Kalanchoë gastonis-bonnieri Raym.-Hamet & Perrier is a plant used for medicinal purposes in the treatment of several ailments. The aim of this study was to analyze the chemical profile of extracts from K. gastonis-bonnieri embryogenic calli, generated from genetically transformed roots by Agrobacterium rhizogenes. Putative transformants were verified by PCR. Hydroalcoholic extracts were obtained and the chemical profile was analyzed by LC-ESI-MS/MS. Root formation was obtained from 80% of infected seedlings. Fifteen root lines were isolated, and two lines showed prominent longitudinal growth and profuse branching in the B5 semi-solid medium. In all lines, the formation of nodules and later embryogenic callus was observed. Putative transgenic root lines were cultivated in free-plant growth regulators B5 medium. In the two selected lines, the PCR amplification of rolA, rolB, rolC, rolD, and aux1 genes was detected. The extract of embryogenic calli showed 60 chemical compounds tentatively identified, such as ferulic acid, quinic acid, neobaisoflavone, and malic acid, among others, and the chemical profile was different in comparison to wild-type extracts. This is the first study reporting the analysis of the chemical profile of hairy root extracts derived from Kalanchoë gastonis-bonnieri. This work displays the great potential for obtaining chemical compounds of pharmacological importance from hairy roots and facilitates the identification of new useful drugs against human chronic-degenerative diseases.

Ruta graveolens L. has been described as possessing antifungal and nematicidal activity. Among the bioactive compounds present in this plant, alkaloids and furanocoumarins have attracted considerable attention. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro biological activity of extracts from rue enriched in bioactive compounds against Fusarium oxysporum, F. circinatum, and Meloidogyne incognita, and to correlate the chemical profile of the extracts with their biological activities. Six extracts with contrasting chemical profiles, obtained by pressurized liquid extraction and supercritical fluid extraction using green solvents, were selected for biological evaluation. The highest F. oxysporum growth inhibition was achieved with the extracts enriched in fatty acids and furanocoumarins at concentrations of 4, 8, and 16 mg/mL, while for F. circinatum, the highest growth inhibition was obtained using the extract enriched in terpenes at 16 mg/mL; moreover, the six extracts evaluated caused mortality in M. incognita. Therefore, enriched extracts of R. graveolens might be considered as an alternative for pathogen control on economically important crops such as potatoes, tomatoes, and onions, among others. Correlations between biological activities and chemical compositions suggest the importance of fatty acids against F. oxysporum, fatty acids and terpenes against F. circinatum, and alkaloids, coumarins, and furanocoumarins for M. incognita.

Chemistry and Insecticide activity of Bougainvillea glabra Choisy against Spodoptera frugiperda Smith Silvia Evangelista-Lozano, Lorena Reyes-Vaquero, Antonia de Jesús-Sánchez, S

Many varieties of Bougainvillea glabra Choisy have medicinal and insecticidal activity. This study evaluated biological activity of methanolic extract of leaves of Bougainvillea glabra var. “Variegata” at concentrations of 1,000, 750, 500, 250, and 125 ppm against fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), with n = 25 with three replications under laboratory conditions. Methanolic extract at 13% from dried leaves from a nursery affected the susceptible larval stage of fall armyworm. Number killed ranged from 60 to 85%. The weights of larvae and pupae in all treatments were less than the check. All pupae were malformed and no adults emerged. We concluded that Bougainvillea glabra Variegata has potential to use as a bioinsecticide to control of larvae of insect pests because more than 50% of fall aryworm larvae were killed by all treatments. La Bougainvillea glabra Choisy presentan actividad medicinal e insecticida; esta especie tiene muchas variedades, el objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el efecto del extracto metanolico de hoja de Bougainvillea glabra var. “Variegata” contra Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) a nivel de laboratorio. La extracción se hizo por maceración en metanol usando hoja seca colectada en vivero. La evaluación del efecto biológico se realizó a nivel laboratorio sobre el gusano cogollero (Spodoptera frugiperda) con una n = 25 con 3 repeticiones; se usaron diferentes concentraciones de los extractos (1,000, 750, 500, 250, y 125 ppm). El rendimiento del extracto metanólico de hoja fue de 13%. Se observó una acción insecticida, siendo los primeros dos estadios larvales los más susceptibles. El porcentaje de mortalidad fue del 60 al 85%. El peso de las larvas y pupas en todos los tratamientos fue menor con respecto al control. Todas las pupas formadas presentaron un tipo de malformación y en ninguno de los tratamientos hubo emergencia de adultos. Con los resultados obtenidos, se puede concluir que la buganvilia variedad “Variegata” tiene potencial para usarse como bionisecticida en el control de larvas de insectos plagas; ya que el porcentaje de mortalidad en todos los tratamientos fue mayor al 50%.