Bioprospection of Petit Verdot grape pomace as a source of anti-inflammatory compounds.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of Petit Verdot Extract and hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions obtained from grape pomace, in addition to identifying active compounds. The PVE and EAF reduced significantly paw edema and neutrophil migration when compared with control groups. The PVE reduced levels of TNF-α and IL1-β in the peritoneal fluid, whereas the EAF did not reduce cytokines significantly. Two hydroxybenzoic acids, two proanthocyanidins, three flavan-3-ol monomers and three anthocyanins were identified in the PVE and EAF by LC-MS/MS. The stilbene transresveratrol was identified only in the EAF. The phenolic compounds were quantified using HPLC-DAD analysis, except for the stilbenes, which were not sensible for the detection by the method. Since PVE and EAF showed significantly anti-inflammatory effects and high concentration of phenolic compounds, we concluded that Petit Verdot pomace could be an interesting source of anti-inflammatory bioactives.

Drimys brasiliensis essential oil as a source of drimenol.

Drimys brasiliensis Miers é uma espécie nativa da Mata Atlântica, conhecida popularmente por cataia, utilizada como estimulante, antidiarreica, antifebril, dentre outras propriedades. Folhas frescas e secas de cataia foram coletadas no outono/2012, submetidas à hidrodestilação em aparelho graduado tipo Clevenger durante um período de 4 horas após ebulição, retirando-se em seguida o óleo. No óleo de folhas frescas foram identificados 49 compostos, sendo 65,0% sesquiterpenos, 12,0% monoterpenos e 23,0% de outras substâncias. Já no óleo de folhas secas identificou-se 40 compostos, sendo 76,1% sesquiterpenos, 2,0% monoterpenos e 21,9% de outros compostos. Os principais constituintes para as folhas frescas foram germacreno D (8,9%), biciclogermacreno (5,3%), epi-alfa-cadinol (5,1%), alfa-cadinol (6,0%) e drimenol (9,3%). Já para as folhas secas, os principais constituintes foram germacreno D (6,3%), (E)-nerodidol (5,4%), espatulenol (9,5%), epi-alfa-cadinol (5,5%), alfa-cadinol (6,7%) e drimenol (11,6%). Devido a sua composição, a espécie possivelmente pode possuir algumas atividades como antifúngicas, antibacterianas, além de insetífuga, moluscocida e com propriedades farmacológicas que a espécie pode possuir.

Use of swine waste-derived biogas to enhance microalgae productivity.

The effects of swine wastewater-derived biogas on microalgae productivity were determined. Experiments were conducted in a closed photobioreactor containing digestate effluent as culturing media and biogas in the headspaceas source of CO2. Experiments were carried out under mixothrophic and autothrophic conditions. Results showed that autotrophic growth rate (0.6 d-1)was twofoldfaster than mixotrophic. Frequent reinjections of biogas containing up to 2,000 ppm of hydrogen sulfide was not inhibitory to microalgae growth. The rapid removal of H2S in the system suggests photobioreactors can be an interesting alternative to biogas purification. A model to estimate microalgae productivity based on the amount of available CO2, inorganic and organic carbon was developedand showed good data fit correlation (r²= 0.99).

Determination of microalgae cellular composition after phycoremediation of swine wastewaters.

Phycoremediation of swine wastewaters has been widely reported as an attractive tertiary treatment system, that effectively removes the excessive nutrient loadswhilst offering a valuable source of feedstock biomass. Digestate from an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB, 6%v/v) and a nitrification reactor (NR; 50% v/v) were used as culturing media to microalgae. Experiments were carried out in lab scale photobioreactors (PBRs) using a consortia of Chlorella and Scenedesmus. Ammonia (44 to 90%) and phosphorus (77%) were efficiently removed from both effluents tested after 4 days. Microalgae biomass harvested from the UASB effluent showed 57, 34 and 1% of proteins, carbohydrates and lipids, respectively. Comparatively, the cellular composition of microalgae grown on NR effluent had lower protein (43%) but higher carbohydrate (42%) contents. Negligible difference in lipid fraction was observed independently of the effluents tested. The results suggest that the biomass harvested from phycoremediation of swine wastewaters can offer a valuable protein and carbohydrate feedstock for nutritional and biotechnological applications.