Bioprospecção de produtos naturais e sintéticos em modelos celulares de citotoxicidade, genotoxicidade, apoptose e quimioprevenção do câncer

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Elaboração de produto cárneo de tilápia com antioxidantes visando sua utilização como recheio ou acompanhamento de refeição

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effi ciency of oregano, sage, moringa and rosemary as natural antioxidants and propyl gallate as artifi cial antioxidant used in “stuffed food” made with CMS of tilapia (minced fi sh) and stored frozen for 120 days. Protein, fat, moisture and ashes determination, microbiological analysis and sensory evaluations were conducted in the beginning and the end of storage period. TBARS, BNVT, pH and psychrotrophic microorganism count were determined periodically. The antioxidants interfered in pH (6.17 and 6.55) and TBARS values during 120 days under freezing (-18o C). The lowest TBA values were found for oregano (0.158 mg de MDA. kg-1) and sage (0.186 mg de MDA.kg-1). The stuffed food made with CMS of tilapia, without antioxidant, had the most oxidation, and sage and moringa were not good source of antioxidant. BNVT values (11.41 – 12.35 mgN.100g-1) were not altered. The lowest pH value was found for the product with sage (6.20), but similar to the moringa and propyl gallate, while oregano and rosemary showed the highest values (6.63 and 6.29), at 5 days of storage. Microbiological analyses were in accordance with Brazilian legislation. Sensory evaluation indicated that the panelists preferred the formulations made with oregano and propyl gallate. The results showed that it is feasible to elaborate stuffed food made with CMS of tilapia as an alternative for the fi shery´s consumption, and sage was the most effi cient natural antioxidant among those tested in this study.

Caracterização de hambúrguer elaborado com farinha de folhas de Moringa (Moringa oleífera Lam.)

The aim of this study was to determine the antioxidant activity of Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) leaves flour in beef burger during storage for 120 days. Six hamburger formulations were processed: one control (without the use of additives), four with addition of Moringa leaves flour (0.10, 0.15, 0.20, and 0.25 g/100 g aggregate), and one with addition of synthetic antioxidant Propyl Gallate (0.01 g/100 g aggregate). The products were analyzed for their chemical composition with determinations of moisture, protein, dietary fiber, lipids, ash, carbohydrate, and caloric value after preparation. Microbiological and acceptance testing were performed at the beginning and after 120 days of storage. Determination of pH, instrumental color and lipid oxidation (TBARS) were performed at 1, 30, 60, 90 and 120 days of storage. All samples showed physical-chemical and microbiological tests in accordance with the Brazilian legislation. pH measurements were between 5.48 and 5.90; however, the intensity of red has changed according to the treatments and storage periods. The addition of Moringa leaves flour had no antioxidant effect on burgers, but its inclusion not only contributed to the improvement of nutritional quality, but also did not harm product acceptance.

Preparation of (–)-epigallocatechin gallate from commercial green tea by caffeine precipitation and solvent partition

A method has been developed which enables the easy and inexpensive preparation of gram quantities of (–)-epigallocatechin gallate from green tea (Camellia sinensis). A decaffeinated aqueous brew of commercial green tea is treated with caffeine (30 m ). The precipitate is redissolved after decaffeination with chloroform and further purified by solvent partition with ethyl hexanoate and propyl acetate. Commercial leaf (25 g) yields 400 mg (–)-epigallocatechin gallate at better than 80% purity, as judged by reversed phase HPLC.

Skin Penetration of Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate and Quercetin from Green Tea and Ginkgo biloba Extracts Vehiculated in Cosmetic Formulations

Green tea (Camellia sinensis) and Ginkgo biloba extracts in cosmetic formulations have been suggested to protect the skin against UV-induced damage and skin ageing. Thus, it is very important to assess the human skin penetration of their major flavonoids to verify if they penetrate and remain in the skin to exert their proposed effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the human skin penetration of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and quercetin from green tea and G. biloba extracts vehiculated in cosmetic formulations. This study was conducted with fresh dermatomed human Caucasian skin from abdominal surgery mounted on static Franz diffusion cells. Skin samples were mounted between two diffusion half-cells and 10 mg/cm(2) of formulations supplemented with 6% of green tea or G. biloba extract were applied on the skin surface. The receptor fluid was removed after 6 and 24 h and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography for the quantification of the flavonoids. The stratum corneum was removed by tape stripping and immersed in methanol and the epidermis was mechanically separated from the dermis and triturated in methanol to extract EGCG and quercetin. The results showed that the flavonoids under study penetrated into the skin, without reaching the receptor fluid. The majority of EGCG was quantified in the stratum corneum (0.87 mu g/cm(2)), which was statistically higher than the EGCG concentrations found in viable epidermis (0.54 mu g/cm(2)) and in the dermis (0.38 mu g/cm(2)). The majority of quercetin was quantified in the viable epidermis (0.23 mu g/cm(2)), which was statistically higher than the EGCG concentration found in the stratum corneum layer (0.17 mu g/cm(2)). Finally, it can be concluded that EGCG and quercetin from green tea and G. biloba extracts vehiculated in cosmetic formulations presented good skin penetration and retention, which can favor their skin effects. Copyright (C) 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel

Antiviral and antiparasite properties of an L-amino acid oxidase from the Snake Bothrops jararaca: Cloning and identification of a complete cDNA sequence (Retracted article. See vol. 80, pg. 288, 2010)

L-Amino acid oxidases (LAAOs, EC 1.4.3.2) are flavoenzymes that catalyze the stereospecific oxidative deamination of an L-amino acid substrate to the corresponding a-ketoacid with hydrogen peroxide and ammonia production. The present work describes the first report on the antiviral (Dengue virus) and antiprotozoal (trypanocidal and leishmanicide) activities of a Bothrops jararaca L-amino acid oxidase (BjarLAAO-I) and identify its cDNA sequence. Antiparasite effects were inhibited by catalase, suggesting that they are mediated by H(2)O(2) production. Cells infected with DENV-3 virus previously treated with BjarLAAO-I, showed a decrease in viral titer (13-83-fold) when compared with cells infected with untreated viruses. Untreated and treated promastigotes (T. cruzi and L. amazonensis) were observed by transmission electron microscopy with different degrees of damage. Its complete cDNA sequence, with 1452 bp, encoded an open reading frame of 484 amino acid residues with a theoretical molecular weight and pl of 54,771.8 and 5.7, respectively. The cDNA-deduced amino acid sequence of BjarLAAO shows high identity to LAAOs from other snake venoms. Further investigations will be focused on the related molecular and functional correlation of these enzymes. Such a study should provide valuable information for the therapeutic development of new generations of microbicidal drugs. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Arterial pulse pressure variation predicting fluid responsiveness in critically ill patients (Retracted article. See vol. 31, pg. 542, 2009)

In critically ill patients, it is important to predict which patients will have their systemic blood flow increased in response to volume expansion to avoid undesired hypovolemia and fluid overloading. Static parameters such as the central venous pressure, the pulmonary arterial occlusion pressure, and the left ventricular end-diastolic dimension cannot accurately discriminate between responders and nonresponders to a fluid challenge. In this regard, respiratory-induced changes in arterial pulse pressure have been demonstrated to accurately predict preload responsiveness in mechanically ventilated patients. Some experimental and clinical studies confirm the usefulness of arterial pulse pressure as a useful tool to guide fluid therapy in critically ill patients.

Identification of tsunami-induced deposits using numerical modeling and rock magnetism techniques: Astudy case of the 1755 Lisbon tsunami in Algarve, Portugal (vol 182, pg 187, 2010)

Storm- and tsunami-deposits are generated by similar depositional mechanisms making their discrimination hard to establish using classic sedimentologic methods. Here we propose an original approach to identify tsunami-induced deposits by combining numerical simulation and rock magnetism. To test our method, we investigate the tsunami deposit of the Boca do Rio estuary generated by the 1755 earthquake in Lisbon which is well described in the literature. We first test the 1755 tsunami scenario using a numerical inundation model to provide physical parameters for the tsunami wave. Then we use concentration (MS. SIRM) and grain size (chi(ARM), ARM, B1/2, ARM/SIRM) sensitive magnetic proxies coupled with SEM microscopy to unravel the magnetic mineralogy of the tsunami-induced deposit and its associated depositional mechanisms. In order to study the connection between the tsunami deposit and the different sedimentologic units present in the estuary, magnetic data were processed by multivariate statistical analyses. Our numerical simulation show a large inundation of the estuary with flow depths varying from 0.5 to 6 m and run up of similar to 7 m. Magnetic data show a dominance of paramagnetic minerals (quartz) mixed with lesser amount of ferromagnetic minerals, namely titanomagnetite and titanohematite both of a detrital origin and reworked from the underlying units. Multivariate statistical analyses indicate a better connection between the tsunami-induced deposit and a mixture of Units C and D. All these results point to a scenario where the energy released by the tsunami wave was strong enough to overtop and erode important amount of sand from the littoral dune and mixed it with reworked materials from underlying layers at least 1 m in depth. The method tested here represents an original and promising tool to identify tsunami-induced deposits in similar embayed beach environments.

Trypanosoma cruzi: inhibition of alpha-hydroxyacid dehydrogenase isozyme II by N-allyl and N-propyl oxamates and their effects on intact epimastigotes

N-allyl (NAOx) and N-propyl (NPOx) oxamates were designed as inhibitors of alpha-hydroxyacid dehydrogenase (HADH) isozyme II from Trypanosoma cruzi. The kinetic studies showed that NAOx and NPOx were competitive inhibitors of HADH-isozyme II (Ki = 72 µM, IC50 = 0.33 mM and 70 µM, IC50 = 0.32 mM, respectively). The attachment of the allylic and propylic chains to nitrogen of the competitive inhibitor oxamate (Ki = 0.91 mM, IC50 = 4.25 mM), increased 12.6 and 13-folds respectively, the affinity for T. cruzi HADH-isozyme II. NAOx and NPOx were selective inhibitors of HADH-isozyme II, because other T. cruzi dehydrogenases were not inhibited by these substances. Since HADH-isozyme II participates in the energy metabolism of T. cruzi, a trypanocidal effect can be expected with these inhibitors. However, we were not able to detect any trypanocidal activity with these oxamates. When the corresponding ethyl esters of N-allyl (Et-NAOx) and N-propyl (Et-NPOx) oxamates were tested as a possible trypanocidal prodrugs, in comparison with nifurtimox and benznidazole, the expected trypanocidal effects were obtained.

Estat actual del tractament dels delictes d’odi i discriminació a la PG-ME

L’any 2010, la Policia de la Generalitat-Mossos d’Esquadra regula per primera vegada, mitjançant una ordre de servei 1/2010 i un procediment intern, quines són les principals actuacions policials en matèria d’atenció, denúncia i seguiment a víctimes d’il·lícits penals motivats per l’odi i la discriminació. S’incorporen nous àmbits a l’aplicació d’Atestats i denúncies, amb la finalitat de visibilitzar les següents problemàtiques relacionades amb l’odi i la discriminació: · Aporofòbia · Antisemita · Disminuït físic/sensorial · Disminuït psíquic/mental · Ètnic/origen nacional/origen racial · Homofòbia · Orientació política · Religiós · Sexisme L’any 2012, amb motiu de la implantació d’un nou Pla d’atenció i seguiment a víctimes del Departament d’Interior, la Direcció General de la Policia impulsa un procés de millora de tota la documentació que regula l’atenció de les víctimes no només de violència masclista o domèstica sinó també d’altres col·lectius especialment vulnerables com són les víctimes d’il·lícits penals motivats per l’odi i la discriminació. Es realitza una instrucció operativa, AV-IN-22 L’atenció a les víctimes d’il·lícits penals motivats per l’odi i la discriminació, amb l’objectiu de dotar a la PG-ME d’uns criteris i normes bàsiques d’actuació en relació a la prevenció, la detecció, particularitats de la instrucció / denúncia, i el seguiment i protecció d’aquestes víctimes.