Determination of Amino
Acids in Medicinal Plants from Southern Sonora, Mexico
Edgar F Moran-Palacio1,
Orlando Tortoledo-Ortiz2, Grelda A
Yañez-Farias1, Luis A Zamora-Álvarez1,
Norma A Stephens-Camacho3, José G
Soñanez-Organis1, Luisa M Ochoa-López1
and Jesús A Rosas-Rodríguez1*
1Departamento de Ciencias
Químico Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de
Sonora Unidad Regional Sur, Apartado Postal 85390,
Navojoa, 2Coordinación de Nutrición, Centro
de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo A.C.,
Apartado Postal 1735, Hermosillo 83000, 3Licenciatura
en Nutrición Humana, Universidad Estatal de Sonora UES.
Carretera internacional a Huatabampo y Periférico S/N
km. 5 Colonia Juárez, Navojoa, Sonora, México.
*For correspondence:
Email:
jrosas@navojoa.uson.mx; Tel:
+52 (642) 4259952 Ext 7057
Received: 14 June 2013
Revised accepted: 2
February 2014
Tropical
Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, April 2014;
13(4):
601-606
http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/tjpr.v13i4.17
Abstract
Purpose: To analyze the amino acid
contents of some plants used in traditional medicine in
Southern Sonora, Mexico by using high performance liquid
chromatography (HPLC).
Methods: The plant samples (Jutuki,
Zizyphus obtusifolia A.Gray; Jito, Forchammeria watsonii
Rose; Barchata, Lycium berlandieri Dunal; Citabaro,
Vallesia glabra Link; Mangle Rojo, Rhizophora mangle L
and Tatachinole, Tournefortia hartwegiana Steud) were
dehydrated at room temperature and ground to a fine
powder. Amino acid analysis was performed by
reversed-phase HPLC. Elution was carried out with a
gradient mobile phase of sodium acetate 0.1 M and
methanol (9:1). Samples were derived with o-phthalaldehyde
(OPA) and detected by fluorescence at 360(Ex)/455(Em)
wavelengths.
Results: HPLC analysis resulted in
a reliable detection and peak resolution. Tatachinole
samples show the greater amino acid concentration (7.83
to 58.17 nM). Fifteen amino acids were detected in plant
samples, with aspartic acid (Asp), glutamic acid (Glu),
serine (Ser), glycine (Gly), alanine (Ala) and leucine (Leu)
(43.55, 44.84, 29.60, 58.17, 43.05 and 38.73 nM,
respectively) presenting the highest concentrations.
Conclusion: The amino acids - Asp, Glu,
Ser, Gly, Ala and Leu - are naturally involved in
osmolyte synthesis, cell metabolism, ammonia
detoxification, antioxidant activity and alkaloid
synthesis, suggesting that the therapeutic properties of
these Southern Sonora plants may have some links to
their amino acid composition.
Keywords: Amino acid profile,
Medicinal plants, Osmolytes, Drought/saline stress
