Mangifera indica as propolis source: what exactly do bees collect?

Objective The mango tree Mangifera indica is known as one of the botanical sources of propolis in Tropical regions. There are two different materials which bees can collect from a mango tree to produce propolis: the resin of the tree bark, and the latex found on the fruits. We performed the study of the chemical profile of mango resin in comparison with propolis in order to clarify its importance as propolis source. Results We compared the chemical profiles (by GC–MS analysis of ethanol extracts after silylation) of the resin and samples of propolis: of stingless bees (3 Vietnames, 2 Indonesian), and one of Apis mellifera from Thailand. In the resin and all propolis samples, 25 compounds were identified: fatty acids, cardanols (alk(en)yl phenols), cardols, anacardic acids, triterpene alcohols and ketones, cycloartane type triterpenic acids. All samples have the same qualitative composition but there are important quantitative differences. Considering literature data on mango latex, we conclude that bees of different species, make use of the two propolis sources offered by mango: bark resin and fruit latex, in different proportions. We also confirmed for the first time the presence of alk(en)yl phenols and anacardic acids in the tree bark resin of mango.

Mangifera indica as propolis source: what exactly do bees collect?

Objective The mango tree Mangifera indica is known as one of the botanical sources of propolis in Tropical regions. There are two different materials which bees can collect from a mango tree to produce propolis: the resin of the tree bark, and the latex found on the fruits. We performed the study of the chemical profile of mango resin in comparison with propolis in order to clarify its importance as propolis source. Results We compared the chemical profiles (by GC-MS analysis of ethanol extracts after silylation) of the resin and samples of propolis: of stingless bees (3 Vietnames, 2 Indonesian), and one of Apis mellifera from Thailand. In the resin and all propolis samples, 25 compounds were identified: fatty acids, cardanols (alk(en)yl phenols), cardols, anacardic acids, triterpene alcohols and ketones, cycloartane type triterpenic acids. All samples have the same qualitative composition but there are important quantitative differences. Considering literature data on mango latex, we conclude that bees of different species, make use of the two propolis sources offered by mango: bark resin and fruit latex, in different proportions. We also confirmed for the first time the presence of alk(en)yl phenols and anacardic acids in the tree bark resin of mango.

Anacardic Acids from Amphipterygium adstringens Confer Cytoprotection against 5-Fluorouracil and Carboplatin Induced Blood Cell Toxicity While Increasing Antitumoral Activity and Survival in an Animal Model of Breast Cancer

Amphipterygium adstringens (cuachalalate) contains anacardic acids (AAs) such as 6-pentadecyl salicylic acid (6SA) that show immunomodulatory and antitumor activity with minimal or no secondary adverse effects. By contrast, most chemotherapeutic agents, such as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and carboplatin (CbPt), induce myelosuppression and leukopenia. Here, we investigated the myeloprotective and antineoplastic potential of an AA extract or the 6SA as monotherapy or in combination with commonly used chemotherapeutic agents (5-FU and CbPt) to determine the cytoprotective action of 6SA on immune cells. Treatment of Balb/c breast tumor-bearing female mice with an AA mixture or 6SA did not induce the myelosuppression or leukopenia observed with 5-FU and CbPt. The co-administration of AA mixture or isolated 6SA with 5-FU or CbPt reduced the apoptosis of circulating blood cells and bone marrow cells. Treatment of 4T1 breast tumor-bearing mice with the AA mixture or 6SA reduced tumor growth and lung metastasis and increased the survival rate compared with monotherapies. An increased effect was observed in tumor reduction with the combination of 6SA and CbPt. In conclusion, AAs have important myeloprotective and antineoplastic effects, and they can improve the efficiency of chemotherapeutics, thereby protecting the organism against the toxic effects of drugs such as 5-FU and CbPt.

Structure-Astringency Relationship of Anacardic Acids from Cashew Apple (Anacardium Occidentale L.)

<p>Cashew apple presents a characteristic astringency. However, the compounds responsible for this characteristic were not described yet. A cashew apple extract was added to a BSA solution and the compounds before and after precipitation were analyzed by UPLC-QTOF/MS^E. The extract astringency was measured on a 5-point scale (0: non astringent and 4: extremely astringent). Among the phenolics detected anacardic acids were identified and evaluated for their astringent effect. In the sensorial tests the cashew apple extract was considered very astringent (average of 2.5). A mixture of anacardic acids, had an average of 1.76 (astringent). The three isolated anacardic acids were evaluated. The <i>in silico</i>experiments were performed to analyze mainly the steric factor associated to the binding. The sensory results were confirmed by <i>in silico</i> analysis, indicating that a higher unsaturation degree of the aliphatic chain leads to an astringency increase.</p>

Structure-Astringency Relationship of Anacardic Acids from Cashew Apple (Anacardium Occidentale L.)

<p>Cashew apple presents a characteristic astringency. However, the compounds responsible for this characteristic were not described yet. A cashew apple extract was added to a BSA solution and the compounds before and after precipitation were analyzed by UPLC-QTOF/MS^E. The extract astringency was measured on a 5-point scale (0: non astringent and 4: extremely astringent). Among the phenolics detected anacardic acids were identified and evaluated for their astringent effect. In the sensorial tests the cashew apple extract was considered very astringent (average of 2.5). A mixture of anacardic acids, had an average of 1.76 (astringent). The three isolated anacardic acids were evaluated. The <i>in silico</i>experiments were performed to analyze mainly the steric factor associated to the binding. The sensory results were confirmed by <i>in silico</i> analysis, indicating that a higher unsaturation degree of the aliphatic chain leads to an astringency increase.</p>