Antimicrobial activity of Davilla elliptica St. Hill (Dilleniaceae)

Funda����o de Amparo �� Pesquisa do Estado de S��o Paulo (FAPESP)

Immunological and microbiological activity of Davilla elliptica St. Hill. (Dilleniaceae) against Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is responsible for over 8 million cases of tuberculosis (TB) annually. Natural products may play important roles in the chemotherapy of TB. The immunological activity of Davilla elliptica chloroform extract (DECE) was evaluated in vitro by the determination of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), nitric oxide (NO), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) release in peritoneal macrophages cultures. DECE was also tested for its antimycobacterial activity against M. tuberculosis using the microplate alamar blue assay. DECE (50, 150, 250 ��g/ml) stimulated the production of H2O2 (from 1,79 �� 0,23 to 7,27 �� 2,54; 15,02 �� 2,86; 20,5 �� 2,1 nmols) (means �� SD), NO (from 2,64 �� 1,02 to 25,59 �� 2,29; 26,68 �� 2,41; 29,45 �� 5,87 ��mols) (means �� SD) and TNF-alpha (from 2,44 �� 1,46 to 30,37 �� 8,13; 38,68 �� 1,59; 41,6 �� 0,90 units/ml) (means �� SD) in a dose-dependent manner and also showed a promising antimycobacterial activity with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 62,5 ��g/ml. This plant may have therapeutic potential in the immunological and microbiological control of TB.

Thermal comfort in reduced models of broilers' houses, under different types of roofing materials

Esta pesquisa foi conduzida com o objetivo de avaliar diferentes tipos de coberturas em instala����es para aves, por meio do ��ndice de Temperatura de Globo Negro e Umidade (ITGU), Carga T��rmica de Radia����o (CTR) e Entalpia (H). O experimento foi conduzido na Universidade Estadual de Goi��s, entre os meses de abril e maio de 2011, sendo composto por cinco tratamentos (coberturas): CA -Telha de cimento-amianto; BA -Telha de bambu; BAP -Telha de bambu pintada de branco; FB -Telha de fibra vegetal e betume; FBP -Telha de fibra vegetal e betume pintada de branco, com 15 repeti����es, sendo as repeti����es os dias de medi����o. Dentre os hor��rios estudados, o considerado menos confort��vel foi ��s 14h, sendo que a cobertura de fibra vegetal e betume foi a que apresentou maior valor de ITGU (84,1) quando comparada ��s demais coberturas, caracterizando uma situa����o de menor conforto t��rmico, n��o sendo observada diferen��a para CTR e H entre os tratamentos na regi��o estudada.

In vitro anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis activity of some Brazilian Cerrado plants

Funda����o de Amparo �� Pesquisa do Estado de S��o Paulo (FAPESP)

Solution infrared spectroscopy investigation of copper (II) azide-complexes.

The structure of the two azide-complexes, [Cu(N-3)(2)(N,N-diEten)](2) and [Cu(N-3)(2)(tmeen)](2), N,N-diEten=N,N-diethylethylenediamine; tmeen=N,N,N',N'-tetramethyethylenediamine in solutions of acetonitrile, acetone, tetrahydrofuran, chloroform and dichloromethane, were investigated by infrared spectroscopy. The data show that the complex [Cu(N-3)(2)(N,N-diEten)](2) mantains its structure in solution, while that for [Cu(N-3)(2)(tmeen)](2) is modified.

Diagnosis of canine brucellosis: Comparison between serological and microbiological tests and a PCR based on primers to 16S-23S rDNA interspacer

A pair of primers directed to 16S-23S rDNA interspacer (ITS) was designed directed to Brucella genetic sequences in order to develop a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) putatively capable of amplifying DNA from any Brucella species. Nucleic acid extracts from whole-blood from naive dogs were spiked with decreasing amounts of Brucella canis RM6/66 DNA and the resulting solutions were tested by PCR. In addition, the ability of PCR to amplify Brucella spp. genetic sequences from naturally infected dogs was evaluated using 210 whole-blood samples of dogs from 19 kennels. The whole-blood samples collected were subjected to blood culture and PCR. Serodiagnosis was performed using the rapid slide agglutination test with and without 2-mercaptoethanol. The DNA from whole blood was extracted using proteinase-K, sodium dodecyl sulphate and cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide followed by phenol-chloroform purification. The PCR was capable of detecting as little as 3.8 fg of Brucella DNA mixed with 450 ng of host DNA. Theoretically, 3.8 fg of Brucella DNA represents the total genomic mass of fewer than two bacterial cells. The PCR diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 100%. From the results observed in the present study, we conclude that PCR could be used as confirmatory test for diagnosis of B. canis infection.

Physicochemical parameters involved in the lethal toxicity of N,N-[(dimethylamino)ethyl]-4-substituted benzoate hydrochlorides: A QSAR study

A set of sixteen para-substituted N,N-[(dimethylamino)ethyl] benzoate hydrochlorides structurally related to procaine was synthesized. The apparent partition coefficients were determined by either shake-flask or HPLC methods and were taken as hydrophobic parameters. The IR stretching frequencies of the carbonyl group were determined in chloroform and taken as one of the electronic parameters. Additional physicochemical parameters were either taken from the literature: pi, sigma, T and R, MR4, or calculated: log P. The lethal potency was determined in the mouse via the LD50. In order to verify the nature and the relative contributions of the physicochemical parameters to lethal toxicity, QSAR equations were derived using regression analysis. A major contribution of hydrophobicity to ether with a smaller but still significant contribution of electronic or polar properties was found to a describe the toxicity within this set of compounds.

Antidiarrheal mechanism of Carpolobia lutea leaf fractions in rats

Funda����o de Amparo �� Pesquisa do Estado de S��o Paulo (FAPESP)

Poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) microspheres loaded with atrazine herbicide: screening of conditions for preparation, physico-chemical characterization, and in vitro release studies

Funda����o de Amparo �� Pesquisa do Estado de S��o Paulo (FAPESP)

Biological activity of Gomphrena elegans Mart. Var. Elegans (Amaranthaceae)

Coordena����o de Aperfei��oamento de Pessoal de N��vel Superior (CAPES)

Optical chemical sensors using polythiophene derivatives as active layer for detection of volatile organic compounds

Funda����o de Amparo �� Pesquisa do Estado de S��o Paulo (FAPESP)

Size, electrophoretic mobility, and ion dissociation of vesicles prepared with synthetic amphiphiles

Vesicles prepared with synthetic amphiphiles (dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide and chloride, dihexadecyl phosphate and its sodium salt) were obtained by sonication, ethanol injections, and chloroform injections. The hydrodynamic diameter of vesicles (Dh), estimated from the diffusivity measured by quasielastic light scattering, ranged from 230 to 3000 ��. The electrophoretic mobility (Um) was measured by free-flow electrophoresis. The zeta potential (��) and the degree of counterion dissociation (��) of the vesicles were calculated from Um and conductivity data, �� decreased with increasing Dh of the vesicles, probably due to the decreasing headgroup area and the increasing counterion association needed to relax the surface electrostatic potential. The electrophoretic mobility was also calculated (Uc) according to an impenetrable, nonconducting sphere model with a spherically symmetric charge distribution approximation. Within the limits of the experimental error(s) of the (different) methods employed and the assumptions made in the calculations, the fact that the Um/Uc ratio ranged from 1.3 to 7.5 was considered to be a good agreement between the calculated and the experimental values. �� 1990 American Chemical Society.

Effect of constituents of the foliar wax of Didymopanax vinosum on the foraging activity of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa

Leaf epicuticular waxes may affect substrate selection by leaf-cutting ants, and host recognition by several phytophagous insects. The influence of the crude epicuticular wax of Didymopanax vinosum E. March. (Araliaceae), and its major constituents lupeol and free primary alcohols, on substrate selection by the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel, was investigated. Two ant colonies were used in laboratory bioassays. Corn flakes (zea) were impregnated with chloroform solutions of the substances being tested and fed to the adults. One of the colonies gave results, in most of the tests, not significantly different from the controls. The other colony, however, discriminated against the crude wax, a strong deterrent effect being observed from the first of a series of eight trials. The same colony was able to discriminate against lupeol after the second trial. The fraction of primary n-alcohols (22% C28, 66% C30 and 12% C32) deterred feeding only after the fifth trial. The results demonstrate that some constituents of epicuticular waxes may deter the foraging activity of A. sexdens rubropilosa, depending, however, on the colony under observation. It is suggested that lupeol, of the foliar wax of D. vinosum, is an important deterrent to leaf-cutting ants, although with less pronounced effects than those observed in tests with the crude wax.

Correlation between carotenoid concentrations in serum and normal breast adipose tissue of women with benign breast tumor or breast cancer

To evaluate the relationship between carotenoid concentrations in serum and breast tissue, we measured serum carotenoid concentrations and endogenous carotenoid levels in breast adipose tissue of women with benign breast tumor (n = 46) or breast cancer (n = 44). Before extraction, serum was digested with lipase and cholesterol esterase, and breast adipose tissue was saponified. Serum and tissue carotenoids were extracted with ether/hexane and measured by using HPLC with a C30 column. Serum retinoic acid was extracted with chloroform/methanol and measured using HPLC with a C18 column. There were no significant differences in serum carotenoids [lutein, zeaxanthin, cryptoxanthin (both ��- and ��-), ��-carotene, all-trans ��-carotene, 13-cis ��-carotene and lycopene], retinoids (retinol, all-trans and 13-cis retinoic acids), and ��- and -��- tocopherol concentrations between benign breast tumor patients and breast cancer patients. A substantial amount of 9-cis ��- carotene was present in adipose tissue and was the only carotenoid that had a significantly lower level in benign breast tumor patients than in breast cancer patients. Correlations between carotenoid concentrations in serum and in breast adipose tissue were determined by combining the data of the two groups. Concentrations of the major serum carotenoids except cryptoxanthin showed significant correlations with breast adipose tissue carotenoid levels. When the concentrations of serum carotenoids were adjusted for serum triglycerides or LDL, correlations between serum carotenoid concentrations and breast adipose tissue carotenoid levels markedly increased, including that of cryptoxanthin (P <0.001). The strong correlation between serum carotenoid concentrations and endogenous breast adipose tissue carotenoid levels indicate that dietary intake influences adipose tissue carotenoid levels as well as serum concentrations, and that adipose tissue is a dynamic reservoir of fat-soluble nutrients.

Endogenous carotenoid concentrations in cancerous and non-cancerous tissues of gastric cancer patients in Korea

Carotenoid concentrations were measured in serum and in both non-cancerous and cancerous gastric mucosal tissues of Korean patients with gastric cancer (n = 18). Carotenoids in serum and gastric tissue were extracted with chloroform/methanol (2:1), and measured using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with a C30 column. Cryptoxanthin and ��-carotene were the major carotenoids in the Korean blood and they had a median ratio of non-cancerous tissue/serum levels which was less than 1.0. No significant differences of Cryptoxanthin and ��-carotene levels were found between non-cancerous and cancerous tissues. After incubation of ��-carotene with gastric tissue, significantly higher levels of ��-carotene breakdown products were produced in the homogenates of cancerous tissue when compared with non-cancerous tissue. Lutein, zeaxanthin and ��-carotene were the minor carotenoid constituents in the blood and their median ratio of non-cancerous tissue/serum levels was greater than 1.0. Cancerous tissue had significantly lower levels of lutein, zeaxanthin and ��-carotene than did non-cancerous tissue. It appears that the increased breakdown of ��-carotene and cryptoxanthin in cancerous tissue can be compensated for by an increased uptake of circulating carotenoids by cancerous tissue, whereas lutein, zeaxanthin and ��-carotene levels in cancerous tissue are not able to be maintained.