Jorge Escobar

Kaempferol, a naturally occurring dietary flavonoid abundantly found in various fruits and vegetables, has garnered significant attention due to its diverse pharmacological properties, most notably its potent anticancer activity. In the orchestration of cancer pathogenesis, the PTEN/PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling cascade plays a pivotal role, where aberrant activation or dysregulation of this pathway drastically accelerates tumor cell proliferation, survival, and metabolic reprogramming, thereby driving tumorigenesis. Moreover, non-coding microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as key modulators involved in regulating this pathway, functioning as either oncogenes or tumor suppressors to determine cancer cell fate. Previous studies have demonstrated that kaempferol and its derivatives, owing to their molecular structures, suppress the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway either directly or indirectly, thereby playing a critical role in inhibiting cancer cell proliferation. Hence, this comprehensive review elucidates the therapeutic potential of kaempferol and its derivatives, focusing specifically on their molecular mechanisms in modulating the PTEN/PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Furthermore, this review highlights the crosstalk between kaempferol and the specific miRNAs targeting these signaling components in various cancer types.

Background/Objectives: The genus Tristerix comprises at least ten species, found from southern Chile to Colombia in South America. In Chile, several species of these hemiparasitic plants are known as quitral or quintral. Quitral, mainly T. corymbosus (syn. T. tetrandus), is used in alternative medicine for its anti-inflammatory, digestive, hemostatic, hypocholesterolemic, and wound-healing properties. This study investigates the phytochemical composition and antimicrobial properties of T. corymbosus. Methods: A hydroalcoholic extract of T. corymbosus was prepared from leaves and small branches. The addition of methanol, on the extract, produced precipitation allowing us to isolate a methanol-soluble fraction, a brown powder obtained after filtration, and a tar-like residue remaining in the flask. These fractions were resuspended and tested for antimicrobial activity. Results: All fractions showed activity against Streptococcus pyogenes, but not E. coli. The brown powder exhibits the strongest potency against Gram-positive bacteria, some Gram-negative and C. albicans. HPLC-MS analysis revealed presence of lipidic compounds with surfactant properties. Conclusions: The abundant lipidic molecules present in the analyzed fraction likely account for the antimicrobial effects through affecting membrane structure of microorganisms supporting the traditional wound-healing uses of T. corymbosus in ancestral medicine.

Background/Objectives: The genus Tristerix comprises at least ten species, found from southern Chile to Colombia in South America. In Chile, several species of these hemiparasitic plants are commonly known as quitral or quintral. Traditionally, quitral, mainly T. corymbosus (syn. T. tetrandus), has been used in alternative medicine for its anti-inflammatory, digestive, hemostatic, hypocholesterolemic, wound-healing, and astringent properties. Due to its wide distribution in central and southern Chile and its frequent collection for ethnopharmacological purposes, this study aimed to investigate the phytochemical composition and antimicrobial properties of T. corymbosus. Methods: A hydroalcoholic extract of T. corymbosus was prepared from powdered leaves and small branches. Subsequently, the addition of methanol produced a precipitation to isolate three different fractions: a methanol-soluble fraction that was rotovaped, a brown powder obtained after filtration, and a tar-like residue that remained at the bottom of the flask. These fractions were resuspended in 70% ethanol or water and tested for antimicrobial activity. Results: All fractions showed activity against Streptococcus pyogenes, but not E. coli, with the brown powder exhibiting the strongest potency against S. pyogenes and other Gram-positive bacteria. Qualitative phytochemical characterization, followed by HPLC-MS analysis, revealed the presence of key compounds, including lipidic compounds with surfactant properties. Conclusions: the abundant lipidic molecules present in the analyzed fraction likely account for the antimicrobial effects through affecting membrane structure of Gram-positive bacteria, some Gram-negative and yeast Candida albicans supporting the traditional wound-healing uses of T. corymbosus in ancestral and alternative medicine.

Capsicum anuum “pimiento”, es una hortaliza de importancia nutricional, debido a la presencia de vitaminas, minerales y sus propiedades organolépticas. Las principales zonas productoras de Perú son La Libertad, Lambayeque y Piura; donde se concentra más del 50% de la producción nacional. Sin embargo, uno de los principales problemas para su cultivo es la salinidad, por tanto, se propuso como objetivo determinar la sensibilidad del pimiento ante el incremento en la salinidad. La fase experimental se realizó en el Laboratorio de Biotecnología de la Universidad Nacional de Trujillo, donde se cultivaron suspensiones celulares a partir de callos, empleando concentraciones crecientes de NaCl (0, 25, 50, 75, 100, 200 y 400 mM, respectivamente), empleando agitador orbital a 130 rpm, considerando las condiciones de 25 ºC de temperatura y oscuridad. Se empleó el software estadístico SPSS v.15.0. para el análisis de varianza y comparación de medias. Los resultados evidenciaron la existencia de diferencias significativas entre los tratamientos. Por tanto, se concluye que concentraciones superiores de 25 mM NaCl son perjudiciales para el cultivo del pimiento, recomendándose desarrollar nuevas variedades resistentes a la salinidad ante la inclemencia del cambio climático.

Few sclerophyllous plants from the central coast of Chile have been systematically studied. This work describes the phytochemical composition and antimicrobial properties of Baccharis concava Pers. (sin. B. macraei), a shrub found in the first line and near the Pacific coast. B. concava has been traditionally used by indigenous inhabitants of today’s central Chile for its medicinal properties. Few reports exist regarding the phytochemistry characterization and biological activities of B. concava. A hydroalcoholic extract of B. concava was prepared from leaves and small branches. Qualitative phytochemical characterization indicated the presence of alkaloids, steroids, terpenoids, flavonoids, phenolic, and tannin compounds. The antimicrobial activity of this extract was assessed in a panel of microorganisms including Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and pathogenic yeasts. The extract displayed an important antimicrobial effect against Gram-positive bacteria, Candida albicans, and Cryptococcus neoformans but not against Gram-negatives, for which an intact Lipopolysaccharide is apparently the determinant of resistance to B. concava extracts. The hydroalcoholic extract was then fractionated through a Sephadex LH-20/methanol–ethyl acetate column. Afterward, the fractions were pooled according to a similar pattern visualized by TLC/UV analysis. Fractions obtained by this criterion were assessed for their antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. The fraction presenting the most antimicrobial activity was HPLC-ESI-MS/MS, obtaining molecules related to caffeoylquinic acid, dicaffeoylquinic acid, and quercetin, among others. In conclusion, the extracts of B. concava showed strong antimicrobial activity, probably due to the presence of metabolites derived from phenolic acids, such as caffeoylquinic acid, and flavonoids, such as quercetin, which in turn could be responsible for helping with wound healing. In addition, the development of antimicrobial therapies based on the molecules found in B. concava could help to combat infection caused by pathogenic yeasts and Gram-positive bacteria, without affecting the Gram-negative microbiota.

Few Sclerophyllous plants from the central coast of Chile have been systematically studied. This work describes the phytochemical composition and antimicrobial properties of Baccharis concava Pers. (sin. B. macraei), a shrub found in the first line and nearby the pacific coast between latitudes 29-38⁰S. B. concava has been traditionally used by indigenous inhabitants of today central Chile for their anthelmintic properties, wound healing properties and as a diuretic. Hydro-alcoholic extracts of B. concava were prepared from leaves and small branches. The qualitative phytochemical characterization indicated presence of alkaloids, steroids, terpenoids, flavonoids, phenolic and tannins compounds. The antimicrobial activity of this extract was assessed in a panel of microorganisms including Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria and pathogenic yeasts. The extract displayed important antimicrobial effects against Gram positive, Candida albicans, and Cryptococcus neoformans, but not against Gram negative, for which an intact Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is apparently the determinant of resistant to B. concava extracts. The hydroalcoholic extract was then fractionated through a sephadex LH-20/methanol-ethyl acetate column. Followed, the fractions were pooled according to a similar composition that was visualized by TLC/UV analysis. Fractions obtained by this criterion were assessed for their antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. The fraction presenting the most antimicrobial activity was HPLC-ESI-MS/MS analyzed obtaining a composition rich in structures derived from caffeoylquinic acid, dicaffeoylquinic acid and quercetin, among others. In conclusion, the extracts of B. concava show a strong antimicrobial activity probably due to their composition rich in metabolites derived from caffeoylquinic acid and quercetin, that in turn could be responsible for helping with wound healing, as reported from its ancient cultural use. In addition, the development of antimicrobial therapies based in the molecules found in B. concava could help to combat infection caused by pathogenic yeasts and Gram-positive bacteria, without affecting the Gram-negative microbiota.

Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with high incidence in children and adolescents characterized by motor hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has revealed that neuroanatomical abnormalities such as the volume reduction in the neocortex and hippocampus are shared by several neuropsychiatric diseases such as schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder and ADHD. Furthermore, the abnormal development and postnatal pruning of dendritic spines of neocortical neurons in schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability are well documented. Dendritic spines are dynamic structures exhibiting Hebbian and homeostatic plasticity that triggers intracellular cascades involving glutamate receptors, calcium influx and remodeling of the F-actin network. The long-term potentiation (LTP)-induced insertion of postsynaptic glutamate receptors is associated with the enlargement of spine heads and long-term depression (LTD) with spine shrinkage. Using a murine model of ADHD, a delay in dendritic spines’ maturation in CA1 hippocampal neurons correlated with impaired working memory and hippocampal LTP has recently reported. The aim of this review is to summarize recent evidence that has emerged from studies focused on the neuroanatomical and genetic features found in ADHD patients as well as reports from animal models describing the molecular structure and remodeling of dendritic spines.

Medicinal plants have been used since prehistoric times and continue to treat several diseases as a fundamental part of the healing process. Inflammation is a condition characterized by redness, pain, and swelling. This process is a hard response by living tissue to any injury. Furthermore, inflammation is produced by various diseases such as rheumatic and immune-mediated conditions, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and diabetes. Hence, anti-inflammatory-based treatments could emerge as a novel and exciting approach to treating these diseases. Medicinal plants and their secondary metabolites are known for their anti-inflammatory properties, and this review introduces various native Chilean plants whose anti-inflammatory effects have been evaluated in experimental studies. Fragaria chiloensis, Ugni molinae, Buddleja globosa, Aristotelia chilensis, Berberis microphylla, and Quillaja saponaria are some native species analyzed in this review. Since inflammation treatment is not a one-dimensional solution, this review seeks a multidimensional therapeutic approach to inflammation with plant extracts based on scientific and ancestral knowledge.