Effect of thermal pasteurization and concentration on carotenoid composition of Brazilian Valencia orange juice

Changes in carotenoid pigment content of Brazilian Valencia orange juices due to thermal pasteurization and concentration were studied. Total carotenoid pigment content loss was not significant after thermal pasteurization and concentration. However, thermal effects on carotenoid pigment contents, especially violaxanthin and lutein, were clearly observed and significant (P < 0.05). Pasteurization reduced the content of violaxanthin by 38% and lutein by 20%. The concentration process resulted in loss of lutein (17%). With the loss of lutein, beta-cryptoxanthin became the major carotenoid in the pasteurized and concentrated juices. The provitarnin A content of the juice (beta-carotene, alpha-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin) and the amount of zeaxanthin, which are considered to be active against age-related macular degeneration and cataracts, did not significantly decrease after pasteurization and concentration. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dinâmica populacional e incidência de moscas-das-frutas e parasitoides em cultivares de pessegueiros (Prunus Persica L. Batsch) no município de presidente prudente-sp

Esta pesquisa teve como objetivos avaliar a dinâmica populacional e registrar a diversidade de moscas-das-frutas (Diptera: Tephritoidea) em cultivares de pessegueiro Tropical, Talismã, Aurora 2, Aurora 1, Dourado 2 e Doçura 2, enxertadas sobre os porta-enxertos 'Okinawa' e Umê, em Presidente Prudente-SP. Foram realizadas as correlações da dinâmica populacional com a temperatura e a precipitação, e também a infestação com as características químicas dos frutos, Sólidos Solúveis e Acidez Titulável. No período de julho de 2004 a dezembro de 2006, a dinâmica populacional de moscas-das-frutas foi obtida através de coletas semanais de moscas-das-frutas em armadilhas McPhail, e a incidência foi determinada através da coleta de 30 frutos/planta/cultivar. O delineamento estatístico adotado foi o inteiramente casualizado, com cinco repetições. Ceratitis capitata foi predominante nas cultivares de pessegueiros estudadas. Não foi observada correlação significativa entre população de moscas-das-frutas e as variáveis de temperatura e precipitação, e sólidos solúveis e ácidez titulável. Entre as cultivares de pêssego, Aurora 2 apresentou maior infestação por C. capitata, da ordem de 22 e 23% nos anos 2004 e 2006, respectivamente. Também foi registrada a incidência de Neosilba spp. em frutos de pêssego. Doryctobracon areolatus (Braconidae), Tetrastichus giffardianus (Eulophidae) e Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae (Pteromalidae) foram recuperados de pupários de Tephritidae.

Constituents and antiulcer effect of Alchornea glandulosa: Activation of cell proliferation in gastric mucosa during the healing process

Alchornea glandulosa (Euphorbiaceae) is a plant used in folk medicine as an antiulcer agent. Rats pretreated with methanolic extract obtained from the leaves of A. glandulosa (AG) showed a dose-dependent effect and significant reduction of gastric ulcers induced by absolute ethanol at the doses of 500 (57%) and 1000 mg/kg (35%) in relation to the control group. Pretreatment of mice with AG (500, 1000 mg/kg, p.o.) showed dose-dependent activity and significantly decreased the severity of lesions caused by HCl/ethanol and by non steroidal anti inflammatory drug-induced gastric lesions. Pretreatment with AG also induced antisecretory action via local and systemic routes and a significant decrease in the total gastric acid content. The gastroprotective effects of AG involved the participation of nitric oxide and increased levels of endogenous sulfhydryl compounds, which are defensive mechanisms of the gastrointestinal mucosa against aggressive factors. The ability of AG to heal gastric ulcers was evaluated after 14 consecutive days of treatment. The results showed that single oral administrations of AG (250 mg/kg/once daily) potently stimulates gastric epithelial cell proliferation that contributes to the accelerated healing of gastric ulcers induced by acetic acid. In addition, no subacute toxicity (body weight gain, vital organs, and serum biochemical parameters) was observed during treatment with AG. Phytochemical investigation of AG led to the isolation of myricetin-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside, quercetin-3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside, quercetin-3-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside, quercetin, amentoflavone, methyl gallate, gallic acid, and pterogynidine. We also established the phytochemical profile of AG with the quantification of total phenolic compounds. These compounds may contribute to the observed antiulcerogenic effects of AG.

Própolis e cera vegetal na conservação de abacate Hass

The aim of this work was to evaluate the quality of Hass avocado submitted to application of propolis and vegetable wax. The selected fruits were submitted to the treatments (1) without wax and without propolis, (2) with vegetable wax, (3) propolis alcoholic extract 100%, (4) wax and etanol 70%, (5) propolis alcoholic extract 2% and wax, (6) propolis alcoholic extract 4% and wax, (7) propolis alcoholic extract 6% and wax, (8) propolis alcoholic extract 8% and wax, and (9) propolis alcoholic extract 10% and wax. The fruits were maintained under refrigeration (10 +/- 1 degrees C and 90 +/- 5% relative humidity), being appraised every three days for 15 days and more 3 days of commercialization simulation at room temperature (23 +/- 1 degrees C and 18% relative humidity). The evaluation parameters were the weight loss, respiratory activity, pH, firmness, tritable acidity (AT), soluble solids (SS), and ratio. The results of weigth loss, respiratory activity and firmness were the most significant to show the difference among the treatments. 'Hass' avocado fruits submitted the application of propolis associated the vegetable wax present smaller weight loss, CO2 production and firmness in relation to the control fruits. The fruits of the treatment with propolis alcoholic extract 2% and wax presented the most promising results.

Vida útil e qualidade de frutos de tomateiros tratados com paclobutrazol

A aplicação de reguladores de crescimento pode influenciar todas as fases do desenvolvimento de uma planta, incluindo o florescimento, o desenvolvimento e a maturação de frutos e sementes. Assim, avaliaram-se as principais características físicas e químicas e a vida útil dos frutos de tomate obtidos de plantas tratadas com paclobutrazol - PBZ (0, 50 e 100 mg L-1), via rega de mudas, aos 15 dias após a semeadura. Os frutos foram analisados imediatamente após a colheita e aos cinco, 10, 15 e 20 dias de armazenamento, em condições ambientes. A eficiência dos tratamentos e a qualidade dos frutos foram determinadas por meio da perda de matéria fresca, firmeza da polpa, teores de sólidos solúveis (SS), acidez titulável (AT), vitamina C e relação SS/AT. Adotou-se o delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 3 x 5 (três concentrações de paclobutrazol x cinco períodos de armazenamento em temperatura ambiente). As aplicações de paclobutrazol em mudas de tomateiro, aos 15 dias após a semeadura, nas concentrações de 50 e 100 mg L-1, não alteraram a vida útil dos frutos do tomate longa vida AF 7631. O aumento das concentrações de PBZ resultou em menor perda de matéria fresca dos frutos e sua menor firmeza e acidez. Os teores de sólidos solúveis e de vitamina C e a relação SS/AT não se alteraram com o aumento das concentrações de PBZ. Os frutos, independentemente das concentrações de PBZ aplicadas às mudas, chegaram aos 20 dias de armazenamento (25 ± 2 ºC e 75 ± 5% UR) em condições para consumo, mesmo tendo perdido significativa quantidade de matéria fresca, acidez e firmeza.

Comparison of polyamine, phenol and flavonoid contents in plants grown under conventional and organic methods

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Phytoplankton structure in two contrasting cascade reservoirs (Paranapanema River, Southeast Brazil)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Evaluation of pyraclostrobin and acibenzolar-S-methyl on common bacterial blight of snap bean

Assays were done under greenhouse conditions in order to evaluate the effect of pyraclostrobin (0.0375, 0.0750 and 0.150 mL.L-1) and acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM) (0.025 g.L-1) in common bacterial blight on leaves of snap beans cultivar Braganca. These chemicals were sprayed at three different times: five days before; five days before + five days after; and five days after leaf inoculation with an isolate of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli. They were determinate the levels of polyphenoloxidase, peroxidase and total soluble proteins on inoculated and non-inoculated leaves of snap beans sprayed with pyraclostrobin (0.075 g.L-1) and ASM (0.025 g.L-1). All concentration of pyraclostrobin and ASM reduced the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) on leaves of snap beans, and the least AUDPC value was observed when this products were sprayed five days before + five days after inoculation. Higher levels of polyphenoloxidase, peroxidase and the total soluble proteins were observed on leaves sprayed with pyraclostrobin or ASM.

Immunodominant Antigens of Leishmania chagasi Associated with Protection against Human Visceral Leishmaniasis

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Performance of the constructed wetland system for the treatment of water from the corumbataí river

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Moisture sorption isotherms of fresh and blanched pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Influence of Fluid Concentration on the Elevation of Boiling Point of Blackberry Juice

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Avaliação da qualidade da água e autodepuração do ribeirão do meio, Leme (SP)

This investigation utilized hydrochemical relations to evaluate possible anthropogenic inputs at Meio Stream, São Paulo State. Realized three sampling of water during the months of February, April and July/2005, in five sampling points analyzing: discharge, temperature, turbidity, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen ( DO), TDS (total dissolved solids), TSS (total suspended solids), Ca(2+), Mg(2+), Na(+), K(+), HCO(3)(-), Cl(-), SO(4)(2-), PO(4)(3-) and NO(3)(-). The characteristics of water close to spring until Leme city allow concluding that there is a small interference in its quality, however the absence of treatment of domestic wastewater at Leme city reduced its quality. It was applied the QUAL 2K modeling to evaluate the Meio Stream auto-purification identified the auto-purification zones and indicated the necessity of secondary wastewater treatment, with 76% of efficiency.

Itaipu reservoir limnology: eutrophication degree and the horizontal distribution of its limnological variables

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Avaliação da qualidade de manga 'palmer' tratada com 1-metilciclopropeno e armazenada sob refrigeração e condição ambiente

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)