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The global need for food security has sparked interest in the potential of our indigenous food systems, including indigenous fruits and other wild edible flora and fauna. However, majority of these indigenous food resources remain underutilised despite its potentially high nutritional and economic benefits. This is largely due to the inadequacy of technical and practical information regarding the availability, propagation, and overall utility of the species. In this regard, the present study investigated the early growth responses of three selected indigenous fruit tree species, namely, Kalumpit (Terminalia microcarpa), Libas (Spondias pinnata) and Tibig (Ficus nota) to fertilisation and mycorrhizal inoculation following a Completely Randomized Design with treatments being Control, 2.5-g complete fertiliser (14:14:14), MYKOVAM, and Fertilisation + MYKOVAM. After 24 weeks (6 months), it was found that the selected indigenous fruit tree species can grow equally well without fertiliser or mycorrhizal inoculation. However, when necessary, MYKOVAM can be a better option than complete fertiliser. Findings showed that S. pinnata and F. nota seedlings inoculated with MYKOVAM yielded higher height increments than the fertiliser group. MYKOVAM inoculated F.nota seedlings also yielded higher diameter growth and total biomass than those treated with fertiliser. No significant variation in root volume was recorded for all selected indigenous fruit tree species among all treatments. Early growth of T. microcarpa was not enhanced by any of the treatments. The study, therefore, revealed relevant information that could enhance the mass propagation of these species in support of food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disorder that affects about 1% of the population globally. Numerous conventional medications are available for the management of RA. However, their usage is limited due to the associated side effects. Spondias mombin is a member of the Anacardiaceae family known for its anti-arthritic effects. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-arthritic activity of S. mombin (L.) stem bark in RA. Radical scavenging activity was determined using DPPH assay. The anti-inflammatory effect was determined using protease inhibition and formaldehyde-induced arthritis models. S. mombin aqueous fraction (SMAF) exhibited a significant (p<0.0001) radical scavenging effect (IC50 of 57.87 µg/mL) over the S. mombin methanol extract (SMME) and S. mombin chloroform fraction (SMCF) when compared to the sham control. SMAF at 500 µg/mL significantly (p<0.05) inhibited (56.89 ± 2.02%) the effect of protease when compared to the sham control. SMME significantly (p<0.001) reduced inflammation in rat paws when compared to the control with peak effects seen at the dose of 50 mg/kg body weight. The result of the study has revealed that the stem bark has radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Fruits are well known for being nourishing. In Nigeria, some are used and eaten to their full potential, while others go underutilized. A preference for their usage in nutrition may result from elucidating the nutritional benefits of certain fruits. Objective: This study investigated the proximate and mineral composition of fruits from Spondias mombin (Hog plum), Canarium schweinfurthii (Bullet pear), and Citrus sinensis (Orange) trees in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Methods: Fruits were collected, washed, peeled, and carefully pressed into pulps. The pulp was investigated for proximate and mineral compositions following standard methods of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists. At p<0.05 level of significance, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the mean. Results: The proximate and mineral compositions of the fruits were significant (p < 0.05). The protein levels in the fruits were 2.60 ± 0.12 to 3.74±0.01 percent. Carbohydrate content was C. schweinfurthii: 33.43 ± 0.026; S. mombin: 1.01 ± 0.12; and C. sinensis: 2.37 ± 0.15. The ash contents of the fruits were low (1.34 - 2.86g/100 g). Citrus sinensis has the least amount of fat (0.55), while C. schweinfurthii has the highest (1.57). The minerals present in the fruits were in the order of K Na Ca Mg Fe Zn P Cu Mn nitrate. Conclusion: The fruits have ample nutrients, therefore, lack of nutritional information on the moderately utilized and underutilized fruits may be responsible for the peoples' preferred choice of well-utilized fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many plants are used by the population through popular knowledge passed from generation to generation for the treatment of various diseases. However, there is not always any scientific content supporting these uses, which is very important for safety. One of these plants is the fruit of the Spondias genus, which during its processing generates various residues that are discarded, but which also have pharmacological properties. The focus of this review is to survey the pharmacological activities that Spondias genus shows, as well as which part of the plant is used, since there is a lot of richness in its by-products, such as leaf, bark, resin, seed, and peel, which are discarded and could be reused. The main activities of this genus are antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antifungal, and antiviral, among others. These properties indicate that this genus could be used in the treatment of several diseases, but there are still not many products available on the market that use this genus as an active ingredient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formation of silver nanoparticles with irradiation of microwaves using biological agents such as plant extracts is one of the eco-friendly green synthesis approaches which is economical in comparison with the physical and chemical methods. This study is focused at preparation of silver nanoparticles silver using Spondias pinnata bark extract by microwave irradiation and its comparison with aging method. Formation of silver nanoparticles was identified by observing the surface plasmon resonance absorption band peak at ~432 nm by UV-visible spectrophotometer. Optimization of the synthesis procedure was carried out using different amount of extract, concentration of substrate and microwave irradiation time and morphological features were characterised. A solution containing 8ml plant extract and 8 mM silver nitrate exposed to 90 sec microwave irradiation time was identified as optimised condition for the production of spherical shaped silver nanoparticles with a size of 34.52 nm which indicates that faster formation of silver nanoparticles compared to the aging method. Present research shows the importance of optimization of bio reduction conditions and the amount of reactants required for regulation of the morphology of silver nanoparticles as well as to obtain homogenous solution which is the main problem encountered in plant- mediated production of silver nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the potential prebiotic properties of umbu-cajá (Spondias spp.) fruit processing by-product flour (UCF) on the human intestinal microbiota by monitoring the relative abundance of specific intestinal bacterial populations, microbial metabolic behavior, and antioxidant activity during 48 h of in vitro colonic fermentation using fecal inoculum donated from healthy adult individuals. UCF had a high insoluble fiber content and flavonols, especially quercetin-3- O -glucoside, as the most prevalent phenolic compounds, besides showing antioxidant activity. Medium with UCF increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus spp./ Enterococcus spp., Bifidobacterium spp., and Clostridium histolyticum during the colonic fermentation and decreased the relative abundance of Bacteroides spp./ Prevotella spp. and Eubacterium rectale/Clostridium coccoides. Medium with UCF maintained a higher relative abundance of Ruminococcus albus/R. flavefaciens than negative control during the colonic fermentation. UCF stimulated intense metabolic activity of the intestinal microbiota during the colonic fermentation, evidenced by decreased pH values, sugar consumption, and production of several metabolites linked to host health promotion, concomitant with high antioxidant activity. The results characterize UCF as a candidate for prebiotic use and a novel value-added circular ingredient to functionalize foods and nutraceuticals. • Umbu-cajá by-product flour (UCF) impacted colonic bacterial populations. • UCF affected the production of metabolites during colonic fermentation. • UCF enhanced the antioxidant activity in colonic fermentation media. • UCF is a candidate for a novel circular prebiotic ingredient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effect of Spondias mombin (SM) on oestrous cycle, conception and pregnancy was evaluated in 25 sexually mature Chinchilla rabbit does (Mean weight: 1.94 ± 1.06kg). In phase one, fifteen rabbits were synchronized with FSH (2 mg/kg i.m.) 12 hourly for three days. They were randomly assigned into three groups of five rabbits each. Group 1 and 2 received 1ml saline solution and 800mg/kg of methanolic extract of SM (meSM) orally for thirty days respectively. Group 3 received a single treatment of melengesterol acetate (MGA; 50mg/kg i.m.). Blood was obtained from the jugular vein at ten days interval for thirty days to determine plasma concentration of LH, FSH, estrogen and progesterone. Thereafter, the does were mated and laparotomised was carried out one week after to determine the number of embryonal sacs. In phase two, ten does were mated and ultrasonographically confirmed to be pregnant seven days post-mating. They were treated with 800mg/kg meSM orally at ten and twenty days post-mating. The does were observed daily until they kidded or aborted. Data obtained were analysed using student's T-test and ANOVA, with significance set at P = 0.05. Mean values of LH and Progesterone significantly decreased in Group 3 and 2 compared to control group while FSH was lower significantly in Group 3 compared to other groups. The effect of meSM on oestrous cycle was not so obvious in this study. Administration of meSM 10 days post-mating caused abortion in only one doe and caused no abortion at 20 days post-mating. It was concluded that meSM did not adversely affect reproductive cyclicity and pregnancy but has potential to cause abortion during early pregnancy in Chinchilla rabbits. Further studies where hormonal assays are done more frequently than this study to be able to determine the effect of meSM on oestrous cycle are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Associated side effects and anthelmintic resistance to synthetic anthelmintics limit their use. This study evaluated the anthelmintic, haematological and antioxidant activities of Spondias mombin (SM) in young dogs. In addition, phytochemical analyses and in vitro antioxidant assays of SM's fractions were done using standard methods. Ten Nigerian indigenous dog breed (aged 2-6 months), were randomly allocated into two groups (A and B) and pre-treated with 200 µg/kg ivermectin subcutaneously. Two weeks after, each dog was infected with 400 L3/mL Ancylostoma caninum suspension orally and topically. On day 31 post infection, Group A was administered 5 mg/kg pyrantel pamoate (PP) once, while Group B was administered 500 mg/kg aqueous SM leaf extract for two days. Their physical condition, faecal egg count, body weights (BW), haematological, antioxidant and serum biochemistry were evaluated before and two weeks post treatment (PT). Data were presented as mean ± SEM, analyzed using student t-test and Chi-square, and p-value = 0.05 was considered significant. Melanic faeces voided by dogs in both groups returned to normal colour and consistency PT, with SM aqueous extract comparing well with PP. There was slight decrease in WBC (8.74±4.85 to 8.37±1.78x 103/µL), improvement in PCV (30.60±6.54 to 33.20±4.87%), serum biochemistry and antioxidant values for Group B, though not statistically significant (p=0.2). Total cholesterol and phospholipids were significantly reduced PT in Group B (p = 0.05). Nine phytochemicals were identified in SM fractions and the plant demonstrated high free radical scavenging activity. Crude aqueous extract of Spondias mombin leaf is an effective anthelminthic, which can be developed further in the management of canine helminthosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leaves and stem bark of Spondias mombin have been acclaimed to be used by local populace to treat diseases and as food supplements. The research determined and compared the phytochemicals and mineral composition of the plant leaves and stems bark. The phytochemical analyses were done using standard methods. The mineral element analysis was done using multiple parameter photometer. The result of phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids (8.3±0.5%, 1.5±0.4%), flavonoids (11.67±1.4%, 9.8±0.2%), saponins (8.65±0.4%, 5.3±1.2%), tannins (0.96±0.1, 0.88+0.1%) and phenol (1.14±0.01, 1.2±0.01%) for leaves and stem bark, respectively. While the specific phytochemicals result showed the presence of proanthocynanin, naringenin, flavan-3-ol, anthocyanin, sapogenin, phenol, flavonones, steroids, kaempferol, flavones, catechin and resveratrol at specific concentrations for each extract. Ribalinidine, naringenin, spartein and oxalate were present in the leaves extract and absent in the stem bark extract. Rutin, quinine, ephedrine and epicatechin were present in the stem bark extract and absent in the leaves extract at various concentrations. The mineral element composition of the plant components revealed the presence of aluminum, silicon, phosphorus, sulphur, potassium, calcium, iron, zinc and copper at different concentration for both leaves and stem bark extract. Magnesium, manganese and cobalt were absent in the leaves extract and slightly present in the stem bark extract. Their various concentrations were not harmful as they are within the permissible range. These compounds contained in the plant have been reported in literatures to possess therapeutic properties against pathogens which have supported the ethnomedical claims and functions of this plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many plants are used by the population through popular knowledge passed from generation to generation for the treatment of various diseases. However, there is not always any scientific content supporting these uses, which is very important for safety. One of these plants is the fruit of the Spondias genus, which during its processing generates various residues that are discarded, but which also have pharmacological properties. The focus of this review is to survey the pharmacological activities that Spondias genus shows, as well as which part of the plant is used, since there is a lot of richness in its by-products, such as leaf, bark, resin, seed, and peel, which are discarded and could be reused. The main activities of this genus are antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antifungal, and antiviral, among others. These properties indicate that this genus could be used in the treatment of several diseases, but there are still not many products available on the market that use this genus as an active ingredient.

Herbal medicines are gaining wide recognition and acceptance due to their versatility in usage as condiments, dietary supplements, therapeutics, flavoring agents, etc. Medicinal herbs are a broad reservoir for biological and pharmacological active bio-compounds exhibiting therapeutic activities and can be implemented to diagnose and manage various disorders and ailments. This review emphasizes on the photo assembly and therapeutic properties of Spondias pinnata which is extensively utilized in folklore and traditional medicine. The greater disadvantage of herbal medicine is the scarcity of scientific affirmation of the safety, potency, purity, and dosage of the herbal drug. Spondias pinnata demonstrates various pharmacological properties like antihyperglycemic, anti-cancerous, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, hepatoprotective, etc. which indicates their potential to address numerous maladies. This review concentrates on the pharmacological effectiveness of Spondias pinnata to provide substantial evidence from past research in order to insinuate this medicinal herb as a potential drug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spondias pinnata (L.f.) Kurz. (family: Anacardiaceae) is a wild deciduous tree indigenous to southeast Asian countries. Different parts of this plant are used traditionally for the treatment and cure of various disorders and illnesses. S. pinnata leaves are used to prevent and treat diabetes in traditional Balinese medicine. However, scientific study on the antihyperglycemic effect of its leaves has not been reported yet. Therefore, this study aims to perform phytochemical screening and investigate the hypoglycemic potential of S. pinnata leaves extract. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the hydroethanolic extract was performed following the standard tests. In vivo hypoglycemic activity of the leaves extract was evaluated using normal and glucose-loaded rats. The results displayed the presence of phytochemical constituents such as saponins, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and terpenoids. S. pinnata (500 mg/kg) and metformin (100 mg/kg) exhibited a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in blood glucose level at 1, 2, and 3 h in normal rats when compared to the control group. Metformin- (100 mg/kg)- and S. pinnata- (500 mg/kg)- treated groups showed a maximum decrease in the blood glucose level at 3 h after single-dose administration in the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). In conclusion, S. pinnata leaves possess a significant hypoglycemic activity in the animal model and thus support its traditional use to treat diabetes. Therefore, a detailed mechanism-based study and isolation of bioactive compounds from S. pinnata leaves would be beneficial in the future for the search of new hypoglycemic agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This study reports the complete chloroplast sequences of three Spondias species. The genome sequences were obtained for Spondias tuberosa, Spondias bahienses, and Spondias mombin using the Illumina sequencing technology by a combination of de novo methods and a reference-guided assembly using Sapindus mukorossi as reference. The genomes of S. tuberosa, S. bahiensis, and S. mombin had 162,036, 162,218, and 162,302 bp, respectively. The coding regions exhibited 130 genes, including 34–35 tRNAs and 4 rRNAs. The results revealed synteny among the genomes, with high conservation in the gene order and content and CG content. The inverted repeat regions (IRA and IRB) and the large and small single copies were very similar among the three genomes. The phylogenomic analysis reported similar topologies as that of previous studies, which used partial chloroplast, wherein S. mombin was the first diverging lineage, while S. tuberosa and S. bahiensis were derived, indicating that the phylogenetic analysis using partial or complete genome produces similar results. In summary, (1) we presented the first complete chloroplast genome for the genus Spondias, (2) phylogenies analyzed using the complete chloroplast genomes revealed a robust phylogenetic topology for Spondias, and (3) gene order, content, and orientation in Spondias are highly conserved.

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Spondias mombin (leaf, root, seed and stem bark) ethanolic extract on serum lipid profile and serum glucose levels of strepzotocin - induced diabetic male albino rats. Thirty-five assumed healthy albino rats (8 weeks old) weighing between 66g and 84g were collected from the Animal house of Department of Biochemistry, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria. The animals were randomly placed into 7 groups. Group 1: Served as normal control, 2 served as diabetic control group were not treated, 3 served as diabetic group treated with a standard drug glycinorm at 80mg/kg body weight, 4 served as diabetic group and were treated with ethanolic extracts of Spondias mombin leaf at 500mg/kg body weight, 5 diabetic group treated with ethanolic extracts of Spondias mombin stem bark at 500mg/kg body weight, 6 diabetic group treated with ethanolic extracts of Spondias mombin root at 500mg/kg body weight and 7 diabetic group treated with ethanolic extracts of Spondias mombin seed at 500mg/kg body weight by oral administration respectively. Diabetes was induced in albino rats by intraperitoneal injection of strepzotocin at a single dose of 120 mg/kg body weight into group 3 to 7 and were subsequently treated with ethanolic extracts of the different parts of Spondias mombin for a period of 28 days. Glucose levels were measured on days 0 7, 14, 21, and day 28. Animal were sacrificed on the 29th day and serum lipid profile and serum glucose levels measured using standard laboratory methods. The administration of streptozotocin significantly increased (p<0.05) the levels of cholesterol, HDL, Triacylglycerol, LDL and VLDL respectively when compared to the normal control (p<0.05). Standard drug (glycinorm, 80mg/kg) and Spondias mombin extracts decreased the concentration of these macromolecules. There was a general decreasing trend in the mean values of lowdensity lipoprotein levels across the groups, however cholesterol, HDL LDL and Tricylglycerol shows significant decrease across all t1997he groups when compare with group 2. The ethanolic extract of Spondias mombin (leaf, seed, stem bark and root) decreased (p<0.05) significantly serum glucose levels in the diabetic rats. Spondias mombin extracts may be a potent antidiabetic agent. This provides claims that the plant (stem bark, leaves, root and seeds) was able to ameliorate abnormalities associated with Diabetes Mellitus, hence used in the management of diabetes in alternative medicine practice. It also shows the plant possess antilipidemic and hypoglycemic properties. This study suggests that ethanolic extracts of Spondias mombin plant parts have active components that are capable of lowering serum glucose level and serum lipid profile and this might be useful in the management of diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spondias species have been used in traditional medicine for different human ailments. In this study, the effect of different solvents (ethyl acetate, methanol, and water) and extraction methods (infusion, maceration, and Soxhlet extraction) on the enzyme inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, tyrosinase, α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and antioxidant properties of S. mombin and S. dulcis leaves and stem bark were evaluated. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) yield in the identification and/or annotation of 98 compounds showing that the main secondary metabolites of the plant are gallic and ellagic acids and their derivatives, ellagitannins, hydroxybenzoic, hydroxycinnamic, acylquinic acids and flavonols, flavanones, and flavanonols. The leaves infusion of both Spondias species showed highest inhibition against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) (10.10 and 10.45 mg galantamine equivalent (GALAE)/g, for S. dulcis and S. mombin, respectively). The ethyl acetate extracts of the stem bark of S. mombin and S. dulcis actively inhibited α-glucosidase. Methanolic extracts of the leaves and stem bark exhibited highest tyrosinase inhibitory action. Antioxidant activity and higher levels of phenolics were observed for the methanolic extracts of Spondias. The results suggested that the Spondias species could be considered as natural phyto-therapeutic agents in medicinal and cosmeceutical applications.

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Microsatellite markers provide high polymorphism levels, useful to study genetic diversity and gene flow patterns in plant populations. Here we develop and characterize microsatellite primers to evaluate patterns of genetic structure and diversity, and gene flow levels in the dioecious tropical tree Spondias purpurea (Anacardiaceae). Twenty-four microsatellite primers were developed for Spondias purpurea. Polymorphism was evaluated in 139 individuals from three localities in Mexico. Ten loci were polymorphic. The number of alleles ranged between two and 21, the average number of alleles was 5.88. Cross-amplification trials on S. mombin, S. radlkoferi, Astronium graveolens and Amphipterygium adstringens achieved successful amplification for only six microsatellites in S. mombin and S. radlkoferi. Microsatellites developed for S. purpurea will be a useful tool to estimate genetic diversity within and among populations, as well as to assess the consequences of habitat fragmentation on gene flow patterns of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the plants used for man as source of food and remedy, Spondias dulcis Forst F. and Spondias purpurea L. can be found. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of the bark ethanolic extracts of S. dulcis and S. purpurea in in vitro media. The evaluation was performed by the generation of hydroxyl reactive species (HO•), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and nitric oxide (NO•) and assessment of the percentage of scavenger of these species by the extracts, and by the measurement of the total antioxidant capacity, by the phosphomolibdenium assay. The extracts showed high ability to scavenge HO•and NO• radicals and H2O2, and high total antioxidant capacity when compared to ascorbic acid (vitamin C). The extracts also showed high concentrations of phenolioc acids in their composition. More studies are being accomplished in order to validate the therapeutic effects of these extracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise of research. Recent classifications of Anacardiaceae recognize two subfamilies, Anacardioideae and Spondioideae. Most genera within Spondioideae are still recognized for having drupes with sclerified stones that vary in locule number and germination mechanisms. Spondioid fruits have been recognized in the Cenozoic fossil record of Europe, Asia, and North America. However, they have remained elusive in the Neotropics, where today they are an important component of tropical rain forests and seasonally dry tropical forests. Here, we describe three new species of fossil endocarps related to Spondias , Dracontomelon , and Antrocaryon. Methodology. Fossil endocarps were collected from the 19–18.5 Ma (early Miocene) Cucaracha Formation, Panama Canal. The fossils were studied by physical sections, acetate peels, and X-ray microtomography. The fossil endocarps were exhaustively compared with all extant genera of Spondioideae. Pivotal results. Spondias rothwellii sp. nov. and Antrocaryon panamaensis sp. nov. are so far the earliest and best evidence of these genera in the Neotropics. Dracontomelon montesii sp. nov. extends the occurrence of this genus to the early Miocene in Central America. Conclusions. The new Cucaracha fossils reveal that Spondioideae were a significant part of the early Miocene forests in Panama. The extant natural habitats and occurrences of the newly recognized genera suggest multistratified rain forests and active biogeographical patterns for Spondioideae approximately 19 million years ago in southern Central America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spondias tuberosa Arr. Cam belongs to the Anacardiaceae family, an economically important family of plants whose fruits are consumed by humans and animals. The aim of this study was to develop microsatellite markers using sequences from high-throughput sequencing and a magnetic bead enrichment method. The sequences were used to obtain contigs with a minimum of 500 nucleotides using Ray software and the mining of the simple sequence repeats (SSR) was performed with Phobos software, while the primers were designed by Primer3. We developed 18 polymorphic nuclear microsatellite markers and successfully cross-amplified them to three Spondias species. In S. tuberosa, the alleles ranged from 2 to 5 for each locus and Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium was found for 16 loci, with an expected and observed heterozygosity at 0.095–0.755 and 0.1–0.75, respectively. Cross-transferability was obtained for all loci in S. bahiensis, S. dulcis and S. purpurea. We concluded that the microsatellite markers developed in this study are useful in genetic population and conservation studies, as well as for investigating the hybrid origins of Spondias species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Phenolic compounds profile allowed the differentiation of distinct native fruits. • The native fruits showed high scavenging activity for ROS and RNS. • All native fruits showed anti-inflammatory activity in vivo. • The in vivo toxicity showed that the fruits have a favorable low-toxicity profile. • Based on their bioactivity, they can be considered as new Brazilian superfruits. Abstract Brazilian native fruits (BNF) remain unexplored and underutilized resources with a high potential to improve human health and wellness. In our study, five new BNF (Eugenia stipitata , Sageretia elegans , Byrsonima arthropoda , Spondias mombin and Rubus rosaefolius) were evaluated for their phenolic composition by LC-ESI-QTOF-MS; and for their ROS and RNS scavenging effects (ROO, O 2 −, NO, HOCl); in vivo anti-inflammatory activity (neutrophil migration); and in vivo acute toxicity in Galleria mellonella. Eighty-six phenolic compounds were identified, including hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins and ellagitannins, several of which had never been reported in BNF. The BNF exhibited high antioxidant effects against biologically relevant radicals, and treated animals showed decreased neutrophil influx and NF-kB activation. Thus, these BNF are good sources of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory molecules that can be beneficial for human health as functional foods. Based on their bioactivity, they can be considered as new Brazilian superfruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Different methods were applied to recover bioactive compounds from umbu seeds. • Polar extracts showed higher phenolic contents and antioxidant activities. • High correlation found between antioxidant activity and polyphenolic content. • Antioxidant activities found were compared with those of butylated hydroxytoluene. • Integrated approach was an interesting procedure for biomass valorization. Abstract The fruit of Spondias tuberosa (umbu) is widely consumed in the northeast region of Brazil. In this work, the potential of umbu seeds as source of bioactive compounds was evaluated. Different extraction techniques were compared in terms of yield, free-fatty acids composition, total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity (AA). The extraction techniques used were supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) with CO 2 , performed at 40 °C and pressures from 15 to 30 MPa, and Soxhlet and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) with different solvents. The highest yields were obtained by UAE with ethanol/water mixtures and by Soxhlet with ethanol. The higher values for TPC and AA were observed for the extracts obtained with polar solvents. Furthermore, a biorefinery approach considering integrated processes (SFE + UAE) in order to recover polyphenols from the SFE residues has also been investigated and the results showed that combining processes may lead to a most effective valorization of agro-industrial residues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study reports a simple and low cost synthesis of zero-valent silver nanoparticles (ZVSNPs) from silver nitrate using the leaf extract of Spondias dulcis. The ZVSNPs showed a unique peak at 420 nm in UV-vis spectrum. The SEM image portrayed cuboidal shaped particles. The EDX spectrum designated the elemental silver peak at 3 keV. In XRD, a sharp peak at 32.47° denoted the existence of (1 0 1) lattice plane and the average crystallite size was calculated as 48.61 nm. The lattice parameter was determined as 0.39 nm. The FTIR spectra of the leaf extract and ZVSNPs showed shifts in the specific functional group bands which ascertained the involvement of phytoconstituents in the formation and capping of nanoparticles. The average hydrodynamic size was measured as 59.66 nm by DLS method. A low PDI, 0.187 witnessed the monodispersity. A negative zeta potential value of -15.7 mV indicated the negative surface charges of the nanoparticles. The bactericidal action of ZVSNPs was demonstrated against two pathogens S.typhimurium and E.coli during which a dosage dependent zone of inhibition results was observed. Additionally, the catalytic potential of ZVSNPs was examined for the degradation of methylene blue dye in which an accelerated degradation of the dye was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality control is vital for the safety and efficacy of herbal medicines. However, the quality of standardization is most difficult because the studies do not cover this step. The objective of this study was quality standardization of herbal drugs of Spondias dulcis Parkinson. The leaves were dried and ground to a powder. The plant drug was evaluated by parameters of mean particle size (417.85 μm), apparent density (0.37 ± 0.01 g mL−1), moisture content (7.96 ± 0.35%), loss on drying (7.33 ± 0.09%), pH (3.90 ± 0.01), total ash (12.66 ± 0.23%), acid insoluble ash (3.22 ± 0.20%) and aqueous extractives (24.00 ± 3.28%). Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids and tannins. Microbiological analysis presented a total count within the recommended limits and the absence of pathogenic microorganisms. The infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermal analysis (TG/DTA) showed that physical and chemical processes occurred. The FTIR fingerprint has been characterized by characteristic peaks. The TG curves present six steps, and DTA curve presents three events. The results provide the scientific data for the proper identification and establishment of standards for future investigations and applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the correlation between the phenolic composition and the molecular phylogenetic reconstruction of five Spondias species (Anacardiaceae). Two of these species (S. venulosa and Spondias sp.) occur in rainforest areas and the other three are widely distributed in Brazil (S. dulcis, S.mombin, and S. purpurea). The flavonoid enriched fraction of the S. venulosa leaf extract also underwent a chemical study. The results indicate that the presence of flavonol 3-O-glycosides are a synapomorphic character of the studied American Spondias and the production of rhamnetin 3-O-rutinoside is a synapomorphy of the Atlantic forest species. This is the first report of flavonoids in S. venulosa, an endemic species from the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest.

Abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of Spondias mombin (SM) supplementation on the cardiac remodelling process induced by exposure to tobacco smoke (ETS) in rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: group C (control, n = 20) comprised animals not exposed to cigarette smoke and received standard chow; group ETS (n = 20) comprised animals exposed to cigarette smoke and received standard chow; group ETS100 (n = 20) received standard chow supplemented with 100 mg/kg body weight/d of SM; and group ETS250 (n = 20) received standard chow supplemented with 250 mg/kg body weight/d of SM. The observation period was 2 months. The ETS animals had higher values of left cardiac chamber diameters and of left ventricular mass index. SM supplementation attenuated these changes. In addition, the myocyte cross‐sectional area (CSA) was lower in group C compared with the ETS groups; however, the ETS250 group had lower values of CSA compared with the ETS group. The ETS group also showed higher cardiac levels of lipid hydroperoxide (LH) compared with group C; and, groups ETS100 and ETS250 had lower concentrations of LH compared with the ETS group. Regarding energy metabolism, SM supplementation decreased glycolysis and increased the β‐oxidation and the oxidative phosphorylation. There were no differences in the expression of Nrf‐2, SIRT‐1, NF‐κB, interferon‐gamma and interleukin 10. In conclusion, our results suggest that ETS induced the cardiac remodelling process. In addition, SM supplementation attenuated this process, along with oxidative stress reduction and energy metabolism modulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental - Agriambi is the property of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

During 2000-2004, we studied five groups of the Critically Endangered Saguinus oedipus to determine dietary items exploited in a dry tropical forest fragment in northern Bolívar, Colombia. The diet, as measured by the percentage of total multiyear feeding frequencies, consisted of 48.6% fruits (includes aril, fruits and seeds, 28.1% of the dry season diet and 59.9% of the wet season diet), 24% exudates (44.9% in the dry season and 14.9% in the wet season), 15% nectar (2.1% in the dry season and 16.9% in the wet season), 9.8% arthropods (based on multi-year consumption this was 35.7% in the dry season and 64.3% in the wet season), 1.1% fungi, 0.7% flowers (5 species) and three frogs. Eighty-five plant species in 45 families were identified as part of the diet. The families providing the most species were Rubiaceae (8 species), Sapindaceae (7 species), Bignoniaceae (5 species), and Boraginaceae, Fabaceae, and Meliaceae (4 species each). Food items from an additional 30 families also were consumed, but they were only represented in the diet by 1-3 species per family. We found marked seasonal differences in the consumption of food types across seasons in fruit, exudates and nectar but not arthropods. In the dry season exudates served as a vital food, but they were also important during the wet season, putting into question their designation as "fallback foods." Gum consumption may play a role other than that as a fallback food, including its medicinal properties and the provision of essential nutrients and water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twelve post pubertal West African Dwarf (WAD) bucks of average age of 1.8 ± 0.19 years and average weight of 8.76 ± 0.72 kg were experimentally treated orally with 800mg/kgBW of ethanol extract of Spondias mombin. Experiment was carried out in the month of August at Abeokuta, South West Nigeria with temperature range of 24oC and 33oC on Latitude 07o 10'N and Longitude 03o 2'E. The goats had well-formed pendulous scrotum with well descended free bilateral testicles. The goats were kept in a standard goat pen and fed with fresh green centrosema leaves in the morning and commercially prepared ration in the evening. Water was served ad libitum. Pre-treatment haematological and hormonal profiling after aseptical collection of blood from the bucks was followed with 14 days of oral treatment with ethanol extract of Spondias mombin at the dosage rate of 800mg/kg BW. Post-treatment haematological and hormonal studies followed after. The hormones assayed were follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH), testosterone, progesterone, estrogen and prolactin. The haemogram revealed significantly (p < 0.05) higher PCV (24.33±0.6 %) in pre-treatment compared to 19.92± 1.1 % recorded for post-treatment. However, both were lower in values than normal range. WBC and RBC did not change significantly but while RBC values for pre-treatment and post-treatment fell within normal range, only the WBC value of post-treatment did. Assay of FSH, progesterone, estrogen and prolactin revealed no significant (p . 0.05) difference between pre-treatment and post-treatment; however, noticeable higher pre-treatment LH concentration and elevated post-treatment testosterone concentration were observed. The work showed that Spondias mombin at 800mg/kgBW has profertility tendencies in the buck and can be considered as an aphrodisiac in goat breeding in developing countries probably at a higher dosage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic parameters and genotypic values of fruits from umbu-cajazeira clones were determined using the restricted maximum likelihood/best linear unbiased prediction (REML/BLUP) method, from the morphological, physicochemical and chemical characterization of fruits. The experiment was composed of six experimental clones, in three randomized complete block designs and three replicates per plot in an unbalanced arrangement in Ipanguaçu/RN, due to non-fructification of some clones of the experiment. Morphological, physicochemical and chemical characterization of 20 fruits of each clone was performed. The variance components for REML and medium components (BLUP), were estimated using the mixed model's method REML/BLUP. The three best clones selected were from Serra do Mel, Açu, and Carnaubais. The method used allowed selection of clones with high soluble solids content and pulp yield based on the genotypic value of clones. Fruit clones from Serra do Mel can be used for pulp processing or fresh consumption. The Açu clone showed a high pulp yield and is recommended pulp processing. Carnaubais, Alto do Rodrigues, and Ipanguaçu generated fruits for fresh consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Application of an aroma extract dilution analysis to the volatiles isolated from sweet, fruity, and slightly turpentine-like smelling Spondias mombin L. fruit pulp by solvent extraction and solvent-assisted flavour evaporation afforded 39 aroma-active compounds with flavour dilution (FD) factors ranging from 4 to 1024, 33 of which were identified and eight that had not been reported in S. mombin fruit before. The highest FD factors were obtained for ethyl butanoate (fruity; FD 1024), 3-methylbutyl acetate (fruity, banana-like; FD 512), and 4-hydroxy-2,5-dimethylfuran-3(2 H)-one (sweet, caramel-like; FD 512). High FD factors were also found for α-pinene (resinous), ethyl 3-methylbutanoate (fruity), myrcene (geranium leaf-like), ethyl hexanoate (fruity), (3 Z)-hex-3-en-1-ol (green, grassy), methyl 3-hydroxybutanoate (fruity), linalool (citrusy), trans-calamenene (clove-like, herbaceous), 2-phenylethanol (flowery), and vanillin (vanilla-like) (all FD 256). Data suggest that the sweet and fruity aroma of S. mombin fruit pulp is mainly caused by a group of potent aroma-active esters including ethyl butanoate, 3-methylbutyl acetate, ethyl 3-methylbutanoate, ethyl hexanoate, and methyl 3-hydroxybutanoate, in combination with sweet, caramel-like smelling 4-hydroxy-2,5-dimethylfuran-3(2 H)-one, whereas the turpentine-like note is primarily due to α-pinene and myrcene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The umbu-cajá (Spondias sp.) is a fruit specie native of the brazilian semiarid region with high potential for cultivation. The juicy pulp is used in the production of juices and nectars. The aim of this study was to characterize 18 individuals of umbu-cajá tree at three sites located in the Brazilian northeast municipalities of Mossoró/RN and Apodi/RN to identify individuals with superior attributes for fruit processing and/or in natura consumption The morphological, physical and physicochemical characterization of 20 fruits of each individuals were performed. Leaves of trees were used for molecular analyses with Inter Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSR) and Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. It was possible to verify that there are phenotypic variability among the fruits of umbu-cajá trees. The individuals of the same region were grouped in the same group. JZ5, JZ6 and MA6 individuals can be used for pulp processing, while JZ1, JZ2, JZ3 and JZ6 are adequate for in natura consumption. The molecular analyses showed polymorphism for the two molecular markers used. The ISSR marker generated the greatest polymorphism among the individuals. However, the RAPD marker made it possible to achieve a more consistent cluster, which is in agreement with the geographical distribution of these individuals. The use of morphological markers together with molecular markers constitutes an important tool for characterizing umbu-cajá individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Chapingo Serie Horticultura is the property of Universidad Autonoma Chapingo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Context:Various studies have shown that the leaf extracts ofSpondias mombinLinn (Anacardiaceae) possess pharmacological properties such as antioxidant and antiviral effects. However, no biological activity from its essential oil has been reported in literature. Objective:To analyse the chemical constituents, cytotoxic activity and antioxidant capability of the essential oils from fresh and dried leaves ofS. mombin. Materials and methods:Hydrodistillation using Clevenger-type apparatus was employed to obtain the essential oil. Oil analysis was performed using an HP 6890 Gas Chromatograph coupled with an HP 5973 Mass Selective Detector. The cytotoxicity bioassay was carried out using the brine shrimp lethality test (10,000–0.01 μg/mL). Additionally, the reactive oxygen species scavenging potential of the twoS. mombinoils (1000–200 μg/mL) were investigated using a hydroxyl radical scavenging and ferric iron reducing system. Results:Chemical analysis of essential oils fromS. mombinrevealed the presence of 41 compounds, with predominance of monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids and non-terpenoids derivatives. In both fractions, the principal component was β-caryophellene (27.9–30.9%), followed by γ-cadinene (9.7–12.3%). There was an increase in the oxygenated monoterpenoid contents and a concomitant decrease in the amounts of sesquiterpenoids hydrocarbons observed on drying the leaves. The oil obtained from the fresh leaves was more active than that obtained from dried leaves, with LC50values (from the brine shrimp lethality assay) of 0.01 and 4.78 μg/mL, respectively. The two oils (from fresh and dried leaves) at 1.0 mg/mL scavenged hydroxyl radical by 83% and 99.8%, respectively. Moreover, they reduced ferric ion significantly and compared favourably with vitamin C. Conclusions:Essential oil derived from the leaves ofS. mombincould hold promise for future application in the treatment of cancer-related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]