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The induction of micronuclei in gill cells of zebra fish (Danio rerio) maintained in calcium-magnesium bicarbonated waters from a reference well and 'Zimapán 5' well, the latter with an arsenic (As) content ranging from 0.395 to 0.630 p.p.m., was studied. The specimens were studied during 180 days in three separated lots: in reference well-water (negative control), in reference water to which was added 5 mg/l As(5+) (positive control); and in water from 'Zimapán 5' well, with 65 specimens/lot. In waters an As concentration diminution was observed with time, whereas in fish there was an increase. After 30 days there was an As diminution in water from positive control of 1092.65 p.p.b. (36.42 p.p.b./day), whereas in fish it had increased to 523.81 p.p.b. (17.46 p.p.b./day). For the water from 'Zimapán 5' well, there was a diminution of 211.40 p.p.b. (7.04 p.p.b./day), and in fish there was an increase of 74.73 p.p.b. (2.49 p.p.b./day). In relation to micronucleus frequency in gill cells, at the end of 180 days in the negative control there was a spontaneous generation of 0.8 micronuclei/1000 cells, in the positive control there was a micronucleus frequency 163.5 times greater than in the negative control, whereas for the fish exposed to 'Zimapán 5' well-water the micronucleus frequency was 56.25 times greater than in the negative control. Taken together these results demonstrate the genotoxicity to Danio rerio of As in the well water.

The induction of micronuclei in gill cells of zebra fish (Danio rerio) maintained in calcium–magnesium bicarbonated waters from a reference well and ‘Zimapán 5’ well, the latter with an arsenic (As) content ranging from 0.395 to 0.630 p.p.m., was studied. The specimens were studied during 180 days in three separated lots: in reference well-water (negative control), in reference water to which was added 5 mg/l As5+ (positive control); and in water from ‘Zimapán 5’ well, with 65 specimens/lot. In waters an As concentration diminution was observed with time, whereas in fish there was an increase. After 30 days there was an As diminution in water from positive control of 1092.65 p.p.b. (36.42 p.p.b./day), whereas in fish it had increased to 523.81 p.p.b. (17.46 p.p.b./day). For the water from ‘Zimapán 5’ well, there was a diminution of 211.40 p.p.b. (7.04 p.p.b./day), and in fish there was an increase of 74.73 p.p.b. (2.49 p.p.b./day). In relation to micronucleus frequency in gill cells, at the end of 180 days in the negative control there was a spontaneous generation of 0.8 micronuclei/1000 cells, in the positive control there was a micronucleus frequency 163.5 times greater than in the negative control, whereas for the fish exposed to ‘Zimapán 5’ well-water the micronucleus frequency was 56.25 times greater than in the negative control. Taken together these results demonstrate the genotoxicity to Danio rerio of As in the well water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Using molecular markers, we confirmed the taxonomic status of Bacopa monnieri from Mexico. We obtained the pigment and carotenoid profiles, total phenols, antioxidants, and bioassayed the biological activities (anti-inflammatory and anti-obesity) of the four wild populations. Our results show the great potential of B. monnieri as a natural source of compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-obesity properties. Therefore, the raw material of this plant may be effectively used as a nutritional and medicinal supplement. Some of the species of the genus Bacopa have been used in Pharmacopoeia worldwide. However, in Mexico, Bacopa monnieri has neither been extensively cultivated nor studied, nor has their use in traditional medicine been reported. The aim of this work was to assess the taxonomic verification of the four wild populations of B. monnieri, the chemical content of their pigments and phenols and to provide an analysis of their potential bioactivity. B. monnieri wild populations from Mexico were validated using molecular markers. Chromatographic profiling using HPLC-PDA revealed 21 compounds comprising 12 chlorophylls and nine carotenoids; of the latter, the major ones were lutein (0.921 ± 0.031 μg/mg of dry extract) and β-carotene (0.095 ± 0.003 μg/mg of dry extract). The total phenolic content, determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu assay, ranged from 54.8 ± 5.8 to 70.3 ± 2.2 µg of gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/mg. Plant extracts scavenged from the free radical DPPH in IC50 ranged from 130.6 ± 3.0 to 249.9 ± 12.1 µg dry extract/mL. In terms of the anti-inflammatory potential, the most effective extract was from a soil-based plant from Jalisco (BS), reduced from nitric oxide in a RAW 264.7 culture medium, with an IC50 value of 134 µg of dry extract/mL. The BS extract showed a significant neutral lipid-reducing activity in the zebrafish model, ranging from 3.13 μg/mL p < 0.05 to 100 μg/mL p < 0.0001. Overall, the extracts analyzed here for the first time seem promising for future use because of their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-obesity potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Mexico, the use of medicinal plants is the first alternative to treat the diseases of the most economically vulnerable population. Therefore, this review offers a list of Mexican plants (native and introduced) with teratogenic effects and describes their main alterations, teratogenic compounds, and the models and doses used. Our results identified 63 species with teratogenic effects (19 native) and the main alterations that were found in the nervous system and axial skeleton, induced by compounds such as alkaloids, terpenes, and flavonoids. Additionally, a group of hallucinogenic plants rich in alkaloids employed by indigenous groups without teratogenic studies were identified. Our conclusion shows that several of the identified species are employed in Mexican traditional medicine and that the teratogenic species most distributed in Mexico are Astragalus mollissimus, Astragalus lentiginosus, and Lupinus formosus. Considering the total number of plants in Mexico (≈29,000 total vascular plants), to date, existing research in the area shows that Mexican plants with teratogenic effects represent ≈0.22% of the total species of these in the country. This indicates a clear need to intensify the evaluation of the teratogenic effect of Mexican plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Arsenic is a key environmental toxicant having significant impacts on human health. Millions of people in developing countries such as Bangladesh, Mexico, Taiwan, and India are affected by arsenic contamination through groundwater. Environmental contamination of arsenic leads to leads to various types of cancers, coronary and neurological ailments in human. There are several sources of arsenic exposure such as drinking water, diet, wood preservatives, smoking, air and cosmetics, while, drinking water is the most explored route. Inorganic arsenic exhibits higher levels of toxicity compared its organic forms. Exposure to inorganic arsenic is known to cause major neurological effects such as cytotoxicity, chromosomal aberration, damage to cellular DNA and genotoxicity. On the other hand, long-term exposure to arsenic may cause neurobehavioral effects in the juvenile stage, which may have detrimental effects in the later stages of life. Thus, it is important to understand the toxicology and underlying molecular mechanism of arsenic which will help to mitigate its detrimental effects. The present review focuses on the epidemiology, and the toxic mechanisms responsible for arsenic induced neurobehavioral diseases, including strategies for its management from water, community and household premises. The review also provides a critical analysis of epigenetic and transgenerational modifications, mitochondrial oxidative stress, molecular mechanisms of arsenic-induced oxidative stress, and neuronal dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]