Palma forrageira (Opuntia ficus indica e Nopalea cochenillifera) como matéria-prima para produção de etanol celulósico e enzimas celulolíticas

The need for new sources of energy and the concern about the environment have pushed the search for renewable energy sources such as ethanol. The use of lignocellulosic biomass as substrate appears as an important alternative because of the abundance of this raw material and for it does not compete with food production. However, the process still meets difficulties of implementation, including the cost for production of enzymes that degrade cellulose to fermentable sugars. The aim of this study was to evaluate the behavior of the species of cactus pear Opuntia ficus indica and Nopalea cochenillifera, commonly found in northeastern Brazil, as raw materials for the production of: 1) cellulosic ethanol by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process, using two different strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (PE-2 and LNF CA-11), and 2) cellulolytic enzymes by semi-solid state fermentation (SSSF) using the filamentous fungus Penicillium chrysogenum. Before alcoholic fermentation process, the material was conditioned and pretreated by three different strategies: alkaline hydrogen peroxide, alkaline using NaOH and acid using H2SO4 followed by alkaline delignification with NaOH. Analysis of composition, crystallinity and enzymatic digestibility were carried out with the material before and after pretreatment. In addition, scanning electron microscopy images were used to compare qualitatively the material and observe the effects of pretreatments. An experimental design 2² with triplicate at the central point was used to evaluate the influence of temperature (30, 40 and 45 °C) and the initial charge of substrate (3, 4 and 5% cellulose) in the SSF process using the material obtained through the best condition and testing both strains of S. cerevisiae, one of them flocculent (LNF CA-11). For cellulase production, the filamentous fungus P. chrysogenum was tested with N. cochenillifera in the raw condition (without pretreatment) and pretrated hydrothermically, varying the pH of the fermentative medium (3, 5 and 7). The characterization of cactus pear resulted in 31.55% cellulose, 17.12% hemicellulose and 10.25% lignin for N. cochenillifera and 34.86% cellulose, 19.97% hemicellulose and 15.72% lignin for O. ficus indica. It has also been determined, to N. cochenillifera and O. ficus indica, the content of pectin (5.44% and 5.55% of calcium pectate, respectively), extractives (26.90% and 9.69%, respectively) and ashes (5.40% and 5.95%). Pretreatment using alkaline hydrogen peroxide resulted in the best cellulose recovery results (86.16% for N. cochenillifera and 93.59% for O. ficus indica) and delignification (48.79% and 23.84% for N. cochenillifera and O. ficus indica, respectively). This pretreatment was also the only one which did not increase the crystallinity index of the samples, in the case of O. ficus indica. However, when analyzing the enzymatic digestibility of cellulose, alkali pretreatment was the one which showed the best yields and therefore it was chosen for the tests in SSF. The experiments showed higher yield of conversion of cellulose to ethanol by PE-2 strain using the pretreated N. cochenillifera (93.81%) at 40 °C using 4% initial charge of cellulose. N. cochenillifera gave better yields than O. ficus indica and PE-2 strain showed better performance than CA-11. N. cochenillifera proved to be a substrate that can be used in the SSSF for enzymes production, reaching values of 1.00 U/g of CMCase and 0.85 FPU/g. The pretreatment was not effective to increase the enzymatic activity values

Desenvolvimento e caracterização de nanoemulsões cosméticas contendo extrato de Opuntia ficus-indica L. Mill e avaliação in vivo da eficácia hidratante

Nanoemulsions are emulsified systems, characterized for reduced droplet size (50- 500nm), which the main characteristic are kinect stability and thermodynamic instability. These are promising systems on cosmetic area due to their droplet size that provide different advantages when compared to conventional systems, among others, larger surface area and better permeability. The Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill is a plant cultivated on Caatinga Brazilian biome, which has great socioeconomic importance to region. This plant shows carbohydrates utilized for cosmetic industry as moisturizing active in their chemical composition. The aim of study was to develop, characterize, evaluate stability and moisturizing efficacy of cosmetic nanoemulsions added to Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill extract. Nanoemulsions preparation was made using a low energy method. Different nanoemulsions were formulated varying the ratio of oil, water and surfactant phases beyond xanthan gum (0.5% e 1%) and Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill hydroglycolic extract addition on 1% and 3%. Obtained nanoemulsions were submitted to preliminary and accelerated stability tests. The evaluated parameters monitored were: macroscopic aspect, pH value, droplet size, zeta potential and polydispersion index, during 60 days on different temperatures. Stable formulations were submitted to moisturizing efficacy assessment by capacitance and transepidermal water loss methodologies during 5 hours. Stable samples were white and showed homogeneous and fluid aspect, pH value was inside ideal range (4,5-6,0) to topical application and droplet size under 200nm characterizing these system as nanoemulsions. Developed nanoemulsions did not decrease transepidermal water loss, however increased the water content on stratum corneum, highlighting the nanoemulsions containing 0.5% of xanthan gum and 1% of hydroglycolic extract. This work presents cosmetic moisturizing nanoemulsions composed to vegetal raw material from Brazilian Caatinga with potential to be used on cosmetic area.

Obtenção de extratos da Opuntia fícus-indica L. Mill e suas aplicações em formulações cosméticas: avaliação in vivo do sensorial e da eficácia hidratante

Opuntia fícus - indica (L.) Mill is a cactacea presents in the Caatinga ecosystem and shows in its chemical c omposition flavonoids, galacturonic acid and sugars. Different hydroglicolic (EHG001 and EHG002) and hydroethanolic subsequently lyophilized (EHE001 and EHE002) extracts were developed. The EHE002 had his preliminary phytochemical composition investigated by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and we observed the predominance of flavonoids. Different formulations were prepared as emulsions with Sodium Polyacrylate (and) Hydrogenated Polydecene (and) Trideceth - 6 (Rapithix® A60), and Polyacrylamide (and) C13 - 14 I soparaffin (and) Laureth - 7 (Sepigel® 305), and gel with Sodium Polyacrylate (Rapithix® A100). The sensorial evaluation was conducted by check - all - that - apply method. There were no significant differences between the scores assigned to the formulations, howe ver, we noted a preference for those formulated with 1,5% of Rapithix® A100 and 3,0% of Sepigel® 305. These and the formulation with 3% Rapithix® A60 were tested for preliminary and accelerated stability. In accelerated stability study, samples were stored at different temperatures for 90 days. Organoleptic characteristics, the pH values and rheological behavior were assessed. T he emulsions formulated with 3,0% of Sepigel® 305 and 1,5% of Rapithix® A60 w ere stable with pseudoplastic and thixotropic behavior . The moisturizing clinical efficacy of the emulsions containing 3,0% of Sepigel® 305 containing 1 and 3% of EHG001 was performed using the capacitance method (Corneometer®) and transepidermal water lost – TEWL evaluation ( Tewameter®). The results showed t hat the formulation with 3% of EHG001 increased the skin moisturizing against the vehicle and the extractor solvent formulation after five hours. The formulations containing 1 and 3% of EHG001 increased skin barrier effect by reducing transepidermal water loss up to four hours after application.

Estudo da funcionalidade de espécies comestíveis do semiárido nordestino e estratégias para sua utilização como ingredientes para fins alimentícios

The Brazilian caatinga is characterized by low annual rainfall and arid soils. Several cactaceae, either native or adapted species, grow in this semi-arid region, including the prickly pear (Opuntia fícus indica) and facheiro ((Philosocereus pachycladus Ritter) which produce underexploited edible fruits. In addition to these species, the algaroba is a leguminous with little studied technological applications and bioactive potential so far. Therefore, this research aims to investigate the physicochemical, bioactive and functional attributes of the prickly pear and facheiro fruit pulps and the algaroba flour. Specifically, this study approaches the physicochemical characterization, total phenolic compounds (TPC) and the betalain identification and quantification by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS. It is also investigated the DPPH antioxidant capacity and the antienzymatic activities against alpha-amylase and alphaglucosidase of water and ethanolic extracts of these food material. In order to address their potential to be used as food ingredients, juice blends prepared with mixtures of cajá and prickly pear, biofilms with facheiro and cereal bars with algaroba flour were elaborated and analyzed. The prickly pear fruits presented low acidity and high sugar content when compared to facheiro. The Philosocereus pachycladus Ritter fruits had higher protein and ash content, but the algaroba flour was the species with higher protein and sugar content among all. The algaroba flour also presented outstanding food fiber content, which reveals its potentiality to be used as a natural intestinal regulator. The TPC of water and ethanol extracts ranged from 3.87 to 16.21 mg GAE/100g for algaroba flour, 79.24 to 110.20 GAE/ 100g for prickly pear and 412.23 to 539.14 mg GAE/100g for facheiro. The 70% (w/v) ethanol extract reached the highest DPPH antioxidant activity, which was linearly correlated to its high TPC content. In regard to the enzymatic inhibitory activities, the best performance was observed for the prickly pear extracts which presented a moderate inhibition for both investigated enzymes, but interestingly, no alpha-glucosidase inhibition was observed for facheiro extracts. This work shows, for the first time in the literature, the functional attributes of facheiro fruits, as well as the presence of betacianins and isobetanin in the pulp of this exotic fruit. When it comes to the food products developed here, the sensory attributes that better described the juice blend cajá-prickly pear were sweetness, acidity, color yellow-orange, body, turbidity and cajá flavor. The discriminative test applied for cereal bars produced with and without algaroba revealed that the texture was the only sensory attribute that differed (p<0.05) between these two samples. It was also observed that the addition of facheiro extracts did not influence the visual characteristics of the biofilms. Overall, this work unveils the physicochemical and bioactive attributes of these commercial and technologically underexploited species widely found in the Brazilian caatinga and presents alternatives for their rational use

Desempenho de cabras leiteiras alimentadas com diferentes espécies de cactáceas

The objective of this research was to evaluate the production of dairy goats fed different species of cactus. Pluriparous five Saanen goats were used, with nine weeks of lactation, and average live weight of 50 kg ± 4 kg. The animals were distributed in latin square design (5x5) with 5 diets and 5 periods. No differences (P>0,05) were observed in the DM of the experimental diets by getting average values of 2.251,84 g dia-1 , 4,46 %PV e 118,91g kg0,75 . The DM contents of the diets were 50,55 to 55,92% by presenting a maximum variation of 10% between them. A significant difference (P<0,05) water consumption way tendered, between diets with different cactus species. The treatments cactus “Orelha de Elefante Mexicana” and Facheiro had lower water consumption compared to cactus “Palma Miúda. For milk yield no significant difference (P> 0,05) between diets formulated with cactus species, with an average of 1,90 kg/day treatments. The analysis of variance show a significant difference (P<0,05) among treatments for milk corrected to 4% fat and fat production. There was an effect (P<0,05) of the diets with different cactus on the crude protein (CP) and lactose in milk. All treatments with different cactus species can be used for dairy goats in view consumption have afforded sufficient to meet the nutritional requirements for milk nutrients, besides presenting the higher than levels of physical and chemical composition to minimum levels established by current legislation

Ação Sacietogênica de um inibidor de tripsina da semente de tamarindo (Tamarindus indica L.)

The seeds are excellent sources of proteinase inhibitors and have been highlighted owing to various applications. Among these applications are those in effect on food intake and weight gain that stand out because of the increasing number of obese individuals. This study evaluated the effects of trypsin inhibitor present in the seed of tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) reduction in weight gain, biochemical and morphological alterations in Wistar rats. For this, we partially purified a trypsin inhibitor tamarind seed. This inhibitor, ITT2 at a concentration of 25 mg / kg body weight, over a period of 14 days was able to reduce food intake in rats (n = 6) by approximately 47%, causing a reduction in weight gain approximately 70% when compared with the control group. With the evaluation of the in vivo digestibility was demonstrated that the animals lost weight due to satiety, presented by the reduction of food intake, since there were significant differences between true digestibility for the control group (90.7%) and the group treated with inhibitor (89.88%). Additionally, we checked the deeds of ITT2 on biochemical parameters (glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, gamma glutamyl transferase albumin, globulin, total protein and C-reactive protein) and these, when assessed in the study groups showed no statistically significant variations. We also evaluate the histology of some organs, liver, stomach, intestine, and pancreas, and showed no changes. And to evaluate the effect of trypsin inhibitor on food intake due to the satiety is regulated by cholecystokinin (CCK) were measured plasma levels, and it was observed that the levels of CCK in animals receiving ITT2 were significantly higher ( 20 + 1.22) than in animals receiving only solution with casein (10.14 + 2.9) or water (5.92 + 1.15). Thus, the results indicate that the effect caused ITT2 satiety, reducing food intake, which in turn caused a reduction in weight gain in animals without causing morphological and biochemical changes, this effect caused by the elevation of plasma levels CCK

Biocompósitos poliméricos obtidos a partir da fração lignocelulósica e amilácea do caroço de manga (mangifera indica), Tommy atkins

This employment has the function the utilization of mango seeds Tommy Atkins, like starch source to obtain biopolymers and fibers source and nanowhiskers cellulose also, that will be use like reinforcing fillers in micro and nanobiocomposites polymeric. The fibers in natura removed from tegument mango seed were characterized, as weel as the treated fibers and nanowhiskers of cellulose extracted from them. The starch extracted from seed s almond showed a good performance (32%) and a high purity. The chemicals analyzes, of crystallinity and morphological of the fibers in natura, treated fibers and nanowhiskers of cellulose confirmed the efficacy of the chemical treatement performed to remove amorphous constituents (hemicellulose and lignina). The thermoplastic starch (TPS) obtained from two sources, corn starch and starchy material mango, was produced in a twin screw extruder with compositon mass of 62,5% of starch, 9,4% of water and 28,1% of glycerol. The starch material mango was the main objective of this work for the production of biodegradable materials, and the starch corn was utilized during the production stage to evaluate the processability of the starch and use as parameter for comparison, according of being a conventional source for obtaining conventional comercial starch. The incorporation of fibers (6% in mass) and nanowhiskers cellulose (1% in mass) in matrix of TPS to obtain composite and nanocomposite, respectively, it was performed in single screw extruder. The biocomposites and bionanocomposites polymeric were obtained and the TPS from starchy material mango presented better results of thermal and mechanicals properties when compared to TPS corn starch. Concludes that the sediment generated of the agroindustrial processing mango used presents potencial to producing of biodegradables materials

Obtenção de novos sistemas nanoautoemulsificantes a partir do óleo das sementes de Azadirachta indica A Juss e suas aplicações como inibidores de corrosão

Corrosion is a natural process that causes progressive deterioration of materials, so, reducing the corrosive effects is a major objective of development of scientific studies. In this work, the efficiency of corrosion inhibition on a AISI 1018 carbon steel of the nanoemulsion system containing the oil of the seeds of Azadirachta indica A. Juss (SNEOAI) was evaluated by the techniques of linear polarization resistance (LPR) and weight loss (CPM), a instrumented cell. For that, hydroalcoholic extract of leaves of A. indica (EAI) was solubilized in a nanoemulsion system (SNEOAI) of which O/W system (rich in aqueous phase). This nanoemulsion system (tested in different concentrations) was obtained with oil from the seeds of this plant species (OAI) (oil phase), dodecylammonium chloride (DDAC) (surfactant), butanol (cosurfactant) and water, using 30 % of C/T (cosurfactant/surfactant), 0.5 % of oil phase and 69.5 % of aqueous phase, and characterized by surface tension, rheology and droplet sizes. This systems SNEOAI and SNEOAI-EAI (nanoemulsion containing hydroalcoholic extract - EAI) showed inhibition efficiencies in corrosive environment in saline (1 %), for the method of LPR with significant value of 70.58 % (300 ppm) to SNEOAI, 74.17 % (100 ppm) and 72.51 % (150 ppm) to SNEOAI-EAI. The best efficiencies inhibitions were observed for the method of CPM with 85.41 % for the SNEOAI (300 ppm) and 83.19 % SNEOAI-EAI (500 ppm). The results show that this formulation could be used commercially for use as a corrosion inhibitor, this research contributed to the biotechnological applicability of Azadirachta indica, considering the large use of this plant species rich in limonoids (tetranortriterpenoids), especially azadirachtin

Zoneamento agroclimático da palma forrageira (Opuntia sp.) para o estado da Paraíba

The cactus pear has become over the years an important forage alternative for brazilian semiarid region, especially during long periods of drought. Despite its importance for agriculture, its cultivation has dispensed basic crop practices and fundamentals technical-scientific basis about its climatic requirements. Thus, the main objective of this study was to elaborate the agroclimatic zoning of cactus pear (Opuntia sp.) for the state of Paraíba. The agroclimatic zoning of cactus pear was based on climatic indicators outlined in the literature and climatological data of precipitation and temperature (mean, maximum, and minimum) from 97 locations in the state of Paraíba. According to the results, the region of ‘Borborema’ is the most favorable for the cultivation of cactus pear. The regions of ‘Agreste’, ‘Sertão’, and coastal part of Litoral may be used but with restrictions. However, the cultivation of cactus pear is recommended throughout the state of Paraíba, except the coastal part of the Litoral and the region around Areia. In both cases, the inability is due to excessive precipitation.

Ação Sacietogênica de um inibidor de tripsina da semente de tamarindo (Tamarindus indica L.)

The seeds are excellent sources of proteinase inhibitors and have been highlighted owing to various applications. Among these applications are those in effect on food intake and weight gain that stand out because of the increasing number of obese individuals. This study evaluated the effects of trypsin inhibitor present in the seed of tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) reduction in weight gain, biochemical and morphological alterations in Wistar rats. For this, we partially purified a trypsin inhibitor tamarind seed. This inhibitor, ITT2 at a concentration of 25 mg / kg body weight, over a period of 14 days was able to reduce food intake in rats (n = 6) by approximately 47%, causing a reduction in weight gain approximately 70% when compared with the control group. With the evaluation of the in vivo digestibility was demonstrated that the animals lost weight due to satiety, presented by the reduction of food intake, since there were significant differences between true digestibility for the control group (90.7%) and the group treated with inhibitor (89.88%). Additionally, we checked the deeds of ITT2 on biochemical parameters (glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, gamma glutamyl transferase albumin, globulin, total protein and C-reactive protein) and these, when assessed in the study groups showed no statistically significant variations. We also evaluate the histology of some organs, liver, stomach, intestine, and pancreas, and showed no changes. And to evaluate the effect of trypsin inhibitor on food intake due to the satiety is regulated by cholecystokinin (CCK) were measured plasma levels, and it was observed that the levels of CCK in animals receiving ITT2 were significantly higher ( 20 + 1.22) than in animals receiving only solution with casein (10.14 + 2.9) or water (5.92 + 1.15). Thus, the results indicate that the effect caused ITT2 satiety, reducing food intake, which in turn caused a reduction in weight gain in animals without causing morphological and biochemical changes, this effect caused by the elevation of plasma levels CCK

Biocompósitos poliméricos obtidos a partir da fração lignocelulósica e amilácea do caroço de manga (mangifera indica), Tommy atkins

This employment has the function the utilization of mango seeds Tommy Atkins, like starch source to obtain biopolymers and fibers source and nanowhiskers cellulose also, that will be use like reinforcing fillers in micro and nanobiocomposites polymeric. The fibers in natura removed from tegument mango seed were characterized, as weel as the treated fibers and nanowhiskers of cellulose extracted from them. The starch extracted from seed s almond showed a good performance (32%) and a high purity. The chemicals analyzes, of crystallinity and morphological of the fibers in natura, treated fibers and nanowhiskers of cellulose confirmed the efficacy of the chemical treatement performed to remove amorphous constituents (hemicellulose and lignina). The thermoplastic starch (TPS) obtained from two sources, corn starch and starchy material mango, was produced in a twin screw extruder with compositon mass of 62,5% of starch, 9,4% of water and 28,1% of glycerol. The starch material mango was the main objective of this work for the production of biodegradable materials, and the starch corn was utilized during the production stage to evaluate the processability of the starch and use as parameter for comparison, according of being a conventional source for obtaining conventional comercial starch. The incorporation of fibers (6% in mass) and nanowhiskers cellulose (1% in mass) in matrix of TPS to obtain composite and nanocomposite, respectively, it was performed in single screw extruder. The biocomposites and bionanocomposites polymeric were obtained and the TPS from starchy material mango presented better results of thermal and mechanicals properties when compared to TPS corn starch. Concludes that the sediment generated of the agroindustrial processing mango used presents potencial to producing of biodegradables materials