December 2016

Mesquite (Prosopis juliflora) pod extract decreases fertility in female but not male rats

The administration of Mesquite pod extract (containing mesquitol, daidzein and genistein) to female and male rats disrupts reproductive variables. However, its effect on fertility is not known. This study evaluated fertility in male and female rats treated with mesquite pod extract, comparing its effects with those of daidzein and estradiol. The following treatments were given for 30 days to groups of female and male...

Author(s): Socorro Retana-Márquez, Eunice Hernández, Floriberta Solano, Carlos Romero, Gabriela López, Lizbeth Juárez-Rojas, Fahiel Casillas,  Philippe Chemineau, Matthieu Keller and  José Alberto Delgadillo

December 2016

Euterpe oleracea Mart. (açai): an old known plant with a new perspective

The açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart) fruit pulp is extensively used in Brazil as food among other uses. The health benefits of açai are largely reported by the Amazon inhabitants. Nonetheless, just a few pharmacological and toxicological studies were made to probe the innocuousness and the safety of the use of this product. The aims of this work were to update knowledge about the chemical composition,...

Author(s): Heitor Ribeiro da Silva, Daniele da Cruz de Assis, Ariadna Lafourcade Prada, Hady Keita, Jesus Rafael Rodríguez  Amado and José Carlos Tavares Carvalho