Capsicum species, Solanaceae, have been used for centuries as food additives by populations of different regions of the world. Capsaicin (trans-methyl-N-vainillyl-nonenamide) is the main pungent compound extracted from the red hot pepper fruit (Capsicum spp.). The capsaicin content was determined by means of a HPLC method. The results showed that Capsicum chacoense Hunz., contains similar amounts of capsaicin (13.9 mg/100 g of dry fruit) in comparison with Capsicum baccatum L. (12.6 mg/100 g) and Capsicum annum L. (10.1 mg/100 g). Dichloromethane (CH2Cl2) and ethanol (EtOH) extracts of C. chacoense elicited a 46% and 38 % of inhibition on the arachidonic acid (AA) pathway in ear edema respectively while the CH2Cl2 and EtOH extracts of C. baccatum inhibited 52% and 35% the arachidonic acid response respectively.

Larrea divaricata Cav. is widely distributed in Argentina. Aqueous extract, of its leaves, has documented antitumoral and immunomodulatory activities. In this study, the antioxidant activity of aqueous extract and a component, nordihydroguaiaretic acid was determined and compared using different assays. Both the aqueous extract and nordihydroguaiaretic acid exhibited antioxidant activity. However, results show that it is very likely that compounds other than nordihydroguaiaretic acid could be involved in the antioxidant activity of the extract. Since nordihydroguaiaretic acid is nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic agent, it is important to direct efforts toward the potential use of low-nordihydroguaiaretic acid L. divaricata extracts as antioxidant in foods.

Larrea divaricata Cav. está ampliamente distribuida en la Argentina. Se han documentado actividades antitumorales e inmunomoduladoras de los extractos acuosos de sus hojas. En este estudio, la actividad antioxidante del extracto acuoso y un componente, el ácido nordihidroguayarético, se determinaron y compararon mediante diferentes ensayos. Tanto el extracto acuoso como el ácido nordihidroguayarético mostraron actividad antioxidante. Sin embargo, los resultados muestran que es muy probable que otros compuestos diferentes al ácido nordihidroguayarético pudieran estar involucrados en la actividad antioxidante de los extractos. Dado que el ácido nordihidroguayarético es un agente nefrotóxico y hepatotóxico, es importante dirigir los esfuerzos hacia el uso potencial de extractos de L. divaricata con bajas cantidades de ácido nordihidroguayarético como antioxidantes en alimentos.

La diarrea es una de las causas más comunes de enfermedad en pediatría y la segunda causa de muerte infantil en el mundo. Cobra la vida de cerca de 4.000 niños cada día. La carga es mayor en el mundo en desarrollo donde el acceso al agua potable, saneamiento y atención médica son a menudo limitadas. Las características de las evacuaciones permiten orientar la terapia inicial. Las diarreas de etiología bacteriana se tratan según criterios muy bien especificados, la mayoría se autolimitan en más del 50% de los casos. Los virus constituyen la etiología más frecuente de las diarreas (más de 40% de los episodios agudos). Existen múltiples parásitos causales para los cuales existen también alternativas terapéuticas. La terapia anti-infecciosa cuando este indicado se debe iniciar precozmente, de esta manera, se reduce la duración y gravedad de la enfermedad, se previenen complicaciones, se disminuye la excreción del agente infeccioso y se evita la transmisión del patógeno.

Diarrheal disease is one of the most common causes of illness and the second leading cause of child death in the world. It claims the lives of nearly 4000 children each day. The burden is greatest in the developing world where access to safe water, sanitation, and medical care are often limited. Viruses are the most common cause of diarrhea (more than 40% of acute episodes). Episodes of bacterial diarrhea are self-limited in more than 50% of cases. There are multiple causative parasites for which there are also therapeutic alternatives. Antiinfective therapy should be initiated early, thus reducing the duration and severity of the disease, preventing complications, decreasing the excretion of the infectious agent and preventing the transmission of the pathogen.

Lotus tenuis Waldst. et Kit. (=Lotus glaber Mill.) é uma planta leguminosa muito difundida que cresce naturalmente em pastagens da Flooding Pampas, na Argentina. Uma das hipóteses para explicar a disseminação de L. tenuis nessa área, é a diferenciação de ecotipos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar os compostos flavonoides presentes em populações de L. tenuis que crescem em uma grande variedade de solos. Amostras de cinco populações que crescem em solos com diferentes características foram coletados, cultivados em estufas e comparados de acordo com seu perfil de flavonoides. Glicosídeos dos seguintes flavonoides foram detectados: quercetina, 7-metóxi-quercetina éter, kaempferol, 7-metóxi-kaempferol éter e isorhamnetina. Somente as mostras de solos salino-sódicos mostraram agliconas metiladas: 7-metóxi-kaempferol éter e 7-metóxi-quercetina éter. Os últimos compostos poderiam, portanto, ser considerados como a expressão de uma adaptação bioquímica e sugerem uma diferenciação em ecotipo.

Lotus tenuis Waldst. et Kit. (=Lotus glaber Mill.) is a widely spread leguminous plant which grows naturally in low grasslands of the Flooding Pampas of Argentina. One of the hypothesis to explain the succesful spread of L. tenuis in this area, is the ecotypes differentiation. The aim of this work was to investigate the flavonoid compounds present in L. tenuis plant populations which grow in a variety of soils. Individuals from five populations growing in soils having different characterisctics were collected, cultivated in a glasshouse and compared according to their flavonoid profile. Glycosides of the following flavonoids were detected: quercetin, quercetin 7-methyl ether, kaempferol, kaempferol 7-methyl ether and isorhamnetin. Only those samples from a saline-sodic lowland, showed methylated aglycones: kaempferol 7-methyl ether and quercetin 7- methyl ether. The latter compounds could therefore be considered the expression of a biochemical adaptation and suggest an ecotype differentiation.