Major components of energy drinks (caffeine, taurine, and guarana) exert cytotoxic effects on human neuronal SH-SY5Y cells by decreasing reactive oxygen species production

Scope. To elucidate the morphological and biochemical in vitro effects exerted by caffeine, taurine, and guarana, alone or in combination, since they are major components in energy drinks (EDs). Methods and Results. On human neuronal SH-SY5Y cells, caffeine (0.125-2 mg/mL), taurine (1-16 mg/mL), and guarana (3.125-50 mg/mL) showed concentration-dependent nonenzymatic antioxidant potential, decreased the basal levels of free radical generation, and reduced both superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, especially when combined together. However, guarana-treated cells developed signs of neurite degeneration in the form of swellings at various segments in a beaded or pearl chain-like appearance and fragmentation of such neurites at concentrations ranging from 12.5 to 50 mg/mL. Swellings, but not neuritic fragmentation, were detected when cells were treated with 0.5 mg/mL (or higher doses) of caffeine, concentrations that are present in EDs. Cells treated with guarana also showed qualitative signs of apoptosis, including membrane blebbing, cell shrinkage, and cleaved caspase-3 positivity. Flow cytometric analysis confirmed that cells treated with 12.5-50 mg/mL of guarana and its combinations with caffeine and/or taurine underwent apoptosis. Conclusion. Excessive removal of intracellular reactive oxygen species, to nonphysiological levels (or antioxidative stress), could be a cause of in vitro toxicity induced by these drugs. © 2013 Fares Zeidán-Chuliá et al.

Soil organic matter and physical attributes affected by crop rotation under no-till

Growing cover crops in systems under no tillage affects different pools of soil organic matter, and eventually soil physical attributes are modified. The objective of this study was to evaluate changes in soil organic matter and their relationship with soil physical attributes as affected by plant species grown in rotation with soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] under no-till for 3 yr. Crop rotations included grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], ruzigrass [Urochloa ruziziensis (R. Germ, and CM. Evard) Crins] and sorghum mixed with ruzigrass, all grown in fall/winter, followed by pearl millet [Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke], sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) and sorghum-sudangrass [S. bicolor × S. sudanense (Piper) Stapf] grown during the spring, plus a fallow check plot. Soybean was grown as the summer crop. Millet and sorghum-sudangrass cropped in spring showed higher root and shoot production as spring cropping. In fall/winter, sorghum mixed with ruzigrass yielded higher phytomass compared with sole cropping. Soil physical attributes and organic matter fractioning were positively affected by cropping millet and sorghum-sudangrass whereas intermediate effects were observed after sunn hemp. Maintaining fallow in spring had negative effects on soil organic matter and physical properties. Ruzigrass and sorghum mixed with ruzigrass cropped in fall/winter resulted in better soil quality. Spring cover crops were more efficient in changing soil bulk density, porosity, and aggregates down to 0 to 10 cm; on the other hand, fall/winter cropping showed significant effects on bulk density in the uppermost soil layer. Total C levels in soil were increased after a 3-yr rotation period due to poor initial physical conditions. Fractions of particulate organic C, microbial C, and C in macroaggregates were the most affected by crop rotations, and showed high relation with improved soil physical attributes (porosity, density, and aggregates larger than 2 mm). © Soil Science Society of America, All rights reserved.

Avaliação do sistema radicular da soja sob sistemas de manejo do solo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Variabilidade vertical de formas de fósforo em função de fontes e doses de fosfatos em semeadura direta

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

Épocas de semeadura e manejos de corte de milheto cultivado no outono-inverno e efeitos na cultura da soja em sucessão sob plantio direto

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Agricultura) - FCA

Resposta do feijoeiro (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) à adubação nitrogenada de cobertura em dois sistemas de manejo de solo

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Agricultura) - FCA

Emissão de gases de efeito estufa em áreas de sistema semeadura direta com aportes diferenciados de carbono e nitrogênio

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Agricultura) - FCA

Alterações dos atributos químicos do solo e resposta da soja à cobertura vegetal e à calagem superficial na implantação do sistema de semeadura direta

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Agricultura) - FCA

Efeito da fitomassa do milheto sobre as propriedades físicas e químicas de um nitossolo vermelho e na produtividade da soja cultivada em sistema de semeadura direta em Botucatu-SP

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Agricultura) - FCA

As mulheres de Klaxon: o universo feminino a partir dos modernistas

Pós-graduação em Artes - IA

Potencial de uso de gramíneas como substrato pasteurizado no cultivo do cogumelo Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.) P. Kumm

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Alterações microbianas do solo sob sistema de semeadura direta e rotação de culturas

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

Efeitos da substituição do grão de milho pelo de milheto (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) Br.) na digestibilidade dos nutrientes e no desempenho de bovinos confinados

Pós-graduação em Zootecnia - FEIS

Culturas de cobertura em região de inverno seco para semeadura direta de soja

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Culturas de cobertura, doses e formas de aplicação de potássio na cultura da soja

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)