Avaliação do potencial de processos oxidativos avançados para remediação de águas contaminadas com geosmina e 2-MIB

In this work, the efficiency of some homogeneous advanced oxidation processes (UVC/H2O2, Fe2+/H2O2, UVC/Fe2+/H2O2, UVA/Fe2+/H2O2, solar/Fe2+/H2O2) was investigated toward the degradation of geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB). The effect of relevant experimental parameters (ie. pH, Fe2+ and H2O2 concentration) was first investigated by factorial design, using camphor as a model substrate. In the geosmin and 2-MIB degradation studies the Fenton processes assisted by solar and UVA radiation offered the most promising results, mainly on account of high degradation capacity (higher than 80% at a reaction time of 60 min), high operational simplicity and low cost.

Potencial alelopático de catequinas de Tachigali myrmecophyla (leguminosae)

Two compounds, (+)-catechin and epicatechin, were isolated from leaves of T. myrmecophyla, using chromatographic techniques. The structural identification was carried out on the basis of ¹H and 13C NMR spectral data and comparison with literature data. The compounds (+)-catechin and epicatechin were submitted to germination inhibition and radicle and hypocotyl growth assays. Results showed some significant activities confirming the initial hypothesis about allelopathic properties of that plant.

Avaliação do potencial antioxidante do pólen apícola produzido na região sul do Brasil

The contents of total phenolics, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity of bee pollen ethanolic extract were determined and compared to those of commercial antioxidants. Bee pollen extract from the state of Rio Grande do Sul presented antioxidant activity statistically equal to that of α -tocopherol and higher than those of BHT and BHA. A statistically significant correlation was observed between the antioxidant activity and the total phenolics and total flavonoids contents of bee pollen extracts. HPLC technique made the identification of high contents of rutin and myricetin possible, which may partially explain the high antioxidant activity of Brazilian bee pollen.

Avaliação do potencial antioxidante de extratos ativos de plantas obtidos por extração com fluido supercrítico

The aim of this work was to evaluate the antioxidant properties of ginger and rosemary extracts, obtained by supercritical extraction. The extracts were characterized by HPLC, GC-MS, phenolic compounds content and antioxidant activity. The main active compounds were identified and high content of phenolic compounds was observed. The extracts presented high antioxidant activity against the free radicals ABTS•+ (350 and 200 mM Trolox/g, for ginger and rosemary, respectively) and DPPH•+ (145 and 80 mM Trolox/g, for ginger and rosemary, respectively). These results suggested that the attained extracts are potential substitutes of synthetic antioxidants used in chemical, food and pharmaceutical industries.

Constituintes químicos e avaliação do potencial antiinflamatório e antioxidante de extratos das folhas de Chomelia obtusa Cham. & Schltdl. (Rubiaceae)

The phytochemical investigation of Chomelia obtusa leaves led to the isolation of four triterpenes (3-O-β-D-quinovopyranosyl-28-O-β-D-glycopyranosyl quinovic acid, 3-O-β-D-quinovopyranosyl-28-O-β-D-glycopyranosyl cincholic acid, and a mixture of ursolic and oleanolic acids), two flavonoids (3-O-β-D-glycopyranosyl quercetin, 3-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-galactopyranoside] quercetin), besides bornesitol and a mixture of 3,5- and 4,5-O-dicaffeoyl quinic acids. The structures of the isolated compounds were assigned on the basis of spectroscopic data, including two-dimensional NMR methods. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of the crude methanolic extract and of its fractions were evaluated. This is the first report on the chemical and biological investigation of the Chomelia genus.

Perda química de carbono e cinética do crescimento celular em cultivos de Spirulina

Photosynthetic microorganism cultures, such as microalgae, represent one of the alternatives for fossil CO2 emissions mitigation. Carbon supply is the major cost component in microalgal cultures. Aiming to enhance the dissolved inorganic carbon uptake efficiency in microalgal cultures, Spirulina sp LEB-18 was cultivated in mediums containing NaHCO3 concentrations ranging from 2.8 to 100 g L-1. Results indicated that lower dissolved inorganic carbon concentratios (2.8 g L-1 NaHCO3) produce higher growth parameters (Xmax = 0.75 g L-1; Pmax = 0.145 g L-1 d-1; µmax = 0.254 d-1) and lower carbon losses (13.61%). At 50 g L-1 of NaHCO3 cell growth was inhibited and carbon losses reached 38.73%.

Investigação do potencial antioxidante e anticolinesterásico de Hippeastrum (Amaryllidaceae)

Amaryllidaceae family is an important source of bioactive molecules and considering the taxonomic relationships, it is relevant to investigate the genus Hippeastrum. Thus, the aim of this work was to determine antioxidant and anticholinesterasic activities of Hippeastrum morelianum, Hippeastrum psittacinum and Hippeastrum santacatarina. Both antioxidant and acetylcholinesterasic activities of extracts were determinated by bioautography as 10 mg/mL and 0.1 mg/mL, respectively. The antioxidant activity of alkaloid lycorine, determinated spectrophotometrically with DPPH, indicated an IC50 value of 0.326 mM.

Isolamento de polímeros da parede celular de Saccharomyces cerevisiae e avaliação da atividade antioxidante da manana-proteína isolada

Yeast cell wall contains polymers glucan and mannan-protein that have received much attention with respect to their biological activities. Conventional isolation process involving treatments with hot alkali and acids cause degradation of these polymers. The aim of this paper was to study a low-degrading process for the isolation of glucan and mannan-protein from S. cerevisiae cell wall comprising physic and enzymatic treatments. Yeast cell glucan was obtained in a purity of 87.4% and a yield of 33.7%. The isolated mannan-protein presented antioxidant activity that was increased after thirty minutes of protease treatment. Antioxidant activity was determined by β-carotene/linoleate model system.

O papel dos sulfetos volatilizados por acidificação no controle do potencial de biodisponibilidade de metais em sedimentos contaminados de um estuário tropical, no sudeste do Brasil

Measurements of acid volatile sulfide (AVS) and simultaneously extracted metals (SEM) were combined in order to verify the ecological hazard of contaminated sediments from the Santos-Cubatão Estuarine System (SE Brazil), which is located in one of the most industrialized areas in the Latin America. Intertidal sediments from the Morrão River estuary were collected seasonally in short cores. The redox conditions, organic matter contents and grain-size were the main controlling factors on SEM distribution. However, clear relationships among these variables and AVS were not observed. The molar SEM/AVS ratios were frequently > 1 especially in the summer, suggesting major metal bioavailability hazard in this humid hot season.

Quitosana: biopolímero funcional com potencial industrial biomédico

The importance of chitosan has grown significantly over the last two decades due to its renewable and biodegradable source, and also because of the recent increase in the knowledge of its functionality in the technological and biomedical applications. The present article reviews the biopolymer chitosan and its derivatives as versatile biomaterials for potential drug delivery systems, as well as tissue engineering applications, analgesia and treatment of arthritis.

Biodiversidade: fonte potencial para a descoberta de fármacos

In economic terms, biodiversity transcends the boundaries usually given to conventional industries because it is a valuable source of biological and chemical data of great use to drug discovery. Certainly, the use of natural products has been the single most successful strategy in the discovery of novel medicines, and most of the medical breakthroughs are based on natural products. Half of the top 20 best-selling drugs are natural products, and their total sales amounted to US$ 16 billions shows the importance of natural products, which is evidenced by the new chemical entities (NCE) approved by regulatory authorities around the world in the past decade. Recently, the approval of the alkaloid galanthamine as a medicine to treat Alzheimer's disease shows that natural compounds from plants will continue to reach the market. The huge biological diversity of the Brazilian biomes, by its ability to generate new knowledge and technological innovation can be a fantastic alternative as raw material for drug discovery.

Estudo da oxidação dos sulfetos sintéticos molibdenita (MoS2) e covelita (CuS) por Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans via respirometria celular

This paper analyses the oxidation of covellite and molybdenite by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans strain LR using respirometric experiments. The results showed that both sulfides were oxidized by A. ferrooxidans, however, the covellite oxidation was much higher than molybdenite. Regarding the kinetic oxidation, the findings revealed that just molybdenite oxidation followed the classical Michaelis-Menten kinetic. It is probably associated with the pathway which these sulfides react to chemistry-bacterial attack, what is influenced by its electronic structures. Besides, experiments conducted in the presence of Fe3+ did not indicate alterations in molybdenite oxidation. Thus, ferric ions seem not to be essential to the sulfide oxidations.

Preparação, caracterização e propriedades de filmes poliméricos com potencial aplicação no recobrimento de sementes

Films of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium alginate and their mixture were evaluated in terms of interactions between the polymers, morphology, water absorption and application as seed coatings. FTIR analysis suggested that only hydrophobic interactions occurred between the polymers. The coating of bean seeds was confirmed by microscopy, indicating the formation of dense and homogeneous films with 7 μm thickness. The obtained films did not affect the germination capacity of the seeds. In summary, the characteristics and properties of the films formed and the water absorption capacity, indicate that these systems are viable for use in seed coating processes.

Nanotecnologia: aspectos gerais e potencial de aplicação em catálise

In recent years nanomaterials, such as metallic nanoparticles, nanowires, nanotapes, nanotubes and nanocomposites, have attracted increasing interest for several technological applications. In catalysis, the great potential of nanomaterials is related to the high catalytic activity exhibited by these materials as a function of the high surface/volume ratio when the particles acquire diameter below 5 nm. In this work, a review about concepts and background of nanoscience and nanotechnology is presented with emphasis in catalysis. Special attention is given to gold nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes, focusing the properties and characteristics of these materials in several catalytic reactions.

Alternativa potencial para aproveitamento do glicerol gerado na produção de biodiesel: síntese enzimática de monolaurina por esterificação

Esterification reactions of glycerol with lauric acid in solvent free system were carried out using lipases from several sources. All lipases were immobilized on polysiloxane-polyvinyl alcohol particles by covalent binding with high activity recovered. Among the tested enzymes, the Candida antarctica lipase allowed to attain the highest molar conversion (76%), giving similar proportions of monolaurin, dilaurin and low amount of trilaurin. To further improve the process, the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used and optima temperature and molar ratio glycerol to lauric acid were found to be 45 ºC and 5:1, respectively. Under these conditions, 31.35% of monolaurin concentrations were attained and this result was in close agreement with the statistical model prediction.