Fungos endofíticos: Uma fonte inexplorada e sustentável de novos e bioativos produtos naturais

Endophytic fungi are a rich source of new and biologically active natural products. They colonize a relatively unexplored ecological habitat and their secondary metabolism is particularly active, presumably due to metabolic interactions with their hosts. In the course of our continuing investigations for new and bioactive compounds from endophytic fungi from brazilian flora Alibertia macrophylla, Caseria sylvestris, Ocotea corymbosa, Cassia spectabilis, Piper aduncum, Cryptocaria mandioccana, Xylopia aromatica and Palicourea marcgravii were investigated. Forty two natural products were isolated and their structures were established on the basis of comprehensive spectral analysis, mainly using 1D and 2D NMR experiments. The compounds were tested in their antifungal, antioxidant, anticholinesterasic and anticancer activities.

Anticancer effects of geopropolis produced by stingless bees on canine osteosarcoma cells in vitro

Geopropolis is produced by indigenous stingless bees from the resinous material of plants, adding soil or clay. Its biological properties have not been investigated, such as propolis, and herein its cytotoxic action on canine osteosarcoma (OSA) cells was evaluated. OSA is a primary bone neoplasm diagnosed in dogs being an excellent model in vivo to study human OSA. spOS-2 primary cultures were isolated from the tumor of a dog with osteosarcoma and incubated with geopropolis, 70% ethanol (geopropolis solvent), and carboplatin after 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours. Cell viability was analyzed by the crystal violet method. Geopropolis was efficient against canine OSA cells in a dose- and time-dependent way, leading to a distinct morphology compared to control. Geopropolis cytotoxic action was exclusively due to its constituents since 70% ethanol (its solvent) had no effect on cell viability. Carboplatin had no effect on OSA cells. Geopropolis exerted a cytotoxic effect on canine osteosarcoma, and its introduction as a possible therapeutic agent in vivo could be investigated, providing a new contribution to OSA treatment. © 2013 Naiara Costa Cinegaglia et al.

Thermal behaviour of α-hydroxyisobutyric acid, sodium α-hydroxyisobutyrate and its compounds with some bivalent transition metal ions

Synthesis, characterization and thermal decomposition of bivalent transition metal α-hydroxyisobutyrates, M(C4H7O 3)2·nH2O (M = Mn(II), Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II)), as well as the thermal behaviour of α-hydroxyisobutyric acid and its sodium salt were investigated employing simultaneous thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), TG-DSC coupled to FTIR, elemental analysis and complexometry. All the compounds were obtained as dihydrated, except the copper one which was obtained in the anhydrous state. The thermal decomposition of the anhydrous compounds occurs in a single or two steps and the final residue up to 235 C (Mn), 300 C (Fe), 305 C (Co), 490 C (Ni), 260 C (Cu) and 430 C (Zn) is Mn2O3, Fe2O3, Co3O 4, NiO, CuO and ZnO, respectively. The results also provided information concerning the ligand's denticity and identification of the gaseous products evolved during the thermal decomposition of these compounds. Copyright © 2013 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Synthesis, characterization and thermal behaviour of solid-state compounds of folates with some bivalent transition metals ions

Solid-state M-L compounds, where M stands for bivalent Mn, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn and L is folate (C19H17N7O6), have been synthesized. Simultaneous thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), X-ray powder diffractometry, infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), TG-DSC coupled to FTIR, elemental analysis and high-resolution continuum source flame atomic absorption spectrometry technique (HR-CS FAAS) were used to characterize and to study the thermal behaviour of these compounds. The results provided information concerning the composition, dehydration, thermal stability and thermal decomposition. © 2013 Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungary.

Fatty acids and some antioxidant compounds of Psidium guajava seed oil

Physico-chemical characteristics, fatty acid and tocopherol compositions, total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of crude oil extracted from guava (Psidium guajava var. pomifera) seeds were investigated. Oil yield from the seeds was 14.0%. Data obtained for the analytical indexes compared well with those of others edible oils. The oil showed high levels of unsaturated fatty acids (88.1%), mainly linoleic acid (78.4%). The tocopherol and total phenolic contents in the oil amounted to 29.2 and 92.3 mg/100 g, respectively. The guava seed oil exhibited a great DPPH · scavenging activity showing EC₅₀ of 12.9 g oil/g [DPPH · ] -1 and antiradical efficiency of 7.9×10 -2 . Therefore, the potential utilization of the guava seed oil as a raw material of food, chemical and pharmaceutical industries appears to be favourable and provides the use of a renewable resource, adding value to agricultural products.

Bioactive compounds present in the Mediterranean sofrito

Sofrito is a key component of the Mediterranean diet, a diet that is strongly associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular events. In this study, different Mediterranean sofritos were analysed for their content of polyphenols and carotenoids after a suitable work-up extraction procedure using liquid chromatography/electrospray ionisation-linear ion trap quadrupole-Orbitrap-mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-LTQ-Orbitrap- MS) and liquid chromatography/electrospray ionisation tandem triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS-MS). In this way, 40 polyphenols (simple phenolic and hydroxycinnamoylquinic acids, and flavone, flavonol and dihydrochalcone derivatives) were identified with very good mass accuracy (<2 mDa), and confirmed by accurate mass measurements in MS and MS2 modes. The high-resolution MS analyses revealed the presence of polyphenols never previously reported in Mediterranean sofrito. The quantification levels of phenolic and carotenoid compounds led to the distinction of features among different Mediterranean sofritos according to the type of vegetables (garlic and onions) or olive oil added for their production. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Extrusion of flavored corn grits: Structural characteristics, volatile compounds retention and sensory acceptability

The effects of the moisture content of the raw material, extrusion temperature and screw speed on flavor retention, sensory acceptability and structure of corn grits extrudates flavored with isovaleraldehyde, ethyl butyrate and butyric acid were investigated. Higher temperature resulted in more expanded extrudates with lower density and cutting force, while higher moisture content increased ethyl butyrate retention. The most acceptable extrudates were those obtained with low moisture content, under conditions of high extrusion temperature and high screw speed, or low screw speed and low extrusion temperature, whereas the aroma intensity closest to the ideal was observed under conditions of low extrusion temperature and low moisture content of the raw material. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Efeito da polpa de maracujá amarelo (Passiflora. edulis f. flavicarpa Deg) sobre os danos genotóxicos e nefrotóxicos imediatos induzidos pela cisplatina em ratos espontaneamente hipertensos

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Evolution of the concentration of phenolic compounds in cachaça during aging in an oak (Quercus sp.) barrel

Cachaça is a traditional and popular Brazilian drink obtained by distilling fermented sugar cane juice. Among the steps involved in its production, natural aging in wood containers for a certain period of time can lead to alterations in the chemical composition, aroma, flavor and color of the beverage. The present work sought to determine the concentration of phenolic compounds after different periods of aging of the cachaça in an oak (Quercus sp.) barrel. Periodic collections during the aging period were performed, and thirteen selected phenolic compounds were determined by high performance liquid chromatography with a diode-array detector (HPLC-DAD). A progressive increase in the concentration of the compounds analyzed was observed, with syringaldehyde and gallic acid as the compounds encountered in the highest concentration.