Sugarcane spirit extracts of oak and Brazilian woods: antioxidant capacity and activity

Sugarcane spirit extracts of six different Brazilian woods for potential use in manufacturing aging casks were compared with similar extracts of five oak samples from different geographic origin and heat treatment regarding: (1) content of phenolics and copper; (2) radical reducing capacity and reactivity toward 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH center dot); and (3) effect on the rate of oxygen depletion rate in a peroxidating lipid model system. Total phenolic contents of the Brazilian wood extracts ranged from 0.65 (canela-sassafras) to 6.4 (jatoba) mmol(GAE) L(-1) and from 1.39 to 2.87 mmol(GAE) L(-1) for oak extracts. Flavonoids ranged from 1.54 x 10(-4) (ipe) to 6.5 x 10(-2) (oak) mmol(rutin) L(-1), and tannins from below the detection limit to 0.22 (jatoba) mmol(tannic acid) L(-1). Correlation was observed for the antioxidant capacity versus phenolics/flavonoids/tannins content, where oak extracts exhibit the highest radical scavenging capacity compared to Brazilian woods. Rate constant for radical scavenging by the extracts ranged from 4.9 x 10(3) M(-1) s(-1)(canela-sassafras) to 9.7 x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1) (oak). The oxygen consumption index showed the Brazilian woods amendoim and jatoba to be more efficient inhibitors than the oak extracts for lipid autoxidation initiated by metmyoglobin, despite that the oak extracts seem to be more efficient to scavenge DPPH center dot. No simple correlation with phenolics or copper content could be established, and a prooxidative tendency was observed for the extracts of canela-sassafras, castanheira, and louro-canela.

Relationship between antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content of red, rosé and white wines

Phenolic compounds are one of the most important quality parameters of wines, since they contribute to wine organoleptic characteristics such as colour, astringency, and bitterness. Furthermore, several studies have pointed out that many show biological properties of interest, related to their antioxidant capacity. This antioxidant activity has been thoroughly studied and a wide variety of methods have been developed to evaluate it. In this study, the antioxidant activity of commercial Terras Madeirenses Portuguese wines (Madeira Island) was measured by three different analytical methods: [1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, 2,2′-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTSradical dot+)) radical cation decolourisation, and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) for the evaluation of reducing power (PR) and correlate them with the total phenolic content determined with the Folin–Ciocalteu’s reagent using gallic acid as a standard. The total polyphenol concentration was found to vary from 252 to 1936 mg/l gallic acid equivalents (GAE). The antiradical activity varied from 0.042 to 0.715 mM Trolox equivalents and the antioxidant capacity varied from 344 to 1105 mg/l gallic acid equivalents (GAE). For the reduction power we obtained 3.45–3.86 mM quercetin equivalents.

Adesão, proliferação e genotoxicidade celular de celulose bacteriana modificada por plasma

Bacterial cellulose (BC) has a wide range of potential applications, namely as temporary substitute skin in the treatment of skin wounds, such as burns, ulcers and grafts. Surface properties determine the functional response of cells, an important factor for the successful development of biomaterials. This work evaluates the influence of bacterial cellulose surface treatment by plasma (BCP) on the cellular behavior and its genotoxicity potential. The modified surface was produced by plasma discharge in N2 and O2 atmosphere, and the roughness produced by ion bombardment characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Cell adhesion, viability and proliferation on BCP were analysed using crystal violet staining and the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium (MTT) method. Genotoxicity was evaluated using the comet and cytokinesis block micronucleus assay. The results show that the plasma treatment changed surface roughness, producing an ideal cell attachment, evidenced by more elongated cell morphology and improved proliferation. The excellent biocompatibility of BCP was confirmed by genotoxicity tests, which showed no significant DNA damage. The BCP has therefore great potential as a new artificial implant

Hypolipemic and antioxidant activities from Tamarindus indica L. pulp fruit extract in hypercholesterolemic hamsters

Dietary modifications may significantly reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, including cholesterol and atherosclerosis. The present study addressed the effects of the crude extract from the pulp fruit of Tamarindus indica L. on lipid serum levels and early atherosclerotic lesions in hypercholesterolemic hamsters in vivo, and the extract's antioxidant action, in vitro. Animals were fed on either chow or atherogenic diet during 10 weeks and concomitantly received either water or T indica L. extract for drinking. Treatment of hypercholesterolemic hamsters with the T. indica pulp fruit extract (5%) led to a decrease in the levels of serum total cholesterol (50%), non-HDL cholesterol (73%) and triglyceride (60%), and to an increase of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels (61%). In vitro, the extract presented radical scavenging ability, as assessed by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and superoxide radicals assays, and led to decreased lipid peroxidation in serum, as assessed by the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay. In vivo, the extract improved the efficiency of the antioxidant defense system, as assessed by the superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities. Together these results indicate the potential of tamarind extracts in diminishing the risk of atherosclerosis development in humans. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Extração, caracterização e avaliação bioativa do extrato de Rumex acetosa

Studies show the great influence of free radicals and other oxidants as responsible for aging and degenerative diseases. On the other hand, the natural phenolic compounds has shown great as antioxidants to inhibit lipid peroxidation and lipoxygenase in vitro. Among these, is highlighted trans-resveratrol ( 3,5,4 `- trihydroxystilbene ) phenolic compound , characterized as a polyphenol stilbene class. The vegetables popularly known as "Azedinha" (Rumex Acetosa) has trans-resveratrol in its composition and from this, the present work aimed to study on the supercritical extraction and conventional extraction (Soxhlet and sequential) in roots of Rumex Acetosa, evaluating the efficiency of extractive processes, antioxidant activity, total phenolic content and quantification of trans-resveratrol contained in the extracts. Extractions using supercritical CO2 as solvent, addition of co-solvent (ethanol) and were conducted by the dynamic method in a fixed bed extractor. The trial met a 23 factorial design with three replications at the central point, with the variable reply process yield and concentration of trans-resveratrol and pressure as independent variables, temperature and concentration of co-solvent (% v/v). Yields ( mass of dry extract / mass of raw material used ) obtained from the supercritical extraction ranged from 0,8 to 7,63 % , and the best result was obtained at 250 bar and 90 °C using the co-solvent 15% ethanol (% v/v). The value was calculated for YCER a flow rate of 1,0 ± 0,17 g/min resulting in 0,0469 CO2 ( g solute / g solvent ). The results of the mass yield varied between conventional extractions 0,78 % ( hexane) and 9,97 % (ethanol). The statistical model generated from the data of the concentration of trans-resveratrol performed as meaningful and predictive for a 95% confidence. GC analysis on HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography), transresveratrol was quantified in all extracts and concentration values ranged between 0,0033 and 0,42 ( mg / g extract) for supercritical extracts and between 0,449 and 17,046 (mg / g extract) to conventional extractions and therefore, the Soxhlet extraction with ethanol for more selective trans-resveratrol than the supercritical fluid. Evaluation of antioxidant (radical method to sequester 2,2- diphenyl-1- picryl - hydrazyl - DPPH) the supercritical extracts resulted in EC50 values (concentration effective to neutralize 50% of free radicals) of between 7,89 and 18,43 mg/mL , while resulting in a Soxhlet extraction with EC50 values in the range of 6,05 and 7,39 mg/mL. As for quantification of the phenolic compounds (Method Spectrophotometer Folin-Ciocalteau) the supercritical extracts resulted in values between 85,3 and 194,79 mg GAE / g extract, whereas values derived from the Soxhlet extract resulted in values between 178,5 and 237,8 mg GAE / g extract. The high antioxidant activity can not be attributed solely to the presence of phenolic compounds, but the presence of other antioxidants in the existing Rumex acetosa

Radical scavenging activity of orange and tangerine varieties cultivated in Brazil

Four citrus fruit varieties cultivated in Brazil (two kinds of sweet orange and two kinds of tangerine) were analyzed for physicochemical characteristics contents of total phenolics, total carotenoids and ascorbic acid, and antioxidant activities. The antioxidant activities of aqueous, methanolic, and acetone extracts of the citrus fruit juices were assessed on the basis of their ability to scavenge 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH(center dot)). The cravo tangerine has the highest content of citric acid, while the pera orange is richest in ascorbic acid. The lima orange has the highest total phenolic contents, and the ponkan the highest total carotenoids. The antioxidant activities, expressed as the concentration of antioxidant able to scavenge 50% of the initial DPPH(center dot) (EC(50)), ranged from 139.1+/-27.3 to 182.2+/-28.8 g extract/l for juice of orange varieties and 186.3+/-29.6 to 275.5+/-3.3g extract/l for juice of tangerine citrus varieties. In methanolic extracts the EC(50) ranged from 192.5+/-43.1 to 267.4+/-41.4 g extract/l for orange varieties and from 225.2+/-69.8 to 336.3+/-27.2 g extract/l for tangerine varieties. For EC(50) values of acetone fractions, there were no statistically significant differences between the different varieties. For every citrus fruit in the present study, the radical scavenging capacity was higher in the aqueous than in the methanolic or acetone fractions.

Chemical Composition and Antioxidant and Antimycobacterial Activities of Bromelia balansae (Bromeliaceae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Cytotoxic lignans from the stems of Styrax camporum (Styracaceae)

An ethanolic extract from the stems of Styrax camporum Pohl (Styracaceae), a plant traditionally used for gastrointestinal diseases, was fractionated and subjected to flash chromatography and afforded two benzofuran lignans, egonol and homoegonol, and one furofuran lignan, (+/-) syringaresinol, which were identified by spectral data interpretation. Their cytotoxic activities against Hep-2 (larynx epidermoid carcinoma), HeLa (human cervix carcinoma) and C6 (rat glioma) cell lines were evaluated using the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide) assay at several concentrations for 24 h. Activities could be observed for egonol against C6 (IC50 = 3.2 mu g/mL) and Hep-2 (IC50 = 3.6 mu g/mL) cell lines, and for homoegonol against C6 (IC50 = 4.9 mu g/mL) and HeLa (IC50 =- 5.3 mu g/mL) cells.

Antioxidant activity of isocoumarins isolated from Paepalanthus bromelioides on mitochondria

The isocoumarins (1-50 mu M) paepalantine (9,10-dihydroxy-5,7-dimethoxy-1H-naptho(2,3c)pyran-1-one), 8,8 '-paepalantine dimer, and vioxanthin isolated from Paepalanthus bromelioides, were assessed for antioxidant activity using isolated rat liver mitochondria and non-mitochondrial systems, and compared with the flavonoid quercetin. The paepalantine and paepalantine dimers, but not vioxanthin, were effective at scavenging both 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH*) and superoxide (O-2(-)) radicals in non-mitochondrial systems, and protected mitochondria from tert-butylhydroperoxide-induced H2O2 accumulation and Fe2+ -citrate-mediated mitochondrial membrane lipid peroxidation, with almost the same potency as quercetin. These results point towards paepalantine, followed by paepalantine dimer, as being a powerful agent affording protection, apparently via O-2(-) scavenging, from oxidative stress conditions imposed on mitochondria, the main intracellular source and target of those reactive oxygen species. This strong antioxidant action of paepalantine was reproduced in HepG2 cells exposed to oxidative stress condition induced by H2O2. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effects of isocoumarins isolated from Paepalanthus bromelioides on mitochondria: Uncoupling, and induction/inhibition of mitochondrial permeability transition

Isolated mitochondria may undergo uncoupling, and in presence of Ca2+ at different conditions, a mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) linked to protein,thiol oxidation, and demonstrated by CsA-sensitive mitochondrial swelling; these processes may cause cell death either by necrosis or by apoptosis. Isocoumarins isolated from the Brazilian plant Paepalanthus bromelioides (Eriocaulaceae) paepalantine (9,10-dihydroxy-5,7-dimethoxy-1H-naptho(2,3c)pyran-1-one), 8,8'-paepalantine dimer, and vioxanthin were assayed at 1-50 mu M on isolated rat liver mitochondria, for respiration, MPT, protein thiol oxidation, and interaction with the mitochondrial membrane using 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH). The isocoumarins did not significantly affect state 3 respiration of succinate-energized mitochondria; they did however, stimulate 4 respiration, indicating mitochondrial uncoupling. Induction of MPT and protein thiol oxidation were assessed in succinate-energized mitochondria exposed to 10 mu M Ca2+; inhibition of these processes was assessed in non-energized organelles in the presence of 300 mu M t-butyl hydroperoxide plus 500 mu M Ca2+. Only paepalantine was an effective MPT/protein thiol oxidation inducer, also releasing cytochrome c from mitochondria; the protein thiol oxidation, unlike mitochondrial swelling, was neither inhibited by CsA nor dependent on the presence of Ca2+. Vioxanthin was an effective inhibitor of MPT/protein thiol oxidation. All isocoumarins inserted deeply into the mitochondrial membrane, but only paepalantine dimer and vioxantin decreased the membrane's fluidity. A direct reaction with mitochondrial membrane protein thiols, involving an oxidation of these groups, is proposed to account for MPT induction by paepalantine, while a restriction of oxidation of these same thiol groups imposed by the decrease of membrane fluidity, is proposed to account for MPT inhibition by vioxanthin. (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier B.V..

Cytotoxicity of chlorhexidine digluconate to murine macrophages and its effect on hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide induction

Chlorhexidine, even at low concentrations, is toxic for a variety of eukaryotic cells; however, its effects on host immune cells are not well known. We evaluated in vitro chlorhexidine-induced cytotoxicity and its effects on reactive oxygen/nitrogen intermediate induction by murine peritoneal macrophages. Thioglycollate-induced cells were obtained from Swiss mice by peritoneal lavage with 5 ml of 10 mM phosphate-buffered saline, washed twice and resuspended (10(6) cells/ml) in appropriate medium for each test. Cell preparations contained more than 95% macrophages. The cytotoxicity was determined by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide assay and the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and nitric oxide (NO) by the horseradish peroxidase-dependent oxidation of phenol red and Griess reaction, respectively. The midpoint cytotoxicity values for 1- and 24-h exposures were 61.12 ± 2.46 and 21.22 ± 2.44 µg/ml, respectively. Chlorhexidine did not induce synthesis or liberation of reactive oxygen/nitrogen intermediates. When macrophages were treated with various sub-toxic doses for 1 h (1, 5, 10, and 20 µg/ml) and 24 h (0.5, 1, and 5 µg/ml) and stimulated with 200 nM phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) solution, the H2O2 production was not altered; however, the NO production induced by 10 µg/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS) solution varied from 14.47 ± 1.46 to 22.35 ± 1.94 µmol/l and 13.50 ± 1.42 to 20.44 ± 1.40 µmol/l (N = 5). The results showed that chlorhexidine has no immunostimulating activity and sub-toxic concentrations did not affect the response of macrophages to the soluble stimulus PMA but can interfere with the receptor-dependent stimulus LPS.

Antimicrobial, Cytotoxic and Antioxidant Activities and Determination of the Total Tannin Content of Bark Extracts Endopleura uchi

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

A tellurium-based cathepsin B inhibitor: Molecular structure, modelling, molecular docking and biological evaluation

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Magnetic field effects on the conductivity of organic bipolar and unipolar devices at room temperature

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

Interconverting flavanone glucosides and other phenolic compounds in Lippia salviaefolia Cham. ethanol extracts

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