Chemical and biochemical characterization of guava and araçá fruits from different regions of Brazil

Guava and araçá, species of the Psidium genus, are important options for Brazilian agribusiness, especially the former species, due to their fruit characteristics, such as appearance, taste and richness in minerals and phenolic compounds. These fruits can be consumed in natura or in several processed forms. The active germplasm bank is an important tool for genetic resource characterization and plant breeding studies. Sixty guava and ten araçá accessions of the Psidium active germplasm, sampled in 44 different Brazilian regions and grown at Embrapa Semiarid, were chemically and biochemically characterized in order to support breeding programs. The accessions were grown in a randomized block design, with two replications and three plants/plot. The sugar, proteins, soluble solids, titratable acidity, calcium, magnesium, iron and phosphorus contents were determined. Large variations were observed in the analyzed compounds, which could be attributed to the diversity of genotypes and also to the environmental conditions, which affect the plant metabolism. The high variability observed in most parameters of the accessions is an important factor for the improvement of these species. Most guava accessions showed higher titratable acidity and soluble solids than those found in commercial cultivars and, in araçá, these levels were even higher, which makes them promising for commercial exploitation. Moreover, fruits of the guava and araçá accessions present good sources of sugars and minerals. Special attention should be given to some guava and araçá accessions from Maranhão and Pernambuco States, respectively, which showed high levels for titratable acidity, soluble solids, SS/TA ratio, total soluble sugars, calcium, magnesium and iron, should be targets of breeding programs for new Psidium cultivars. © ISHS.

Assessment of the chemical profile, polyphenol content and antioxidant activity in extracts of Psidium Guajava L. fruits

Fruits and vegetables that are rich in polyphenolic compounds, especially flavonoids, may be used to benefit human health by reducing the incidence of cancers and cardiovascular diseases. Previous studies have demonstrated the antioxidant activity of guava, a fruit widely available in Brazil, possibly due to the presence of these polyphenolic compounds. The aim of this study was to analyze the total phenolic and flavonoid contents of various guava extracts, assay their antioxidant activity and record the chromatographic profiles of these extracts, to determine a simple and low way of extracting these compounds efficiently from guava. The results confirmed the presence of polyphenols in guava, including flavonoids, and its antioxidant activity. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the 70% ethanol (by volume) was the most effective solvent to extract these compounds from the fruit, among those tested.

Participation by the poor in the fruits of growth

Includes bibliography

La part des pauvres dans le partage des fruits de la croissance

Incluye Bibliografía

7-Hydroxycassine: A new 2,6-dialkylpiperidin-3-ol alkaloid and other constituents isolated from flowers and fruits of senna spectabilis (Fabaceae)

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

Anti-inflammatory mechanisms of the annexin A1 protein and its mimetic peptide Ac2-26 in models of ocular inflammation in vivo and in vitro

Annexin A1 (AnxA1) is a protein that displays potent anti-inflammatory properties, but its expression in eye tissue and its role in ocular inflammatory diseases have not been well studied. We investigated the mechanism of action and potential uses of AnxA1 and its mimetic peptide (Ac2-26) in the endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) rodent model and in human ARPE-19 cells activated by LPS. In rats, analysis of untreated EIU after 24 and 48 h or EIU treated with topical applications or with a single s.c. injection of Ac2-26 revealed the anti-inflammatory actions of Ac2-26 on leukocyte infiltration and on the release of inflammatory mediators; the systemic administration of Boc2, a formylated peptide receptor (fpr) antagonist, abrogated the peptide's protective effects. Moreover, AnxA1-/- mice exhibited exacerbated EIU compared with wild-type animals. Immunohistochemical studies of ocular tissue showed a specific AnxA1 posttranslational modification in EIU and indicated that the fpr2 receptor mediated the anti-inflammatory actions of AnxA1. In vitro studies confirmed the roles of AnxA1 and fpr2 and the protective effects of Ac2-26 on the release of chemical mediators in ARPE-19 cells. Molecular analysis of NF-κB translocation and IL-6, IL-8, and cyclooxygenase-2 gene expression indicated that the protective effects of AnxA1 occur independently of the NF-κB signaling pathway and possibly in a posttranscriptional manner. Together, our data highlight the role of AnxA1 in ocular inflammation, especially uveitis, and suggest the use of AnxA1 or its mimetic peptide Ac2-26 as a therapeutic approach. Copyright © 2013 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc.

Antioxidant properties of brazilian tropical fruits by correlation between different assays

Four different assays (the Folin-Ciocalteu, DPPH, enzymatic method, and inhibitory activity on lipid peroxidation) based on radically different physicochemical principles and normally used to determine the antioxidant activity of food have been confronted and utilized to investigate the antioxidant activity of fruits originated from Brazil, with particular attention to more exotic and less-studied species (jurubeba, Solanum paniculatum; pequi, Caryocar brasiliense; pitaya, Hylocereus undatus; siriguela, Spondias purpurea; umbu, Spondias tuberosa) in order to (i) verify the correlations between results obtained by the different assays, with the final purpose to obtain more reliable results avoiding possible measuring-method linked mistakes and (ii) individuate the more active fruit species. As expected, the different methods give different responses, depending on the specific assay reaction. Anyhow all results indicate high antioxidant properties for siriguela and jurubeba and poor values for pitaya, umbu, and pequi. Considering that no marked difference of ascorbic acid content has been detected among the different fruits, experimental data suggest that antioxidant activities of the investigated Brazilian fruits are poorly correlated with this molecule, principally depending on their total polyphenolic content. © 2013 Elena Gregoris et al.

C25 steroid epimers produced by Penicillium janthinellum, a fungus isolated from fruits Melia azedarach

O fungo Penicillium janthinellum, obtido de Melia azedarach, produziu ergosterol, ergosterol 5a,8a-peróxido e uma mistura de esteróides C25 epiméricos de ocorrência restrita na natureza. Os esteróides C25, denominados neociclocitrinóis, possuem o mesmo sistema tetracíclico de anéis presente no ciclocitrinol, o qual foi isolado do fungo Penicillium citrinum, associado a uma esponja, com o mesmo esqueleto biciclo[4:4:1] nos anéis A/B, mas com cadeias laterais diferentes. O P. janthinellum isolado de M. azedarach, foi cultivado sobre milho branco e os três esteróides foram isolados por vários procedimentos cromatográficos e identificados por cuidadosa análise dos dados de RMN, principalmente correlações ¹H – ¹³C em duas dimensões bem como COSY e TOCSY ¹H – ¹H. A origem biossintética dos ciclocitrinóis é discutida.

Fatty acid profiles and tocopherol contents of buriti (Mauritia flexuosa), patawa (Oenocarpus bataua), tucuma (Astrocaryum vulgare), mari (Poraqueiba paraensis) and inaja (Maximiliana maripa) fruits

O buriti, tucumã, inajá, mari e patauá são palmeiras endêmicas da região Amazônica. As polpas destes frutos são tradicionalmente consumidas pela população local, mas ainda não ganharam os mercados nacionais e internacionais. A composição nutricional em ácidos graxos foi determinada por cromatografia gasosa (CG) e a de tocoferol determinada por cromatografia liquida de alta eficiência (CLAE). As polpas se mostraram bastante energéticas, com um alto teor de óleo que variou entre 31,0 a 41,8%. Os ácidos graxos que apresentaram maiores concentrações foram o oleico (C18:1) e o palmítico (C16:0), para todas as polpas estudadas. A polpa de buriti foi a que apresentou maior teor de vitamina E sendo considerada uma ótima fonte de tocoferol. O α-tocoferol foi o tocoferol predominante, com exceção da polpa de buriti. Os dados indicaram que as frutas estudadas são boas fontes de ácidos graxos insaturados e tocoferóis.

Biologically active polyketides produced by Penicillium janthinellum isolated as an endophytic fungus from fruits of Melia azedarach

C, isolado como um fungo endofítico dos frutos de Melia azedarach, foi cultivado por 20 dias em milho branco triturado e autoclavado, onde os policetídeos conhecidos citrinina, emodina, 1,6,8-triidróxi-3-hidroximetilantraquinona, e uma nova antraquinona modificada, denominada janthinona, foram produzidos e isolados por procedimentos cromatográficos clássicos e identificados por extensivos estudos espectroscópicos, principalmente RMN 1D e 2D e EM. Essas substâncias foram ensaiadas contra diversas bactérias. Citrinina foi ensaiada pela primeira vez contra Leishmania e inibiu 100% o crescimento de cepas depois de 48h a uma concentração de 40 μg mL^-1.

Storage of 'Espada' mango fruits in modified atmosphere and cooling: effects on conservation

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

In Vitro Antiparasitic Activity and Chemical Composition of the Essential Oil Obtained from the Fruits of Piper cubeba

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

A New Species of Maytenus (Celastraceae) with Fleshy Fruits from Eastern Brazil, with Notes on the Delimitation of Maytenus

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

Effect of octenyl succinylated waxy starch as a fat mimetic on texture, microstructure and physicochemical properties of Minas fresh cheese

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Preference and infestation level of Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann, 1830) on fruits of some Psidium guajava L. cultivars and relation to their physicochemical parameters

This study aimed to verify the preference and infestation level of Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae) [South American fruit fly] in fruits of guava cultivars and to correlate them to variables such as peel coloration, soluble solids and pH of fruit cultivars. The following cultivars were used: Pedro Sato, Paluma, Casco and S,culo XXI. The infestation was evaluated in cages, considering two scenarios: no-choice and multiple choice. In both tests, evaluations of the fruit attraction to insects were conducted for a period of 1', 3', 5', 10', 20', 30', 1 h, 2 h, 6 h, 12 h and 24 h. The visit of A. fraterculus on the assayed cultivars in relation to the time was studied by logistic regression. After 10 days, the number of larvae in each fruit was recorded. In the multiple choice test, the visit proportions were significantly higher in the fruits of cvs. S,culo XXI and Pedro Sato than in those of cvs. Paluma and Casco. In the no-choice test, the visit proportions were significantly lower in the Paluma fruits. In both tests, the rate of fruit infestation by A. fraterculus did not differ among cvs. Pedro Sato, Paluma and Casco, whereas the fruits of cv. S,culo XXI were more infested. The indexes of pH did not interfere with the infestation of A. fraterculus, whereas a high rate of soluble solids and low color angle appear to be crucial for discriminating the fruits of the most susceptible cultivars. Infestation rate of S,culo XXI fruits displayed significant correlations with: A degrees Brix (r= 0.7078) and color angle (h) (r= -0.9499) of guava fruits under the multiple choice conditions.