Extraction and quantification of phenolic acids and flavonols from Eugenia pyriformis using different solvents

The recovery of phenolic compounds of Eugenia pyriformis using different solvents was investigated in this study. The compounds were identified and quantified by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with ultraviolet-visible diode-array detector (RP-HPLC-DAD/UV-vis). Absolute methanol was the most effective extraction agent of phenolic acids and flavonols (588.31 mg/Kg) from Eugenia pyriformis, although similar results (p ≤ 0.05) were observed using methanol/water (1:1 ratio). Our results clearly showed that higher contents of phenolic compounds were not obtained either with the most or the least polar solvents used. Several phenolic compounds were identified in the samples whereas gallic acid and quercetin were the major compounds recovered. © 2012 Association of Food Scientists & Technologists (India).

A new palladium chelate compound for determination of sulfide

A new palladium chelate compound is described for the determination of sulfide in aqueous samples. The reagent, bis(2-aminobenzoate)palladium(II) (PdA 2), was prepared by reaction of tetrachloropalladate (PdCl 4 -) with 2-aminobenzoic acid. The compound was characterized by infrared spectroscopy and CHN elemental analysis. The measurement was based on the selective reaction of PdA 2 with sulfide in an aqueous medium, which quantitatively produced fluorescent 2-aminobenzoate (λ ex=245nm, λ em=410nm). The analytical response was linear in the range 0.10-20.0μmol (S 2-) L -1 (r>0.99), with a limit of detection of 0.075μmolL -1 and repeatability (RSD) of 3.4%. There was no interference from CO 3 2-, NO 3 -, Cl -, SO 4 2-, Br -, NO 2 -, K +, NH 4 +, Na +, citrate or S 2O 8 2-. The fluorescence intensity decreased in the presence of H 3CCOO -, PO 4 3- and SCN -, while OH - caused a positive interference. The new fluorescent compound was successfully applied for the determination of sulfide in synthetic wastewater and natural water sample. The advantages of the proposed palladium chelate are absence of toxic by-products, simple synthesis procedure of reagent and yield reaction of about 85%, easy handling and fast acquirement of analytical signal. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.

Sugarcane bagasse ozonolysis pretreatment: Effect on enzymatic digestibility and inhibitory compound formation

Sugarcane bagasse was pretreated with ozone to increase lignocellulosic material digestibility. Bagasse was ozonated in a fixed bed reactor at room temperature, and the effect of the two major parameters, ozone concentration and sample moisture, was studied. Acid insoluble and total lignin decreased whereas acid soluble lignin increased in all experiments. Pretreatment barely attacked carbohydrates, with cellulose and xylan recovery rates being >92%. Ozonolysis increased fermentable carbohydrate release considerably during enzymatic hydrolysis. Glucose and xylose yields increased from 6.64% and 2.05%, for raw bagasse, to 41.79% and 52.44% under the best experimental conditions. Only xylitol, lactic, formic and acetic acid degradation compounds were found, with neither furfural nor HMF (5-hydroxymethylfurfural) being detected. Washing detoxification provided inhibitor removal percentages above 85%, increasing glucose hydrolysis, but decreasing xylose yield by xylan solubilization. SEM analysis showed structural changes after ozonization and washing. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

A compound model for the origin of Earth's water

One of the most important subjects of debate in the formation of the solar system is the origin of Earth's water. Comets have long been considered as the most likely source of the delivery of water to Earth. However, elemental and isotopic arguments suggest a very small contribution from these objects. Other sources have also been proposed, among which local adsorption of water vapor onto dust grains in the primordial nebula and delivery through planetesimals and planetary embryos have become more prominent. However, no sole source of water provides a satisfactory explanation for Earth's water as a whole. In view of that, using numerical simulations, we have developed a compound model incorporating both the principal endogenous and exogenous theories, and investigating their implications for terrestrial planet formation and water delivery. Comets are also considered in the final analysis, as it is likely that at least some of Earth's water has cometary origin. We analyze our results comparing two different water distribution models, and complement our study using the D/H ratio, finding possible relative contributions from each source and focusing on planets formed in the habitable zone. We find that the compound model plays an important role by showing greater advantage in the amount and time of water delivery in Earth-like planets. © 2013. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.

Improvement of grapevine iron nutrition by a bovine blood-derived compound

Iron (Fe) is essential for chlorophyll formation and plant growth. Irondeficiency chlorosis is a major nutritional disorder in several fruit trees cultivated in calcareous and alkaline soils, reducing fruit yield and quality and causing heavy economic losses. Since chelated Fe, the most widespread fertilizers used for preventing or curing Fe deficiency, pose risks of environmental pollution, the development of sustainable agronomic alternatives represents a priority for the fruit industry. In this work, we investigated the effectiveness of a bovine blood-derived product (BB; 0,125% Fe) for preventing Fe-deficiency in grapevine plants. During the vegetative season 2011 potted plants of five graft combinations: Sangiovese/S4O, Cabernet Sauvignon/S4O and Cabernet Sauvignon/140 Ruggeri, 140 Ruggeri/Cabernet Sauvignon, Vitis riparia/Cabernet Sauvignon were grown on calcareous soil. Soil treatments included: 1) Control; 2) Fe-EDDHA (Fe 6%); 3) Bovine-Blood (5 g/L); 4) Bovine-Blood (20 g/L). With the exception of Cabernet Sauvignon/S4O plants, Fe-EDDHA increased SPAD units (leaf chlorophyll content). Bovine-blood at low concentrations had similar or higher SPAD units than Fe-EDDHA. Increasing concentration resulted in further increases in SPAD units only in some graft combinations. Data highlight the efficiency of Fe blood-compound in the prevention of grapevine Fe-deficiency over one growing season.

Dereplication of phenolic derivatives of qualea grandiflora and qualea cordata (vochysiaceae) using liquid chromatography coupled with ESI-QToF-MS/MS

A rational and selective method using on-line high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with electrospray quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-QToF-MS/MS) was established for the dereplication of phenolic derivatives from Qualea grandiflora and Qualea cordata. The selection of the extracts was based on the antioxidant capacity measured by in vitro DPPH assay. The HPLC-ESI-QToF-MS/MS analysis was conducted by on-flow detection, using high-resolution mass/ratio ions as well as collision induced MS/MS experiments for selected protonated ions. The dereplication of the EtOAc fraction from the hydro alcohol extract from the stem bark of Q. grandiflora allowed the detection of the flavonoids: 3',4',5',5,6,7-hexahydroxy- 8 methylflavanone, 8-methyl-naringenine and 3',7-dimethoxy-8 methyl-4',5,7- trihydroxyflavanone, as well as a benzophenone derivatives: bis(4,6-dimethoxy-2- hydroxy-3-methylphenyl)- metanone, 3',4'-dimethoxy-8-methyl-5,6,7 trihydroxyflavanone, 7-methoxy-6-methyl- 3',4',5 trihydroxyflavanone, 6,8-dimethyl-3' methoxy-4',5,7 trihydroxyflavanone and 3',5'-dimethoxy-6,8- dimethyl-4',5,7 trihydroxyflavanone were detected in the EtOAc fraction from the hydro-alcohol extract from the leaves of Q. cordata. © 2013 Sociedade Brasileira de Química.

Characterization of flavonoids and phenolic acids in Myrcia bella cambess. Using FIA-ESI-IT-MSn and HPLC-PAD-ESI-IT-MS combined with NMR

The leaves of Myrcia DC. ex Guill species are used in traditional medicine and are also exploited commercially as herbal drugs for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. The present work aimed to assess the qualitative and quantitative profiles of M. bella hydroalcoholic extract, due to these uses, since the existing legislation in Brazil determines that a standard method must be developed in order to be used for quality control of raw plant materials. The current study identified eleven known flavonoid-O-glycosides and six acylated flavonoid derivatives of myricetin and quercetin, together with two kaempferol glycosides and phenolic acids such as caffeic acid, ethil galate, gallic acid and quinic acid. In total, 24 constituents were characterized, by means of extensive preparative chromatographic analyses, along with MS and NMR techniques. An HPLC-PAD-ESI-ITMS and FIA-ESI-IT-MSn method were developed for rapid identification of acylated flavonoids, flavonoid-O- glycosides derivatives of myricetin and quercetin and phenolic acids in the hydroalcoholic M. bella leaves extract. The FIA-ESI-IT-MS techinique is a powerful tool for direct and rapid identification of the constituents after isolation and NMR characterization. Thus, it could be used as an initial method for identification of authentic samples concerning quality control of Myrcia spp extracts. © 2013 by the authors.

Evaluation of estrogenic, antiestrogenic and genotoxic activity of nemorosone, the major compound found in brown Cuban propolis

Background: Brown propolis is the major type of propolis found in Cuba; its principal component is nemorosone, the major constituent of Clusia rosea floral resins. Nemorosone has received increasing attention due to its strong in vitro anti-cancer action. The citotoxicity of nemorosone in several human cancer cell lines has been reported and correlated to the direct action it has on the estrogen receptor (ER). Breast cancer can be treated with agents that target estrogen-mediated signaling, such as antiestrogens. Phytoestrogen can mimic or modulate the actions of endogenous estrogens and the treatment of breast cancer with phytoestrogens may be a valid strategy, since they have shown anti-cancer activity.Methods: The aim of the present investigation was to assess the capacity of nemorosone to interact with ERs, by Recombinant Yeast Assay (RYA) and E-screen assays, and to determine by comet assay, if the compound causes DNA-damaging in tumoral and non-tumoral breast cells.Results: Nemorosone did not present estrogenic activity, however, it inhibited the 17-β-estradiol (E2) action when either of both methods was used, showing their antiestrogenicity. The DNA damage induced by the benzophenone in cancer and normal breast cells presented negative results.Conclusion: These findings suggest that nemorosone may have therapeutic application in the treatment of breast cancer. © 2013 Camargo et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Synthesis and characterization of melanin in DMSO

Recently soluble melanin derivatives have been obtained by a synthetic procedure carried out in DMSO (D-melanin). In this work a comparative study of the structural characteristics of synthetic melanin derivatives obtained by oxidation of L-DOPA in H2O and DMSO are presented. To this end, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy as well as proton and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance techniques has been employed. In addition, aging effects have been investigated for D-melanin. The results suggest that sulfonate groups (-SO2CH3) from the oxidation of DMSO, are incorporated into melanin, which confers protection to the phenolic hydroxyl group present in its structure. The solubility of D-melanin in DMSO is attributed to the presence of these groups. When D-melanin is left in air for long time periods, the sulfonate groups leave the structure, and an insoluble compound is obtained. NaOH and water have been used, in order to accelerate the release of the sulfonate groups attached to D-melanin, thereby corroborating the proposed structure and the synthesis mechanism. © 2013.

Chromatic characteristics and color-related phenolic composition of Brazilian young red wines made from the hybrid grape cultivar BRS Violeta (BRS Rúbea×IAC 1398-21)

The color characteristics and the phenolic composition related to color of young red wines elaborated with the hybrid grape cultivar BRS Violeta, developed for its adaptation to sub-tropical climates in Brazil, have been studied. These wines are characterized with a deep red-purplish color, reaching color intensity averaging 24 units. In spite of being young red wines elaborated with short maceration time, their content in total polyphenols was very high (around 3692. mg/L, as gallic acid equivalents), especially when compared to similar Vitis vinifera young red wines. Within polyphenols, anthocyanins predominated (around 2037. mg/L, as malvidin 3,5-diglucoside equivalents) and they were almost exclusively anthocyanidin 3,5-glucosides (ca. 97%), mainly built from B-ring tri-substituted anthocyanidins (delphinidin. >. petunidin. ≈. malvidin) and having high proportion of p-coumaroylated derivatives (ca. 28%) that confer higher stability. The content of hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives was also remarkable (ca. 95. mg/L, as caffeic acid equivalents) and unknown glucose derivatives of p-coumaric acid accounted for ca. 42% of total HCAD. Finally, these found flavonols were mainly based on myricetin whereas kaempferol derivatives were missing, their total content being within the ranges usually found for V. vinifera wines, but reaching their top values (ca. 91. mg/L, as quercetin 3-glucoside equivalents). All the aforementioned data suggest that Violeta wine could be considered an important dietary source of healthy polyphenols with a moderate alcoholic content (ca. 11.6%). © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Phenolic composition of the berry parts of hybrid grape cultivar BRS Violeta (BRS Rubea×IAC 1398-21) using HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS

The grape is considered a major source of phenolic compounds when compared to other fruits and vegetables, however, there are many cultivars with distinct characteristics directly linked to phenolic profile. Thus, the present study aimed to identify and quantify, for the first time and in detail, the phenolic compounds present in the skin, flesh and seeds of BRS Violeta grape berry using combination of SPE methodologies and analytical HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS. The study was extended to the different berry parts and the most important grape and wine phenolic families, and has revealed interesting features. Violeta grape has a very thick skin (46% of grape weight) that accumulated the most of grape phenolic compounds: great amount of anthocyanins (3930. mg/kg, as malvidin 3,5-diglucoside), together with also important amounts of flavonols (150. mg/kg, as quercetin 3-glucoside), hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives (HCAD; 120. mg/kg, as caftaric acid), and proanthocyanidins (670. mg/kg, as (+)-catechin); in contrast, it seems to be a low resveratrol producer. Violeta grape seeds accounted for similar proportions of low molecular weight flavan-3-ols (mainly monomers; 345. mg/kg, as (+)-catechin) and proanthocyanidins (480. mg/kg, as (+)-catechin). Violeta grape is a teinturier cultivar, but it only contained traces of anthocyanins and low amounts of all the other phenolic types in its red-colored flesh. The anthocyanin composition of Violeta grape was dominated by anthocyanidin 3,5-diglucosides (90%). Within flavonols, myricetin-type predominated and kaempferol-type was missing. In addition to expected hydroxycinnamoyl-tartaric acids, several isomeric esters of caffeic and p-coumaric acids with hexoses were tentatively identified, accounting for relevant proportions within the pool of HCAD. Although pending of further confirmation over successive vintages, the aforementioned results suggest that BRS Violeta grape cultivar could be considered an interesting candidate for the elaboration of highly colored and antioxidant-rich grape juices and wines. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Compostos bioativos e atividade antioxidante em bananas (Musa sp.)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estudos bioquímicos, físico-químicos e tecnológicos de uvas paulistas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Avaliação dos efeitos da cumarina e da 4-hidroxi-cumarima e de diferentes associações com a sulfassalazina no modelo de colite induzida por ácido trinitrobenzenosulfônico (TNBS) em ratos

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

Aging of red wines made from hybrid grape cv. BRS Violeta: Effects of accelerated aging conditions on phenolic composition, color and antioxidant activity

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)