Cholesterol-lowering effect of whole lupin (Lupinus albus) seed and its protein isolate

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Mutagenic activity promoted by amentoflavone and methanolic extract of Byrsonima crassa Niedenzu

Byrsonima crassa is a plant pertaining to the Brazilian central savannah-like belt of vegetation and popularly used for the treatment of gastric dysfunctions and diarrhoea. The methanol extract contains catechin, tannins, terpenes and flavonoids; both mutagenic potential and antioxidant properties have been ascribed to flavonoids. The mutagenicity of some flavonoids is believed to be associated with the formation of reactive oxygen species and seems to depend on the number and position of hydroxyl groups. In the present study the mutagenic activity of the methanol, chloroform and 80% aqueous methanol extracts, as well as acetate and aqueous sub-fractions, of this medicinal plant were evaluated by Salmonella typhimurium assay, using strains 100, TA98, TA102 and TA97a, and in mouse reticulocytes. The results showed mutagenic activity of the methanolic extract in the TA98 strain without S9, but no mutagenicity to mouse cells in any of the extracts. The acetate fraction showed strong signs of mutagenicity without S9, suggesting that in this enriched fraction were concentrated the compounds that induced mutagenic activity. The aqueous fraction showed no mutagenic activity. The TLC and HSCCC analyses of the acetate fraction with some standard compounds permitted the isolation of the quercetin-3-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside, quercetin-3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside, amentoflavone, methyl gallate and (+)-catechin, of which only the amentoflavone exhibited positive mutagenicity to TA98 (+S9, -S9). (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V.. All rights reserved.

Low levels of realized seed and pollen gene flow and strong spatial genetic structure in a small, isolated and fragmented population of the tropical tree Copaifera langsdorffii Desf

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

Understanding the effects of isolation on seed and pollen flow, spatial genetic structure and effective population size of the dioecious tropical tree species Myracrodruon urundeuva

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

Effect of Artemisia annua L. leaves essential oil and ethanol extract on behavioral assays

Artemisia annua tem sido utilizada tradicionalmente para o tratamento de malária e febre na China devido à presença do princípio ativo, artemisinina. O presente trabalho avaliou a atividade central de do óleo essencial obtido por hidrodestilação e do extrato etanólico bruto de folhas frescas de A. annua em modelo in vivo como parte de um screening farmacológico dessa espécie. Sono induzido por pentobarbital, nado forçado e o ensaio de campo aberto são modelos de estudo conhecidos para o estudo de fármacos sobre depressão induzida. A administração do óleo essencial ou extrato bruto etanólico de A. annua aumentaram o tempo de imobilidade no teste do nado forçado. Por outro lado, diminuíram outros parâmetros no campo aberto, como ambulação, exploração, o ato de lamber as patas ou se lamber. Ambos produtos aumentaram o tempo de sono induzido por pentobarbital, com o óleo essencial apresentando um efeito superior ao do extrato. Pela análise dos resultados, é possível sugerir que tanto o extrato bem como o óleo essencial podem atuar como depressores do Sistema Nervoso Central (SNC).

Chemical and sensory characteristics of pulp and peel 'cajá-manga' (Spondias cytherea Sonn.) jelly

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Thermodynamic models for water sorption by grape skin and pulp

The enthalpy-entropy compensation theory was applied to water sorption for grapes of Italy variety. The moisture sorption isotherms were analyzed using the static gravimetric method at 35, 40, 50, 60, 70 and 75 degrees C. For isotherms construction, the skin and pulp of the grape were used separately and it was possible to observe significant differences. The GAB equation was fitted to the experimental data, using direct nonlinear regression analysis; the agreement between experimental and calculated values was satisfactory. The net isosteric heat or enthalpy of water sorption, determined from the equilibrium sorption data, showed a different behavior when compared with other works, as it was obtained for skin and pulp separately. Plots of Delta h vs Delta S for skin and pulp provided the isokinetic temperatures T-Bs = 423.2 +/- 27.6 K and T-Bp = 424.5 +/- 25.3 K, respectively, indicating an enthalpy-controlled desorption process over the whole range of moisture content considered.

Electrical conductivity of soybean seed and correlation with seed coat lignin content

The effects of soybean genotype and seed coat lignin content on bulk electrical conductivity were investigated. Seeds of nine soybean cultivars were hand harvested at R8 maturation stage in Londrina, PR., Brazil in 1995/96. Seeds were electrical conductivity tested using four replicates of 50 seeds per cultivar soaked in 75 mi of deionized water at 25 degrees C for 24 hours. Seed coat lignin content was determined using the potassium permanganate method. There was a significant relationship (R-2 = 0.84**) between electrical conductivity and seed coat lignin content, the latter being a characteristic that varies among soybean genotypes; the higher the amount of lignin in the seed coat, the lower the levels of seed exudates to the soaking solution and consequently the lower the electrical conductivity. It was concluded that seed soaking electrical conductivity is influenced by the seed coat lignin content, which is a characteristic that varies among soybean genotypes. Additionally, the EC test can be used as a valuable tool in the screening process for this characteristic, which is desirable for genetically improving soybean seed quality.

Effects of physical exercise and cinnamon extract on blood chemistry of type 1 diabetic rats

The present study was designed to analyze the effects of the association between cinnamon extract and aerobic exercise on the glycemic control and serum lipid profile of diabetic rats. Fifty Wistar male rats divided into five groups: control (C), sedentary nondiabetic rats; diabetic (D), sedentary diabetic rats; diabetic cinnamon (DC), sedentary diabetic rats that received cinnamon extract; diabetic exercise (DE), sedentary diabetic rats subjected to physical training; and diabetic cinnamon exercise (DCE), diabetic rats that received cinnamon extract and were subjected to physical training. For the induction of diabetes, the rats received alloxan. The cinnamon was administered to once a day for four weeks. The groups performed swimming exercises for one hour each day with lead overloads (3% - 5% of b.w) for five days a week for four weeks. Body weight loss was lower in the DE group compared to the other diabetic groups. The basal serum glucose of all the diabetic groups was higher compared to the control group. Group D had higher serum cholesterol concentrations compared to the DE and DCE groups. The resting blood lactate in group D was higher than the resting blood lactate in the DC and DE groups. Aerobic exercise partially counteracted the diabetic effects on body weight, serum cholesterol and blood lactate concentrations. No additional beneficial effects of cinnamon extract and aerobic exercise were observed on the parameters studied.

Seed and seedling surface-sterilization for in vitro culture of tillandsia gardneri (Bromeliaceae)

Tillandsia gardneri is a bromeliad with ornamental value and a wide geographical distribution over Brazil. However, due to habitat loss and illegal overcollection in the wild it is included as a vulnerable species in the official list of endangered plants of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The development of a protocol for T. gardneri seed propagation in vitro may be useful for reintroducing plants in their natural habitats, and for germplasm conservation. A difficult problem encountered during the establishment of an in vitro culture is explants disinfection, especially when working with endangered species, from which explant availability is restricted. Thus, the establishment of a sterilization protocol is crucial for the initiation and success of a micropropagation system for T. gardneri. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of sodium hypochlorite concentration and exposure time in seed and seedling surface disinfection, tissue sensitivity and development. Sodium hypochlorite solutions (10 or 20%/5, 10 or 15 min; 25%/5 or 10 min; and 50%/5 min) were effective in eliminating seed superficial contaminants. There was no significant difference among the effective sterilization treatments in relation to seed germination (%), and seedling length and number of leaves, after 120 days in vitro. Also, no damage to seed and seedling tissues were observed. Surface sterilization of seedlings, for initiation of an in vitro culture, required higher concentrations of sodium hypochlorite (25%/15 min; 20 or 50%/5, 10 or 15 min; and 40%/5 and 10 min) for controlling fungal and yeast contamination, compared to seed sterilization. No significant differences among these treatments were found in relation to seedling length and number of leaves, after 60 days in vitro.

Antioxidant capacity and biological activity of essential oil and methanol extract of Conobea scoparioides (Cham. & Schltdl.) Benth

Os óleos essenciais da planta sub-aquática Conobea scoparioides (fresca e previamente seca) apresentaram rendimentos de 3,4 e 3,3%, respectivamente. Os principais constituintes identificados foram o éter metílico do timol (39,6 e 47,7%), timol (40,0 e 26,4%), α-felandreno (12,1 e 14,3%) e p-cimeno (1,5 e 1,7%), totalizando mais de 90% nos referidos óleos. A concentração de seqüestro do radical DPPH (CE50) dos óleos e extrato foi de 46,7 ± 3,6 µg mL^-1 para a planta fresca (CsO-f), de 56,1 ± 2,4 µg mL^-1 para a planta seca (CsO-d), e de 23,0 ± 2,2 µg mL^-1 para o extrato metanólico (CsE-d). O valor do extrato é comparável ao BHT (19,8 ± 0,5 µg mL^-1), usado como padrão antioxidante. O valor médio dos óleos é duas vezes menor, mas igualmente importante como agente antioxidante. O teor de Fenólicos Totais (TP, 124,6 ± 8,7 mg GAE per g) e o Trolox Equivalente (TEAC, 144,1 ± 4,9 mg TE per g) do extrato metanólico confirmaram a significativa atividade antioxidante de C. scoparioides. Da mesma forma, nos bioensaios com larva de camarão (Artemia salina) o valor médio da concentração letal dos óleos (CL₅₀, 7,7 ± 0,3 µg mL^-1) foi dez vezes maior que no extrato metanólico (CL₅₀, 77,6 ± 7,1 µg mL^-1) mostrando importante atividade biológica.

Antioxidant capacity and biological activity of essential oil and methanol extract of Hyptis crenata Pohl ex Benth

O óleo essencial das folhas e ramos finos frescos e secos de Hyptis crenata forneceu os seguintes rendimentos, 1,4% e 0,9%. Os constituintes voláteis principais foram α-pineno (22,0%; 19,5%), 1,8-cineol (17,6%; 23,2%), β-pineno (17,0%: 13,8%), cânfora (4,7%; 11,6%), limoneno (5,4%; 4,4%) e γ-terpineno (3,5%; 2,4%), totalizando mais de 70% nos óleos. A atividade de seqüestro do radical DPPH para o extrato metanólico (CE₅₀, 16,7 + 0,4 µg/mL) foi comparável ao do BHT (19,8 ± 0,5 µg/mL) mostrando uma significante atividade antioxidante. Os óleos apresentaram baixa atividade. O teor de fenólicos totais (TP, 373,0 + 15,9 mg GAE/g) e equivalente trolox (TEAC, 226,8 + 0,5 mg TE/g) confirmaram a atividade antioxidante do extrato metanólico, que pode ser atribuída à presença de compostos fenólicos polares. No teste com larvas de camarão as concentrações letais para o óleo e extrato metanólico foram 6,7 + 0,2 µg/mL e 13,0 + 3,7 µg/mL, respectivamente, fornecendo importante evidência de suas atividade biológicas.

HYGROSCOPIC PROPERTIES OF ORANGE PULP AND PEEL

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

Sanitizers effect in mango pulp and peel antioxidant compounds

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