Determination of disease biomarkers in Eucalyptus by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography and multivariate data analysis

In this paper is reported the use of the chromatographic profiles of volatiles to determine disease markers in plants - in this case, leaves of Eucalyptus globulus contaminated by the necrotroph fungus Teratosphaeria nubilosa. The volatile fraction was isolated by headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and analyzed by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-fast quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC. ×. GC-qMS). For the correlation between the metabolic profile described by the chromatograms and the presence of the infection, unfolded-partial least squares discriminant analysis (U-PLS-DA) with orthogonal signal correction (OSC) were employed. The proposed method was checked to be independent of factors such as the age of the harvested plants. The manipulation of the mathematical model obtained also resulted in graphic representations similar to real chromatograms, which allowed the tentative identification of more than 40 compounds potentially useful as disease biomarkers for this plant/pathogen pair. The proposed methodology can be considered as highly reliable, since the diagnosis is based on the whole chromatographic profile rather than in the detection of a single analyte. © 2013 Elsevier B.V..

In vitro assessment of the cytotoxic, apoptotic, and mutagenic potentials of Isatin

Isatin (1H-indole-2,3-dione) is a chemical found in various medicinal plant species and responsible for a broad spectrum of pharmacological and biological properties that may be beneficial to human health, as an anticonvulsant, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and anticancer agent. The aim of the present study was to determine in vitro the cytotoxic, mutagenic, and apoptotic effects of isatin on CHO-K1 and HeLa cells using the MTT viability assay (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide), micronucleus (MN) test, apoptosis index, and nuclear division index (NDI). The 5 isatin concentrations evaluated in the mutagenicity and apoptosis tests were 0.5, 1, 5, 10, and 50 μM, selected through a preliminary MTT assay. Positive (doxorubicin, DXR) and negative (phosphate buffered saline, PBS) control groups were also included in the analysis. Isatin did not exert a mutagenic effect on CHO-K1 after 3 and 24 h of treatment or on HeLa cells after 24 h. However, 10 and 50 μM concentrations inhibited cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis in both CHO-K1 and HeLa cells. Data indicate that the cytotoxic, apoptotic, and antiproliferative effects of isatin were concentration independent and cell line independent. The authors thank Profa Dra Eiko Nakagawa Itano for the use the spectrophotometer and the Conselho Nacional para o Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico for master's scholarships to P. M. Cândido-Bacani and grants to T. R. Calvo, W. Vilegas, E. A. Varanda and I. M. S. Cólus. The Conselho Nacional para o Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico provided funding for this study. © 2013 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

New ruthenium(II)/phosphines/diimines complexes: Promising antitumor (human breast cancer) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis fighting agents

The synthesis and characterization of ruthenium compounds of the type [RuCl2(P)2(N-N)] [(P)2 = (PPh3) 2, dppb = 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butano; dppp = 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane; N-N = 5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′dipyridyl (5,5′-mebipy) or 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′dipyridyl (4,4′-mebipy)] are described. The complexes were characterized using elemental analysis, UV-Vis and infrared spectroscopies, cyclic voltammetry, and X-ray crystallography. In vitro evaluation of the complexes, using the MTT methodology, revealed their cytotoxic activities in a range of 5.4-15.7 μM against the MDA-MB-231 breast tumor cells and showed that, in this case, they are more active than the reference metallodrug cisplatin. The in vitro antimycobacterial activities of the complexes had their Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) for MTB cell growth measured, by the REMA method. The MICs for these complexes were found to be between 12.5 and 25.0 μg/mL. The results are comparable with the second line drug cycloserine (MIC = 12.5-50.0 μg/mL), commonly used in the treatment of TB. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dereplication of phenolic derivatives of qualea grandiflora and qualea cordata (vochysiaceae) using liquid chromatography coupled with ESI-QToF-MS/MS

A rational and selective method using on-line high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with electrospray quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-QToF-MS/MS) was established for the dereplication of phenolic derivatives from Qualea grandiflora and Qualea cordata. The selection of the extracts was based on the antioxidant capacity measured by in vitro DPPH assay. The HPLC-ESI-QToF-MS/MS analysis was conducted by on-flow detection, using high-resolution mass/ratio ions as well as collision induced MS/MS experiments for selected protonated ions. The dereplication of the EtOAc fraction from the hydro alcohol extract from the stem bark of Q. grandiflora allowed the detection of the flavonoids: 3',4',5',5,6,7-hexahydroxy- 8 methylflavanone, 8-methyl-naringenine and 3',7-dimethoxy-8 methyl-4',5,7- trihydroxyflavanone, as well as a benzophenone derivatives: bis(4,6-dimethoxy-2- hydroxy-3-methylphenyl)- metanone, 3',4'-dimethoxy-8-methyl-5,6,7 trihydroxyflavanone, 7-methoxy-6-methyl- 3',4',5 trihydroxyflavanone, 6,8-dimethyl-3' methoxy-4',5,7 trihydroxyflavanone and 3',5'-dimethoxy-6,8- dimethyl-4',5,7 trihydroxyflavanone were detected in the EtOAc fraction from the hydro-alcohol extract from the leaves of Q. cordata. © 2013 Sociedade Brasileira de Química.

Eumelanin thin films: Solution-processing, growth, and charge transport properties

Eumelanin pigments show hydration-dependent conductivity, broad-band UV-vis absorption, and chelation of metal ions. Solution-processing of synthetic eumelanins opens new possibilities for the characterization of eumelanin in thin film form and its integration into bioelectronic devices. We investigate the effect of different synthesis routes and processing solvents on the growth, the morphology, and the chemical composition of eumelanin thin films using atomic force microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. We further characterize the films by transient electrical current measurements obtained at 50% to 90% relative humidity, relevant for bioelectronic applications. We show that the use of dimethyl sulfoxide is preferable over ammonia solution as processing solvent, yielding homogeneous films with surface roughnesses below 0.5 nm and a chemical composition in agreement with the eumelanin molecular structure. These eumelanin films grow in a quasi layer-by-layer mode, each layer being composed of nanoaggregates, 1-2 nm high, 10-30 nm large. The transient electrical measurements using a planar two-electrode device suggest that there are two contributions to the current, electronic and ionic, the latter being increasingly dominant at higher hydration, and point to the importance of time-dependent electrical characterization of eumelanin films. This journal is © 2013 The Royal Society of Chemistry.

Improvement in clinical signs and cellular immunity of dogs with visceral leishmaniasis using the immunomodulator P-MAPA

This study investigated the immunotherapeutic potential of the protein aggregate magnesium-ammonium phospholinoleate-palmitoleate anhydride immuno-modulator (P-MAPA) on canine visceral leishmaniasis. Twenty mongrel dogs presenting clinical symptoms compatible with leishmaniasis and diagnosis confirmed by the detection of anti-leishmania antibodies were studied. Ten dogs received 15 doses of the immunomodulator (2.0mg/kg) intramuscularly, and 10 received saline as a placebo. Skin and peripheral blood samples were collected following administration of the immunomodulator. The groups were followed to observe for clinical signals of remission; parasite load in the skin biopsies using real-time PCR, the cytokines IL-2, IL-10 and IFN-γ in the supernatant of peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated in vitro with either total promastigote antigen or phytohemagglutinin measured by capture ELISA, and changes in CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subpopulations evaluated by flow cytometry. Comparison between the groups showed that treatment with the immunomodulator promoted improvement in clinical signs and a significant reduction in parasite load in the skin. In peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures, supernatants showed a decrease in IL-10 levels and an increase in IL-2 and IFN-γ. An increase in CD8+ T cells was observed in peripheral blood. In addition, the in vitro leishmanicidal action of P-MAPA was investigated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and no leishmanicidal activity was detected. These findings suggest that P-MAPA has potential as an immunotherapeutic drug in canine visceral leishmaniasis, since it assists in reestablishing partial immunocompetence of infected dogs. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Immunomodulatory/anti-inflammatory effects of Baccharis dracunculifolia leaves

A possible immunomodulatory/anti-inflammatory effect of Baccharis dracunculifolia (Bd) and its major compound - caffeic acid (Ca) - on cytokines production (IL-1b, IL-6 and IL-10) by murine macrophages was investigated. Cells were incubated with Bd and Ca, and the inhibitory concentrations were tested before or after macrophages challenge with LPS. Bd and Ca stimulated IL-1b and inhibited IL-6 and IL-10 production. In LPS-challenge protocols, Bd prevented LPS action either before or after LPS challenge, whereas Ca prevented LPS effects only after LPS addition. Bd modulatory action on cytokines production may be at least in part mediated by Ca, since it has been shown to inhibit the transcription factor NF-kB. Further studies are still needed to evaluate Bd efficacy in inflammatory diseases, in order to explore its antiinflammatory activity in vivo. © 2013 Taylor & Francis.

Avaliação da capacidade antioxidante de extratos vegetais de plantas brasileiras e sua contribuição ao estudo de inibição da enzima mieloperoxidase

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Pesquisa e desenvovimento de novos materiais microporosos e mesoporosos para uso em ressonância magnética nuclear por imagem como agentes de contraste

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Crioconservação de embriões de peixes neotropicais

Pós-graduação em Biologia Animal - IBILCE

Estudos das propriedades estruturais de análogos substituídos com 'TRP POT.2,7 ou 24' do fragmento com 30 resíduos da região amino-terminal da Esticolisina II

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Bidestilação em alambiques contendo dispositivos de prata e cobre e sua influência na qualidade da cachaça

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

Avaliação da taxa de filtração glomerular e excreção fracionada de eletrólitos de cães com doença renal crônica tratados com dimetilsulfóxido (DMSO)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Ecotoxicidade e eficácia de sanitizante na redução de Aeromonas hydrophila na água de cultivo e pele de Oreochromus niloticus

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Avaliação do potencial cancerígeno do Diuron [3-(3,4-Diclorofenil)-1,1-Dimetiluréia] no modelo de iniciação-promoção cutânea em camundongos swiss

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)