Removal of metal ions from aqueous solution by chelating polymeric hydrogel

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

Alcohol extract of Pterogyne nitens leaves fails to reduce severity of streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats

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

Design of antiseptic formulations containing extract of Plinia cauliflora

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

Anticlastogenic effect of aqueous extracts of Agaricus blazei on CHO-k1 cells, studying different developmental phases of the mushroom

The Agaricus blazei Murill (ABM) mushroom, known as the sun mushroom, is native to Brazil and has become known for its medicinal properties. This study examined the anticlastogenic effect of Agaricus blazei in Chinese hamster ovary cells, CHO-k1, by means of a chromosome aberration test using methyl methanesulphonate (MMS, 10(-4)M) as the DNA damage inducing agent. Two mushroom lines were used, ABM 99/26 and ABM 97/11, and the latter was used in the young (Y) and sporulating (S) developmental phases. The cells were treated for 12 h with MMS alone or combined with aqueous extracts of A. blazei at a final concentration of 0.15%, which were prepared at three different temperatures: (a) hot (60 degreesC), (b) room temperature (25 degreesC) and (c) chilled (4 degreesC). Mushroom extracts showed a marked anticlastogenic effect against DNA damage, as evidenced by a decrease in the number of cells with breaks, regardless of the line used, or the developmental stage or the temperature at which the extract was prepared. Generally, the extracts were more effective in reducing the isochromatid type breaks. The data obtained suggest that extracts of A. blazei mushroom are anticlastogenic under the conditions tested, mainly during the G1 and S stages of the cell cycle, where chromosome breaks of the isochromatid type are produced by the MMS agent. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Application of on-line C30 RP-HPLC-NMR for the analysis of flavonoids from leaf extract of Maytenus aquifolium

The application of on-line C30-reversed-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy is described for the analysis of tetraglycosylated flavonoids in aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of the leaves of Maytenus aquifolium (Celastraceae). Triacontyl stationary phases showed adequate separation for on-line 1H-NMR measurements at 600 MHz and allowed the characterisation of these flavonoids by detection of both aromatic and anomeric proton signals. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley and Sons, Ltd.

Anti-genotoxic effect of aqueous extracts of sun mushroom (Agaricus blazei Murill lineage 99/26) in mammalian cells in vitro

The sun mushroom is the popular name for the Agaricus blazei Murill fungus, a mushroom native to south-eastern Brazil, which has been frequently used in popular medicine mainly in the form of tea to treat various ailments (stress, diabetes, etc.). In the present study, the genotoxic and/or anti-genotoxic effects ofA. blazei on mammalian cells in culture was assessed by checking the increase or reduction of micronucleus (MN) frequency and comets. The sun mushroom (lineage 99/26) was used as aqueous extracts prepared (2.5%) at three different temperatures (60, 25 and 4°C). The in vitro micronucleus (MN) test in binucleated cells and comet assay were used in V79 cells cultivated in HAM-F10+DMEM medium (1:1), supplemented with 10% of fetal bovine serum. The experiments were divided into four treatment types: 1. Negative control; 2. Positive control with MMS; 3. Treatments with the three forms of extracts (60, 25 and 4°C); and 4. Treatments with the extracts in different associations (simultaneous, pre-treatment, post-treatment and simultaneous after pre-incubation for 1 h) with MMS. None of the A. blazei extracts show genotoxic activity. In the comet assay no protecting effect was found. The results obtained in the MN test showed that the three forms of extracts used had protective activity, suggesting that the compound or active ingredients of A. blazei are always present in these extracts. The greater protective efficiency of the simultaneous treatment and simultaneous treatment with pre-incubation mixture with MMS suggests that the extracts have an antimutagenic action of the desmutagenic type. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Antioxidant and cytotoxic effects of crude extract, fractions and 4-nerolidylcathecol from aerial parts of pothomorphe umbellata L. (Piperaceae)

The crude ethanolic extract from aerial parts of Pothomorphe umbellata L. (Piperaceae) and fractions obtained by partitions sequentially among water-methanol, methylene chloride, and ethyl acetate, as well as the major constituent, 4-nerolidylcatechol, were, respectively, evaluated and evidenced for antioxidant and cytotoxic effects through fluorometric microplate and microculture tetrazolium assays in HL-60 cells. The crude ethanolic extract demonstrated the preeminent antioxidant activity (IC50 = 1.2 μg/mL) against exogenous cytoplasmic reactive oxygen species, followed by the water-methanolic (IC50 = 4.5 μg/mL), methylene chloride (IC 50 = 5.9 g/mL), ethyl acetate (IC50 = 8.0 g/mL), 4-nerolidylcatechol (IC50 = 8.6 g/mL), and the sterol fractions (IC50 > 12.5 μg/mL). Vitamin C, the positive control used in this assay, presented IC50 value equivalent to 1.7 μg/mL. 4-Nerolidylcatechol (IC50 = 0.4 μg/mL) and methylene chloride fraction (IC50 = 2.3 μg/mL) presented considerable cytotoxicity probably because of the presence of an o-quinone, an auto-oxidation by product of the catechol. Polar compounds, present in the ethanol extract, appear to increase the solubility and stability of the major active constituent, acting synergistically with 4-nerolidylcatechol, improving its pharmacokinetic parameters and increasing significantly its antioxidant activity which, in turn, suggests that the aqueous-ethanolic extract, used in folklore medicine, is safe and effective. © 2013 Andrey P. Lopes et al.

5CN05 partitioning in an aqueous two-phase system: A new approach to the solubilization of hydrophobic drugs

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Potentially synbiotic fermented beverage with aqueous extracts of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) and soy

The aim of this study was to develop a potentially synbiotic beverage fermented with Lactobacillus casei LC-1 based on aqueous extracts of soy and quinoa with added fructooligosaccharides (FOS). Five formulations with differing proportions of soy and quinoa extracts were tested. The viability of the microorganism, the pH, and the acidity of all formulations were monitored until the 28th day of storage at 5 ℃. The chemical composition of the extracts and beverages and the rheological and sensory properties of the final products were analyzed. Although an increase in acidity and a decrease in pH were observed during the 28 days of storage, the viability of the probiotic microorganism was maintained at 10(8) CFU·mL(-1) in all formulated beverages throughout the storage period. An increase in viscosity and consistency in the formulations with higher concentrations of quinoa (F1 and F2) was observed. Formulation F4 (70% soy and 30% quinoa extracts) showed the least hysteresis. Formulations F4 and F5 (100% soy extract) had the best sensory acceptance while F4 resulted in the highest intention to purchase from a group of 80 volunteers. For chemical composition, F3 (50% soy and 50% quinoa extracts) and F4 showed the best results compared to similar fermented beverages. The formulation F4 was considered the best beverage overall.

Testing the Efficacy of Panax ginseng Extract as a Novel Anti-Quorum Sensing Agent

Quorum sensing (QS) is the phenomenon by which microorganisms regulate gene expression in response to cell-population density. These microorganisms synthesize and secrete small molecules known as autoinducers that increase in concentration as a function of cell density. Once the cell detects the minimal threshold concentration of an autoinducer, the gene expression is altered accordingly. Although the cellular circuitry responding to QS is relatively conserved, the cellular processes regulated by QS, for example are conjugation, motility, sporulation, biofilm formation and production of virulence factors importamt for infection. Since many pathogens have developed resistance to available antibiotics, novel therapies are required to further treat these pathogens. Inhibitors of QS are potential therapeutic candidates since they would inhibit virulence without selecting for antibiotic resistant strains. Previous studies have shown that the Chinese herb Panax ginseng contains compounds that inhibit QS activity. To further characterize this activity, a highly sensitive quantitative liquid assay was developed using a Chromobacterium violaceum AHL mutant, CV026 as a biomonitor strain. After confirmation that P. ginseng aqueous extracts had anti-QS activity, the extract was fractionated on a reverse phase C18 Sep Pak column. Most anti-QS activity was present in the flow through, and compounds eluted with ten percent acetonitrile in water antibacterial activity. We thus conclude that P. ginseng has anti-QS activity and the active compound is water soluble. Compounds from P. ginseng, could be used as a lead structure to design compound with higher anti-QS activity for therapeutic treatments.

The effect of garlic extract on growth, haematology and cell-mediated immune response of newborn goat kids

The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of different levels of garlic extract supplemented in milk on growth rate, haematology and cell–mediated immune response of Markhoz newborn goat kids. Twenty four newborn goat kids (aged 7+/-3days) were randomly assigned to four groups. The groups consisted of control (received milk without garlic extract), T1, T2 and T3 which received milk supplemented with 62.5, 125 and 250 mg aqueous garlic extract per kg live weight per day for 42 days, respectively. Body weights were measured weekly throughout the experimental period. At day 42, about 10 ml blood samples were collected from each kid via the jugular vein for haematological study. Cell–mediated immune response was evaluated through double skin thickness after intradermal injection of phyto-hematogglutinin (PHA) at day 21 and 42. Total gain was significantly higher for kids in T3 (P<0.05) compared with the control group. Average daily gain (ADG) in T3 group in week 4–5 was higher (P<0.05). Significant differences in globulin (P<0.01), hemoglobin (Hb; P<0.001), hematocrit (PCV; P<0.001), erythrocyte (RBC; P<0.001), neutrophil (P<0.001), lymphocyte (P<0.001) and leukocyte (WBC; P<0.001) were observed among groups. Hb, PCV, RBC, lymphocytes and WBC were higher in kids given garlic extract supplementation. There was a significant difference of double skin thickness among the groups at day 42 (P<0.01). In conclusion, this study indicated that milk supplemented with aqueous garlic extract improved growth rate and immunity of newborn goat kids.

In vivo antifungal activity of neem oil and aqueous extracts against leaf spot disease caused by Cercospora abelmoschii on okra

The cercospora leaf spot, caused by Cercospora abelmoschi Ellis and Everhart, is quite common in okra culture. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of aqueous extracts of neem ( Azadirachta indica A. Juss), citronella ( Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle), eucalyptus ( Eucalyptus grandis L.), ecolife®, A. indica oil and fungicide cercobin 700 PM® in control of cercospora leaf spot on okra in greenhouse. The extracts and neem oil were tested in concentration 10%, the fungicide cercobin 700PM® in dose 2.5 g.l-1, applied 10 days after pathogen inoculation by leaf spray and the citric biomass extract ecolife® in concentration 5.0 ml.l-1, applied 10 days before pathogen inoculation. All treatments, except ecolife®, were effective in controlling cercospora leaf spot and may be recommended as alternatives in agroecological systems.

A Preliminary Assessment of Aqueous Ethanol Pulping of Bagasse: the Ecopulp Process

SRI has examined the organosolv (organic solvation) pulping of Australian bagasse using technology supplied by Ecopulp. In the process, bagasse is reacted with aqueous ethanol in a digester at elevated temperatures (between 150ºC and 200ºC). The products from the digester are separated using proprietary technology before further processing into a range of saleable products. Test trials were undertaken using two batch digesters; the first capable of pulping about 25 g of wet depithed bagasse and the second, larger samples of about 1.5 kg of wet depithed bagasse. From this study, the unbleached pulp produced from fresh bagasse did not have very good strength properties for the production of corrugated medium for cartons and bleached pulp. In particular, the lignin contents as indicated by the Kappa number for the unbleached pulps are high for making bleached pulp. However, in spite of the high lignin content, it is possible to bleach the pulp to acceptable levels of brightness up to 86.6% ISO. The economics were assessed for three tier pricing (namely low, medium and high price). The economic return for a plant that produces 100 air dry t/d of brownstock pulp is satisfactory for both high and medium pricing levels of pricing. The outcomes from the project justify that work should continue through to either pilot plant or upgraded laboratory facility.