Própolis marrom da vertente atlântica do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil: uma avaliação palinológica

Diversos ecossistemas são encontrados ao longo da área litorânea do Estado do Rio de Janeiro onde se desenvolvem atividades apícolas visando à produção de própolis, entretanto, poucos são os trabalhos que tratam da análise palinológica da própolis dessa região. Foram analisadas vinte e quatro amostras de própolis coletadas ao longo do ano de 1997 e procedentes de três apiários localizados em áreas distintas da vertente atlântica na zona oeste do município do Rio de Janeiro. As análises palinológicas foram realizadas a partir da remoção da cera e resina com etanol e, pelo uso da acetólise, contando-se 500 grãos de pólen por amostra. Em todas as amostras houve a predominância do tipo polínico Eucalyptus em conjunto com Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia, além de Mimosa scabrella que, no entanto, foi observado com valores mais baixos. Cecropia esteve presente na maioria das amostras, mas seus percentuais variaram muito. Anacardiaceae (quatro tipos polínicos), Asteraceae, Citrus, Cocos e Poaceae também ocorreram na maioria das amostras, mas sempre com baixos valores. As formações vegetais originais da região (mata atlântica e restinga) foram representadas por alguns tipos polínicos com percentuais abaixo de 3% (Astronium, Casearia, Celtis, Mansoa/Sparattosperma, Myrcia, Schinus e Tabebuia). As análises estatísticas refletiram a correlação entre as espécies de plantas reconhecidas através de seus grãos de pólen e as áreas de estudo. A análise palinológica da própolis marrom demonstrou principalmente a semelhança dos espectros polínicos nessas três áreas, evidenciando a vegetação alterada (de áreas degradadas e cultivo).

Multivariate analysis of pollen frequency of the native species Escallonia pulverulenta (Saxifragaceae) in Chilean honeys

The aim of this work was the identification of geographic zones suitable for the production of honeys in which pollen grains of Escallonia pulverulenta (Ruiz & Pav.) Pers. (Saxifragaceae) can be detected. The analysis of botanical origin of 240 honey samples produced between La Serena and Puerto Mont (the IV and X Administrative Regions of Chile), allowed the detection of pollen grains of E. pulverulenta in 46 Chilean honeys. The geographic distribution of the honeys studied is presented together with their affinities, through factor analysis and frequency tables. The study was based on the presence of E. pulverulenta pollen. Escallonia pulverulenta pollen percentages oscillated between 0.24% and 78.5%. Seventeen of the studied samples were designated as unifloral - i.e. samples showing more than 45% pollen of a determined plant species. Two of these corresponded to E. pulverulenta (corontillo, madroño or barraco) honeys. The remaining unifloral honeys correspond to 8 samples of Lotus uliginosus Schkuhr (birdsfoot trefoil), 2 samples of Aristotelia chilensis (Molina) Stuntz (maqui) and 1 sample of Escallonia rubra (Ruiz & Pav.) Pers. (siete camisas), Eucryphia cordifolia Cav. (ulmo or muemo), Weinmannia trichosperma Cav. (tineo), Rubus ulmifolius Schott (blackberry) and Brassica rapa L. (turnip). Honeys with different percentages of E. pulverulenta pollen - statistically analyzed through correspondence analysis - could be associated and assigned to one of three geographic types, defined on the basis of this analysis. The geographical type areas defined were the Northern Mediterranean Zone (samples from the IV Region), Central Mediterranean Zone (samples from the V to the VIII regions including two samples of unifloral Escallonia pulverulenta honey), and Southern Mediterranean Zone (samples from the IX Region).

Reproductive biology of Protium spruceanum (Burseraceae), a dominant dioecious tree in vegetation corridors in Southeastern Brazil

We investigated the reproductive biology of Protium spruceanum (Benth.) Engler in vegetation corridors of secondary Atlantic forest in Lavras, southern Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The reproductive phenology was investigated fortnightly over a one year period. Floral biology studies involved pollen viability analysis, nectar production, stigmatic receptivity, pollen tube growth, visiting insect species and visit rates. The small, pale yellowish flowers (0.3-0.4 cm diameter) are functionally unisexual and organized in dense inflorescences (ca. 45 flowers). P. spruceanum presented annual flowering between September and November. Staminate flowers supplied a high percentage of viable pollen (90.6%) and relatively abundant nectar (x = 4.5 μL). Pistillate flowers produced only nectar to flower visitors (x = 4.0 μL). The effective pollinators were Apis mellifera and Trigona sp. (Hymenoptera, Apidae). Pollen tubes of cross-pollinated flowers were observed entering the ovaries 48 h after pollination. The fruiting season is from October to March, with a peak in November, coinciding with the rainfall peak. Ecological implications of these findings, and alternative arguments to explain the high genetic diversity at regional landscape are discussed.

Sistemas de polinização e de reprodução de três espécies de Jatropha (Euphorbiaceae) na Caatinga, semi-árido do Brasil

São apresentados a biologia floral, a dinâmica de produção de néctar, visitantes florais e sistemas reprodutivos de Jatropha ribifolia (Pohl) Baill. (Euphorbiaceae) e uma comparação dos dados obtidos para J. mollissima (Pohl) Baill. e J. mutabilis (Pohl) Baill. O estudo foi desenvolvido em uma área de caatinga hiperxerófila, na Estação Biológica de Canudos, Bahia, Brasil, de maio de 2005 a junho de 2007. As flores das três espécies estão organizadas em dicásios protogínicos. Em J. ribifolia as flores estaminadas e pistiladas duram cerca de 48 horas e a abertura é diurna, enquanto em J. mollissima e J. mutabilis as estaminadas duram entre 12 e 15 horas e as pistiladas entre 36 e 48 horas e a abertura é crepuscular. A produção de néctar, a viabilidade polínica e a receptividade estigmática iniciaram-se logo após a abertura total das flores e se sobrepuseram até sua senescência. A produção de néctar variou ao longo do dia e as flores pistiladas produziram maiores volumes que as estaminadas. A viabilidade polínica e a receptividade estigmática foram observadas nas três espécies durante toda a vida da flor. Houve diferença significativa entre os tratamentos dos sistemas reprodutivos para J. mollissima (KW = 59,796), J. mutabilis (KW = 59,058) e J. ribifolia (KW = 63,660). As três espécies produziram frutos por geitonogamia manual e xenogamia manual e apenas J. ribifolia produziu frutos por geitonogamia espontânea. As abelhas Apis mellifera, Xylocopa frontalis e X. grisescens e os beija-flores Chlorostilbon lucidus e Anopetia gounellei são os polinizadores potenciais de J. mollissima e J. mutabilis. Já para J. ribifolia, os potenciais polinizadores são A. mellifera e X. grisescens. A utilização de uma gama variada de vetores de pólen permite o fluxo polínico e a formação de frutos nas três espécies. Por sua vez, o sequenciamento no período da floração e diferenças nas dimensões das flores e nos horários da antese ajudam a manter o isolamento reprodutivo das três espécies e evitam a perda de pólen interespecífico, que poderia ser alta devido à partilha de alguns dos polinizadores.

Pollen analysis of honey and beebread derived from Brazilian mangroves

Pollen analyses were performed on honey and beebread from hives in apiaries located in two distinct mangrove areas dominated by Laguncularia racemosa (L.) C.F. Gaernt. One apiary was located at the edge of Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro State, and the other near Maranguá Bay, Bahia State, Brazil. We investigated the contribution of nectar and pollen from mangrove vegetation to Apis mellifera L. honey and beebread stocks. Intensive visitation to this plant species by honeybees and the presence of its pollen grains in honey and beebread confirmed the importance of Laguncularia racemosa as a polliniferous and nectariferous species.

Extraction of genomic DNA from Melipona quadrifasciata (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Meliponinae)

The objective of the present study was to test three different procedures for DNA extraction of Melipona quadrifasciata based on existing methods for DNA extraction of Apis, plants and fungi. These methods differ in the concentrations of specific substances in the extraction buffer. The results demonstrate that the method used for Apis is not adequate for DNA extraction from M. quadrifasciata. On the other hand, with minor modifications this method and the methods for plants and fungi were adequate for DNA extraction of this stingless bee, both for adults and larvae

Sex determination in honey bees (Apinae and Meliponinae) and its consequences

The first experiments on sex determination in bees began with Dzierzon, Meves, Nachtsheim, Paulcke, Petrunkewitsch, Manning. Whiting, (1943) found multiple alleles in Bracon xo that are the Rosetta stone of sex determination in Hymenoptera. Whiting also discovered that some species of microhymenoptera do not possess xo sex alleles. Therefore, Hymenoptera apparently presents two types of sex determination superimposed on haplodiploidy. In the panmictic groups hemizygous (xo1, xo2,... xon) and homozygous (xo1xo1, xo2xo2... xonxon) are males while heterozygous (xo1xo2, ... xon-1xon) are females. There is no such series of xon in endogamous Hymenoptera, since the constant elimination of diploid males would be damaging to the population and the mutation of xo to xon would be quickly eliminated. Besides the Whiting hypothesis, four others are discussed. The new hypothesis of genomic imprinting, of Beukeboom, is eliminated since: a) spermatozoa that develop within the egg produce male tissue; b) telitokous parthenogenesis due to the fusion of two haploid cells develop into females; c) last instar larvae treated with juvenile hormone become queens. The Cunha and Kerr hypothesis (female determining genes are totally or partially additive and male determination is totally or partially nonadditive) explains all known cases. The xo is a female determining gene. Sex determination in social bees led to the gradual evolution of two systems of caste determination: one in which queens and workers are similar and males are very different (Apinae), and another in which workers and males are very similar and both very different from the queens (Meliponinae). This second system in stingless bees implies that many of the mutations that improve worker capacities also affect the males that will carry out some activities that in Apis are clearly female ones. Ten of these activities are described.

Worker honeybee hemolymph lipid composition and synodic lunar cycle periodicities

The aim of the present investigation was to extend a previous study, showing a correlation of the variations of hemolymph carbohydrates with synodic lunar-like cycle and its circaseptan harmonics to worker honeybee hemolymph lipids. Hemolymph lipid concentrations of emerging worker imagos were analyzed in terms of one ideal synodic lunar cycle and processed by the cosinor method testing the null hypothesis versus the presence of 29.5-, 14.8- or 7.4-day periods in the data. A rhythmicity statistically compatible with a 29.5-day rhythm was observed for triacylglycerols and steroids as well as for body weight. A circadiseptan rhythm was determined for 1,3 diacylglycerols, while fatty acids and phospholipids exhibited a circaseptan rhythm. An agreement of peaks for triacylglycerols, steroids and body weight at the new moon, but not at the full moon, was noted with respect to trehalose and glucose circadiseptan rhythms. The latter moon-phase timing of peaks and nadirs, compared with that previously determined for trehalose and glucose, appeared to be identical to the circadiseptan rhythm and reciprocal for the circaseptan rhythms of 1,3 diacylglycerols. Reciprocal tendencies in circaseptans of trehalose and glucose on the one hand, and fatty acids and phospholipids on the other are indicated. The underlying causal nexus of these relationships is unknown

Anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic activity of Ipomoea imperati (Vahl) Griseb (Convolvulaceae)

Ipomoea imperati (Convolvulaceae) lives on the sandy shores of the Brazilian coast and in other areas of the world. The anti-inflammatory activity of a methanol-water extract of the leaves of I. imperati was investigated in experimental models of acute and subchronic inflammation. Topical application of the extract (10 mg/ear) inhibited mouse ear edema induced by croton oil (89.0 ± 1.3% by the lipid fraction with an IC50 of 3.97 mg/ear and 57.0 ± 1.3% by the aqueous fraction with an IC50 of 3.5 mg/ear) and arachidonic acid (42.0 ± 2.0% with an IC50 of 4.98 mg/ear and 31.0 ± 2.0% with an IC50 of 4.72 mg/ear). Phospholipase A2, purified from Apis mellifera bee venom, was also inhibited by the extract (5.0 mg/ml lipid and aqueous fraction) in vitro in a dose-dependent manner (85% by the lipid fraction with an IC50 of 3.22 mg/ml and 25% by the aqueous fraction with an IC50 of 3.43 mg/ml). The methanol-water extract of I. imperati (1000 mg/kg) administered by the oral route also inhibited the formation of cotton pellet-induced granulomas (73.2 ± 1.2% by the lipid fraction and 56.14 ± 2.7% by the aqueous fraction) and did not cause gastric mucosal lesions. I. imperati extracts (10 mg/ml) also inhibited in a dose-dependent manner the muscle contractions of guinea pig ileum induced by acetylcholine and histamine (IC50 of 1.60 mg/ml for the lipid fraction and 4.12 mg/ml for the aqueous fraction). These results suggest the use of I. imperati as an anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic agent in traditional medicine.

ESTUDO DA PREPARAÇÃO DOS EXTRATOS DE PRÓPOLIS E SUAS APLICAÇÕES

A obtenção dos extratos etanólicos de própolis foi feita utilizando água e diferentes concentrações de etanol como solventes. Esses extratos foram analisados quanto ao seu espectro de absorção por espectrofotometria na região ultravioleta ("U.V. scanning"), por cromatografia em camada delgada de alta performance e por cromatografia liquida de alta eficiência (CLAE). O pico de absorção máxima de todos os extratos foi a 290 nm sendo o extrato etanólico a 80% o que apresentou maior absorção. A maioria dos flavonóides foram extraídos nas concentrações alcóolica entre 60 a 80%. Foram testados ainda o efeito anrirnicrobiano, antioxidante e anflinflamatório desses extratos. Verificou-se que os extratos etanólicos de própolis entre 60 a 80% inibiu satisfatoriamente o crescimento microbiano e os extratos etanólicos a 70 e 80% apresentaram grande atividade antioxidante, e ainda, o extrato etanólico a 80% foi a que melhor resultado apresentou sobre a inibição da atividade da enzima hialuronidase.

Composição de amostras de mel de abelha Jataí (Tetragonisca angustula latreille, 1811)

As características físico-químicas do mel produzido pelas abelhas sem ferrão ainda são pouco conhecidas, principalmente devido à elevada diversidade da flora apícola e à baixa produção que é inerente a estas espécies. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar as características físico-químicas de 20 amostras de mel de Jataí (Tetragonisca angustula), do município de Piracicaba, estado de São Paulo, contribuindo para o estabelecimento de um padrão de qualidade do mel das abelhas sem ferrão brasileiras, possibilitando o controle da fraude deste produto. Desta maneira, as seguintes análises foram realizadas: açúcares totais, açúcares redutores, sacarose aparente, umidade, hidroximetilfurfural, proteínas, cinzas, pH, acidez, índice de formol, condutividade elétrica, cor, atividade diastásica e atividade de água. Os resultados demonstram que a legislação atual, referente ao mel de Apis mellifera, não é adequada para todos os caracteres analisados, reforçando a necessidade de um padrão próprio para os méis de meliponíneos.

Microbial flora in organic honey samples of africanized honeybees from Parana river islands

The purpose of this study was to verify and compare the main contamination sources and the hygienic/sanitary conditions of organic honey samples of Apis mellifera from Parana River islands. Thirty-three (33) samples were analyzed between January 2005 and August 2006. Eleven (11) samples were collected by beekeepers and twenty-two (22) samples were collected and processed in accordance with ideal personal hygiene norms and good manufacturing practices. The samples underwent microbiological analysis in search of coliforms at 35 ºC and 45 ºC, as well as fungi enumeration analysis. As for fungi counting, the samples harvested by beekeepers showed values above the maximum established by Resolution nº 15/94 of Common Market Group - Mercosul. The results showed that secondary contamination sources are responsible for the reduction of organic honey quality.

Physicochemical characteristics of organic honey samples of africanized honeybees from Parana River islands

This research was carried out to evaluate the physicochemical composition of organic honey in Paraná River islands, in Porto Brasílio, State of Paraná. Honey was harvested directly from super of the colonies in three apiaries spread in the Floresta and Laranjeira Islands, from August 2005 to August 2006. Twenty-four samples of organic honey produced by Africanized honeybees were evaluated. The following parameters were analyzed: pH, acidity, formol index, hydroxymethylfurfural, ashes, color, electric conductivity and moisture. Three replications per sample were performed for laboratorial analysis, giving the means and standard deviation. Most honey samples were in conformity with the Normative Instruction 11 from October 20, 2000. However, 4.17% were not in accordance with the moisture standards, 8.33% showed high concentrations of hydroxymethylfurfural, thus, totalizing 12.50% of non-complying samples. Nevertheless, 87.50% of the analyzed honey samples are within the standards, being characterized as an organic product of excellent quality, with good commercialization perspectives in the market.

Physicochemical and microbiological characterization of cassava flower honey samples produced by africanized honeybees

Cassava producers in the region of Marília-São Paulo are integrating their farming activity with beekeeping to diversify their income. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physicochemical and microbiological quality of honey samples produced by Africanized honeybees Apis mellifera from cassava flower in 2008. Analysis were carried out for pH, total soluble solids (TSS), acidity, moisture, reducing and total sugars, apparent sucrose, hydroxymethylfurfural, color, ash, proteins, water insoluble solids, diastasic activity, mineral content, microbiological evaluations, and mineral and hydrocyanic acid (HCN) content. The honey samples showed physicochemical and microbiological characteristics favorable to commercialization, with the exception of apparent sucrose and acidity, which show the need for a narrow focus of attention to the honey maturation degree at the harvest time and more careful monitoring during production and processing. The commercialization of Brazilian cassava honey, still little explored, can be widely spread in the market since the levels of hydrocyanic acid (HCN) showed no consumption risk; in addition the simultaneous production of honey and cassava provides an alternative to family income increase.

Physicochemical properties and mineral and protein content of honey samples from Ceará state, Northeastern Brazil

This study evaluated the physicochemical properties and protein and mineral content of honey samples from Ceará State, Northeastern Brazil, one of the major honey exporters in the country. Nutritional importance of the minerals detected was also analyzed. Physicochemical properties were examined according to the AOAC and CAC official methods; the protein content was determined using the Bradford method, and the minerals were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. All analyses were performed in triplicate. The levels of macrominerals sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) varied from 1.80-47.20, 21.30-1513.30, 14.58-304.82, and 2.48-28.33 mg/kg, respectively, and the trace elements iron (Fe), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se), and chromium (Cr) varied from 0.12-8.76, 0.07-1.29, 0.06-1.96, 0.07-1.85 mg/kg, 0.36 × 10-3-62.00 × 10-3 and 22.50 × 10-3-170.33 × 10-3 µg/kg, respectively. Myracrodruon urundeuva honey sample had high contents of macrominerals (Na, K, Ca, and Mg). Protein content of the Anacardium occidentale honey sample was the highest (1121.00 µg/g) among the samples analyzed. Among the minerals detected in the honey samples, K showed the highest concentration, followed by Ca, Na, and Mg. The presence of trace elements can show environmental contamination. The honey samples studied were free of trace elements contamination, except for Mn; the Piptadenia moniliformis was the only honey sample that was in compliance with the law requirements. The variations of the chemical constituents in the honey samples are probably related to differences in the floral origin and mineral and protein contents and confirm the nutritional importance of Ceará State honey.