Design of antiseptic formulations containing extract of Plinia cauliflora

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

Fornecimento de cobre na produção de mudas cítricas em diferentes substratos

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Marcha de absorção de macronutrientes e acúmulo de fenólicos totais em [(Baccharis Trimera (Less.) DC.] var. CPQBA-1, sob diferentes podas no plantio

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Enxertia no controle da murcha bacteriana na atividade de enzimas e produção em tomateiro

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Horticultura) - FCA

Effects of abiotic factors on growth and chemical defenses in cultivated clones of Laurencia dendroidea J. Agardh (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta)

Laurencia dendroidea shows high inter- and intrapopulation variability in the amount of the sesquiterpene elatol, caused by genetic variation as well as environmental factors. To test the independent effect of physical and nutritional conditions, the growth and the levels of elatol in L. dendroidea clones were evaluated under different conditions of temperature, salinity, irradiance, and culture medium in the laboratory. Growth of L. dendroidea was clearly affected by all these factors, but elatol levels were influenced only by temperature and salinity. Better conditions for growth did not produce a similar effect on elatol production in L. dendroidea, contradicting the carbon/nutrient balance and growth/differentiation balance models. On the contrary, severe conditions of temperature and salinity promoted a decrease in elatol levels, as predicted by the environmental stress model. Our results using clones indicated that abiotic factors clearly take part in fostering chemical variations observed in natural populations, in addition to genetic factors, and can promote differential susceptibility of plant specimens to natural enemies.

Variability of the phenolic profile of banana from Gran Canaria during maturation

[EN] The identification and quantification of phenolic compounds in bananas from Gran Canaria were carried out to examine changes in their profile during maturation. The phenolic composition of extracts derived from bananas was determined by using HPLC. The total phenolic contents were measured with Folin–Cicolteau`s phenol reagent. To quantify the total antioxidant capacity of banana extracts, we chose two methods commonly used: the percentage of inhibition of radical 1,1–diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP assay). The antioxidant potential on banana extracts was found to increase during maturation in correlation whit the total phenol content.

Canopy fruit location can affect olive oil quality in Arbequina hedgerow orchards

The effect of location of fruit in canopies of hedgerow olive trees (Olea europaea L., cv. ‘Arbequina’) on quality of virgin oil was tested by analyzing oils extracted from different height layers and faces of 9 olive hedgerows (6 North-South oriented and 3 East-West). Although sensory attributes were not different other oil quality parameters may be significantly modified by fruit position. In some hedgerows, oils extracted from fruits harvested from higher layers exhibited significantly higher stability against oxidation, along with higher palmitic acid, linoleic acid and phenol contents, but lower oleic acid content. Oils extracted from fruits harvested from East and North facing hedgerows oriented North-South and East-West, respectively, exhibited higher oleic contents and lower saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acid contents. The mean phenol content of oils extracted from fruits from a North-South oriented hedgerow was significantly greater from one of the East-West oriented hedgerows. These findings may be relevant for the design of future olive hedgerows destined for olive oil production.

Canopy fruit location can affect olive oil quality in Arbequina hedgerow orchards.

The effect of location of fruit in canopies of hedgerow olive trees (Olea europaea L., cv. ‘Arbequina’) on quality of virgin oil was tested by analyzing oils extracted from different height layers and faces of nine olive hedgerows (6 North–South oriented and 3 East– West). Although sensory attributes were not different, other oil quality parameters may be significantly modified by fruit position. Oils extracted from fruits harvested from higher layers exhibited significantly higher stability against oxidation, along with higher palmitic acid, linoleic acid and phenol contents, but lower oleic acid content. Oils extracted from fruits harvested from East and North facing hedgerows oriented North–South and East–West, respectively, exhibited higher oleic contents and lower saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acid contents. The mean phenol content of oils extracted from fruits from a North–South oriented hedgerow was significantly greater from one of the East–West oriented hedgerows. These findings may be relevant for the design of future olive hedgerows destined for olive oil production.

Production of renewable phenolic resins by thermochemical conversion of biomass: a review

This review covers the production and utilisation of liquids from the thermal processing of biomass and related materials to substitute for synthetic phenol and formaldehyde in phenol formaldehyde resins. These resins are primarily employed in the manufacture of wood panels such as plywood, MDF, particle-board and OSB. The most important thermal conversion methods for this purpose are fast pyrolysis and vacuum pyrolysis, pressure liquefaction and phenolysis. Many feedstocks have been tested for their suitability as sources of phenolics including hard and softwoods, bark and residual lignins. Resins have been prepared utilising either the whole liquid product, or a phenolics enriched fraction obtained after fractional condensation or further processing, such as solvent extraction. None of the phenolics production and fractionation techniques covered in this review are believed to allow substitution of 100% of the phenol content of the resin without impacting its effectiveness compared to commercial formulations based on petroleum derived phenol. This survey shows that considerable progress has been made towards reaching the goal of a price competitive renewable resin, but that further research is required to meet the twin challenges of low renewable resin cost and satisfactory quality requirements. Particular areas of concern are wood panel press times, variability of renewable resin properties, odour, lack of reactive sites compared to phenol and potential for increased emissions of volatile organic compounds.

Phenol-Explorer 3.0: a major update of the Phenol-Explorer database to incorporate data on the effects of food processing on polyphenol content

Polyphenols are a major class of bioactive phytochemicals whose consumption may play a role in the prevention of a number of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, type II diabetes and cancers. Phenol-Explorer, launched in 2009, is the only freely available web-based database on the content of polyphenols in food and their in vivo metabolism and pharmacokinetics. Here we report the third release of the database (Phenol-Explorer 3.0), which adds data on the effects of food processing on polyphenol contents in foods. Data on >100 foods, covering 161 polyphenols or groups of polyphenols before and after processing, were collected from 129 peer-reviewed publications and entered into new tables linked to the existing relational design. The effect of processing on polyphenol content is expressed in the form of retention factor coefficients, or the proportion of a given polyphenol retained after processing, adjusted for change in water content. The result is the first database on the effects of food processing on polyphenol content and, following the model initially defined for Phenol-Explorer, all data may be traced back to original sources. The new update will allow polyphenol scientists to more accurately estimate polyphenol exposure from dietary surveys. Database URL: http://www.phenol-explorer.eu

Low tungsten content of nanostructured material supported on carbon for the degradation of phenol

A comparative study using different mass proportions of WO3/C (1%, 5%, 10% and 15%) for H2O2 electrogeneration and subsequent phenol degradation was performed. To include the influence of the carbon substrate and the preparation methods, all synthesis parameters were evaluated. The WO3/C materials were prepared by a modified polymeric precursor method (PPM) and the sol-gel method (SGM) on Vulcan XC 72R and Printex L6 carbon supports, verifying the most efficient metal/carbon proportion. The materials were physically characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques. The XRD and the XPS techniques identified just one phase containing WO3 and elevated oxygen concentration on carbon with the presence of WO3. The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), studied by the rotating ring-disk electrode technique, showed that WO3/C material with the lowest tungsten content (1% WO3/C), supported on Vulcan XC 72R and prepared by SGM, was the most promising electrocatalyst for H2O2 electrogeneration. This material was then analyzed using a gas diffusion electrode (GDE) and 585mgL-1 of H2O2 was produced in acid media. This GDE was employed as a working electrode in an electrochemical cell to promote phenol degradation by an advanced oxidative process. The most efficient method applied was the photo-electro-Fenton; this method allowed for 65% degradation and 11% mineralization of phenol during a 2-h period. Following 12h of exhaustive electrolysis using the photo-electro-Fenton method, the total degradation of phenol was observed after 4h and the mineralization of phenol approached 75% after 12h. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Comparative evaluation of phenol and thimerosal as preservatives for a candidate vaccine against American cutaneous leishmaniasis

For decades thimerosal has been used as a preservative in the candidate vaccine for cutaneous leishmaniasis, which was developed by Mayrink et al. The use of thimerosal in humans has been banned due to its mercury content. This study addresses the standardization of phenol as a new candidate vaccine preservative. We have found that the proteolytic activity was abolished when the test was conducted using the candidate vaccine added to merthiolate (MtVac) as well as to phenol (PhVac). The Montenegro's skin test conversion rates induced by MtVac and by PhVac was 68.06% and 85.9%, respectively, and these values were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The proliferative response of peripheral mononuclear blood cells shows that the stimulation index of mice immunized with both candidate vaccines was higher than the one in control animals (p < 0.05). The ability of the candidate vaccines to induce protection in C57BL/10 mice against a challenge with infective Leishmania amazonensis promastigotes was tested and the mice immunized with PhVac developed smaller lesions than the mice immunized with MtVac. Electrophoresis of phenol-preserved antigen revealed a number of proteins, which were better preserved in PhVac. These results do in fact encourage the use of phenol for preserving the immunogenic and biochemical properties of the candidate vaccine for cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Multivariate analysis of phenol mineralisation by combined hydrodynamic cavitation and heterogeneous advanced Fenton processing

Phenolic compounds in wastewaters are difficult to treat using the conventional biological techniques such as activated sludge processes because of their bio-toxic and recalcitrant properties and the high volumes released from various chemical, pharmaceutical and other industries. In the current work, a modified heterogeneous advanced Fenton process (AFP) is presented as a novel methodology for the treatment of phenolic wastewater. The modified AFP, which is a combination of hydrodynamic cavitation generated using a liquid whistle reactor and the AFP is a promising technology for wastewaters containing high organic content. The presence of hydrodynamic cavitation in the treatment scheme intensifies the Fenton process by generation of additional free radicals. Also, the turbulence produced during the hydrodynamic cavitation process increases the mass transfer rates as well as providing better contact between the pseudo-catalyst surfaces and the reactants. A multivariate design of experiments has been used to ascertain the influence of hydrogen peroxide dosage and iron catalyst loadings on the oxidation performance of the modified AFP. High er TOC removal rates were achieved with increased concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. In contrast, the effect of catalyst loadings was less important on the TOC removal rate under conditions used in this work although there is an optimum value of this parameter. The concentration of iron species in the reaction solution was measured at 105 min and its relationship with the catalyst loadings and hydrogen peroxide level is presented.

Nutritional composition, phenolic compounds, nitrate content in eatable vegetables obtained by conventional and certified organic grown culture subject to thermal treatment

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

Seasonal variation in coumarin content of Mikania glomerata

Mikania glomerata Spengal extract contains approximately 0.5 percent of coumarin, a substance that displays anti-inflammatory and expectoratory activities. Extracts from different young leaves of plants collected during the early evening of December and July contained the highest levels coumarin. Plants dried in oven with circulating air contained 7.3 mg of coumarin/g of dry weight, demonstrating that this was the most appropriate drying condition for Mikania glomerata.