Search

Los suelos alcalinos y calcáreos, típicos de las zonas áridas, limitan la disponibilidad de micronutrientes en el suelo para algunos cultivos. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar los contenidos de elementos menores en suelo y plantas de higuerilla cuando se usaron sulfato de amonio y dos tipos de biosólidos como fertilizantes. Los tratamientos se definieron al considerar tres fuentes (fertilizantes) y tres dosis de N, así como un testigo (sin fertilización). Las fuentes de N fueron sulfato de amonio (SA), biosólidos de plantas de tratamiento de agua residual con lagunas de oxidación (BLO) y con lodos activados (BLA). Las dosis de N fueron de 0 (testigo), 134, 200 y 260 kg∙ha-1. El diseño experimental fue bloques al azar con cuatro repeticiones. El rendimiento de materia seca y el contenido de aceite en semillas se incrementaron al aumentar las dosis de N. Las concentraciones mayores de Cu y Fe en el suelo después de la cosecha correspondieron a los tratamientos con BLO, con medias de 0.98 mg∙kg-1 de Cu y 5.20 mg∙kg-1 de Fe. Los resultados indican que los biosólidos utilizados en el presente trabajo aportaron los micronutrientes necesarios para un desarrollo adecuado de plantas de higuerilla, sin riesgo de toxicidad y contaminación.

Ethnopharmacological importance Medicinal plants have been a source of medicinal compounds since ancient times. This study documented the use of plant species in traditional medicine in the municipality of Aquismon, San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Materials and methods Direct interviews were performed with inhabitants from Aquismon. The interviews were analyzed with two quantitative tools: (a) the informant consensus factor (ICF) that estimates the level of agreement about which medicinal plants may be used for each category and (b) the relative importance (RI) that determines the extent of potential utilization of each species. Results A total of 73 plant species with medicinal purposes, belonging to 37 families and used to treat 52 illnesses and 2 cultural filiations were reported by interviewees. Nineteen mixtures with medicinal plants were reported by the interviewers. Matricaria recutita was the most used plant for combinations (five mixtures). The results of the ICF showed that diseases of the digestive and respiratory systems had the greatest agreement. The most versatile species according to their RI are Ruta graveolens , Tagetes erecta , Ocimum basilicum and Erigeron karwinskianus. Conclusion This study demonstrates that plant species play an important role in healing practices and magical–religious rituals among inhabitants from Huasteca Potosina. Further studies with medicinal flora, including mixtures, from Aquismon are required for the experimental validation of their traditional uses.

Aim of the study To document the use of animal species in traditional medicine from the municipality of Mapimi, Durango, Mexico. Materials and methods Direct interviews were performed in several short visits with inhabitants from the municipality of Mapimi, Durango. The interviews were analyzed with two quantitative tools. The informant consensus factor that estimates the level of agreement between interviewees over which animals to use for each category and the fidelity level which indicates the percentage of informants claiming the use of a certain animal species for the same medicinal purpose. Results A total of 18 animal species, belonging to 17 families and four taxonomic categories, were reported by interviewees as used for medicinal purposes. Thirteen medicinal species were identified not previously reported. The results of the informant consensus factor showed that the dermatological, diabetes and reproductive categories had the greatest agreement. The most important species according to their fidelity level are: Mephitis macroura and Crotalus atrox . Conclusion This study demonstrates that many animal species play an important role in healing practices among inhabitants from Mapimi, Durango. Further experiments with medicinal fauna from Mapimi are needed to be carried out to obtain experimental information about their traditional uses, especially with C. atrox .

The antimicrobial effects of the Mexican medicinal plants Guazuma ulmifolia, Justicia spicigera, Opuntia joconostle, O. leucotricha, Parkinsonia aculeata, Phoradendron longifolium, P. serotinum, Psittacanthus calyculatus, Tecoma stans and Teucrium cubense were tested against several human multi-drug resistant pathogens, including three Gram (+) and five Gram (-) bacterial species and three fungal species using the disk-diffusion assay. The cytotoxicity of plant extracts on human cancer cell lines and human normal non-cancerous cells was also evaluated using the MTT assay. Phoradendron longifolium, Teucrium cubense, Opuntia joconostle, Tecoma stans and Guazuma ulmifolia showed potent antimicrobial effects against at least one multidrug-resistant microorganism (inhibition zone > 15 mm). Only Justicia spicigera and Phoradendron serotinum extracts exerted active cytotoxic effects on human breast cancer cells (IC50≤30 μg/mL). The results showed that Guazuma ulmifolia produced potent antimicrobial effects against Candida albicans and Acinetobacter lwoffii, whereas Justicia spicigera and Phoradendron serotinum exerted the highest toxic effects on MCF-7 and HeLa, respectively, which are human cancer cell lines. These three plant species may be important sources of antimicrobial and cytotoxic agents.