The Effects of Propolis and its Isolated Compounds on Cytokine Production by Murine Macrophages

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

Beneficial effects of dietary copper supplementation on serum lipids and antioxidant defenses in rats

Background: A nutrition experiment was utilized to investigate the effects of two levels of dietary copper (Cu) supplementation on lipid profile and antioxidant defenses in serum of rats. Methods: Male Wistar rats (180-200 g; n = 10) were divided into three groups: control group (A), fed a basal diet with 6 mu g Cu/g, and rats fed a basal diet with Cu (CuSO4) supplementation from aqueous solutions, for 4 weeks at the final concentrations of 2 mg Cu/rat (B) and 3 mg Cu/rat (C). Results: No significant changes were observed in final body weight, body weight gain, food consumption, total serum protein and high-density lipoprotein. Cu supplementation reduced the triacylglycerol (TG), total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C). The LDL-C/TG ratio and total antioxidant substances (TAS) were higher in (B) and (C) groups than in (A) group. There was a positive correlation between Cu supplementation and ceruloplasmin levels. The markers of oxidative stress, lipid hydroperoxide and lipoperoxide were decreased with Cu supplementation. No alterations were observed in superoxide dismutase, indicating saturation of Cu enzyme site. The glutathione peroxidase activities (GSH-Px) were increased in both Cu-supplemented groups. Considering that a copper-selenium interaction can affect mineral availability of both elements, the effects of Cu on TAS and GSH-Px activities were associated with increased selenium disposal. Conclusions: Dietary Cu supplementation had beneficial effects on lipid profile by improving endogenous antioxidant defenses and decreasing the oxidative stress in vivo. Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel.

N-acetylcysteine in high-sucrose diet-induced obesity: Energy expenditure and metabolic shifting for cardiac health

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

Purification and properties of an acid beta-xylosidase from Penicillium sclerotiorum

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Interaction between Advanced Glycation End Products Formation and Vascular Responses in Femoral and Coronary Arteries from Exercised Diabetic Rats

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

Potencial antioxidante de extratos de sementes de limão (Citrus limon)

The present study aimed at evaluating the behavior of the soybean oil with the addition of lemon seed extracts (Citrus limon), in different concentrations, through oxidative stability and also at measuring the antioxidant activity using the DPPH free radical method and total phenolic compounds. The concentration of 2,400 mg.kg(-1) for the lemon seed extract, galego variety, was the one that provided the soybean oil with the best oxidative stability. The maximum antioxidant activities and the concentration values of the natural extract sufficient to obtain 50% of maximum effect, estimated at 100% (EC(50)), determined by DPPH for the extract and gallic acid were 70.58%, 69.94 mu g.mL(-1) and 75.07%, 64.73 mu g.mL(-1), respectively. The concentration of total phenolic compounds, determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method, was of 76 mg.g(-1). Thus, it can be said that the lemon seed extract, galego, presents natural antioxidant action demonstrating potential to be used in foods.

Composição centesimal, potencial antioxidante e perfil dos ácidos graxos de sementes de jambolão (Syzygium cumini L.)

The aim of this work was to characterize jambolan seeds regarding its centesimal composition, and also to evaluate its antioxidant potential and fatty acid profile. To obtain the extract, dehydrated and grinded seeds were extracted with ethyl alcohol for 30 minutes, at a proportion of 1:3 of seeds:ethyl alcohol, under continuous agitation, at room temperature. Afterwards, the mixture was filtered and the supernatant subjected to a rotoevaporator at 40 degrees C aiming to determine, by direct weighing, the extract's dry matter yield. According to the results of centesimal composition, higher values were found for total carbohydrates. Ethanolic extract from jambolan seeds exhibited antioxidant potential, given by the EC(50) value, as well as by the amount of total phenolic compounds. In the oil studied, higher percentage of unsatured fatty acids stood out, being linoleic acid the main component, considered an essential fatty acid.

Antioxidant potential of oregano extract (Origanum vulgare L.)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Serum melatonin level and oxidative stress in sickle cell anemia

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Electrochemical evaluation of lipophilic antioxidants from Iryanthera juruensis fruits (Myristicaceae)

Testes em placas de CCDC reveladas com solução de beta-caroteno mostraram a presença de duas substâncias com propriedades antioxidantes no extrato hexânico. Elas foram isoladas e identificadas como 3-metil-sargacromenol (1) and sargacromenol (2). O extrato hexânico forneceu ainda o ácido 3-metil-sargaquinóico (3) e o ácido sargaquinóico (4). O comportamento eletroquímico destas substâncias foi investigado em CH2Cl2/Bu4NBF4 sobre eletrodo de carbono vítreo. A oxidação do grupo fenólico nos tocotrienóis 1 and 2 é responsável por um pico anódico em potenciais de +0.23V e +0.32V, os quais são correlacionados com sua atividade antioxidante. O mecanismo de oxidação é comparado com o comportamento eletroquímico do antioxidante alfa-tocopherol.

Equilibrium, Thermoanalytical and Spectroscopic Studies to Characterize Phytic Acid Complexes with Mn(II) and Co(II)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Thermal behaviour study of solid state compounds of manganese (II), zinc (II) and lead (II) with cinnamic acid

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

Alkyl Hydroxybenzoic Acid Derivatives that Inhibit HIV-1 Protease Dimerization

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

HPLC-ESIMSn Profiling, Isolation, Structural Elucidation, and Evaluation of the Antioxidant Potential of Phenolics from Paepalanthus geniculatus

The methanol extract of the flowers of Paepalanthus geniculatus Kunth. showed radical-scavenging activity in the TEAC assay. An analytical approach based on HPLC:ESIMSn was applied to obtain the metabolite profile of this extract and led to the rapid identification of 19 polyphenolic compounds comprising flavonoids and naphthopyranones. The new naphthopyranone (10, 16), quercetagetin (1, 5, 7, 13), and galetine derivatives (9, 11, 17, 19), and a flavonol glucoside cyclodimer in the truxillate form (12), were identified. Compounds 2, 6, and 7 showed the highest antioxidant capacity and ability to affect the levels of intracellular ROS in human prostate cancer cells (PC3).

Chemical and Antidiarrheal Studies of Plinia cauliflora

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