Ortíz Torres, Dora Lilia; Galván Valencia, Marisol; Delgadillo Ruíz, Lucía; Cabral Arellano, Francisco Javier; Bañuelos Valenzuela, Romulo; Esparza Ibarra, Edgar León
Resumen:
The agave or maguey is endemic to America and Mexico is the place where you will find the
largest number of species of agave. In Zacatecas, Mexico, in the south and southeast regions
of the state grown Agave tequilana Weber (blue agave) and A. salmiana ssp. crassispina
(green agave) for the main production of beverages like “aguamiel, “pulque” and “mezcal”,
but due to the growth of this last activity, are being generated large amounts of waste solid
such as bagasse and leaves of agave, which are important to evaluate their possible use.
Zacatecas generated annually at least 21000 tons being about 30 percent agave leaves and
the rest agave bagasse. Currently they are not given an application to the leaves of agave and
has been found to exist in these residues some secondary metabolites of interest as saponins.
Agave saponins are amphipathic glycosides with triterpene or steroid skeletons whose
structural diversity is related to the wide range of biological effects are source sapogenins
basis for synthesis of therapeutic importance sterols. But the extraction, purification and
identification of these compounds are methodological challenges. The aim of this work is to
extract saponins and characterize the waste generated of the agribusiness mezcal.
Characterized by optical and scanning electron microscopic bagasse fiber and infrared
spectroscopy the content of organic matter, and calcium carbonate was evaluated. The
analysis of the composition of the leaves indicate a high content of crude fiber but low
content in fat and protein. Extracts from fresh leaves which were purified by column
chromatography and analyzed by thin layer chromatography were obtained to evaluate
saponins. All with the intention of seeking the possible uses of these compounds and the
reduction of waste generated in the production of mezcal.