Mesquite (Prosopis spp.) is one of the main plant representatives in regions with a dry climate, and is a fundamental part of the flora of the Mexican arid, with an indisputable importance from ecological, economic and industrial points of view. However, the restrictive factors of dry climates, as well as genetic variability, are sources of the great diversity of mesquite, so its taxonomy is not yet well defined. The present study seeks to determine the diversity of mesquite in the Mexican semi-desert based on the morphometric characterization of its leaves. Methods: Different leaf parameters such as the number, length and width of the leaflets were recorded in 31 well-marked sites in the area, to obtain measures of central tendency and dispersion, and to determine the differences and similarities between the sites, as well as the groups of homogeneous and heterogeneous taxa. Results: Five taxa were identified, of which there were two varieties (Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa and Prosopis reptans var. cinerascens), a pure or typical species (Prosopis laevigata) and two hybrids (Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa x Prosopis laevigata and Prosopis laevigata x Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa). The discriminant analysis indicated that five variables presented the highest percentage of separation or best separated the taxa, so the study was based on the phenogram with the combination of these five variables: (a) length of middle leaflets, (b) length of upper leaflets, (c) spacing of middle leaflets, (d) length/width relationship of middle leaflets and (e) length/width relationship of middle leaflets. Conclusions: Both the traditional taxonomic classification and the cluster and discriminant analyses reflected the same taxa (Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa, Prosopis laevigata and Prosopis reptans var. cinerascens) and the existence of hybridization between Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa and Prosopis laevigata.

La diabetes mellitus es una enfermedad que no decrece y afecta a más de 537 millones de personas en el mundo. La diabetes al complicarse daña varios órganos hasta causar la muerte. Los fármacos en uso para contrarrestar la enfermedad producen efectos secundarios; circunstancia que ha propiciado la investigación en plantas con propiedades antidiabéticas. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el potencial antidiabético de los extractos obtenidos por maceración de las siguientes partes de la planta: del cladodio y semilla de Cylindropuntia imbricata (Cactaceae), del cladodio y semilla de Opuntia engelmannii (Cactaceae), de la raíz de Ibervillea sonorae (Cucurbitaceae) y de la semilla de Theobroma cacao (Malvaceae) mezcladas con solventes de diferente polaridad (hexano, acetato de etilo, diclorometano y metanol). Se obtuvieron un total de 24 extractos sometidos a los análisis: 1) de cribado fitoquímico para determinar su composición, 2) de toxicidad en células B16F10 mediante la prueba de azul alamar, 3) decapacidad antioxidante a través de la inhibición de DPPH, y 4) de evaluación in vitro para conocer su capacidad antihiperglucémica (inhibición de la alfa glucosidasa). Los resultados obtenidos, de los extractos metanólicos con las semillas de O. engelmannii y T. cacao, así como los de acetato de etilo con las semillas de T. cacao y C. imbricata mostraron una actividad antioxidante y antihiperglucémica. Sin toxicidad en las células B16F10, y con potencial antidiabético in vitro.

Honey is a natural sweet substance produced by bees from plant nectar or secretions from live plant parts or from plant-sucking insect excretions. Bees collect, transform and combine these with their own specific substances and deposit, dehydrate, store and leave them on the hive to mature and age. Mexico is the fourth largest honey producer in the world. Eight honey samples were studied considering aspects palynological, bromatological and physicochemical. Regarding pollen richness, these honeys belong to Class II and III, which correspond to pollen-rich honeys. Regarding moisture, values from 10.55% for S1 honey to 18.14% for LC were found. For ash, LC honey had a lower percentage (0.07%) while EM honey had a greater percentage (0.42%). A maximum protein value of 0.63% was found, corresponding to EC honey. All the honeys analyzed were within the reference values (89.29% for honey S2 and 81.66% for LC) for nitrogen-free extract. Regarding ethereal extract, values of 0.01% and 0.08% were found while water activity (aw) in the honey had values from 0.55 to 0.65. The pH of the honeys was between 3.73 and 4.16. The electrical conductivity of the honeys analyzed was between 0.27 and 0.50 mS/cm. Reducing sugars content was between 63.72 and 84.33%, corresponding to EC and ADA honeys, respectively. The results of this study indicate that the honeys analyzed are within the National and International standards.

Se estudia el nivel de concentración del polen de Amaranthaceae en el área metropolitana de Monterrey durante un año, esto debido al interés como agente etiológico de polinosis en diversas regiones del mundo. Para la captura del polen se utilizó un captador volumétrico tipo Hirst (Lanzoni Co., Italia), colocado en el edificio de la Unidad C de la Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas (UANL). Se encontró que el índice polínico total fue de 421 granos de polen, con una media diaria máxima de 10 g/m3 de aire el 8 de diciembre de 2012. Los meses que presentaron el mayor índice polínico son octubre y enero con 52 y 44 granos de polen, respectivamente. Con respecto a la variación horaria se registraron altas concentraciones entre las 6:00 y 14:00 horas con un total de 240 granos de polen.