Migration of Tinuvin P, a UV stabilizer, from PET bottles into fatty-food simulants

Tinuvin P migration from Polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) bottles was investigated using several fatty-food simulants such as olive oil, soybean oil, n-heptane and iso-octane, at exposure conditions of 2-10 days at 40 degrees C (total immersion). The stability of several UV stabilizers (BHT, Cyasorb UV 5411, Tinuvin P, Tinuvin 326 and Tinuvin 327) in n-heptane and iso-octane was also studied. After 10 days at 40 degrees C, losses of 6% and 20% in iso-octane and n-heptane respectively, were verified for Tinuvin P. Other UV stabilizers at the same experimental conditions showed higher losses (up to 30% for Tinuvin 327). These results confirm that, when carrying out specific migration studies, the stability of the substance of interest should be established in the food simulant to avoid underestimating the real migration behaviour. In order to quantify UV stabilizer migration, n-heptane and iso-octane solutions were concentrated and directly analysed by SIM mode GC-MS. For olive and soybean oils, Tinuvin P was isolated using size-exclusion chromatography and quantified by SIM mode GC-MS. Iso-octane proved to be a move suitable fatty-food simulant than n-heptane for the migration study of Tinuvin P from PET. Higher levels of Tinuvin P migrated to olive and soybean oils rather than to n-heptane. These results suggest that the MERCOSUL recommended official methods for specific migration studies should be revised since the migration levels using n-heptane as a fatty-food simulant could be underestimated when compared to edible oils. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Antidiarrheal Activity of Campomanesia xanthocarpa Fruit

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

Viabilidade econômica do cultivo de shiitake em diferentes escalas de produção

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

Parcelamento da adubação e da fertirrigação na produção de palmito pupunha no Noroeste Paulista

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

Efeito da concentração de ácido lático sobre a propriedade de expansão em amidos modificados fotoquimicamente

Uma característica valorizada pelo setor alimentício é a propriedade de expansão dos grânulos de amido. Com este trabalho, teve-se por objetivo avaliar o efeito da concentração de ácido lático durante tratamento de modificação fotoquímica das féculas de batata-doce (Ipomoea batatas), biri (Canna edulis), mandioca (Manihot esculenta) e taioba (Xanthosoma sagittifolium). Pelos resultados obtidos neste experimento, nas condições em que este foi realizado, conclui-se que a concentração de ácido lático interferiu na propriedade de expansão das féculas de batata-doce, mandioca e taioba e não apresentou efeito na fécula de biri, devendo ser ajustado para cada tipo de fécula a ser modificada. Os índices de expansão obtidos nas diferentes féculas foram considerados baixos, quando comparados aos índices obtidos para fécula de mandioca modificada.

Agaricus blazei (Himematsutake) does not alter the development of rat diethylnitrosamine-initiated hepatic preneoplastic foci

The modifying potential of crude extracts of the mushroom Agaricus blazei Murrill (Himematsutake) on the development and growth of glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P)-positive liver foci (liver preneoplastic lesion) was investigated in adult male Wistar rats. Six groups of animals were used. Groups 2 to 5 were given a single i.p. injection of 200 mg/kg b.w. of diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and groups 1 and 6 were treated with saline at the beginning of the experiment. After 2 weeks, animals of groups 3 to 6 were orally treated with three dose levels of aqueous extracts of the mushroom A. blazei (1.2, 5.6, 11.5, and 11.5 mg/ml of dry weight of solids) for 6 weeks. All animals were subjected to two-thirds partial hepatectomy at week 3 and sacrificed at week 8. Two hours before sacrifice, ten animals of each group were administered a single i.p injection of 100 mg/kg of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). Apoptotic bodies and BrdU-positive hepatocyte nuclei were quantified in liver sections stained for hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) (eosinophilic foci) and simultaneously stained for GST-P expression (GST-P-positive foci), respectively. The 6-week treatment with A. blazei did not alter the development (number and size) of GST-P-positive foci and did not affect the growth kinetics of liver normal parenchyma or foci in DEN-initiated animals. Our results indicate that the treatment with aqueous extracts of the mushroom A. blazei during the post-initiation stage of rat liver carcinogenesis does not exert any protective effect against the development of GST-P-positive foci induced by DEN. (Cancer Sci 2003; 94: 188-192).

Variation of the antimutagenicity effects of water extracts of Agaricus blazei Murrill in vitro

Agaricus blazei Murill, popularly known as Sun Mushroom or Himematsutake, is native to Brazil. Nowadays, this mushroom has been target of great scientific interest due to its medical power and because it has shown antitumoral and immune modulatory properties. This work evaluated the mutagenic and antimutagenic potential from aqueous extracts prepared in different temperatures (4 degreesC, 25 degreesC and 60 degreesC) from the lineage AB 97/29 in two basidiocarp phases (young and sporulated) and from A. blazei commercialized in Londrina- PR - Brazil, named here as AB PR, and in Piedade- SP- Brazil, named as AB SP. Both micronucleus (MN) as comet assays were used. Chinese hamster lung V79 cells were treated in three antimutagenic experimental protocols: pre-, post- and simultaneous treatments, with the aqueous extracts of the A. blazei Murill and methyl methanesulfonate (MMS). The results suggested that under these circumstances of treatment, aqueous extracts of the A. blazei in both assays did not show any genotoxic potential. However, by the MN test, an antigenotoxic effect was shown against mutagenicity inducted by MMS for aqueous extracts at 60 degreesC of mushroom commercialized in Piedade- SP, in pre-, post- and simultaneous treatments and for AB PR only when used in pre-treatment. on the other hand, with comet assay, the results showed no protective effect in any case. The numbers indicated that different results can be get from A. blazei teas, and that not all of them seemed to be an efficient antimutagen against the induction of micronuclei by MMS. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Influence of aqueous extract of Agaricus blazei on rat liver toxicity induced by different doses of diethylnitrosamine

The modifying potential of prior administration of an aqueous extract of the mushroom Agaricus blazei Murrill (Agaricaceae) (Ab) on hepatotoxicity induced by different doses of diethylnitrosamine (DEN) in male Wistar rats was evaluated. During 2 weeks, animals of groups G3 (Ab+DEN50), G5 (Ab+DEN100), G7 (Ab+DEN200), and G8 (Ab-treated) were treated with the A. blazei through drinking water. After this period, groups G2 (DEN50), G3 (Ab+DEN50), G4 (DEN100) G5 (Ab+DEN100), G6 (DEN200), and G7 (Ab+DEN200) were given a single i.p. injection of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg of DEN, respectively, while groups G1 (nontreated) and G8 (Ab-treated) were treated with 0.9% NaCl only. All animals were killed 48 h after DEN or NaCl treatments. The hepatocyte replication rate was estimated by the index of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) positive hepatocytes and the appearance of putative preneoplastic hepatocytes through expression of the enzyme glutathione S-transferase placental form (GSTP). After DEN-treatment, ALT levels, PCNA labeling index, and the number of GST-P positive hepatocytes were lower in rats that received A. blazei treatment and were exposed to 100 mg/kg of DEN. Our findings suggest that previous treatment with A. blazei exerts a hepatoprotective effect on both liver toxicity and hepatocarcinogenesis process induced by a moderately toxic dose of DEN. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Polysaccharide fraction of Agaricus brasiliensis avoids tumor-induced IL-10 production and changes the microenvironment of subcutaneous Ehrlich adenocarcinoma

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

Uso de probiótico e antibiótico sobre o desempenho, o rendimento e a qualidade de carcaça de frangos de corte

Dois mil e quatrocentos pintos de corte foram distribuídos em um delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com esquema fatorial 2 x 2 x 2 (sexo, com e sem probiótico, com e sem antibiótico), totalizando oito tratamentos e seis repetições com 50 aves cada uma. Independente da suplementação recebida, os machos sempre foram mais pesados que as fêmeas. Entretanto, a análise de desempenho apresentou maiores peso corporal e ganho de peso para os machos que receberam suplementação de antibiótico, quando comparados aos não-suplementados. Até 42 dias de idade, o uso do antibiótico determinou aumento do consumo de ração, mas não influiu nas demais características de desempenho. No período de 1 a 21 dias e 1 a 42 dias de idade, a suplementação com probiótico influenciou negativamente o peso corporal, ganho de peso e consumo de ração das aves. Houve interação probiótico x antibiótico para rendimento de carcaça das aves, obtendo-se maior rendimento de carcaça com o uso da associação dos produtos na ração. Nenhum dos produtos afetou o rendimento de partes (cabeça, pés, asas, perna, peito e dorso), o rendimento de vísceras (coração, fígado e vísceras não-comestíveis), gordura abdominal e características sensoriais (intensidade de aroma, aroma estranho, sabor, sabor estranho, maciez, suculência, preferência, cor característica e aparência geral) da carne de peito e pernas. No presente estudo, não foram encontrados efeitos benéficos da suplementação de probiótico para frangos de corte.

Efeitos do sexo, do grupo racial e da idade ao abate nas características de carcaça e maciez da carne de caprinos

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

Differential expression of myogenic regulatory factor MyoD in pacu skeletal muscle (Piaractus mesopotamicus Holmberg 1887: Serrasalminae, Characidae, Teleostei) during juvenile and adult growth phases

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

Ontogenesis of the fruit pulp layer of Hymenaea stigonocarpa (Fabaceae : Caesalpinioideae)

Hymenaea, a genus of major economic importance, has been the subject of several botanical studies. However, there is disagreement over the origin of the edible fruit pulp of Hymenaea, as there are no ontogenetic studies on this organ. According to some authors, the edible layer results from transformations of the mesocarp and endocarp, while according to others, it is considered a seed aril. There are still others who regard this layer as originating from an undefined region of the pericarp. To understand the nature and origin of the pulp layer, Hymenaea stigonocarpa Mart. ex Hayne ovaries and fruit were processed according to standard techniques. The production of the fruit pulp layer starts immediately after anthesis. During anthesis, the inner epidermal cells of the ovary show periclinal division and form a new layer of cells towards the mesocarp; this remains meristematic and initiates cell production by predominantly periclinal divisions, producing a compact tissue towards the locule. This tissue will become the fruit pulp layer, the inner endocarp. The seed coat shows typical testal structure without evidence of aril formation. This allows us to conclude that the fruit pulp layers are exclusively made from part of the endocarp. We also observed resin cavities on outer mesocarp and outer endocarp.

GA4+7+ N-(Fenilmetil)-aminopurina na germinação de sementes e emergência de plântulas de Passiflora cincinnata Mast.

A espécie Passiflora cincinnata Mast. é silvestre, não-comercial, conhecida popularmente como maracujá-do-mato. Pode ser aproveitada como planta ornamental ou medicinal, além de ser comestível e ser considerada potencialmente importante para uso como porta-enxerto. O trabalho foi realizado no Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Biociências da Unesp, Câmpus de Botucatu-SP, e objetivou avaliar o efeito dos reguladores vegetais GA4+7 + N-(fenilmetil)-aminopurina na germinação de sementes, emergência e desenvolvimento de plântulas de P. cincinnata Mast.. As sementes foram obtidas junto à Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA) Semi-Árido a partir de plantas cultivadas no Campo Experimental da Caatinga, Petrolina-PE. Foram realizados dois experimentos, sendo o primeiro em laboratório, para estudo da germinação, e o segundo em casa de vegetação, para estudo da emergência e desenvolvimento das plântulas. em ambos os experimentos, foi utilizado o delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, cada um com 11 tratamentos de diferentes concentrações de GA4+7 + N-(fenilmetil)-aminopurina (zero; 100; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600; 700; 800; 900 e 1.000 mg L-1) e cinco repetições cada. Para análise dos dados, foram utilizadas análise de variância e análise de regressão. Com base nos resultados obtidos, concluiu-se que os reguladores vegetais, G A4+7 + N-(fenilmetil)-aminopurina, incrementaram o processo germinativo, bem como a emergência e o desenvolvimento de plântulas de P. cincinnata Mast..

Hymenaea stigonocarpa Mart. ex Hayne: A Brazilian medicinal plant with gastric and duodenal anti-ulcer and antidiarrheal effects in experimental rodent models

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