Oxidative stress-elevated high gamma glutamyl transferase levels, and aging, intake of tropical food plants, migration and visual disability in Central Africans

·AIM:To investigate the independent pathogenic role of high serum gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels, sociodemographic data, dietary and environmental risk factors for visual disability (VD). ·METHODS:This was a case-control study, run in 200 black Congolese patients managed in Saint Joseph Hospital Ophthalmology Division from Kinshasa town. Logistic regression model was used to identify determinants of VD (n = 58) among sex, age, cigarette smoking, alcohol abuse, rural-urban migration, education levels, aging ≥60 years, intake of red Beans, Safou fruit and Taro leaves, lipid profile, residence, socioeconomic status, and GGT. ·RESULTS:After adjusting for confounding factors, we identified migration (OR=3.7 95% CI:1.2-11.3; P =0.023), low education level (OR=3.1 95% CI 1.1-8.5; P =0.026), no intake of Safou fruit (OR=34.2 95% CI 11.5-102; P < 0.0001), age ≥60 years (OR=2.5 95% CI 1.01-6.5; P = 0.049), and serum GGT ≥10U/L (OR=3.6 95% CI 1.3-9.6; P = 0.012) as the significant and independent determinants of VD. ·CONCLUSION:VD appears as a major public health problem in Central Africa to be prevented or delayed by control of migration, lifestyle changes, antioxidant supplements, appropriate diet, nutrition education, and blocking of oxidative stress.

Altitudinal Distribution of Papilionidae Butterflies along with Their Larval Food Plants in the East Himalayan Landscape of West Bengal, India

The altitudinal distribution of Papilionidae butterflies across the East Himalayan Landscape of West Bengal, India is presented here. 26 butterfly species are known to occur across 11 altitudinal belts. Species Richness (R) and Species Diversity (H′) are said to be highest between 1200 - 1400 masl (meters above sea level). In contrast, lowest values of Species Richness and Species Diversity occur at the highest altitude of 3000 masl and above. Maximum number of individuals occurs between 900 - 1100 masl while the minimum number of individuals was present at the highest altitude of 3000 masl or above. 35 species of plants belonging to 6 families served as the larval food plant of these butterflies. Thus the presence of suitable larval host plants probably governs the altitudinal distribution of these papilionid species of butterflies. 30.77% of butterfly species are strictly monophagous in nature.

Antibacterial and Antibiotic-Potentiation Activities of Some Cameroonian Food Plants against Multi-Drug Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria

Objective： To evaluate the in vitro antibacterial properties and the ability to potentiate some common antibiotics effects of the methanol extracts of 11 Cameroonian food plants on 29 Gram-negative bacteria expressing multidrug resistant （MDR） phenotypes. Methods： The antimicrobial activity of the extracts was performed using the broth microdilution method. The phytochemical screening of these extracts was also performed using standard methods. Resalts： Ocimum basilicum, Gnetum africanum and Eucalyptus robusta extracts possessed an antibacterial activity against all the 29 studied bacteria. The extracts from G. africanum and E. robusta were the most active with the lowest minimal inhibitory concentration of 64 p, g/mL on Escherichia coil AG100A for both extracts and also against Klebsiella pneumoniae K24 for G. africanum. When tested in the presence of phenylalanine-arginine 13 -Naphtylamide （PA 13 N）, an efflux pump inhibitor, the extract of Thymus vulgafis and E. Robusta showed the best activities on most tested strains. E. Robusta extract showed good synergistic effects, improving the activity of commonly used antibiotics in about 85% of cases. Coaclasion： The overall results obtained provide the baseline information for the use of the tested plants in the treatment of bacterial infections.

Strategic Thinking and Measures for Plant Quarantine and Food Safety

This paper describes the importance of plant quarantine to the food safety in China through cases where plant quarantine helps to effectively intercept harmful organisms for food safety and promote export and import trading.It also presents the existing problems in plant quarantine work and appropriate measures.

Levels of Genotoxic and Carcinogenic Ingredients in Plant Food Supplements and Associated Risk Assessment

The present study describes the selection, analysis and risk assessment of genotoxic and carcinogenic ingredients of botanicals and botanical preparations which can be found in food and plant food supplements (PFS). First an inventory was made of botanical ingredients that are of possible concern for human health because of their genotoxic and/or carcinogenic properties. In total, 30 botanical ingredients were selected and subsequently judged for their actual genotoxic and/or carcinogenic potential. Among the 30 compounds considered, 18 compounds were judged to be both genotoxic and carcinogenic. Interestingly, the majority of these compounds belong to the group of alkenylbenzenes or unsaturated pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Subsequently, based on available carcinogenicity data and estimated daily human exposure that was determined focusing on the intake from PFS, the Margin of Exposure (MOE) was calculated for the alkenylbenzenes estragole, methyleugenol, safrole and β-asarone. Calculating the MOEs for intake estimates of these alkenylbenzenes from PFS resulted in MOE values that were generally lower than 10,000 and often lower than 100. In some cases the MOE was even below 10 meaning that the estimated daily intake is in the range of dose levels causing malignant tumors in experimental animals. This result indicates that the use of PFS containing the genotoxic carcinogens estragole, methyleugenol, safrole or β-asarone might raise a potential concern for human health and would be of high priority for risk management.

Food Security in the Face of Climate Change: Potential Roles of Underutilised Plant Species around Some Rural Homesteads in the Niger Delta

The food and nutrition status of the rural poor living in extreme deprivation are precarious in the event of catastrophic events occasioned by climate change. This study aimed at elaborating the potential roles of underutilised plant resources as sources of food in the face of climate change. A total of 37 plant species of different growth habits were sighted within the homesteads in the study communities. The commonest plant species around home provide food, medicine, cash, and cultural or spiritual purposes. These included Manihot esculenta (Cassava), Musa sapentium var. paradisiaca (Plantains) Musa sapentium (banana), Citrus sinensis (orange) and Elaeis guineensis (oil palm). Outside the home compounds to a considerable walking distance around each of the communities, a total of twenty seven (27) plant species and four habitat types (three terrestrial and one aquatic) were encountered, with Elaeis guineensis Jacq. being present in all the terrestrial ecotypes (forest, farmland and fallow regrowth). Many of the plant species encountered within the home compounds are edible;some are medicinal or have spiritual values, while most have multiple uses. Magnifera indica, Dacryodes edulis, Persea americana, Carica papaya, Chrysophyllum albidum and Ananas comosus, are cherished for their tasty fruits. Vernonia amygdalina, Telferia occidentalis, Ocimum brasilicum, Amaranthus hybridus and Gnetum africana are eaten vegetables in soups. Irvingia gabonensis (Ogbono) is valued for its seeds, which are used widely in preparing the Ogbono soup, which is widely popular across Nigeria. The kola nut (Cola nitida), bitter kola (Garcina kola) trees and yams (Dioscorea spp) serve significant spiritual/cultural roles amongst the local populace in the study area—they are always presented at ceremonies such as marriages, funerals and festivals. Plant species with mostly untapped potentials to supply food and nutrients to the rural dwellers in the study area include breadfruit (Artocarpus cummunis), Avocado pear (Persia americana), Bush Mango (Irvingia gabonensis), Native pear (Dacryodes edulis), African Star Apple (Chrysophyllum albidum), and Raphia palm (Raphia hookeri) and Tropical Almond (Terminalia catappa). These plants are reported to contain variable amounts of dietary nutrients such as proteins, vitamins, minerals, fats, and fibre. Some of the plants have potentials to supply raw materials to sustain food and beverage industries.

Problems, challenges and future of plant disease management: from an ecological point of view

Plant disease management faces ever-growing challenges due to： （i） increasing demands for total, safe and diverse foods to support the booming global population and its improving living standards; （ii） reducing production potential in agriculture due to competition for land in fertile areas and exhaustion of marginal arable lands; （iii） deteriorating ecology of agro-ecosystems and depletion of natural resources; and （iv） increased risk of disease epidemics resulting from agricultural intensification and monocultures. Future plant disease management should aim to strengthen food security for a stable society while simultaneously safeguarding the health of associated ecosystems and reducing dependency on natural resources. To achieve these multiple functionalities, sustainable plant disease management should place emphases on rational adaptation of resistance, avoidance, elimination and remediation strategies individually and collectively, guided by traits of specific host-pathogen associations using evolutionary ecology principles to create environmental （biotic and abiotic） conditions favorable for host growth and development while adverse to pathogen reproduction and evolution.

Local Knowledge on Plants and Domestic Remedies in the Mountain Villages of Peshkopia(Eastern Albania)

Ethnobotanical studies in the Balkans are crucial for fostering sustainable rural development in the region and also for investigating the dynamics of change of Traditional Ecological Knowledge(TEK),which has broad-sweeping implications for future biodiversity conservation efforts.A survey of local botanical and medical knowledge and practices was conducted in four mountainous villages of the Peshkopia region in northeast Albania,near the Macedonian border.Snowball sampling techniques were employed to recruit 32 informants for participation in semi-structured interviews regarding the use of the local flora for food,medicinal,veterinary and ritual purposes.The uses of 84 botanical taxa were recorded as well as a number of other folk remedies for the treatment of both humans and livestock.Comparison of the collected data with another ethnobotanical field study recently conducted among Albanians living on the Macedonian side of Mount Korab shows a remarkable divergence in medicinal plant uses,thus confirming the crucial role played by the history of the last century in transforming TEK.Most noteworthy,as a legacy of the Communist period,a relevant number of wild medicinal taxa are still gathered only for trade rather than personal/familial use.This may lead to unsustainable exploitation of certain taxa(i.e.Orchis and Gentiana spp.) and presents some important conservation challenges.Appropriate development and environmental educational frameworks should aim to reconnect local people to the perception of limitation and renewability of botanical resources.

Underutilized Edible Plants of Nagaland: A Survey and Documentation from Kohima, Phek and Tuensang District of Nagaland, India

With the rapid rise in the population, there is higher demand of the food supply to fed millions of people. As such dependence on the few major staple crops to meet the needs of the people has led to increases in starvation and poverty. Underutilized edible plants offer a cheaper and affordable option in providing more crop diversification to tackle these problems and provide food security to the poor to the world in general and to the developing countries in particular. In the present investigation, a total of 142 underutilized edible plants were collected, identified and documented from three districts (Kohima, Phek and Tuensang) of Nagaland, India. The collected plant consists of 126 species of plants and 16 wild edible mushrooms or macro fungus species. The collected plants were categorized according to types of plant and their parts used collected during the period 2012-2016 with their scientific name, family, common name, vernacular name and accession number. The study discusses the need to promote these plants for providing food security and income generation through sustainable collection, cultivation and marketing and to workout proper conservation strategies to prevent depletion and lost of the natural habitat caused by anthropogenic activities. The study also encourages more survey and researches in the rest of the districts of the state and to study the phytochemical constituents to harness the nutraceutical properties of these plants.

Plant diversity in herbal tea and its traditional knowledge in Qingtian County, Zhejiang Province, China

Herbal teas composed of locally occurring plant species have long been used as the primary form of health care in Qingtian County,Zhejiang Province,China.However,large-scale emigration overseas and an aging population threaten the conservation of traditional knowledge of these herbal teas.Traditional knowledge about the plants used for these herbal teas is not well documented in Qingtian,despite their widespread use.The aim of this study was to assess the plant-cultural diversity of plants used as herbal teas,and to point out the prospective value of herbal teas used by Qingtian people.This study was conducted using semi-structured interviews,as well as field and market surveys.Forty-three local informants were interviewed.We recorded plant resources,plant parts used,local names,and medicinal uses.Quantitative ethnobotanical indices,including cognitive salience(CS),frequency of citation(FC),index of informant consensus(Fic)and use value(UV),were calculated to analyze the level of representativeness and relative importance of plants used in herbal teas.One hundred and twenty-nine species belonging to 75 families and 113 genera were reported to be used in herbal tea,with Compositae being the richest family.Whole plants are most commonly used to make herbal teas(66.7%).In this study,informants reported that 92.2%of plant species used in herbal teas are wild.The most utilized herbal preparation form is dry/fresh.Informants reported that herbal teas are used to treat 31 ailments.Our results show that the highest representativeness,based on CS and FC,was recorded for species Actinidia eriantha.Based on UV,the top five most used species are Goodyera schlechtendaliana,Plantago asiatica,Prunella vulgaris,Lophatherum gracile and Leonurus japonicus.The highest Fic was cited for dental medicine.This study helps document the status of current herbal teas in Qingtian.The use value and traditional knowledge of herbal teas have provided basic data for further research focused on bioactivity studies and sustainable utilization of the most important species.

In-vitro antimicrobial activity screening of some ethnoveterinary medicinal plants traditionally used against mastitis,wound and gastrointestinal tract complication in Tigray Region,Ethiopia

Objective:To screen the antibacterial activity of nine ethnoveterinary plants traditionally used for the treatment of mastitis,wound and gastrointestinal complications.Methods:Hydroalcoholic exctracts of medicinal plants namely,Achyranthes aspera(A.aspera) L.(Family Asparagaceae),Ficus caria(F.caria)(Family Moraceae).Malvi parviflora(M.parviflora)(Family Malvaceae),Vernonia species(V.species) docal name Alakit.Family Asteraceae),Solatium hastifolium(S.hastifolium)(Family Solanaceae),Calpurinia aurea(C.aurea)(Ait) Benth(Family Fabaceae),Nicotiana tabacum(N.tabacum) L.(Family Solanaceae),Ziziphus spina-christi(Z.spina-christi)(Family Rhamnaceae).Croton macroslachys(C.macrostachys)(Family Fuphorhiaceae).were screened against clinical bacterial isolates of veterinary importance from October 2007 to April2009.The antibacterial activity was tested using disc diffusion at two concentrations(200 mg/mL and 100 mg/mL) and broth dilution methods using 70%methanol macerated leal extracts.Results:With the exception ol S.hastifolium all plant extracts exhibited antibacterial activity.Among the medicinal plants tested C.aurea.C.macrostachyus,A.aspera,N.tabacum and vcrnonia species(Alakit) showed the most promising antimicrobial properties.Conclusions:It can be concluded that many of the tested plants have antibacterial activity and supports the traditional usage of the plants for mastitis,wound and gastrointestinal complications treatment.Further studies into their toxicity and phytochemistry is advocated.

新时期种植业保障我国食物安全战略研究

种植业产品是保障我国食物安全的关键,种植业的发展支撑了我国由“吃得饱”到“吃得好”的历史性转变,促进了居民膳食质量的逐步提升;新时期我国种植业发展面临资源环境压力、极端气候冲击以及国际地缘政治格局不稳等内外部风险因素的挑战,亟需探讨可行性发展战略以确保食物安全。通过对2035年、2050年种植业食物供需形势预测后得出,未来我国粮食净进口主要集中在大豆和玉米,油菜籽和糖的自给水平将继续下降,花生和水果的自给水平将先降后升,蔬菜始终保持自给有余的态势。基于此,本文梳理了新时期保障我国食物安全面临的挑战,提出了新时期种植业保障我国食物安全的战略构想,主要包括采取种植业产品生产能力提升和结构优化、资源高效利用与低碳生产推进、消费结构引导与健康观念培育、农业科技创新与装备支撑、新型经营主体创新等战略举措,实施种植业科技创新、种植业产品质量提升、种植业生态保护、蛋白替代等重大工程。研究建议,坚持“口粮绝对安全、谷物基本自给”总体战略,分区域制定产业发展优先序,加快补齐农业基础设施与科技短板,健全重大危机应对战略体系,以此增强种植业发展水平,切实保障我国食物安全。

Biodiversity-based Plant Cultivation Design in Sightseeing Farm: A Case Study of Cultivation Design in Luzihe Village

Taking plant cultivation in sightseeing farm for example, this paper proposed design strategies on the basis of biodiversity, i.e. improving food chain circulation using cultivation, creating diversifi ed habitats using species connection, enhancing the benign interaction between human activities and planting environment,and integrating the diversity of biological corridor. This paper took cultivation design in Luzihe Village for example, put forward specifi c design schemes based on diversity design, i.e. creating biological corridor in edge effect, establishing the benign circulation between food chain and man, creating diverse habitats under three-dimensional planting. These schemes gave instructions to ecological planting, and also contributed to the realization of ecological effect, economic effect, educational function and landscape beauty.

Antimicrobial Activity of Wild Plant Seed Extracts against Human Bacterial and Plant Fungal Pathogens

Five wild plant species belonging to different families (Chenopodium album, Plantago major, Elytrigia elongata, Filipendula ulmaria and Nigella sativa) widely spread in Russian Federation and the former USSR were evaluated for their ability to inhibit growth of two important human food-borne pathogens (Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes strain EGD-e) and eight plant pathogens (Alternaria alternata, Alternaria tenuissima, Bipolaris sorokiniana, Stagonospora nodorum, Fusarium solani, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium culmorum and Phytophtora infestans). To isolate biologically active compounds from seeds, a step-wise procedure including extraction with hexane, ethyl acetate, ethanol, and 10% acetic acid followed by reversed-phase HPLC was developed. Using disc-diffusion assay, the highest activity against E. coli O157:H7 was observed with extracts from F. ulmaria (hexane and ethyl acetate extracts and the unbound RP-HPLC fraction) and P. major (ethyl acetate extract and the unbound RP-HPLC fraction);E. elongate (the unbound RP-HPLC fraction) was less active. The extracts from P. major and E. elongate (the unbound RP-HPLC fractions) were equally highly active against L. monocytogenes, while those of F. ulmaria (the unbound RP-HPLC fraction) and N. sativa (hexane and ethyl acetate extracts) were less active against this pathogen. The dynamics of L. monocytogenes EGD-е and E. coli O157:H7 growth in the presence of two most potent extracts (RP-HPLC-unbound fractions of P. major and E. elongate and the hexane extract of F. ulmaria) was studied.

A Possible Hypoallergenic Cereal in Wheat Food Allergy and Baker’s Asthma

Background: Wheat is a potent allergen source and is one of the causes of baker’s asthma and food allergy. The best strategy for managing food hypersensitivity involves strict avoidance of the trigger. However, wheat is quite difficult to avoid. Several alternative strategies for the treatment of food allergy are under study. Spelt is a possible hypoallergenic crop that may be tried in patients with wheat allergy. Methods: We have evaluated the allergenic IgE hypersensitivity mediated by spelt in wheat allergic patients. Overall, 66 patients who suffered from baker’s asthma or food allergy (45 males and 21 females, mean age 28.6 ± 12.9 years) were included. We have also compared its reactivity with standard- ized extracts from wheat and with purified non-specific lipid transfer proteins from wheat (Tri a 14) and from peach (Pru p 3). Immunodetection with spelt and common bread wheat extracts (Triticum aestivum, cultivar Astral) was per- formed. Fresh wheat and spelt grain extracts were used both for oral and bronchial challenge and skin tests. Specific IgE detection to different cereals was performed using the Immuno CAP System (Phadia, Uppsala, Sweden). The bronchial challenge was positive with wheat Astral in 44 (67%) patients, all of them suffered from asthma. Thirteen (29.54%) of these 44 patients had negative the challenge with spelt. The oral challenge with wheat Astral was positive in 22 (33%) patients with wheat food allergy, and the same test was positive in only in 6 of them with spelt (27.3%). The diagnostic yield (sensitivity, specificity and predictive values) of routine tests in determining spelt allergy by specific positive challenge responses was determined. Prick tests for spelt versus positive challenge tests had a good sensitivity (94%, 86.5 - 99.4;95%CI) and specificity (86%, 84 - 90;95% CI) for the diagnosis of spelt allergy. Immunodetection detected minor differences among different extracts. Conclusion: In summary, the prick test and bronchial and oral challenges both efficiently detected sensitization to spelt and their levels were related to more severe clinical profiles, but the wheal area was significantly lower with spelt (p 0.001) and the percentage of positive challenge tests decreased. Our results suggest that spelt is an old crop that may be tried in patients with wheat allergy.

Regulation of Genetically Modified Food Use in the Russian Federation

Practical application of new methods of а plant genome transformation resulted in the need for strict regulation of the safety assessment process of genetically modified organisms of plant origin, intended for use in food. The devise of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) of plant origin safety assessment system, which is currently valid in the Russian Federation, was initiated in 1995-1996. Not only does the system accumulate all domestic and foreign experience, it also includes the latest scientific approaches, based on achievements of fundamental science. In the present article authors focused on issues of the basic legislative regulations of plant biotechnology in the Russian Federation, and approaches to the safety assessment of GM food and control over such food. GMO safety assessment is carried out at the stage of State registration. The subject of registration is novel food products derived from GMO, manufactured in the Russian Federation, as well as food products, entering the Russian Federation for the first time. In the system of medical and biological assessment of the GMO safety, along with general toxicological research, the study of specific types of toxicity in in vivo experiments takes a prominent place. In accordance with established research practice, which uses an integrated approach, and provides with the most complete and reliable information on potential reprotoxic, genotoxic, immunotoxic and allergenic effects of GMO, as well as enables to reveal possible unintended effects of genetic modification. From 1999 to 2016 22 GM lines passed the entire cycle of medical-biological investigations. By 2016 there had been amassed scientific foundation on GMO safety, which includes the analysis of result of research, carried out within the framework of GMO state registration in the Russian Federation, as well as domestic and international data, presented by scientific literature on the problem of biotechnological food safety, at both registration stage and post-registration monitoring stage. To sum up, in the Russian Federation the most essential issues, allowing to use GMO for food purpose have been resolved: 1) legislation, normative and methodical foundations, regulating safety assessment and control over GMO turnover, as well as ensuring customer awareness about presence of GMO in food products, have been created;2) scientifically proven evidence on the lack of negative effects for human health, i.e. GMO safety has been amassed;3) the possibility of control over GMO turnover throughout the food market of the country has been sustained.

药食同源植物杀虫剂制备及其防治效果

以常见药食同源植物辣椒和花椒的果实、大蒜鳞茎和洋葱鳞叶为试验材料,与有效微生物群(Effective microorganisms,EM)菌液混合发酵制作杀虫剂,使用液相色谱分析其杀虫成分含量;结合室内和田间试验,筛选高效生物杀虫剂并评估其杀虫效果。结果表明,花椒125g,辣椒25g,大蒜125g,洋葱250g混合发酵30d,稀释30倍液得到最佳杀虫活性物A;施药后第6天对桃蚜防治效果最佳,虫口减退率为92.38%。田间试验结果表明,杀虫剂A在施药后第5天对桃蚜防治效果最佳,校正防效为78.05%;与市售植物源杀虫剂比较,杀虫剂A持效时间较长,在施药后第6天虫口减退率为70.29%,校正防效为82.95%,杀虫效果显著高于0.3%印楝素乳油和1.3%苦参碱水剂。研究得到一种高效植物源杀虫剂A,为药食同源植物制备杀虫剂研发及其在生产中推广应用提供试验依据和有效方法。

植物基食品的科学共识与未来发展思考

自2019年起,我国植物基食品经过5年的发展已进入了平稳、有序发展期,已成为食品产业一个新的品类。根据中国食品科学技术学会的总结,全行业就植物基食品在其发展理念、营养特性、品质特性、加工技术和政策法规方面已形成了科学共识:发展植物基食品是食品产业实现资源高效利用和绿色低碳发展的重要途径;植物基食品可提供优质蛋白质,更有助于改善居民膳食结构;该类食品且充分发挥了其功能属性且与传统素食、斋食等有明显区别;其加工要充分实现产品的营养丰富、品质提升和风味优良的特点;植物基食品行业的规范发展需要相应的政策法规与标准支持。未来,该产业的发展应以市场多元化发展趋势为引导,以口味、价格和清洁标签为问题抓手,突破技术瓶颈,多角度思考,多元化选择,挖掘其潜在价值,实现全产业的稳步发展。

Anti-inflammatory evaluation and acute toxicity of three food supplements that contain Moussonia deppeana

Objective:To identify the anti-inflammatory activity through two murine models and in the median Lethal Dose(LD_(50)) of three dietary supplements that contain Moussonia deppeana.Methods:The anti-inflammatory activity of three dietary supplements(Cicatrisan/Gastricus^(R),Gastinol^(R),and Gastrovita^(R)) EtOH extracts was evaluated by TPA and by carrageenan murine models;also,median Lethal Dose(LD_(50)) was determined.Verbascoside was quantified by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography.β-sitosterol,stigmasterol and the mixture of ursolic and oleanolic acids were identified in all supplements by TLC;however,none of these dietary supplements contain verbascoside.Results:For the TPA model,Cicatrisan/Gastricus^(R)generated a notable effect with 38.24%inhibition.While in the carrageenan model,it also exhibited noteworthy anti-inflammatory activity of ear edema with 66.39%of paw edema inhibition at 150 mg/kg,followed by Gastinol^(R) and Gastrovita^(R) with 50%at 300 mg/kg.Finally,LD_(50) was >2 g/kg for all supplements,when was administered intragastrically and Body Weight(BW) gain in mice was not altered after 14 days.Conclusions:Of the three food supplements containing M.deppeana,only the EtOH extract from the Cicatrisan/Gastricus^(R)formulation(tablets) showed significant anti-inflammatory activity in both experimental models and the LD_(50) was > 2 g/kg.