The immunomodulatory activity was studied in function of the production of γ−IFN induced by the methanolic extracts (ME) of the white, black, red and purple ecotypes of Lepidium peruvianum, Chacón (at present Lepidium meyenii Walp.) maca, on cultures of human T lymphocytes obtained of periferic blood. After cultivating the lymphocytes with the respective ME of maca during 14 hours, only the ME of the purple ecotype induced the significant production of IFN−γ by Elispot quantified. The methanolic extract of the purple ecotype of maca possesses important immunostimulatory properties triggering the activation of the human T lymphocytes.

The classic treatment of the cutaneous leishmaniosis consists on the injection of 15-20 ampoule of Glucantine what causes serious secondary effects. This fact justifies the search of new medications what motivated the present investigation. The objective was to evaluate the leishmanicidal activity of the methanolic extracts (ME) of the white, red, purple and black ecotypes of Lepidium peruvianum Chacón (at present Lepidium meyenii Walp.) about the growth of Leishmania braziliensis peruviana in vitro. The promastigotes reached the logarithmic phase to the fifth day of cultivation at 27 ºC in the two-phase Columbia medium with 15% of defibrinated sheep blood and they faced, for separate, with the ME to concentrations of 50, 100, 200 and 400 μg/ml. The recounts were made daily with camera Neubauer. The maximum decrease of promastigotes (17.41% of viability) took place to the second day f...

The macrophages play an important role in the innate and adaptative response. Upon appropriate activation, macrophages released a variety of cytotoxic mediators like the Nitric Oxide (NO). The objective was to evaluate the production of NO for murine peritoneal macrophages cultivated with methanol extracts (ME) of different ecotypes of Lepidium peruvianum Chacón (at present Lepidium meyenii Walp.) red, black, purple and white. The ME was prepared using maca powdered macerated in methanol (1:2) during 10 days. Peritoneal macrophages were obtained of mice 3 days after having injected them 1 ml of thioglycolate broth; they were cultivated for triplicate during 18 hrs at 37 °C in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum. The dose of ME was of 800 μg/ml for ecotype, were considered controls without ME. The production of NO was assayed by nitrite accumulation in the supernata...

The search of natural compound with cytotoxic and antitumoural activities is one of the current priorities of the fight against the cancer; being necessary to analyze new extracts of plants. The objective in this paper was to evaluate the cytotoxic activity of the methanolic extract (ME) of the black, purple and yellow ecotypes of Lepidium peruvianum, Chacón (at present Lepidium meyenii Walp.), Maca, on the cellular lines HeLa (Human Epithelial Carcinoma) and HT-29 (Human Colon Adenocarcinoma). For the cellular line HT-29, the inhibitory concentration of 50% of the cellular growth (IC50) with the black, purple and yellow ecotypes was of 8,32 mg/ml, 9,28 mg/ml and 0,487 mg/ml, respectively; while for the cellular line HeLa was of 2,4 mg/ml, 1,93 mg/ml and 0,66 mg/ml respectively. Additionally, ME of the yellow ecotype was evaluated with two years of storage (10ºC) determining an IC50 4,...

The objective of the study was to determine the infectious origin of the alevines mortality and lesions observed in adults of Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum 1792, "rainbow trout", in the fishfarm "El Ingenio" using a simple and effective methodology. Alevines, eggs and adult forms and samples of water from ponds were collected. These samples were cultivated on seeds of Cucurbita maxima "calabash" as substrate, where typical colonies had been developing alter seven days. Microscopic characteristics of the hyphae fitted the graphic pattern of Saprolegnia sp. (fungi), which is related to the symptomatology observed in the captured adults. The presence of Saprolegnia sp. would be related to high mortality of alevines registered (40%), probably for importation of eggs contaminated with the fungi. The method was efficient because the substrate has permitted the development 01 the fungi for an eas...

The objective was to investigate the antimicrobial qualitative activities of five plants used in Traditional Medicine in Peru: Eucalyptus globulus, Labill "eucaliptus"; Cymbopogon citratus, (D.C.) Staff "hierba luisa"; Tagetes pusilla, Lag "anis serrano"; Senecio tephrosioides, Turcz "huamanrripa" y Lepechinia meyenii, (Walp) Epling "salvia". The essential oils were prepared by steam distillation and tested against Salmonella typhi ATCC 6539, S. typhimurium ATCC 14028, S. enteritidis INS, Vibrio cholerae ATCC E-7946 OGAWA, Pseudomonas aeruginosa GT 28, Shigella flexneri INS, Staphylococcus aureus INS, S. aureus ATCC 6538P and Candida albicans ATCC 10231. Test was controlled with antibiotic discs. Essential oils showed diverse effects against both Gram positive and Gram negative microorganisms. None of these inhibited the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The immunomodulatory activity was studied in function of the production of γ−IFN induced by the methanolic extracts (ME) of the white, black, red and purple ecotypes of Lepidium peruvianum, Chacón (at present Lepidium meyenii Walp.) maca, on cultures of human T lymphocytes obtained of periferic blood. After cultivating the lymphocytes with the respective ME of maca during 14 hours, only the ME of the purple ecotype induced the significant production of IFN−γ by Elispot quantified. The methanolic extract of the purple ecotype of maca possesses important immunostimulatory properties triggering the activation of the human T lymphocytes.

The classic treatment of the cutaneous leishmaniosis consists on the injection of 15-20 ampoule of Glucantine what causes serious secondary effects. This fact justifies the search of new medications what motivated the present investigation. The objective was to evaluate the leishmanicidal activity of the methanolic extracts (ME) of the white, red, purple and black ecotypes of Lepidium peruvianum Chacón (at present Lepidium meyenii Walp.) about the growth of Leishmania braziliensis peruviana in vitro. The promastigotes reached the logarithmic phase to the fifth day of cultivation at 27 ºC in the two-phase Columbia medium with 15% of defibrinated sheep blood and they faced, for separate, with the ME to concentrations of 50, 100, 200 and 400 μg/ml. The recounts were made daily with camera Neubauer. The maximum decrease of promastigotes (17.41% of viability) took place to the second day f...

The macrophages play an important role in the innate and adaptative response. Upon appropriate activation, macrophages released a variety of cytotoxic mediators like the Nitric Oxide (NO). The objective was to evaluate the production of NO for murine peritoneal macrophages cultivated with methanol extracts (ME) of different ecotypes of Lepidium peruvianum Chacón (at present Lepidium meyenii Walp.) red, black, purple and white. The ME was prepared using maca powdered macerated in methanol (1:2) during 10 days. Peritoneal macrophages were obtained of mice 3 days after having injected them 1 ml of thioglycolate broth; they were cultivated for triplicate during 18 hrs at 37 °C in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum. The dose of ME was of 800 μg/ml for ecotype, were considered controls without ME. The production of NO was assayed by nitrite accumulation in the supernata...

The search of natural compound with cytotoxic and antitumoural activities is one of the current priorities of the fight against the cancer; being necessary to analyze new extracts of plants. The objective in this paper was to evaluate the cytotoxic activity of the methanolic extract (ME) of the black, purple and yellow ecotypes of Lepidium peruvianum, Chacón (at present Lepidium meyenii Walp.), Maca, on the cellular lines HeLa (Human Epithelial Carcinoma) and HT-29 (Human Colon Adenocarcinoma). For the cellular line HT-29, the inhibitory concentration of 50% of the cellular growth (IC50) with the black, purple and yellow ecotypes was of 8,32 mg/ml, 9,28 mg/ml and 0,487 mg/ml, respectively; while for the cellular line HeLa was of 2,4 mg/ml, 1,93 mg/ml and 0,66 mg/ml respectively. Additionally, ME of the yellow ecotype was evaluated with two years of storage (10ºC) determining an IC50 4,...

The objective of the study was to determine the infectious origin of the alevines mortality and lesions observed in adults of Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum 1792, "rainbow trout", in the fishfarm "El Ingenio" using a simple and effective methodology. Alevines, eggs and adult forms and samples of water from ponds were collected. These samples were cultivated on seeds of Cucurbita maxima "calabash" as substrate, where typical colonies had been developing alter seven days. Microscopic characteristics of the hyphae fitted the graphic pattern of Saprolegnia sp. (fungi), which is related to the symptomatology observed in the captured adults. The presence of Saprolegnia sp. would be related to high mortality of alevines registered (40%), probably for importation of eggs contaminated with the fungi. The method was efficient because the substrate has permitted the development 01 the fungi for an eas...

Excretion–secretion antigens (ESA) of Fasciola hepatica were evaluated in bovine feces samples from endemic area (Andrés Avelino Cáceres, Central Peruvian Andean). We employed ELISA (Fascidig), Indirect hemagglutination (IHA) and Latex agglutination (LA); the results were correlationated with Dennis coproparasitologic method (DC). A number of 106 bovine feces samples were obtained from diferent places of the Region between October and November 1995 (rain time). AES was not detected for LA, the specificity for IHA was 63,6% and the sensibility 35% in relation to DC; the specificity for Elisa (Fascidig) was 68,2% and the sensibility was 60% with regard to DC; and in relation to IHA the specificity was 61,7% and the sensibility 50%. The correlation between ELISA (Fascidig) and DC was significative, it indicates that ELISA is the best method for the fasciolosis diagnostic in the prepaten...

Excretion–secretion antigens (ESA) of Fasciola hepatica were evaluated in bovine feces samples from endemic area (Andrés Avelino Cáceres, Central Peruvian Andean). We employed ELISA (Fascidig), Indirect hemagglutination (IHA) and Latex agglutination (LA); the results were correlationated with Dennis coproparasitologic method (DC). A number of 106 bovine feces samples were obtained from diferent places of the Region between October and November 1995 (rain time). AES was not detected for LA, the specificity for IHA was 63,6% and the sensibility 35% in relation to DC; the specificity for Elisa (Fascidig) was 68,2% and the sensibility was 60% with regard to DC; and in relation to IHA the specificity was 61,7% and the sensibility 50%. The correlation between ELISA (Fascidig) and DC was significative, it indicates that ELISA is the best method for the fasciolosis diagnostic in the prepaten...

Objective: Soluble antigens of ABO blood group system are found in the mucosa, this characteristic is called secretor status, has been associated with various pathological conditions and is determined by the allele of the FUT2 gene present in the individual. The aim of the present study was to generate the first report of the secretor status in a Peruvian population. Materials and Methods: 102 undergraduate students were selected, requesting their consent to verify their blood group through direct hemagglutination and a saliva sample donation. Secretor status was determined by hemagglutination inhibition assay with saliva, being found that 5% of individuals were non-secretors. Results: Regarding the ABO system, 76% presented group O (soluble antigen H); 19%, group A and 5%, group B. Conclusion: A high frequency of the secretor phenotype was found, suggesting the importance of conducting ...

Objective: Soluble antigens of ABO blood group system are found in the mucosa, this characteristic is called secretor status, has been associated with various pathological conditions and is determined by the allele of the FUT2 gene present in the individual. The aim of the present study was to generate the first report of the secretor status in a Peruvian population. Materials and Methods: 102 undergraduate students were selected, requesting their consent to verify their blood group through direct hemagglutination and a saliva sample donation. Secretor status was determined by hemagglutination inhibition assay with saliva, being found that 5% of individuals were non-secretors. Results: Regarding the ABO system, 76% presented group O (soluble antigen H); 19%, group A and 5%, group B. Conclusion: A high frequency of the secretor phenotype was found, suggesting the importance of conducting ...