Study on the mutagenicity and antimutagenicity of a natural food colour (annatto) in mouse bone marrow cells

Most manufactured foods contain chemicals added as a deliberate part of the manufacturing process. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the mutagenicity and antimutagenicity of annatto, a natural pigment extracted from the Bixa orellana L. and widely used as a colorant in foods. The micronucleus test was performed in bone marrow cells from Swiss male mice treated with one of the three concentrations of annatto (1330, 5330 and 10,670 ppm), incorporated into the diet. The animals were fed with the diets for 7 days and sacrificed 24 h after the last treatment. For the evaluation of the antimutagenic potential of annatto, at day 7, the animals received an intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide (50 mg/kg body weight). Under the concentrations tested annatto did not present mutagenic or antimutagenic activities on the mice bone marrow cells. However, an increased frequency of micronucleated cells was observed when the highest concentration (10,670 ppm) was administered simultaneously with cyclophosphamide. In conclusion, the data indicate that annatto colour, for the conditions used, is neither mutagenic nor an inhibitor of induced mutations, although it should be used carefully since high doses may increase the effect of a mutagen. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Histochemical investigation of Cochlospermum regium (Schrank) Pilg. leaves and chemical composition of its essential oil

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

Herbários podem atuar como banco de germoplasma para o cerrado paulista?

Diante do fato da existência de inúmeros diásporos preservados em exsicatas nos herbários e da necessidade de se desenvolverem novas práticas conservacionistas esta pesquisa buscou avaliar a capacidade de um herbário de atuar como banco de germoplasma complemetar através da propagação de espécies vegetais pela germinação sementes retiradas de exsicatas. O estudo teve como foco espécies típicas do cerrado lato sensu, pois estas tiveram uma trajetória evolutiva com pressões de queimadas naturais, o que provavelmente proporciona às sementes destas espécies maior resistência à dessecassão provocada pelo processo de herborização. Foram utilizados apenas propágulos que apresentavam maturação completa no momento de coleta. Estes provieram de duplicatas do herbário ESA (sediado na ESALQ - USP – Piracicaba). Os testes de germinação foram realizados em substrato de vermiculita fina peneirada, previamente esterelizada, e conduzidos em câmaras de germinação tipo B.O.D. (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) sob fotoperíodo por 24 horas e temperatura constante de 25°C. Estes foram mantido e avaliados 3 vezes por semana durante 60 dias. A pesquisa abrangeu 80 espécies, 25 famílias e um total de 1346 sementes. O N amostral de cada espécie variou de 1 a 30, dependendo da disponibilidade do material. Não foram realizados métodos de quebra de dormência, mas mesmo assim praticamente todas as sementes apresentaram embebissão, com excessão de 8 sementes de Stryphnodendron adstringens. Sementes de cinco espécies germinaram, o que representa que representam 6,25% (N=80) do total de espécies. Elas petencem à duas famílias: Cochlospermum regium e Cochlospermum vitifolium da família Bixaceae e Bowdichia virgiloides, Hymenaea stigonocarpa e Stryphnodendron adstringens da família Fabaceae. A germinação ocorreu entre 10 e 30 dias após a montagem dos testes... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)

Germination of Cochlospermum regium Seeds: Influence of Seed Size, Vials, Vial Sealing In vitro, and Substrate In vivo

Aims: This work aimed to assess how seed size, vials, vial sealing (in vitro), and substrate (in vivo) affect C. regium germination and emergence. This study shall contribute to the viable production of C. regium seedlings. Study Design: The experimental design used in these experiments was randomized. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Plant Biotechnology, Universidade de RibeirãoPreto, between March 2010 and December 2010. Methodology: This work has evaluated how seed size, vials, vial sealing (in vitro), and substrate (in vivo) influence the germination and emergence of C. regium. Results: The results showed that cultivation of C. regium seedlings from seeds is viable, irrespective of seed size. Vial oxygenation is an important parameter to consider in vitro, to obtain a larger number of normal seedlings. As for in vivo conditions, germination should be conducted in sand, to ensure a greater amount of young seedlings. Conclusion: The results presented here attested that it is possible to produce C. regium seedlings from seeds of any size both in vivo and in vitro conditions. In vitro, it is important to consider vial oxygenation, in order to obtain a greater amount of normal seedlings. In vivo, germination should be conducted in sand, to ensure production of a large quantity of seedlings.