Análise fitoquímica e avaliação das atividades anti-inflamatória, antipeçonhenta e citotóxica de extratos aquosos de Aspidosperma pyrifolium e Ipomoea asarifolia

Envenomation caused by venomous animals, mainly scorpions and snakes, are a serious matter of public health. Tityus serrulatus is considered the most venomous scorpion in South America because of the high level of toxicity of its venom. It is responsible for causing serious accidents, mainly with kids. The species Bothrops jararaca is a serpent that has in its venom a complex mixture of enzyme, peptides and other molecules. The toxins of the venom of B. jararaca induce local and systemic inflammatory responses. The treatment chosen to serious cases of envenomation is the intravenous administration of the specific antivenom. However, the treatment is not always accessible to those residents in rural areas, so that they use medicinal plant extracts as the treatment. In this context, aqueous extracts, fractions and isolated compounds of Aspidosperma pyrifolium (pereiro) and Ipomoea asarifolia (salsa, salsa-brava), used in popular medicine, were studied in this research to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity in the peritonitis models induced by carrageenan and peritonitis induced by the venom of the T. serrulatus (VTs), and in the local oedema model and inflammatory infiltrate induced by the venom of the B. jararaca, administrated intravenously. The results of the assays of cytotoxicity, using the MTT, showed that the aqueous extracts from the plant species presented low toxicity to the cells that came from the fibroblast of the mouse embryo (3T3).The chemical analysis of the extracts by High Performance Liquid Chromatography revealed the presence of the rutin flavonoid, in A. pyrifoliu, and rutin, clorogenic acid and caffeic acid, in I. asarifolia. Concerning the pharmacological evaluation, the results showed that the pre-treatment using aqueous extracts and fractions reduced the total leukocyte migration to the abdominal cavity in the peritonitis model caused by the carrageenan and in the peritonitis model induced by the T. serulatus venom. Yet, these groups presented anti-oedematous activity, in the local oedema model caused by the venom of the B. jararaca, and reduced the inflammatory infiltrate to the muscle. The serum (anti-arachnid and anti-bothropic) specific to each venom acted inhibiting the inflammatory action of the venoms and were used as control. The compounds identified in the extracts were also tested and, similar to the plant extracts, showed meaningful anti-inflammatory effects, in the tested doses. Thus, these results are indicating the potential anti-inflammatory activity of the plants studied. This is the first research that evaluated the possible biological effects of the A. pyrifolium and I. asarifolia, showing the biological potential that these species have.

Comparação de produtos de colagem de origem animal, vegetal e extratos de leveduras em vinhos tintos

No mercado têm surgido alternativas aos produtos de colagem de origem animal, nomeadamente as proteínas de origem vegetal e extratos de levedura. O objectivo deste trabalho foi a comparação de um elevado número de produtos de colagem de origem animal (gelatinas) e produtos alternativos de origem vegetal e levuriano. Inicialmente os produtos de colagem foram aplicados ao vinho em diferentes doses. Com base na avaliação sensorial, foram selecionados os produtos e as doses que revelaram melhor desempenho. Os produtos de colagem selecionados foram aplicados ao vinho e avaliado o seu efeito nas características sensoriais e físico-químicas. O parâmetro que apresentou diferenças mais significativas foi a turbidez. A análise estatística apenas revelou diferenças significativas para os atributos qualidade do sabor e nota final; apesar de não evidenciar diferenças significativas, as variações observadas para o atributo extração/secura foram muito importantes do ponto de vista prático. As gelatinas que mostraram melhor desempenho foram as POA 10 e POA 12 e as proteínas vegetais POV 6 (proteína de ervilha) e POV 10 (proteína de batata). Este estudo permitiu a recolha de informação para ser utilizada na seleção do produto de colagem mais apropriado para o perfil de vinho da adega e a alternativa mais apropriada às gelatinas.

Comparação de produtos de colagem de origem animal, vegetal e extratos de leveduras em vinhos tintos

No mercado têm surgido alternativas aos produtos de colagem de origem animal, nomeadamente as proteínas de origem vegetal e extratos de levedura. O objectivo deste trabalho foi a comparação de um elevado número de produtos de colagem de origem animal (gelatinas) e produtos alternativos de origem vegetal e levuriano. Inicialmente os produtos de colagem foram aplicados ao vinho em diferentes doses. Com base na avaliação sensorial, foram selecionados os produtos e as doses que revelaram melhor desempenho. Os produtos de colagem selecionados foram aplicados ao vinho e avaliado o seu efeito nas características sensoriais e físico-químicas. O parâmetro que apresentou diferenças mais significativas foi a turbidez. A análise estatística apenas revelou diferenças significativas para os atributos qualidade do sabor e nota final; apesar de não evidenciar diferenças significativas, as variações observadas para o atributo extração/secura foram muito importantes do ponto de vista prático. As gelatinas que mostraram melhor desempenho foram as POA 10 e POA 12 e as proteínas vegetais POV 6 (proteína de ervilha) e POV 10 (proteína de batata). Este estudo permitiu a recolha de informação para ser utilizada na seleção do produto de colagem mais apropriado para o perfil de vinho da adega e a alternativa mais apropriada às gelatinas.

Potencial larvicida de extratos de plantas regionais no controle de larvas de Aedes Aegypti (Diptera:Culicidae)

Dengue, amongst the virus illnesses one can get by vectorial transmission, is the one that causes more impact in the morbidity and mortality of world s population. The resistance to the insecticides has caused difficulties to control of vector insect (Aedes aegypti) and has stimulated a search for vegetables with larvicidal activity. The biodiversity of Caatinga is barely known and it is potential of use even less. Some plants of this biome are commercialized in free fairs northeast of Brazil, because of its phytotherapics properties. The vegetables in this study had been selected by means of a questionnaire applied between grass salesmen and natives of the Serido region from Rio Grande do Norte state; culicids eggs had been acquired with traps and placed in container with water for the larva birth. Thirty larvae had been used in each group (a group control and five experimental groups), with four repetitions four times. The vegetables had been submitted to the processes of decoction, infusion and maceration in the standard concentration of 100g of the vegetable of study in 1l of H2O and analyzed after ½, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24 and 48 hours for verification of the average lethal dose (LD50) from the groups with thirty larva. The LD50 was analyzed in different concentrations (50g/l, 100g/l, 150g/l, 200g/l e 300g/l) of Aspidosperma pyrifolium Mart. 48 extracts of rind, leaf and stem of the seven vegetal species: Aspidosperma pyrifolium Mart., Mimosa verrucosa Benth, Mimosa hostilis (Mart.) Benth., Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão, Ximenia americana L, Bumelia sartorum Mart Zizyphus joazeiro Mart, had been analyzed. The extracts proceeding from the three methods were submitted to the freezedrying, to evaluate and to quantify substances extracted in each process. The results had shown that Aspidosperma pyrifolium Mart. and Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão are the species that are more distinguished as larvicidal after 24 hours of experiment, in all used processes of extraction in the assays. The Zizyphus joazeiro Mart species has not shown larvicidal activity in none of the assays. In relation to the extraction method, the decoction was the most efficient method in the mortality tax of the A. aegypti larvae

Verificacao da atividade inseticida de alguns vegetais brasileiros.

Neste trabalho foram estudadas 30 espécies vegetais, quanto a atividade inseticida. Dessas espécies foram preparados 240 extratos a partir das diferentes partes dos vegetais, utilizando hexano, etanol, acetona e solução hidroalcoolica como líquidos extratores. Os testes foram efetuados contra os insetos: Mosca domestica, Ceratilis capitata, Zambrotes subfasciatus, Spodoptera frugiperda e Anthonomus grandis. Dos vegetais testados, apenas os extratos das sementes de Annona cacan, A. crassiflora, A. squamosa e raízes de Potomorphe umbellata apresentaram alguma atividade.

Aplicações de marcadores moleculares em Byrsonima crassifolia.

O uso de marcadores moleculares em espécies vegetais pode auxiliar no estudo da diversidade genética ao verificar a forma de distribuição da variação genética entre e dentro de populações naturais e os locais de maior ocorrência de variação. Também pode contribuir para inferir acerca da forma de reprodução das espécies. Os marcadores podem indicar locais no quais está ocorrendo maior incidência de cruzamentos entre aparentados, taxas de fluxo gênico entre as populações e relações entre os componentes da população. Além disso, auxiliam no melhoramento genético ao determinar a variação existente nas coleções/bancos de germoplasma, no direcionamento de cruzamentos, em testes de paternidade, verificação de métodos que geram variabilidade, seleção assistida por marcadores e obtenção de marcas que possam descrever clones/variedades/cultivares recomendadas. Dessa forma, o uso de marcadores moleculares em Byrsonima crassifolia pode contribuir em diversos aspectos.

Validação de metodologia para a determinação simultânea dos antioxidantes sintéticos em óleos vegetais, margarinas e gorduras hidrogenadas por CLAE/UV

The use of antioxidants either to prevent or retard food's lipids oxidation was approved after inquires that verified their security within a daily intake limit. In this study, the methodology was developed and validated for the analysis of synthetic antioxidants: propylgallate (PG), tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), butylhydroxyanisole (BHA), octylgallate (OG) and butylhydroxytoluene (BHT) in vegetables oils, margarine and hydrogenated fats by high performance liquid chromatographic. The methodology revealed itself efficient, with recovery rates above 90% for all antioxidant substances, besides good linearity in concentration range of 40-240 mg kg-1 (r = 0,999), repeatability with CV < 3,7% and limit of quantification 16.55, 10.32, 1.40, 3.76 and 9.30 mg/kg for BHT, BHA, PG, OG and TBHQ, respectively.

Experimento didático de quimiometria para análise exploratória de óleos vegetais comestíveis por espectroscopia no infravermelho médio e análise de componentes principais: um tutorial, parte I

This manuscript aims to show the basic concepts and practical application of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) as a tutorial, using Matlab or Octave computing environment for beginners, undergraduate and graduate students. As a practical example it is shown the exploratory analysis of edible vegetable oils by mid infrared spectroscopy.

Atividade de extratos de Arrabidaea chica (Humb. & Bonpl.) Verlot obtidos por processos biotecnológicos sobre a proliferação de fibroblastos e células tumorais humanas

Arrabidaea chica (H&B) Verlot is a plant popularly known as Pariri and this species is a known source of anthocyanins, flavonoids and tannins. This report describes an approach involving enzymatic treatment prior to extraction procedures to enhance A chica crude extract anticancer activity. Anticancer activity in human cancer cell lines in vitro using a 48 h SRB cell viability assay was performed to determine growth inhibition and cytotoxic properties. The final extraction yield without enzyme treatment was higher (24.28%) compared to the enzyme-treated material (19.03%), with an enhanced aglycones anthocyanin ratio as determined by HPLC- DAD and LC-MS with direct infusion.

ESTUDO DA PREPARAÇÃO DOS EXTRATOS DE PRÓPOLIS E SUAS APLICAÇÕES

Ethanolic extracts from propolis were performed by using lhe water and vaflous coneentrations of etanol as solvent. The extracts were investigated by measurement of absorption spectruin with Uv-spectrophotometer (UV-scanning), reversed phase-high performance thin-layer chromatography, Reversed phase-HPLC. Maximum absorption of ali extracts was 290 nm, resembling flavonoid compounds and 80% ethanolic extract showed highest absorption at 290 nm. The most isosakuranetin, quercefin, and kaempferol were extracted from mixtures of propolis and 60% etanol, whereas 70% etanol extracted te most pinocembrin and sakuranetin, but 80% etanol extracted more kaempferide, acacetin, and isorhamnetin from propolis. The 60 to 80% ethanolic extracts ofpropolis inhibited highly to microbial growth and 70 and 80% ethanolic extracts showed lhe greatest antioxidant activity and 80% ethanolic extract inhibited highly to hyaluronidase activity.

Constituintes químicos e atividade antimicrobiana dos extratos de Dilodendron bipinnatum (sapindaceae)

The phytochemical investigation of ethanolic extracts from leaves, branches and stems of D. bipinnatum afforded the steroids β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, campesterol, sitostenone and sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glycopyranoside, along with two cycloartane triterpenes: cycloeucalenol and 24-methylenecycloartenol. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6623), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 15442), Micrococcus luteus (ATCC 9341) and Candida albicans (ATCC 10231). The extracts of the leaves and branches showed moderate activity against Candida albicans. The extract of the branches was active against Micrococcus luteus. This is the first report on the phytochemical study of D. bipinnatum.

Análise de pesticidas organoclorados em óleos vegetais por cromatografia gasosa de alta resolução (HRGC)

Os óleos vegetais comestíveis foram introduzidos na dieta humana em substituição as gorduras animais nas últimas décadas sendo amplamente consumidos em todo o mundo. O presente artigo descreve o desenvolvimento de uma metodologia para análise de aldrin, dieldrin, endrin e endosulfan em óleos vegetais por cromatografia gasosa de alta resolução (HRGC) utilizando-se extração em fase sólida (SPE). As médias de recuperação dos pesticidas estiveram entre 70 e 110%[1].

Fontes vegetais naturais de antioxidantes

Growing knowledge on the health-promoting impact of antioxidants in everyday foods, combined with the assumption that a number of common synthetic preservatives may have hazardous side effects has led to increased investigations in the field of natural antioxidants, principally those found in plants. Food industries normally discard plant residues that could benefit the human health and diminish undesirable environmental impact. Once estimated the content of antioxidants in these residues, advantageous economical and social alternatives to the discard are possible, for example, their use for preparation of nutraceuticals to be offered to low-income populations. We present here a broad, although not complete, account of the continuously growing knowledge on the antioxidant capacity of whole fruits, seeds and peels, cereals, vegetal oils and aromatic plants, at several physical forms, as well as a description of the usual methods for evaluating their antioxidant capacity and examples of agroindustrial processes that could be harnessed for the production of antioxidant supplement food, along with research perspectives in the area.

Em busca da sustentabilidade: células solares sensibilizadas por extratos naturais

The present work reports the use of anthocyanins extracted from mulberry (Morus Alba L.), raspberry (Rubus Idaeus L.) and blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) as sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells. The conversion efficiency of these devices is dependent on the extracts employed and can be rationalized in terms of their composition and spectral properties. Solar cells sensitized by the mulberry extract showed the highest efficiency among the fruits investigated. Moreover, a 16 cm² active area solar cell with the mulberry extract has presented fair good efficiency of conversion for natural dye-based solar cells, besides stability over twenty weeks, showing perspectives for developing these low cost devices with a commercial viability.

Modulatory effect of Byrsonima basiloba extracts on the mutagenicity of certain direct and indirect-acting mutagens in Salmonella typhimurium assays

Byrsonima basiloba A. Juss. species is a native arboreal type from the Brazilian ""cerrado"" (tropical American savanna), and the local population uses it to treat diseases, such as diarrhea and gastric ulcer. It belongs to the Malpighiaceae family, and it is commonly known as ""murici."" Considering the popular use of B. basiloba derivatives and the lack of pharmacological potential studies regarding this vegetal species, the mutagenic and antimutagenic effect of methanol (MeOH) and chloroform extracts were evaluated by the Ames test, using strains TA97a, TA98, TA100, and TA102 of Salmonella typhimurium. No mutagenic activity was observed in any of the extracts. To evaluate the antimutagenic potential, direct and indirect mutagenic agents were used: 4 nitro-o-phenylenediamine, sodium azide, mitomycin C, aflatoxin B(1), benzo[a] pyrene, and hydrogen peroxide. Both the extracts evaluated showed antimutagenic activity, but the highest value of inhibition level (89%) was obtained with the MeOH extract and strain TA100 in the presence of aflatoxin B(1). Phytochemical analysis of the extracts revealed the presence of n-alkanes, lupeol, ursolic and oleanolic acid, (+)-catechin, quercetin- 3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside, gallic acid, methyl gallate, amentoflavone, quercetin, quercetin-3-O-(2 ''-O-galloyl)-beta-D-galactopyranoside, and quercetin-3-O-(2 ''-O-galloyl)-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside.