Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are normally produced during cell metabolism, there is strong evidence to suggest that ROS produced in excess impair the cell and may be etiologically related to various neurodegenerative diseases. This study was undertaken to examine the effects of Lepidium meyenii (MACA) methanol leaf extract on neurotoxicity in PC12 cell exposed to 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). Fresh samples of “maca” leaves were processed in order to obtain foliar extracts and to evaluate the neurobiological activity on PC12 cells, subjected to the cytotoxic effect of 6-OHDA through the determination of the capacity antioxidant, cell viability and cytotoxicity assays on PC12 cells. The results of the tests of antioxidant activity, showed maximum values of 2262.37 and 1305.36 expressed in Trolox equivalents (TEAC), for the methanolic and aqueous fractions respectively. Cell viability as...

Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina. Facultad de Ciencias. Departamento Académico de Biología

Background:Dionaea muscipula called "venusflytrap" isthe only species ofthe genusDionaea belonging to the group of "carnivorous plants" that besides its ornamental appeal nowadays is studied for the isolation of secondary metabolites, having finding various compounds with direct activity in different diseases. Plumbagin (2-methyl-5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone), has been reported in different genressuch as Plumbago species(Plumbaginaceae), Drosera and Dionaea (Droseraceae) and Diospyros (Ebenaceae) describing activities like antispasmodic, antibacterial, antiparasitic antifungal, anti-rheumatic pain and anti-cancer. The aim of this study is to develop a method by HPLC UV reliable for the determination of plumbagina. The method presented a linearity r 2 = 0.997569 for concentrations between 10 and 50 ug / ml, with limits of detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ) of 0.09 g / ml and 0.3 ug/ m...