chemical composition.

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