DIVERSIDAD GENÉTICA Y MEJORAMIENTO DE PLANTAS MEDICINALES:

The study and development of bioanalytical methodologies applied to appropriated indigenous freshwater sentinels were proposed for early detection of xenobiotics exposition in natural waters. In this sense, metallic uptake was correlated with the expression of biomarkers of contamination such as metallothioneins in studies developed in the Mediterranean and Baltic seas. The results obtained from the development and optimization of biomarkers in characteristic sentinels of the Rio de la Plata coast in acute exposition assays to heavy metal were shown in the present study. Bivalves mollusk (Corbicula fluminea and Limnopernafortunei), and aquatic plants (Schoenoplectus californicus, Sagitaria montevidensis and Pistia stratiotes) were selected as sentinels. The kinetic uptake of copper and cadmium and the expression of cytosolic proteins were particularly analyzed. Metal content was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, and the protein pattern modification was assessed by using SDS-PAGE electrophoresis, in Tristricine system, followed by coomasie blue and silver staining. 

PARTE UTILIZADA=Used part: Hojas y rizoma. 

ACCIÓN FARMACOLÓGICA= Pharmacological action: Diurético y antifebrífugas, epilepsia y en hernias recientes. 

COMPOSICIÓN QUÍMICA= Chemical composition: An investigation of the chemical basis for rice allelopathy to the rice weed arrowhead (Sagittaria montevidensis) was undertaken using GC/MS and GC/MS/MS techniques. Twenty-five compounds were isolated and identified from the root exudates of both allelopathic and non-allelopathic rice varieties. Phenolics, phenylalkanoic acids, and indoles were among the chemical classes identified. Two indoles previously unreported in rice were detected in the exudates, 5-hydroxy-2-indolecarboxylic acid and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid. Several other compounds identified in this study have not previously been reported in rice root exudates, namely mercaptoacetic acid, 4- hydroxyphenylacetic acid, and 4-vinylphenol. The levels of 15 compounds present in the exudates were quantified using GC/MS/MS. Six of the seven most abundant compounds were phenolic acids. Significant differences exist between the allelopathic and non-allelopathic cultivars in their production of three of these six compounds. Greater amounts of trans-ferulic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and caffeic acid were detected in the exudates of allelopathic cultivars. The seventh compound, abietic acid, was significantly higher in the non-allelopathic cultivars. 

ZONA GEOGRÁFICA= Geografical zone: Uruguay y Argentina. 

1) GONZALEZ, Matías; LOMBARDO, Atilio; VALLARINO, Aida. Plantas de la medicina vulgar del Uruguay. Montevideo : Talleres Gráficos, 1937, p.50.

2) SEAL, A.N.; PRATLEY, J.E.; HAIG, T.; An, M. Identification and quantitation of compounds in a series of allelopathic and non-allelopathic rice root exudates. Journal of Chemical Ecology. 2004, vol.30 , nº8 , p.1647-1662.     

3) PORTA, A. Expresión de biomarcadores de contaminación ambiental en organismos acuáticos bonaerenses. Acta Bioquimica Clinica Latinoamericana. 2001, vol.35 , nº2 , p.261-271.