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28 pages, 6375 KiB  
Article
Native Microbial Consortia: A Sustainable Strategy for Improving the Quality of Forest Seedlings in the Peruvian Amazon
by Luiz Paulo Amaringo-Cordova, Cesar Mori-Montero, Cesar Padilla-Castro, Jimmy A. Ocaña-Reyes, Christian Riveros-Lizana, Alina Alexandra Camacho-Villalobos and Richard Solórzano-Acosta
Forests 2025, 16(2), 309; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16020309 - 10 Feb 2025
Viewed by 887
Abstract
Forest plantations represent an alternative to reduce timber extraction pressure in the Amazonian forests. In order to tolerate the hostile field conditions of deforested areas, high-quality seedlings are required. This study aimed to find the optimal dose of a native microbial consortium (NMC), [...] Read more.
Forest plantations represent an alternative to reduce timber extraction pressure in the Amazonian forests. In order to tolerate the hostile field conditions of deforested areas, high-quality seedlings are required. This study aimed to find the optimal dose of a native microbial consortium (NMC), which enhances seedling quality indicators, in three forest species at nursery phase. A completely randomized design (3 × 5) was used. Factor 1: Bolaina blanca (Guazuma crinita Mart.), Capirona (Calycophyllum spruceanum Benth. Hook. f.), and Marupa (Simarouba amara Aubl.). Factor 2: Incremental doses of 0, 160, 320, 480, and 640 mL NMC per plant. The nursery survival (%), robustness index, root height/length ratio, shoot–root index, Dickson Quality Index (DQI), Nitrogen (%), Phosphorus (%), and Potassium (%) content in tissues were analyzed. Statistical analyses consisted of two-way ANOVA per variable and correlation analysis. The results indicated that increasing doses of NMC did not improve nursery survival for any species; did not decrease the robustness index, plant height/root length ratio, or the shoot–root index for any species; and did not increase the DQI, P%, or K% for any species; however, they did increase the N% for all species. In conclusion, the incremental dose of 160 mL was chosen for increasing the N% without affecting nursery survival. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Forest Tree Seedling Cultivation Technology—2nd Edition)
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22 pages, 9881 KiB  
Article
Antibacterial Activity of Traditional Medicinal Plants Used for the Treatment of Acute Diarrheal Diseases in Chiapas, Mexico
by Jesús Mauricio Ernesto Hernández-Méndez, Israel Peña-Hernández, Mariela Tapia-Nazario, Gerardo Leyva-Padrón, Abumalé Cruz-Salomón, María Emperatriz Domínguez-Espinosa, Héctor Armando Esquinca-Avilés, Maritza del Carmen Hernández-Cruz, Rocío Magdalena Sánchez-Albores, Kelly del Carmen Cruz-Salomón, Rosa Isela Cruz-Rodríguez and Martha Guadalupe Gómez-Santos
Microbiol. Res. 2025, 16(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/microbiolres16010010 - 5 Jan 2025
Viewed by 2728
Abstract
The Enterobacteriaceae family poses health risks due to its role in gastrointestinal diseases like acute diarrhea. With rising antibiotic resistance, plants offer promising antibacterial compounds with low toxicity. This study evaluated the antibacterial activity, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and toxicity of ethanolic (EE) [...] Read more.
The Enterobacteriaceae family poses health risks due to its role in gastrointestinal diseases like acute diarrhea. With rising antibiotic resistance, plants offer promising antibacterial compounds with low toxicity. This study evaluated the antibacterial activity, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and toxicity of ethanolic (EE) and aqueous (AE) extracts from five Mexican medicinal plants traditionally used in Chiapas for treating acute diarrheal diseases (ADD). Antibacterial activity was assessed using disk diffusion assays and MIC determined by macrodilution. Toxicity tests were performed using Artemia salina. As a result, EE extracts exhibited higher antibacterial activity than AE extracts. Byrsonima crassifolia effectively inhibited Salmonella enteritidis (78.26%, MIC 50 mg/mL) and Shigella dysenteriae (76.19%, MIC 25 mg/mL). Solanum torvum showed efficacy against Escherichia coli (55.55%, MIC 12.5 mg/mL) and Salmonella enteritidis (73.91%, MIC 25 mg/mL). Euphorbia maculata inhibited Shigella dysenteriae (104.76%, MIC 25 mg/mL), while Guazuma ulmifolia and Bursera simaruba exhibited no antibacterial effects. All extracts were non-toxic (LD50 > 1000 μg/mL), indicating potential as natural alternatives for ADD treatment. Full article
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14 pages, 2505 KiB  
Article
Finding Spalting Fungi in the Peruvian Tropical Premontane Cloud Forest on Peruvian Native Wood Species
by Javier F. Illescas Guevara, Kevin P. Candiotti Martinez, Patricia T. Vega Gutierrez, Martin Araujo Flores and Sarath M. Vega Gutierrez
Forests 2024, 15(12), 2078; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15122078 - 25 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1221
Abstract
Tropical montane and premontane forests are diverse, including fungi. However, little is known about spalting fungi (decay fungi that change the color of wood) in tropical regions despite the economic importance they could bring by enhancing wood esthetics. To increase the knowledge of [...] Read more.
Tropical montane and premontane forests are diverse, including fungi. However, little is known about spalting fungi (decay fungi that change the color of wood) in tropical regions despite the economic importance they could bring by enhancing wood esthetics. To increase the knowledge of the diversity of spalting fungi, a sampling of fallen logs, branches (exposing xylem to identify potential pigmenting and zone line-producing fungi), and fruiting bodies (on wood) was conducted in the premontane moist forest in the district of San Ramon, Junín, Peru. The fungi were collected, cultured, isolated, and sequenced. Also, the identified species were used in a novel test to confirm they were producing spalting on Guazuma crinita. The species found belong to the Ascomycota orders Xylariales and Diaporthales and the Basidiomycota orders Agaricales, Polyporales, and Russulales. The fungi collected produced bleaching, different colors of zone lines, and pigmentation in laboratory conditions. The results increase the database of spalted fungi in Peru, and the test used in this research could be the basis for a quick test to identify spalting fungi. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phenomenon of Wood Colour)
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16 pages, 8990 KiB  
Article
Quantifying the Potential of the Tropical Dry Region of the Gulf of Mexico to Provide Tree Species with Traditional Uses for Forest-Reliant Communities
by Natalia Mesa-Sierra, Patricia Moreno-Casasola and Rebecca Chaplin-Kramer
Wild 2024, 1(1), 1-16; https://doi.org/10.3390/wild1010001 - 22 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1406
Abstract
The tropical dry regions in the Neotropics are under intense anthropogenic pressures, resulting in changes for local communities related with their life patterns, wellbeing, and their relationship with ecosystems. The region has a history of human occupation that has shaped the traditional use [...] Read more.
The tropical dry regions in the Neotropics are under intense anthropogenic pressures, resulting in changes for local communities related with their life patterns, wellbeing, and their relationship with ecosystems. The region has a history of human occupation that has shaped the traditional use of resources. We evaluated the richness, redundancy, and divergence of traditional uses of tree species present in vegetation patches of the tropical dry region of the Gulf of Mexico using functional diversity indices. The most used species are Acacia cochliacantha, Cedrela odorata, Enterolobium cyclocarpum, Gliricidia sepium, and Guazuma ulmifolia, and the uses with the broadest distributions across the region are firewood and pasture management, while reforestation is the least common use. While distance to the nearest patch of the closest human settlement is the most predictive variable associated with inhabitants’ different uses or recognitions of the value of different plant species, the most recognized and valued species are widely distributed in Mexico. Even when the forest cover is greatly reduced, the inhabitants recognize numerous uses that can be obtained from the vegetation patches. The approach used in this work provides important baseline information, as well as a methodology that facilitates the identification of priority areas for conservation. Full article
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23 pages, 3421 KiB  
Article
Use of Guazuma ulmifolia Lam. Stem Bark Extracts to Prevent High-Fat Diet Induced Metabolic Disorders in Mice
by Elisana Lima Rodrigues, Lidiani Figueiredo Santana, Valter Aragão do Nascimento, Marcel Asato Arakaki, Claudia Andréa Lima Cardoso, Wander Fernando de Oliveira Filiú, Rita de Cássia Avellaneda Guimarães, Priscila Aiko Hiane and Karine de Cássia Freitas
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(16), 8889; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25168889 - 15 Aug 2024
Viewed by 5090
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of supplementation with ethanolic and aqueous extracts from the bark of the stem of Guazuma ulmifolia in mice submitted to a high-fat diet as well as to evaluate the chemical composition of these extracts. The chemical [...] Read more.
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of supplementation with ethanolic and aqueous extracts from the bark of the stem of Guazuma ulmifolia in mice submitted to a high-fat diet as well as to evaluate the chemical composition of these extracts. The chemical composition and antioxidant potential was evaluated in aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the stem bark. The in vivo test consisted of evaluating the effects of the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the stem bark on C57BL/6 mice receiving a high-fat diet. The animals were evaluated for weight gain, feed consumption, visceral adiposity, serum, and inflammatory and hormonal parameters. The results of the chemical analyses corroborate those obtained by the literature, which reported gallocatechin, epigallocatechin and epigallocatechin gallate. Compared with the ethanolic extract, the aqueous extract showed greater antioxidant capacity. Both extracts resulted in lower feed consumption in the animals, but they did not influence weight gain or visceral adiposity and resulted in varied changes in the lipid profile. In addition, they did not influence glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, or fasting blood glucose. Furthermore, the leptin levels increased, which may have contributed to satiety, but this was shown to have a negative impact on other inflammatory and hormonal parameters. Therefore, under the conditions of this study, the biologically active compounds present in the plant species Guazuma ulmifolia were not able to contribute to the treatment of metabolic changes related to the consumption of a high-fat diet. Full article
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14 pages, 4277 KiB  
Article
Nanocellulose/Nanoporous Silicon Composite Films as a Drug Delivery System
by Karla A. Garrido-Miranda, Héctor Pesenti, Angel Contreras, Judith Vergara-Figueroa, Gonzalo Recio-Sánchez, Dalton Chumpitaz, Silvia Ponce and Jacobo Hernandez-Montelongo
Polymers 2024, 16(14), 2055; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16142055 - 18 Jul 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2024
Abstract
Nanocellulose (NC) is a promising material for drug delivery due to its high surface area-to-volume ratio, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and versatility in various formats (nanoparticles, hydrogels, microspheres, membranes, and films). In this study, nanocellulose films were derived from “Bolaina blanca” (Guazuma crinita) [...] Read more.
Nanocellulose (NC) is a promising material for drug delivery due to its high surface area-to-volume ratio, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and versatility in various formats (nanoparticles, hydrogels, microspheres, membranes, and films). In this study, nanocellulose films were derived from “Bolaina blanca” (Guazuma crinita) and combined with nanoporous silicon microparticles (nPSi) in concentrations ranging from 0.1% to 1.0% (w/v), using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a binding agent to create NC/nPSi composite films for drug delivery systems. The physicochemical properties of the samples were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy–attenuated total reflectance (FTIR–ATR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The mechanical properties and drug release capabilities were also evaluated using methylene blue (MB) as an antibacterial drug model. Antibacterial assays were conducted against S. aureus and E. coli bacteria. The results show that NC/nPSi composites with 1% nPSi increased the T50% by 10 °C and enhanced mechanical properties, such as a 70% increase in the elastic modulus and a 372% increase in elongation, compared to NC films. Additionally, MB released from NC/nPSi composites effectively inhibited the growth of both bacteria. It was also observed that the diffusion coefficients were inversely proportional to the % nPSi. These findings suggest that this novel NC/nPSi-based material can serve as an effective controlled drug release system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Fiber-Based Green Materials)
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14 pages, 5618 KiB  
Article
How the Adequate Choice of Plant Species Favors the Restoration Process in Areas Susceptible to Extreme Frost Events
by Emerson Viveiros, Bruno Santos Francisco, Felipe Bueno Dutra, Lindomar Alves de Souza, Mariane Cristina Inocente, Aline Cipriano Valentim Bastos, Glória Fabiani Leão da Costa, Maycon Cristiano Barbosa, Rafael Paranhos Martins, Raquel Aparecida Passaretti, Maria José Pereira Fernandes, Julia Siqueira Tagliaferro de Oliveira, Ana Paula Ponce Shiguehara, Enzo Coletti Manzoli, Bruna Santos Teração, Ivonir Piotrowski, Fátima Conceição Márquez Piña-Rodrigues and José Mauro Santana da Silva
Biology 2023, 12(11), 1369; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12111369 - 26 Oct 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1842
Abstract
This work aimed to evaluate the impacts caused by extreme frost events in an ecological restoration area. We grouped the species in three ways: (1) type of trichome coverage; (2) shape of the seedling crown; and (3) functional groups according to the degree [...] Read more.
This work aimed to evaluate the impacts caused by extreme frost events in an ecological restoration area. We grouped the species in three ways: (1) type of trichome coverage; (2) shape of the seedling crown; and (3) functional groups according to the degree of damage caused by frost. The variables of the restored area and species characteristics were selected to be subjected to linear generalization analysis models (GLMs). A total of 104 individuals from seven species were sampled. The most affected species were Guazuma ulmifolia Lam. (98% of leaves affected), followed by Cecropia pachystachia Trécul and Hymenea courbaril L. (both 97%), Inga vera Willd. (84%), and Senegalia polyphylla (DC.) Britton & Rose with 75%. Tapirira guianensis Aubl. was considered an intermediate species, with 62% of the crown affected. Only Solanum granulosoleprosum Dunal was classified as slightly affected, with only 1.5% of leaves affected. With the GLM analysis, it was verified that the interaction between the variables of leaf thickness (Χ² = 37.1, df = 1, p < 0.001), trichome coverage (Χ² = 650.5, df = 2, p < 0.001), and leaf structure culture (Χ² = 54.0, df = 2, p < 0.001) resulted in a model with high predictive power (AIC = 927,244, BIC = 940,735, Χ² = 6947, R² = 0.74, p < 0.001). Frost-affected crown cover was best explained by the interaction between the three functional attributes (74%). We found that there is a tendency for thicker leaves completely covered in trichomes to be less affected by the impact of frost and that the coverage of the affected crown was greatly influenced by the coverage of trichomes. Seedlings with leaves completely covered in trichomes, thicker leaves, and a funneled or more open crown structure are those that are most likely to resist frost events. The success of ecological restoration in areas susceptible to extreme events such as frost can be predicted based on the functional attributes of the chosen species. This can contribute to a better selection of species to be used to restore degraded areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Ecology)
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20 pages, 7606 KiB  
Article
Hepatoprotective Effects of Four Brazilian Savanna Species on Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatotoxicity in HepG2 Cells
by Gislane dos Santos Ribeiro, Diegue Henrique Nascimento Martins, João Victor Dutra Gomes, Noel William Davies, Christopher William Fagg, Luiz Alberto Simeoni, Mauricio Homem-de-Mello, Pérola Oliveira Magalhães, Dâmaris Silveira and Yris Maria Fonseca-Bazzo
Plants 2023, 12(19), 3393; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12193393 - 26 Sep 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2647
Abstract
We investigated four Cerrado plant species, i.e., Cheiloclinium cognatum (Miers) A.C.Sm, Guazuma ulmifolia Lam., Hancornia speciosa Gomes, and Hymenaea stigonocarpa Mart. ex Hayne, against acetaminophen toxicity using an in vitro assay with HepG2 cells. The activity against acetaminophen toxicity was evaluated using different [...] Read more.
We investigated four Cerrado plant species, i.e., Cheiloclinium cognatum (Miers) A.C.Sm, Guazuma ulmifolia Lam., Hancornia speciosa Gomes, and Hymenaea stigonocarpa Mart. ex Hayne, against acetaminophen toxicity using an in vitro assay with HepG2 cells. The activity against acetaminophen toxicity was evaluated using different protocols, i.e., pre-treatment, co-treatment, and post-treatment of the cells with acetaminophen and the plant extracts. HepG2 cell viability after treatment with acetaminophen was 39.61 ± 5.59% of viable cells. In the pre-treatment protocol, the extracts could perform protection with viability ranging from 50.02 ± 15.24% to 78.75 ± 5.61%, approaching the positive control silymarin with 75.83 ± 5.52%. In the post-treatment protocol, all extracts and silymarin failed to reverse the acetaminophen damage. In the co-treatment protocol, the extracts showed protection ranging from 50.92 ± 11.14% to 68.50 ± 9.75%, and silymarin showed 77.87 ± 4.26%, demonstrating that the aqueous extracts of the species also do not increase the toxic effect of acetaminophen. This protection observed in cell viability was accompanied by a decrease in ROS. The extracts’ hepatoprotection can be related to antioxidant compounds, such as rutin and mangiferin, identified using HPLC-DAD and UPLC-MS/MS. The extracts were shown to protect HepG2 cells against future APAP toxicity and may be candidates for supplements that could be used to prevent liver damage. In the concomitant treatment using the extracts with APAP, it was demonstrated that the extracts do not present a synergistic toxicity effect, with no occurrence of potentiation of toxicity. The extracts showed considerable cytoprotective effects and important antioxidant characteristics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medicinal Plants: Advances in Phytochemistry and Ethnobotany II)
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13 pages, 2006 KiB  
Article
Productivity and Nutritional Quality of Nitrogen-Fixing and Non-Fixing Shrub Species for Ruminant Production
by Magnolia Tzec-Gamboa, Oscar Omar Álvarez-Rivera, Luis Ramírez y Avilés, Juan Ku-Vera and Francisco Javier Solorio-Sánchez
Agronomy 2023, 13(4), 1089; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13041089 - 10 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1983
Abstract
Fodder shrubs are important dry season feed sources for livestock in semi-arid environments. It has been proposed that a mixture of leguminous with non-leguminous shrubs may increase rates of N cycling and improve biomass and fodder quality. The objective of the present study [...] Read more.
Fodder shrubs are important dry season feed sources for livestock in semi-arid environments. It has been proposed that a mixture of leguminous with non-leguminous shrubs may increase rates of N cycling and improve biomass and fodder quality. The objective of the present study was to assess the biomass productivity and fodder quality of leguminous shrubs growing a mixture with non-leguminous shrubs. Three shrub species—the legume Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) and the non-legumes Guazuma ulmifolia (Lam.) and Moringa oleifera (Lam.)—were grown as legume/non-legume mixtures and as monocultures. Total fodder production and quality were estimated over five harvests at three-month intervals. The LeucaenaGuazuma mixture had the largest fodder production (9045 kg ha−1 year−1), followed by the Leucaena monocrop (7750 kg ha−1 year−1). Total nitrogen accumulation in the foliage was also high in the LeucaenaGuazuma mixture, reaching 282 kg ha−1 year−1; the Leucaena monocrop accumulated 244 kg N, while the Moringa monocrop took up only 46 kg N ha−1. The concentration of polyphenols was high in Leucaena and Guazuma, while Moringa had the lowest value. The high survival and excellent growth rates, as well as the high foliage production observed in Leucaena and Guazuma, suggest that they have the potential to provide high-quality fodder for livestock. Full article
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16 pages, 2761 KiB  
Article
Decomposition and Nitrogen Release Rates of Foliar Litter from Single and Mixed Agroforestry Species under Field Conditions
by Magnolia del Carmen Tzec-Gamboa, Oscar Omar Álvarez-Rivera, Luis Ramírez y Avilés and Francisco Javier Solorio-Sánchez
Agriculture 2023, 13(1), 222; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13010222 - 16 Jan 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3150
Abstract
Decomposition and N release pattern from the leaves of three shrubs species were studied under field conditions. Leaves of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.), Guazuma ulmifolia (Lam.) and Moringa oleifera (Lam.) and two mixtures, Leucaena + Moringa and Leucaena + Guazuma, in a complete [...] Read more.
Decomposition and N release pattern from the leaves of three shrubs species were studied under field conditions. Leaves of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.), Guazuma ulmifolia (Lam.) and Moringa oleifera (Lam.) and two mixtures, Leucaena + Moringa and Leucaena + Guazuma, in a complete randomized block design, were studied during the dry and wet seasons. Litterbags were randomly distributed in each experimental block and placed on the soil surface, and residues were recovered after 2, 4, 8, and 16 weeks. Double exponential model decay was better fitted to describe the pattern of the decay of the release of various leaf constituents. Litter dry weight loss and N release were faster from Moringa, followed by the Leucaena + Moringa mixture, while the Guazuma leaf litter decomposed much slower. In the wet period, a rapid N release was observed for Moringa (60%) and Leucaena + Moringa (43%) in the first two weeks. In contrast, Guazuma and the Leucaena + Guazuma mixture released about 46% of N in 16 weeks. In the dry period, leaves released most of their N during the first 8 to 16 weeks. Moringa and Leucaena + Moringa ranked first, having lost 81 and 75% of its initial N, respectively. The ratios of condensed tannin and polyphenols to N were significantly correlated with the N released. It was concluded that the initial mass loss from the leaf litter was high and rapid in the rainy period in comparison to the dry period. The residue disappearance pattern of Moringa, Leucaena and Leucaena + Moringa followed an asymptotic model, with more than 80% of the original residue released during the 16-week study period. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Legume Nitrogen Fixation in Agroecosystems)
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10 pages, 324 KiB  
Article
Feeding Preferences of Domestic and Wild Ungulates for Forage Trees in the Dry Tropics
by Kenny López Benavides, Lester Rocha, Emmanuel Serrano and Jordi Bartolomé Filella
Sustainability 2022, 14(20), 13430; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142013430 - 18 Oct 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2076
Abstract
Silvopastoralism based on livestock feeding on forage trees is becoming a sustainable alternative to traditional grazing on the open pastures of dry tropical Central America. Four autochthonous trees, Acacia pennatula, Enterolobium cyclocarpum, Gliricidia sepium and Guazuma ulmifolia, and one exotic (Moringa [...] Read more.
Silvopastoralism based on livestock feeding on forage trees is becoming a sustainable alternative to traditional grazing on the open pastures of dry tropical Central America. Four autochthonous trees, Acacia pennatula, Enterolobium cyclocarpum, Gliricidia sepium and Guazuma ulmifolia, and one exotic (Moringa oleifera) tree are the preferred species for these silvopastoral systems. Little is known, however, about the feeding preferences of cattle, sheep and goats for such fodder trees and whether wild ungulates (white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus) feed on these plants. In this work, we conducted several multiple-choice feeding preference tests (cafeteria test) to compare the best choice to feed cattle, sheep, goats and white-tailed deer in these farming systems. Although all ruminant species included the four autochthonous trees and the exotic M. oleifera in their diets, G. ulmifolia was the preferred forage tree by far. The preference for the rest of the trees varied among our ruminant species. When M. oleifera was added to the cafeteria test, it was well accepted by white-tailed deer but little appreciated by their domestic counterparts. The use of these forage trees for livestock feeding is thus interesting not only for sustainable animal production but also to support wild herbivores in the dry tropics of Central America. Full article
11 pages, 513 KiB  
Article
In Vitro Anthelmintic Activity of a Hydroalcoholic Extract from Guazuma ulmifolia Leaves against Haemonchus contortus
by Guillermo Reséndiz-González, Rosa Isabel Higuera-Piedrahita, Alejandro Lara-Bueno, Roberto González-Gardúño, Jorge Alberto Cortes-Morales, Manasés González-Cortazar, Pedro Mendoza-de Gives, Sara Guadalupe Romero-Romero and Agustín Olmedo-Juárez
Pathogens 2022, 11(10), 1160; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11101160 - 7 Oct 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2586
Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to assess the ovicidal and larvicidal activity of a hydroalcoholic extract (HAE) and their fractions (aqueous, Aq-F and organic, EtOAc-F) from Guazuma ulmifolia leaves using Haemonchus contortus as a biological model. The egg hatching inhibition (EHI) [...] Read more.
The purpose of the present study was to assess the ovicidal and larvicidal activity of a hydroalcoholic extract (HAE) and their fractions (aqueous, Aq-F and organic, EtOAc-F) from Guazuma ulmifolia leaves using Haemonchus contortus as a biological model. The egg hatching inhibition (EHI) and larval mortality against infective larvae (L3) tests were used to determine the anthelmintic effect of the treatments. The extract and fractions were tested at different concentrations against eggs and L3. Additionally, distilled water and methanol were used as negative controls and ivermectin as a positive control. The extract and fractions were subjected to HPLC analysis to identify the major compounds. The HAE displayed the highest ovicidal activity (100% EHI at 10 mg/mL). Fractionation of the HA extract allowed increasing the nematicidal effect in the EtOAc-F (100% EHI at 0.62 mg/mL and 85.35% mortality at 25 mg/mL). The phytochemical analysis of the extract and fractions revealed the presence of kaempferol, ethyl ferulate, ethyl coumarate, flavonol, luteolin, ferulic acid, luteolin rhamnoside, apigenin rutinoside, coumaric acid derivative, luteolin glucoside, and quercetin glucoside. These results suggest that G. ulmifolia leaves could be potential candidates for the control of H. contortus or other gastrointestinal parasitic nematodes. Full article
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19 pages, 1787 KiB  
Article
Foliage of Tropical Trees and Shrubs and Their Secondary Metabolites Modify In Vitro Ruminal Fermentation, Methane and Gas Production without a Tight Correlation with the Microbiota
by Yesenia Ángeles-Mayorga, Elmi Roseida Cen-Cen, María Magdalena Crosby-Galván, Jacinto Efrén Ramírez-Bribiesca, Bernardino Candelaria-Martínez, Alfredo Sánchez-Villarreal and Mónica Ramírez-Mella
Animals 2022, 12(19), 2628; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12192628 - 30 Sep 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2989
Abstract
Ruminants, mainly cattle, contribute to greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions as methane (CH4) is produced by ruminal fermentation. Hence, various anti-methanogenic feed strategies have been studied, including the use of plants with secondary metabolites. This study evaluated in vitro ruminal fermentation metrics, [...] Read more.
Ruminants, mainly cattle, contribute to greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions as methane (CH4) is produced by ruminal fermentation. Hence, various anti-methanogenic feed strategies have been studied, including the use of plants with secondary metabolites. This study evaluated in vitro ruminal fermentation metrics, microbial composition by digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) and the CH4 production of the foliage of several tropical trees and shrubs: Leucaena leucocephala, Moringa oleifera, Albizia lebbeck, Enterolobium cyclocarpum, Piscidia piscipula, Brosimum alicastrum, Lysiloma latisiliquum, Guazuma ulmifolia, Cnidoscolus aconitifolius, Gliricidia sepium and Bursera simaruba, using Cynodon plectostachyus grass as control. The results showed a wide variation in the chemical composition of the foliage, as well as in the ruminal microbiota. The crude protein (CP) content ranged from 11 to 25%, whereas the content of condensed tannins (CT) and saponins (S) was from 0.02 to 7%, and 3.2 to 6.6%, respectively. The greatest dry matter degradability (DMD) after 72 h was 69% and the least 35%, the latter coinciding with the least gas production (GP). A negative correlation was found between the CT and CH4 production, also between protozoa and fungi with the SGMT group of archaea. We concluded that the foliage of some tropical trees and shrubs has a high nutritional value and the potential to decrease CH4 production due to its CT content. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forage and Feedstuff Digestion Kinetics in Ruminants)
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19 pages, 4053 KiB  
Article
Pollen Types Reveal Floral Diversity in Natural Honeys from Campeche, Mexico
by José Luis Villalpando-Aguilar, Víctor Hugo Quej-Chi, Itzel López-Rosas, William Cetzal-Ix, Víctor Ángel Aquino-Luna, Fulgencio Alatorre-Cobos and Jesús Froylán Martínez-Puc
Diversity 2022, 14(9), 740; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14090740 - 9 Sep 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4456
Abstract
The Yucatan Peninsula, located in southern Mexico, is a central honey-producing region with extraordinary biodiversity of melliferous plants. Approximately 900 plant species have been described as being a source of nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinators. They provide ecosystem services that [...] Read more.
The Yucatan Peninsula, located in southern Mexico, is a central honey-producing region with extraordinary biodiversity of melliferous plants. Approximately 900 plant species have been described as being a source of nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinators. They provide ecosystem services that help to keep plant biodiversity high and mitigate the effects of climate change. This study aimed to reveal the diversity of the pollen content in honey through a melissopalynological analysis of 22 honey samples collected in February–August 2021 from the north-central area of Campeche, Mexico. The extraction of pollen from the honey was carried out using standard methods for melissopalynological analysis. The honeys were classified by botanical origin to determine their floral sources and a diverse spectrum of 19 pollen types from 13 families was identified. Only eight were predominant: Milleria quinqueflora, Gymnopodium floribundum, Terminalia buceras, Amaranthus spinosus, Zea mays, Talisia floresii, Guazuma ulmifolia, and Croton icche. Our research shows the high quality of the honey analyzed and highlights the diversity and critical role of local melliferous flora and crops in beekeeping development in southern Mexico. The results in this study are useful for confirming the botanical origins of honey, generating information for designing nature conservation and agroecosystem management strategies, and increasing the knowledge of beekeepers in Campeche, Mexico. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Biodiversity Conservation)
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15 pages, 4285 KiB  
Article
Configuration of the Deep Neural Network Hyperparameters for the Hypsometric Modeling of the Guazuma crinita Mart. in the Peruvian Amazon
by Gianmarco Goycochea Casas, Duberlí Geomar Elera Gonzáles, Juan Rodrigo Baselly Villanueva, Leonardo Pereira Fardin and Hélio Garcia Leite
Forests 2022, 13(5), 697; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13050697 - 29 Apr 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2978
Abstract
The Guazuma crinita Mart. is a dominant species of great economic importance for the inhabitants of the Peruvian Amazon, standing out for its rapid growth and being harvested at an early age. Understanding its vertical growth is a challenge that researchers have continued [...] Read more.
The Guazuma crinita Mart. is a dominant species of great economic importance for the inhabitants of the Peruvian Amazon, standing out for its rapid growth and being harvested at an early age. Understanding its vertical growth is a challenge that researchers have continued to study using different hypsometric modeling techniques. Currently, machine learning techniques, especially artificial neural networks, have revolutionized modeling for forest management, obtaining more accurate predictions; it is because we understand that it is of the utmost importance to adapt, evaluate and apply these methods in this species for large areas. The objective of this study was to build and evaluate the efficiency of the use of a deep neural network for the prediction of the total height of Guazuma crinita Mart. from a large-scale continuous forest inventory. To do this, we explore different configurations of the hidden layer hyperparameters and define the variables according to the function HT = f(x) where HT is the total height as the output variable and x is the input variable(s). Under this criterion, we established three HT relationships: based on the diameter at breast height (DBH), (i) HT = f(DBH); based on DBH and Age, (ii) HT = f(DBH, Age) and based on DBH, Age and Agroclimatic variables, (iii) HT = f(DBH, Age, Agroclimatology), respectively. In total, 24 different configuration models were established for each function, concluding that the deep artificial neural network technique presents a satisfactory performance for the predictions of the total height of Guazuma crinita Mart. for modeling large areas, being the function based on DBH, Age and agroclimatic variables, with a performance validation of RMSE = 0.70, MAE = 0.50, bias% = −0.09 and VAR = 0.49, showed better accuracy than the others. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling of Forest Tree and Stand Parameters)
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