Cancer is the major cause of death in the world, representing a significant public health problem. Plants have been shown as a great source of secondary metabolites with anticancer activity. The aim of this work was evaluated the antiproliferative activity of the methanolic extracts, chemical fractions and the compound spinasterol isolated of medicinal plant . The methanolic extracts of stem, leaf and stem/leaf was obtained by maceration. The methanolic extract of stem was purified by successive extractions with solvents as-hexane, ethyl acetate and ethanol. The -hexane fraction was separated by column chromatographic and monitored by thin layer chromatographic. The compound spinasterol was characterized byH NMR, C NMR and Mass Spectrometry. Methanolic extracts, chemical, chromatographic fractions and spinasterol was evaluated against RAW 264.7, M12.C3.F6,, LS-180, A549 and HeLa cancer cell lines by the standardized method MTT for determinate the antiproliferative activity. Methanolic extract of stem shown the better antiproliferative activity against the murine macrophage cancer cell line RAW 264.7. -Hexane chemical fraction shown antiproliferative activity against human alveolar cancer cell line A549 and RAW 264.7. Was isolated and characterized a compound by NMRH and C, revealing the presence of sterol spinasterol. Spinasterol shown have antiproliferative activity against cervical cancer cell line HeLa and RAW 264.7, that spinasterol can be a responsible compound of antiproliferative activity found in the methanolic extract of .

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anti-Vibrio activity of propolis collected from three different areas of the Sonoran Desert in northwestern, Mexico [Pueblo de Alamos (PAP), Ures (UP), and Caborca (CP)]. The anti-Vibrio spp. activity of Sonoran propolis was determined by the broth microdilution method. UP propolis showed the highest antibacterial activity [minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC(50))<50 μg mL(-1)] against Vibrio spp. (UP>CP>PAP). UP propolis significantly inhibited the growth of Vibrio cholerae O1 serotype Inaba (MIC(50)<50 μg mL(-1)), V. cholerae non-O1 (MIC(50)<50 μg mL(-1)), V. vulnificus (MIC(50)<50 μg mL(-1)), and V. cholerae O1 serotype Ogawa (MIC(50) 100 μg mL(-1)), in a concentration-dependent manner. The UP propolis constituents, galangin and caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), exhibited a potent growth inhibitory activity (MIC(50) 0.05-0.1 mmol l(-1)) against V. cholerae strains (non-O1 and serotype Ogawa). The strong anti-Vibrio activity of Sonoran propolis and some of its chemical constituents (galangin and CAPE) support further studies on the clinical applications of this natural bee product against different Vibrio spp., mainly V. cholerae.

Our study shows the presence of ESBL-producing bacteria in the three hospitals.

BackgroundSonoran ethnic groups (Yaquis, Mayos, Seris, Guarijíos, Pimas, Kikapúes and Pápagos) use mainly herbal based preparations as their first line of medicinal treatment. Among the plants used are those with anti-tuberculosis properties; however, no formal research is available.MethodsOrganic extracts were obtained from nine medicinal plants traditionally used by Sonoran ethnic groups to treat different kinds of diseases; three of them are mainly used to treat tuberculosis. All of the extracts were tested against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv using the Alamar Blue redox bioassay.ResultsMethanolic extracts from Ambrosia confertiflora, Ambrosia ambrosioides and Guaiacum coulteri showed minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 200, 790 and 1000 μg/mL, respectively, whereas no effect was observed with the rest of the methanolic extracts at the concentrations tested. Chloroform, dichloromethane, and ethyl acetate extracts from Ambrosia confertiflora showed a MIC of 90, 120 and 160 μg/mL, respectively.ConclusionsA. confertiflora and A. ambrosioides showed the best anti-mycobacterial activity in vitro. The activity of Guaiacum coulteri is consistent with the traditional use by Sonoran ethnic groups as anti-tuberculosis agent.For these reasons, it is important to investigate a broader spectrum of medicinal plants in order to find compounds active against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Propolis is a resinous material produced by bees from the selective collection of plant exudates that are subsequently mixed with beeswax and salivary bee secretions. Propolis has been used in folk medicine, and certainly, several studies have validated its biological properties. The chemical composition and pharmacological activities of propolis collected through North (including Central America and Caribbean) and South America have been studied in the last years, and several papers have reported differences and similarities among the analysed geographical samples. Propolis has been classified according to its aspect and plant source; however, the ecological diversity present along the Americas provides a plethora of botanical resins. Herein, we summarize and discuss most of the studies performed at present on this profitable product for apiculture, attempting to compare the bioactivity, phytochemical diversity and botanical sources of honeybee propolis produced in Americas.

Mycobacterium bovis is the major causative agent of bovine tuberculosis, one of the most relevant zoonoses in the world, and affects a wide range of wild and domesticated animals. Development of screening panels in mycobacterial genotyping, according to specific geographical regions, is strongly needed. The aim of this study is to select a panel, constituted by highly polymorphic MIRU-VNTR loci, to discriminate clinical isolates of M. bovis in Mexico. In this study, 65 isolates of M. bovis obtained from clinical bovine samples proceeding from different geographic regions of Mexico were identified by phenotypic and genotypic tests and subsequently genotyped by a 24-locus MIRU-VNTR panel. The most polymorphic loci were selected to build a panel with a high discriminatory power similar to the 24-locus panel results. A panel of seven elements (QUB 11a, MIRU 26, ETR-A, QUB 26, MIRU 16, MIRU 27, and MIRU 39) with the highest allelic diversity showed an appropriate differentiation. The selected MIRU-VNTR elements, according to the regional allelic variability, may be used in the preliminary genotyping of Mycobacterium bovis isolates in Mexico.

The antibacterial and antioxidant activities of propolis collected from two different areas of Sonora State [Magdalena de Kino propolis (MKP), and Sonoyta propolis (SP)] in northwestern Mexico were evaluated. The antibacterial and antioxidant activities of MKP and SP were determined by the broth microdilution method and the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydracyl) assay, respectively. Both propolis samples showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Vibrio cholerae and scarce activity against Escherichia coli. The MKP showed the highest antibacterial activity against S. aureus, followed by V. cholerae and E. coli with a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC 90 ) of 200.0 µg/mL, 400.0 µg/mL and >400.0 µg/mL, respectively. The MKP sample showed antibacterial activity against V. cholerae (MIC 90 400,0 µg/mL). The SP exhibited MIC 90 of >400.0 µg/mL against all the microorganisms studied. Additionally, MKP ex-Navarro Navarro et al: BIOtecnia / XIV (3): 9-15 (2012) 10Volumen XIV, Número 3 hibited moderate antioxidant activity (35.0±0.4% at 100 µg/mL) in comparison with that of vitamin C (94.0±0.1% at 70.0 µmol/L). Low values of antioxidant activity were obtained for SP (4.0±0.1% at 100 µg/mL). These results allow for a preliminary biological activity characterization of MKP and SP. These methanolic extracts have a good to moderate antibacterial activity against S. aureus, V. cholerae and E. coli, and a low to moderate antioxidant activity.

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