DIVERSIDAD GENÉTICA Y MEJORAMIENTO DE PLANTAS MEDICINALES= GENETIC DIVERSITY AND IMPROVEMENT OF MEDICINAL PLANTS:

Usually spices are identified morphol. using simple methods like magnifying glasses or microscopic instruments.  On the other hand, mol. biol. methods like the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) enable an accurate and specific detection also in complex matrixes.  Generally, the origins of spices are plants with diverse genetic backgrounds and relationships.  The processing methods used for the prodn. of spices are complex and individual.  Consequently, the development of a reliable DNA-based method for spice anal. is a challenging intention.  However, once established, thisbsu method will be easily adapted to less difficult food matrixes.  In the current study, several alternative methods for the isolation of DNA from spices have been developed and evaluated in detail with regard to.  (i) its purity (photometric),.  (ii) yield (fluorimetric methods), and.  (iii) its amplifiability (PCR).  Whole genome amplification methods were used to preamplify isolates to improve the ratio between amplifiable DNA and inhibiting substances.  Specific primer sets were designed, and the PCR conditions were optimized to detect 18 spices selectively.  Assays of self-made spice mixts. were performed to proof the applicability of the developed methods.

ÚLTIMOS AVANCES EN LA QUÍMICA Y ACTIVIDADES BACTERIOLÓGICAS EN LAS PLANTAS MEDICINALES= RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CHEMICAL AND BACTERIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES IN MEDICINAL PLANTS
 
1) In the present study, the chem. compn. and antibacterial activity of essential oils of bitter fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill. var. vulgare) and dill (Anethum graveolens L.) were investigated against food-borne and seed-borne pathogenic bacteria.  The chem. compn. of bitter fennel and dill essential oils was analyzed by gas chromatog.-mass spectroscopy.  The major compds. found in the essential oils of bitter fennel and dill were estragole (37.6%) and limonene (33.1%), resp.  These essential oils have antibacterial activity against food-borne as well as seed-borne pathogenic bacteria.  Fennel essential oil had the highest antibacterial activity against the food-borne bacterial pathogen Staphylococus aureus, while dill essential oil had the highest antibacterial activity against seed-borne pathogenic Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis.  Amongst all the bacterial species tested, the plant pathogenic agent Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato had the greatest resistance to both essential oils.  Considering the significant level of bacterial growth inhibition of seed-borne and food-borne pathogens, essential oils or their components could be promising seed disinfectants or food additives in appropriate products.
 
2) Antioxidant activities of ethanolic ext. from dill flower and its various fractions were evaluated with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging, Trolox equiv. antioxidant capacity, reducing power, chelating power, and b-carotene bleaching assays.  The flower ext. was successively sepd. into n-hexane, Et acetate and ethanol sol. fractions by liq.-liq. partition.  Dill leaf and seed exts. were used for comparison.  In all assays, the flower ext. showed higher antioxidant activity than the leaf and seed exts.  With regard to various fractions of the flower ext., the sequence for antioxidant activity was Et acetate fraction > ethanol fraction > original flower ext. > n-hexane fraction.  Phenols including flavonoids and proanthocyanidins should be responsible for antioxidant abilities of the flower ext.  Chlorogenic acid, myricetin, and 3,3',4',5,7-pentahydoxyflavan (4®8)-3,3',4',5,7-pentahydoxyflavan were the major phenolic acid, flavonoid, and proanthocyanidin, resp., in the dill flower ext.
 
3) hyperlipidemia as a major risk factor of atherosclerosis is treated with different drugs.  Concerning length of therapy and vast majority of side effects, herbal medication may be suitable substitute for these drugs.  In this single-blind, placebo controlled study, lipid profiles of 150 hyperlipidemic patients in cardiol. outpatient department of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences were checked at same conditions.  They were divided into three equal groups randomly (each composing of 50 patients).  They were given enteric-coated garlic powder tablet (equal to 400 mg garlic, 1 mg allicin) twice daily, anethum tablet (650 mg) twice daily, and placebo tablet.  All patients were put on NCEP type P diet and 6 wk later, lipid profiles were checked.  In garlic group: total cholesterol (decreased by 26.82 mg/dL, 12.1% redn., and P-value: .000), and LDL-cholesterol (decreased by 22.18 mg/dL, 17.3% redn., and P-value: .000) dropped.  HDL-cholesterol (increased by 10.02 mg/dL, 15.7% increase, and P-value: .000) increased.  Although triglyceride dropped by 13.72 mg/dL (6.3%) but this was not significant statistically (P-value: .222).  In anethum group: surprisingly, triglyceride increased by 14.74 mg/dL (6.0%).  Anethum could reduce total cholesterol by 0.4% and LDL-cholesterol by 6.3% but these were not significant statistically (P-value: .828, and .210, resp.).  Anethum has no significant effect on lipid profile, but garlic tablet has significant favorable effect on cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and HDL-cholesterol.  Garlic may play an important role in therapy of hypercholesterolemia.

 Patente extraída del Chemical Abstracts=Extracted patent of the Database Chemical Abstracts

 Appetite regulating dietary supplement. Vedel Saaby Nielsen, Soeren; Teisen-Simony, Claude.  (D.Xign, UK).    PCT Int. Appl.  (2011),     92pp.  CODEN: PIXXD2  WO  2011063817  A2  20110603  Designated States W: AE, AG, AL, AM, AO, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BH, BR, BW, BY, BZ, CA, CH, CL, CN, CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM, DO, DZ, EC, EE, EG, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, GT, HN, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, KG, KM, KN, KP, KR, KZ, LA, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LY, MA, MD, ME, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MY, MZ, NA, NG, NI, NO, NZ, OM, PE, PG, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, RU, SC, SD, SE, SG, SK, SL, SM, ST, SV, SY, TH, TJ.  Designated States RW: AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, IS, IT, LU, MC, MT, NL, NO, PT, SE, SM, TR, BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG.  Patent  written in English.    Application: WO  2010-DK50321  20101126.  Priority: DK  2009-70232  20091126; US  2009-267494P  20091208.  CAN 155:39517    AN 2011:688496    CAPLUS   (Copyright (C) 2011 ACS on SciFinder (R))  

A dietary supplement for regulating the appetite of an individual is described.  The dietary supplement comprises at least one mech. satiety regulator, and at least one chem. satiety inducer, and may addnl. comprise at least one thermogen, and/or at least one side effect remover.  The dietary supplement induces satiety based on a combination of occupying part of the vol. of the stomach, inducing sending signals to the brain in respect of satiety.  Furthermore the dietary supplement may maintain or increase metab. and reduce side effects such as the amt. of produced flatulence.  The dietary supplement may comprise fiber, whey, plant parts from plants e.g. of the genus Capsicum and plant parts from a species e.g. of the genus Mentha.

In cooking, dill is a useful spice that loses its flavor when overcooked. As a medicine, dill seeds and leaves were used to aid digestion and relieve intestinal cramps and flatulence. “Gripe water” or dill water was given to soothe babies with the colic. The plant name may come from the Saxon word dilla, which means “lull.” Dill was used to promote lactation, but there is no scientific evidence that it actually has that effect. Dill was known as “anethon” in ancient Greece, and in the Middle Ages it was used by magicians as a charm against witchcraft.

Part used::
Leaves, Seeds

Origin:
Europe, Asia

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Range. Indigenous to Mediterranean region, but adventive and cultivated world­wide in tropical and temperate climates. Grows naturally and is also cultivated in Up­per Myanmar.

Uses.
Fruit, Seed: Used as carminative, stomachic, and spasmolytic.

Leaf, Seed: Hot-tasting seeds and leaves contain heating properties used to stimulate circulation and gall bladder function, as well as to alleviate fever, inflammation, and congestion.

Seed: A boiled-water extract of the seeds is reduced to one-third the starting volume and taken for chest discomfort, shooting pains, and aches. The same extract is given to new mothers as a tonic for the heart and as a postnatal restorative. The roasted seeds are eaten plain or with rock sugar to stimulate lactation. Brushed with oil and roasted over a fire, the leaves are pulverized into an ointment applied to sores to re­duce inflammation.

PARTE UTILIZADA =Used part: Semillas.

ACCIÓN FARMACOLÓGICA =Pharmacological action: Digestivo, carminativo,

POSOLOGÍA =Posology: Tintura de eneldo, alcohol de 60grados 200cc, semillas de eneldo 40 gramos. Se aconseja disolver una cucharadita en el café o té que se toma después de las comidas.

COMPOSICIÓN QUÍMICA =Chemical composition: The essential oil from dried leaves, flowers and fruits of Anethum graveolens L. (dill) cultivated in Romania was isolated by hydrodistn. and analyzed by gas-chromatog. coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS).  The main components in leaves were a- phellandrene (62.71%), limonene (13.28%) and anethofuran (16.42%).  The main components in flowers were a- phellandrene (30.26%), limonene (33.22%) and anethofuran (22%).  Cis-carvone and limonene are the major constituents of seeds volatile oil with 75.2% and, resp. 21.56%.

ZONA GEOGRÁFICA=Geografical zone: Argentina

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Clima:
cálido y templado. Crece entre los 0 y los 1.600 metros sobre el nivel del mar
Partes utilizadas:
semillas, tallos y hojas
USOS MEDICINALES
Internos:
- Disminuye los gases estomacales.
- Calma los nervios (calmante).
Externos:
- Combate los hongos y las bacterias en la piel
PRECAUCIONES
Puede hacer muy sensible la piel a los rayos del sol, por eso se recomienda usar  bloqueador solar mientras dure el tratamiento.

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Parte utilizada:
Frutos.
Propiedades:
Carminativo, espasmolítico, facilita la digestión. Ligeramente diurético y galactógeno.
Indicaciones:
Indicado para digestiones lentas, flatulencias y dolores gastrointestinales. También está indicado en lactancia.

1) CONSELL, Danilo M. Enciclopedia de plantas que curan. Buenos Aires: Ediliba, 1987. 2 volúmenes. p.

2) RADULESCU, Valeria; POPESCU, Maria Lidia; ILIES, Diana-Carolina. Chemical composition of the volatile oil from different plant parts of Anethum graveolens L. (Umbelliferae) cultivated in Romania.  Farmacia (Bucharest, Romania). 2010, vol.58, nº5, p.594-600.
 
3) FOCKE, Felix; HAASE, Ilka; FISCHER, Markus.  DNA-Based Identification of Spices: DNA Isolation, Whole Genome Amplification, and Polymerase Chain Reaction. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2011, vol.59, nº2, p.513-520.
 
4) SOYLU, S.; SOYLU, E. M.; EVRENDILEK, G. A.  Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of essential oils of bitter fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill. var. vulgare) and dill (Anethum graveolens L.) against the growth of food-borne and seed-borne pathogenic bacteria.  Italian Journal of Food Science  (2009),  21(3),  347-355.       

5) SHYU, Yung-Shin. Evaluation of antioxidant ability of ethanolic extract from dill (Anethum graveolens L.) flower. Food Chemistry. 2009, vol.115, nº2, p.515-521.

6) KOJURI, Javad; VOSOUGHI, Amir R.; AKRAMI, Majid. Effects of anethum graveolens and garlic on lipid profile in hyperlipidemic patients.  Lipids in Health and Disease. 2007, vol.6.

7) Hull, Kathleen; Photog. Hull, Meredith /Indiana Medical History Museum: Guide to the Medicinal Plant Garden./ USA: Indiana Medical History Museum. 2010. -- p. 58.

8) DeFilipps, Robert A.; Krupnick, Gary A. / PhytoKeys, v. 102. - - p. 1 - 314,  2018.

9) Fundación secretos para contar/ Los secretos de las plantas: 50 plantas medicinales en su huerta. - Medellin: Colombia, 2014. - p. 54.

10) María Stella Cáceres A.; et al./ MANUAL DE USO DE HIERBAS MEDICINALES
DEL PARAGUAY/ Fundación Celestina de Pérez Almada con apoyo de Unesco Montevideo. p. 46.