Fibrolytic enzyme production of Myceliophthora thermophila M.7.7. using inexpensive carbon sources and mineral nutrients

This study investigated the effect of inexpensive carbon and nitrogen sources on enzyme production by Myceliophthora thermophila M.7.7 in solid-state fermentation. Three kinds of lignocellulosic waste (corn straw, sugarcane bagasse and sugarcane straw) and six nitrogen sources (urea, calcium nitrate, analytical ammonium sulphate, yeast extract, agricultural fertilizer NPK 20-05-20 and fertilizing grade ammonium sulphate) were tested. Some physical-chermical parameters of the fermentation, such as temperature, initial pH and moisture content of the substrate on enzyme production, were evoluated. The maximum activities of xylanase (446.9 U/ml) endoglucanase (94.7 U/ml) and beta-glucosidase (2.8 U/ml) were observed in a mixture of corn straw and wheat bran (1:1 w/w) as the carbon source using fertilizer grade ammonium sulphate as the nitrogen source. This production occurred for an incubation period of 96 h, at 40°C, with initial moisture content of 70% and pH 5.0. These results have significant interest since they could be used for the future production of enzymes in a low-cost industrial process.

Effect of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) extracts on the oxidative stability and sensory acceptability of soybean oil

Background: Plant extracts have b een used as an alternative to the use of synthetic antioxidants in order to preserve oils fromoxidative degradation. Additionally, these extracts add special flavors and aromas to the food. Thus, the objective of this studywas to evaluate the effect of hydroethanolic extracts of fresh and freeze-dried rosemar y in the oxidative stability of soybean oilunder accelerated storage in an oven. Results: The application of the extracts in the oil showed that that freeze-dried extract was better in reducing the formation ofoxidation products, showing 8.6 meq kg−1of peroxides after 20 days of storage. On the other hand, the mixture of the naturalextract with t-butylhydroquinone conferred better oxidative stability index until the 20th day, 9.7 h. Both extracts prevented theloss of tocopherol, not d iffering between each other (P > 0.05), and present approximately 505 mg kg−1of residual tocopherols.The sensory evaluation revealed that consumers accepted equally the oils added and not added of the rosemary extracts. Conclusion: The extracts are therefore potential sources of natural antioxidants and they would be well accepted by consumersif applied by the food industry to replace synthetic antioxidants.

Antioxidant effect of thyme ( -L.) and oregano ( -L.) extracts in soybean oil under thermoxidation

The rancidity of vegetable oils is considered one problem in the food industry,thus, are added antioxidants in food. The objective of this study was to investigatethe antioxidant effect of oregano and thyme extracts in soybean oil underthermoxidation. Soybean oil containing 3,000 mg/kg of oregano and thyme oleo-resins and the mixture of both, as well as soybean oil containing tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ; 50 mg/kg) and soybean oil free of were subjected tothermoxidation. Then, the physicochemical properties and fatty acid profile wereevaluated. Oregano and thyme oleoresins applied separately presented a higherprotective effect, inhibiting a greater formation of polar compounds than the anti-oxidant TBHQ, indicating that the addition of 3,000 mg/kg has ensured a betteroxidative protection than the synthetic antioxidant. The increase in the concentra-tion of oleoresins by mixing thyme and oregano extracts has given a higher pro-tective effect.

Determination of lead in eye shadow and blush by high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry employing directSolid sampling

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

Photocatalytic decomposition of rhodamine-B using scandium and silver-modified TiO2 Powders

Semiconductor-mediated photocatalytic oxidation is an interesting method for water decontamination and a specially modified TiO2 is said to be a promising material. This study verified that the synthesis of 1wt%Ag modified-Sc0.01Ti0.99O1.995 powder samples prepared by Polymeric Precursor Method is capable of forming a mixture of anatase-rutile phase with high photocatalytic performance. This kind of material is found to have a lower bandgap compared to the TiO2-anatase commercial powders, which can be associated to an innovative hybrid modification. The simultaneous insertion of scandium in order to generate a p-type semiconductor and a metallic silver nanophase acting as an electron trapper demonstrated being capable of enhancing the degradation of rhodamine B compared to the commercial TiO2. In spite of the different thermal treatments or phase amounts, the hybrid modified powder samples showed higher photocatalytic activity than the commercial ones.

Chemical characterization and bioactivity of epoxy resin and Portland cement-based sealers with niobium and zirconium oxide radiopacifiers

The purpose of this study was to characterize and to evaluate the bioactivity potential of experimental root canal sealers (ES) based on Portland cement, epoxy resin with nano- and micro-particles of niobium or zirconium oxide used as radiopacifiers in comparison to AH Plus and MTA Fillapex. Methods Specimens of the sealers (10 mm in diameter × 1 mm thick) were prepared and the radiopacity was evaluated according to ISO 6876 (2012) specifications. Characterization of the sealers was performed under the scanning electron microscope (SEM) immediately after setting and after immersion for 28 days in Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS). In addition X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy were also performed. The pH and calcium ion release were measured after 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after completion of seating using a digital pH meter and an atomic absorption spectrophotometer, respectively. Results The experimental sealers exhibited an average radiopacity of 2.5 mm thickness of aluminum, which was similar to MTA Fillapex (P > 0.05) and inferior to AH Plus (P < 0.05). AH Plus did not show bioactivity. Although the experimental sealers did not exhibit the formation of hydration product, they encouraged the deposition of crystalline spherical structures of calcium deficient phosphate. The highest pH and calcium release values were observed with the experimental sealers (P < 0.01). ES-Nb-micro was the only sealer to present hexagonal shaped crystal deposition. Significance Novel root canal sealers based on a mixture of Portland cement, epoxy resin and radiopacifier exhibited a degree of bioactivity although no evidence of cement hydration was demonstrated on material characterization. The radiopacifier particle size had limited effect on the sealer microstructure and chemical properties.

Stability of curcumin microencapsulated by spray and freeze drying in binary and ternary matrices of maltodextrin, gum arabic and modified starch

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

Biomarker evaluation in fish after prolonged exposure to nano-TiO2: influence of illumination conditions and crystal phase

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

Apparent protein and energy digestibility and amino acid availability of corn and co-products in extruded diets for nile tilapia, oreochromis niloticus

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Antiageing mechanisms of a standardized supercritical CO2 preparation of Black Jack (Bidens pilosa L.) in human fibroblasts and skin fragments

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

Evaluation of the genotoxicity of waters impacted by domestic and industrial effluents of a highly industrialized region of So Paulo State, Brazil, by the comet assay in HTC cells

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Role of peptide peptide interactions in aggregation: protonectins observed in equilibrium and replica exchange molecular dynamics simulations

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

Protease-inhibiting, molecular modeling and antimicrobial activities of extracts and constituents from Helichrysum foetidum and Helichrysum mechowianum (compositae)

Background Helichrysum species are used extensively for stress-related ailments and as dressings for wounds normally encountered in circumcision rites, bruises, cuts and sores. It has been reported that Helichysum species are used to relief abdominal pain, heart burn, cough, cold, wounds, female sterility, menstrual pain. Results From the extracts of Helichrysum foetidum (L.) Moench, six known compounds were isolated and identified. They were 7, 4′-dihydroxy-5-methoxy-flavanone (1), 6′-methoxy-2′,4, 4′-trihydroxychalcone (2), 6′-methoxy-2′,4-dihydroxychalcone -4′-O-β-D-glucoside (3), apigenin (4), apigenin-7-O-β-D-glucoside (5), kaur-16-en-18-oic acid (6) while two known compounds 3,5,7-trihydroxy-8-methoxyflavone (12), 4,5-dicaffeoyl quinic acid (13) together with a mixture of phytosterol were isolated from the methanol extract of Helichrysum mechowianum Klatt. All the compounds were characterized by spectroscopic and mass spectrometric methods, and by comparison with literature data. Both extracts and all the isolates were screened for the protease inhibition, antibacterial and antifungal activities. In addition, the phytochemical profiles of both species were investigated by ESI-MS experiments. Conclusions These results showed that the protease inhibition assay of H. foetidum could be mainly attributed to the constituents of flavonoids glycosides (3, 5) while the compound (13) from H. mechowianum contributes to the stomach protecting effects. In addition, among the antibacterial and antifungal activities of all the isolates, compound (6) was found to possess a potent inhibitor effect against the tested microorganisms. The heterogeneity of the genus is also reflected in its phytochemical diversity. The differential bioactivities and determined constituents support the traditional use of the species. Molecular modelling was carried out by computing selected descriptors related to drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity (ADMET).

Attraction of the sand fly Nyssomyia neivai (Diptera: Psychodidae) to chemical compounds in a wind tunnel

Background: Similar to other hematophagous insects, male and female sand flies must feed on plants to obtain sugar and, subsequently, energy to complete their life cycles. A large number of compounds emitted by plants may act as volatile signals to these insects. Primary alcohols have been detected in some plants, but in small amounts. In a previous report, the attractiveness of saturated primary alcohols with 7 to 9 carbons was evaluated for Lutzomyia longipalpis, the vector of American visceral leishmaniasis, with positive results.Methods: In the present study, a wide range of primary alcohols, 3 to 10 carbons, were tested to investigate their attractiveness to another sand fly species, Nyssomyia neivai, a putative vector of American cutaneous leishmaniasis. The mixture of compounds that induced the best sand fly response was also evaluated.Results: Of the eight compounds evaluated, hexanol and octanol elicited the best attractive responses for sand fly females.Conclusion: Phytochemicals may be an interesting source of search for new sand fly attractants.

Effects of the extract and glycoalkaloids of Solanum lycocarpum St. Hill on Giardia lamblia trophozoites

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)