Cellulose acetate membranes for osmosedimentation: Performance and morphological dependence on preparation conditions

Osmosedimentation is a new membrane-assisted separation technique, based on the rapid approach to sedimentation equilibrium when macromolecular solutions are contained within dialysis cells, in contact with solvent via a permselective membrane. Cellulose acetate membranes, cast from ternary solvent (acetone, acetic acid, water) solutions are suitable for osmosedimentation of proteins at low (2000 rpm) centrifugation speeds. Solute retention is improved when acetone-rich casting solutions are used. These membranes were examined by electron and optical microscopy, showing considerable morphological changes in the membrane support layer as the casting solution composition is changed. © 1986.

Chemical and bromatological characteristics of elephant grass silages with the addition of dried cashew stalk

Este trabalho foi conduzido para avaliar o valor nutritivo de silagens de capim-elefante (Pennisetum purpureum, Schum.) com 0, 4, 8, 12 e 16% de pedúnculo de caju (Anacardium occidentale L.) desidratado, com base na matéria natural. Utilizou-se o delineamento inteiramente casualizado com quatro repetições. Como silos experimentais, foram utilizados tambores plásticos de 210 L. Determinaram-se a composição nutricional, os valores de pH e os teores de nitrogênio amoniacal, ácido lático, acético, propiônico e butírico. A inclusão de pedúnculo de caju desidratado na ensilagem de capim-elefante promoveu aumento das concentrações de matéria seca (MS), proteína bruta (PB), extrato etéreo (EE), carboidratos não-fibrosos (CNF), nitrogênio insolúvel em detergente neutro (NIDN, % do N total), nitrogênio insolúvel em detergente ácido (NIDA, % do N total), pH e ácidos lático e propiônico. Por outro lado, os teores de FDN, FDA, hemicelulose, N-NH3 (% do N total) e ácido butírico diminuíram de forma linear conforme aumentaram os níveis do subproduto na ensilagem. O pedúnculo de caju desidratado não influenciou os teores de carboidratos totais e ácido acético das silagens. Esse subproduto pode ser ensilado com o capim-elefante até o nível de 16%, uma vez que aumenta os teores de PB e CNF e reduz os teores de FDN e FDA, melhorando o padrão de fermentação das silagens.

Ulcer healing and mechanism(s) of action involved in the gastroprotective activity of fractions obtained from Syngonanthus arthrotrichus and Syngonanthus bisulcatus

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Utilização de pastagem de alfafa e raspa de mandioca na produção de leite de cabras

Pós-graduação em Zootecnia - FMVZ

Effect of gamma irradiation on caprolactam migration from multilayer polyamide 6 films into food simulants: development and validation of a gas chromatographic method

A GC method to determine caprolactam in water, 15 ethanol, and olive oil food simulants was developed and validated. Linear ranges varied from 0.96 to 642.82 g/mL for water, 0.64 to 800.32 g/mL for 15 ethanol, and 1.06 to 1062.34 g/g for olive oil, with correlation coefficients higher than 0.999. Method precision studies showed RSD values lower than 5.45, while method accuracy studies showed recovery from 72 to 111 for all simulants. The effect of gamma irradiation on caprolactam migration from multilayer polyamide 6 (PA-6) films intended for cheese into water, 15 ethanol, olive oil, and 3 acetic acid simulants was also studied. For migration assay, non-irradiated and irradiated (12 kGy) films were placed in contact with the simulant and exposed at 40C for 10 days. The validated method was used to quantify caprolactam migration from multilayer PA-6 films into the simulants, which ranged from 1.03 to 7.59 mg/kg for non-irradiated films, and from 4.82 to 11.32 mg/kg for irradiated films. Irradiation caused almost no changes in caprolactam levels, with the exception of olive oil, which showed an increase in the caprolactam level. All multilayer PA-6 films were in accordance with the requirements of the legislation for caprolactam migration.

Development and validation of a simple, rapid and stability-indicating high performance liquid chromatography method for quantification of norfloxacin in a pharmaceutical product

A stability-indication high performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the determination of norfloxacin in tablet dosage forms. Optimum separation was achieved in less than 7 minutes using Eclipse Plus Zorbax C18 Agilent, 150 mm×4.6 mm i.d., 5 μm particle size column. The analyte was resolved by using a mobile phase 5% acetic acid aqueous solution and methanol (80:20, v/v) at a flow rate 1.0 ml/min on an isocratic high performance liquid chromatographic system at a wavelength of 277 nm. Linearity, system suitability, precision, sensitivity, selectivity, specific, and robustness were established by International Conference Harmonization guidelines. For stress studies the drug was subjected to photolysis, oxidation, acid, alkaline and neutral conditions. The analytical conditions and the solvent developed provided good resolution within a short analysis time and economic advantages. The proposed method not required sophisticated and expensive instrumentation.

Pharmacological evaluation and preparation of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs containing an N-Acyl hydrazone subunit

A series of anti-inflammatory derivatives containing an N-acyl hydrazone subunit (4a–e) were synthesized and characterized. Docking studies were performed that suggest that compounds 4a–e bind to cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 isoforms, but with higher affinity for COX-2. The compounds display similar anti-inflammatory activities in vivo, although compound 4c is the most effective compound for inhibiting rat paw edema, with a reduction in the extent of inflammation of 35.9% and 52.8% at 2 and 4 h, respectively. The anti-inflammatory activity of N-acyl hydrazone derivatives was inferior to their respective parent drugs, except for compound 4c after 5 h. Ulcerogenic studies revealed that compounds 4a–e are less gastrotoxic than the respective parent drug. Compounds 4b–e demonstrated mucosal damage comparable to celecoxib. The in vivo analgesic activities of the compounds are higher than the respective parent drug for compounds 4a–b and 4d–e. Compound 4a was more active than dipyrone in reducing acetic-acid-induced abdominal constrictions. Our results indicate that compounds 4a–e are anti-inflammatory and analgesic compounds with reduced gastrotoxicity compared to their respective parent non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

A stability-indicating LC method for difloxacin in the presence of degradation products

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

Evaluation and degradation chemistry of orbifloxacin using LC-MS

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

Ácidos orgânicos em dietas de suínos

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

Antiulcerogenic activity of the aqueous fraction of Anacardium humile St. Hil (Anacardiaceae)

Anacardium humile St. Hil. is being used in traditional medicine to treat ulcer. The present work evaluated the mechanisms of action involved in the anti-ulcer properties of the aqueous fraction from leaves of A. humile (AHQ). Gastroprotection of A. humile was evaluated in ethanol and piroxicam models. Mechanisms of action such as mucus production, nitric oxide (NO), sulfhydryl compounds (SH) and the anti-secretory action were evaluated. The acetic acid-induced gastric ulcer model was used to evaluate the A. humile healing properties. Results obtained in the ethanol model showed that AHQ provided significant gastroprotection at all the tested doses (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg). Thereby, the following protocols were performed using the dose capable of producing the most effective gastroprotection, which was the AHQ 200 mg/kg (P < 0.001). Moreover, AHQ (200 mg/kg) protected the mucosa from piroxicam-induced damage. Mucus, NO, and SH did not participate on this gastroprotection. AHQ interfere in H+ secretion in gastric mucosa, thus exerting an anti-secretory activity. Our results suggest that the gastroprotection and cicatrisation process executed by AHQ occurred due to its anti-secretory activity. This study reinforces its traditional medicinal use. Considering that the current therapies are based on the use of anti-secretory agents, the A. humile arises as a promising alternative antiulcer therapy.

Superação de dormência em sementes de messlina (Melissa officinalis L.)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Endophytic microorganisms isolated from coffee leaves, roots and branches as plant growth promoters and biocontrol agents of coffee leaf rust

Suppression of plant diseases and growth promotion due to the action of endophytic microorganisms has been demonstrated in several pathosystems. Experiments under controlled conditions involving 234 endophytic bacteria and fungi isolated from coffee leaves, roots and branches were conducted with the objective of evaluating the germination inhibition of Hemileia vastatrix urediniospores, the control of coffee leaf rust development in tests with leaf discs and on plastic bags seedling, and to promote growth of coffee seedlings. None of the fungal isolates induced plant growth or reduced disease severity. The bacterial isolates (identified by the fatty acids profile analysis) 85G (Escherichia fergusonii), 161G, 163G, 160G, 150G (Acinetobacter calcoaceticus) and 109G (Salmonella enterica) increased plant growth, the maximum being induced by 85G. This isolate produced in vitro phosphatase and indol acetic acid. In assay to control rust on coffee leaf disc, nine bacterial isolates, 64R, 137G, 3F (Brevibacillus choshinensis), 14F (Salmonella enterica), 36F (Pectobacterium carotovorum), 109G (Bacillus megaterium), 115G (Microbacterium testaceum), 116G and 119G (Cedecea davisae) significantly reduced disease severity, when applied 72 or 24h before challenging with the pathogen. In seedling tests most disease severity reduction was achieved by the isolates 109G and 119G. There was no correspondence between the organisms that promoted seedling growth and those that reduced rust severity on seedlings or leaf discs.

Obtenção de vinagre a partir de mandioca e gengibre

Vinegar is a food product that has a great market potential and beneficial health properties. Each type of vinegar has its taste, since the transformation of alcoholic into acetic acid preserves the raw materials fragrancesand other organic acids can be formed. This study produced and characterized vinegars from ginger and cassava starch. The raw materials were first hydrolyzed by an enzymatic process, thenthey suffered an alcoholic fermentation,and finally an acetic fermentation by the Orleans process. The ash quantity, total acidity in acetic acid, dry extract, and alcohol content of the final product were analyzed based on the current vinegars legislation.The results showed that it is possible to obtain vinegars with good quality from ginger and cassava starch.

Métodos de controle químicos e físicos de Marchantia polymorpha

Marchantia polymorpha develops under environmental conditions of high relative humidity and shading. As this habitat is the usually used in nurseries for the growth of seedlings of native tree species that species grows very quickly among developing tree seedlings and causes severe losses. This study was undertaken viewing more efficient either physical or chemical methods for the control of M. polymorpha. Two experiments were conducted under greenhouse conditions. In the first acetic acid (10, 20, and 40% of concentration), oxygenated water (50 and 100%) and the herbicides glyphosate (1,680 g AI ha) and fomesafen (375 g AI ha-1 ) were applied to the seedlings. In the second, the treatments consisted of soil previously submitted to a temperature of 105 °C for 48 hours, soil submitted to solarization in black plastic and in transparent plastic bags for 30 days, preemergence application of diuron (1,750 g AI ha-1 ) and trifluralina (1,575 g AI ha-1 ). The visual evaluations of the methods were performed 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after the application (DAA) and at 60 and 120 DAA, respectively, for the first and the second experiment. Only diuron and trifluralina resulted in a 100% control of M. polymorpha 120 DAA.