Behavior, ecology and territory of the chestnut-bellied hummingbird, Saucerottia castaneiventris, in the xerophytic vegetation of the Chicamocha canyon of Colombia

The Chestnut-bellied Hummingbird Saucerottia castaneiventris is an endemic hummingbird of Colombia, currently categorized as Near Threatened (NT) globally and as Vulnerable (VU) in Colombia. We characterize the territorial defense and foraging behaviors of S. castaneiventris hummingbird during different seasons of the year, and we determined the size of the S. castaneiventris territory and its relationship with floral abundance at different times of the year. We made four field trips between 2008 and 2009 and registered 19 individuals from S. castaneiventris. Of these, 10 were in the rainy periods, distributed in five territories (one male and one female for each). Eight were in the dry period (July), distributed in four territories. And one individual was in the dry period of February, which did not settle in any of the identified territories. Territorial defense occupied a large part of species’ time. The nectar drinking, and insect hunting were the most frequent activities. The most common floral resources were Opuntia dillenii, Tillandsia sp. and Aloe vera. The hummingbirds Chlorostilbon gibsoni and Doryfera ludoviciae shared habitats with S. castaneiventris and there were fluctuations in encounter rates between the seasons (C. gibsoni ER: 20–7.5 and D. ludoviciae and ER: 0.0–2.5). Territories ranged between 1800 and 3800 m2 for the dry season and between 1500 and 6500 m2 for the rainy season. Our results provided primary information on the ecology of S. castaneiventris and form the basis for the formulation of conservation strategies for the species and for its habitats..

Study of the Antioxidant Activity of Cactus (Opuntia dellienii) Fruits (Pulp and Peels) and Characterisation of their Bioactive Compounds by GC-MS

The present study aims to identify and characterize the chemical compounds present in the extracts of cactus pear Opuntia dillenii (OD) fruit which grow in southern Iraq and offer different health benefits. The physicochemical properties of the fruit juices (pulp and peels) were investigated. Fruit pulp and peel extracts carried the symbols: hexane pulp extract (HPuE), hexane peel extract (HPeE), ethanolic pulp extract (EPuE), and ethanolic peels extract (EPeE). The activel compound screened by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). HPuE and HPeE contained 40 bioactive compounds and 60 bioactive compounds were detected in EPuE and EPeE. The scavenging activity of DPPH free radicals records a high level of inhibition ranging from 34.8 to 90.3% for EPeE and from 32.9 to 89.9% for EPuE, while hexane extracts scavenging activities (HPeE and HPuE) were 24.9-78.9% and 20.7-73.3% respectively at concentrations of 20 – 80 µg.ml-1 this activity has received considerable attention because of their physiological functions

Protective Effect of Opuntia dillenii (Ker Gawl.) Haw. Seed Oil on Gentamicin-Induced Nephrotoxicity: A Biochemical and Histological Analysis

Opuntia dillenii is a medicinal plant with frequent usage in folk medicine to treat many illnesses. The present study aims to investigate the protective effect of Opuntia dillenii seed oil against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. The animals (rats) were randomly divided into three groups (i) the normal control group treated only with distilled water (10 mL/kg), (ii) the gentamicin group treated with distilled water (10 mL/kg) and received an intraperitoneal injection of gentamicin (80 mg/kg), and (iii) the group treated with the Opuntia dillenii seed oil (2 mL/kg) and also received an intraperitoneal injection of gentamicin (80 mg/kg). The rats received their following treatments for 14 consecutive days orally. Serum urea, creatinine, gamma-glutamyl transferase, albumin, and electrolyte levels were quantified as the markers of acute renal and liver failure. Besides, the kidney and liver relative weight, kidney malondialdehydes, and kidney histological analysis were determined. The results have shown that daily pretreatment with Opuntia dillenii seed oil (2 mL/kg) prevented severe alterations of biochemical parameters and disruptions of kidney tissue structures. In addition, the results of the present study showed for the first time that Opuntia dillenii seed oil reduced renal toxicity in gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Therefore, Opuntia dillenii seed oil may represent a new therapeutic avenue to preserve and protect renal function in gentamicin-treated patients.

Phytochemistry and biological activities of Opuntia seed oils: Opuntia dillenii (Ker Gawl.) Haw. and Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. A review

Summary Opuntia species belong to semi-arid and arid regions of Mexico and the United States. O. ficus-indica and O. dillenii are commonly used in alternative medicine to treat various diseases. Up to date, several scientific works have been carried out on the different parts of these plants. However, over the last few years, studies have been focusing on the oil obtained from the fruit seeds of these species. For this reason, this study aims to draw the attention of researchers toward the phytochemical and the pharmacological effects of these two Opuntia oils, which would help set up other scientific projects that promote these products. Phytochemical studies have shown that these oils are rich in biologically active molecules, such as unsaturated fatty acids and phytosterols (mainly linoleic acid and β-sitosterol), as well as vitamin E, which is represented only by the γ-tocopherol. Besides, these oils are rich in polyphenols that protect them from photo-oxidation. Moreover, several studies have shown their antioxidant, anti-diabetic, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and gastroprotective activities, as well as their hypolipidemic properties. The beneficial effects of these oils include also their ability to block the weight loss, and what makes them more interesting is their safety, according to the literature.

Protective Effect of Opuntia dillenii Haw Fruit against Lead Acetate-Induced Hepatotoxicity: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

Lead is one of the most common environmental contaminants in the Earth’s crust, which induces a wide range of humans biochemical changes. Previous studies showed that Opuntia dillenii (OD) fruit possesses several antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The present study evaluates OD fruit hydroalcoholic extract (OHAE) hepatoprotective effects against lead acetate- (Pb-) induced toxicity in both animal and cellular models. Male rats were grouped as follows: control, Pb (25 mg/kg/d i.p.), and groups 3 and 4 received OHAE at 100 and 200 mg/kg/d + Pb (25 mg/kg/d i.p.), for ten days of the experiment. Thereafter, we evaluated the levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), catalase (CAT) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum, and liver histopathology. Additionally, the cell study was also done using the HepG2 cell line for measuring the direct effects of the extract on cell viability, oxidative stress MDA, and glutathione (GSH) and inflammation tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) following the Pb-induced cytotoxicity. Pb significantly increased the serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, and MDA and liver histopathological scores but notably decreased CAT activity compared to the control group ( p < 0.001 for all cases). OHAE (100 and 200 mg/kg) significantly reduced the levels of serum liver enzyme activities and MDA as well as histopathological scores while it significantly increased CAT activity compared to the Pb group ( p < 0.001 –0.05 for all cases). OHAE (20, 40, and 80 μg/ml) concentration dependently and significantly reduced the levels of MDA and TNF-α, while it increased the levels of GSH and cell viability in comparison to the Pb group ( p < 0.001 –0.05 for all cases). These data suggest that OHAE may have hepatoprotective effects against Pb-induced liver toxicity both in vitro and in vivo by its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

Acute and Subacute Toxicity and Cytotoxicity of Opuntia Dillenii (Ker-Gawl) Haw. Seed Oil and Its Impact on the Isolated Rat Diaphragm Glucose Absorption

This study aims to assess the safety of the Opuntia dillenii (Ker-Gawl) haw. seed oil (ODSO) and its effect on the glucose absorption activity of the isolated rat hemidiaphragm. This oil’s safety was studied by exploring its acute (doses 1, 3, 5, and 7 mL/kg) and subacute (doses 1 and 2 mL/kg) toxicities in albino mice and Wistar rats, respectively. The safety of the ODSO was also assessed by studying its effect on the HepG2 cell viability in vitro. The effect of ODSO, or combined with the insulin, on the glucose absorption activity of isolated rat hemidiaphragm was evaluated at the dose 1 g/L in vitro. The results demonstrated the safety of ODSO. Indeed, this study showed that this oil does not produce any mortality or signs of toxicity after the single-dose administration in mice. Additionally, the daily intake of the ODSO during four weeks does not induce a significant variation in the biochemical parameters and body weight of rats compared with the control group. Besides, the cell viability of HepG2 did not change in the presence of ODSO. On the other hand, the ODSO increased the glucose absorption activity of the isolated rat hemidiaphragm, and this activity was significantly enhanced when combined with insulin. This study confirms, on one side, the safety of this oil and its efficacy and, on the other side, encourages its potential use as a complement to treat diabetes.