Avaliação físico-química e funcional da algaroba prosopis juliflora proveniente da mesorregião agreste do Rio Grande do Norte

Algaroba (Prosopis juliflora) is a typical legume from arid and semi arid regions, which is composed by sugar-rich pods and high protein seeds. Phenolic compounds are secondary metabolites recognized as potent bioactive compounds, found in several vegetables.Therefore, the objective of this work is to characterize the algaroba flour in terms of its physicalchemical composition, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity by DPPH and ABTS methods, a-amylase and a-glycosidase inhibition, as well as to analyze its organic compounds by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Three experimental groups were investigated (seeds, seeds and pod together and only pod), which were prepared by oven drying and posterior grinding. Water and ethanol extracts (70, 80, 100% v/v) were prepared and used for functional studies. Organic compounds were detected by using HPLC equipment coupled to mass spectrometer. Results show important physical-chemical differences among the experimental groups, seeds, seeds and pod together and only pod. The algarroba seed flour is high in protein (49.49%) and fat (3.10%), while the pod flour is especially rich in sugar (60.3% to 67.9%). Algaroba phenolics are concentrated in pod flour, mainly in water extracts (1.30 mg GAEQ/100g sample). All seed extracts showed high DPPH activity and maximum antioxidant activity was registered for ethanol 80% extracts (19.81 μM Trolox/g sample). The ABTS activity ranged from 9.73 to 12.74 μM Trolox/g sample. Nearly all the extracts were able to inhibit α-amylase activity mildly (30.50% to 48.80%), while the maximum α-glycosidase inhibition was observed for pod water extracts (81.03%). Algaroba water extracts proven to be especially rich in organic compounds, observed by the high number of chromatographic peaks. Results demonstrate that algaroba is a potential candidate for further investigations concerning its possible functional applications

Otimização do meio de cultura para a produção de quitosanase por metarhizium anisopliae em cultivo descontínuo submerso

In this work a Plackett-Burman Design with 8 factors and 12 trials in 2 levels with 3 repetitions at the center point was used in order to investigate the influence of the concentration of chitosan, peptone, yeast extract, NaNO3, K2HPO4, KCl, MgSO4.7H2O and FeSO4 on chitosanase production by Metarhizium anisopliae. Runs were carried out using submerged discontinuous cultivation for enzyme production. The results of the Plackett & Burman Design showed that only two factors, chitosan concentration as well as FeSO4 had influence on chitosanolytic activity, while the increase in concentration of other factors not contributed significantly to the quitosanolítica activity. Cultivation medium optimization for enzyme production was carried out using a Composite Central Design, with the most important factors for chitosanolytic activity (chitosan and FeSO4), in accordance with Plackett & Burman Design, and keeping the other nutrients in their minimum values. On this other design, it was taken the highest limit in Plackett & Burman Design as the lowest limit (-1) to FeSO4 factor. The results showed that the enzyme production was favoured by increasing the chitosan concentration and by decreasing FeSO4. Maximum production for chitosanolytic activity was about 70.0 U/L and was reached in only 18 h of fermentation, a result about twenty-eight times greater than a former study using the same microorganism (about 2.5 U/L at 48 h)

Influencia de la deshidratación osmótica y de la adición de cloruro de calcio en la conservación de kivis minimamente procesados

Este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar o efeito combinado da desidratação osmótica e a influência do cloreto de cálcio em rodelas de kiwi submetidas ao processamento mínimo. Amostras com e sem desidratação osmótica foram armazenadas a 5 °C em embalagem PET. A adição do cloreto de cálcio foi realizada durante a desidratação osmótica. Foram avaliados a perda de peso, acidez, sólidos solúveis, pH, umidade, coliformes, fungos e leveduras nas amostras até 15 dias de armazenamento. A avaliação microbiológica e sensorial definiu a vida de prateleira do produto. Os resultados mostraram que o pré-tratamento osmótico com adição de cloreto de cálcio aumentou a vida útil em até 15 dias, enquanto as rodelas tratadas por osmodesidratação, sem a adição do sal apresentaram vida útil de 12 dias. Sensorialmente, os consumidores preferiram as rodelas de kiwi processadas com pré-tratamento osmótico e adição de cloreto de cálcio.

Influência da geometria e da temperatura na cinética de secagem de tomate (Lycopersicum esculentum)

O tomate é um fruto muito perecível por causa do seu conteúdo de umidade. A secagem é uma das práticas industriais mais utilizadas em alimentos para manter a qualidade do produto final. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida para estudo dos parâmetros de secagem de tomate (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill), cv Carmen, com relação ao tipo de corte (meio e um quarto) e à temperatura de processo (60 e 70 ºC), bem como à escolha do tempo de secagem para a obtenção de um produto com umidade de 45% (base úmida). As cinéticas de secagem foram determinadas experimentalmente por convecção forçada e ajustadas ao modelo de Page. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que a geometria de corte influenciou na taxa de secagem e no tempo de desidratação. Os tomates cortados em quatro partes e desidratados a 70 ºC alcançaram umidade de 45% em menor tempo (10 horas), quando comparados aos tomates com o corte em metades. O modelo de Page forneceu bom ajuste nas cinéticas de secagem

Influence of osmotic dehydration on ascorbic acid loss in pickled dry peppers (Capsicum chinense)

The objective of this work was (1) to develop a dehydrated pepper with 45% humidity, determining the drying curves for pepper, with and without osmotic pre-treatment and (2) to evaluate the influence of both drying and osmotic treatment on the content ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in fresh pepper and pepper with 45% humidity. The experiments were carried out using the peppers cut in half, with and without osmotic pre-treatment, followed by drying in an oven at 70 ºC. The results showed that the osmotic pretreatment did not influence the retention of ascorbic acid during the drying of pepper. The sensory analysis regarding the color, flavor, and texture attributes revealed that there was no difference in the acceptability.

Influencia de la deshidratación osmótica y de la adición de cloruro de calcio en la conservación de kivis minimamente procesados

Este trabajo tubo como objetivo estudiar el efecto combinado de la deshidratación osmótica y la influencia del cloruro de calcio en rodajas de kivi sometidos al proceso mínimo. Muestras con y sin deshidratación osmótica fueron almacenadas a 5 °C en embalajes PET. La adición de cloruro de calcio fue realizada durante la deshidratación osmótica. Se evaluaron la pérdida de peso, acidez, sólidos solubles, pH, humedad, coliformes, hongos y levaduras en las muestras hasta 15 días de almacenamiento. La deshidratación osmótica consistió en la inmersión de las rodajas de kivi en solución de sacarosa a 60% y en solución de sacarosa (60%) con adición de cloruro de calcio (0,1 M), ambos tratamientos se realizaron a temperatura ambiente (25 °C) por 24 horas y relación fruta:solución de 1:5. Los resultados mostraron que el pré-tratamiento osmótico con adición de cloruro de calcio aumentó la vida útil hasta 15 días, en cuanto las rodajas tratadas por osmodeshidratación sin adición de sal presentaron vida útil de 12 días. Sensorialmente, los consumidores prefirieron las rodajas de kivi procesadas con pré-tratamiento osmótico y adición de cloruro de calcio.

Antitumoral, mutagenic and (anti)estrogenic activities of tingenone and pristimerin

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Cytotoxic and mutagenic evaluation of extracts from plant species of the Miconia genus and their influence on doxorubicin-induced mutagenicity: An in vitro analysis

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

Mutagenic Activity of Glycoallkaloids from Solanum palinacanthum Dunal (Solanaceae) in the Brazilian cerrado

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Assessment of estrogenic, mutagenic and antimutagenic activity of nemorosone

Currently, a wide range of research involving natural products is focused on the discovery of new drugs in many different therapeutic areas. A great number of the synthetic compounds on the market were derived from natural products, especially plants. Nemorosone is the major constituent of the floral resin of Clusia rosea Jacq., Clusiaceae, and in Cuban propolis. In vitro studies have shown cytotoxic activity in this substance against various tumor cell lines, including those resistant to various cytotoxic drugs, whereas it has low cytotoxicity to non-tumoral cells. Therefore, in order to characterize the biological activity of nemorosone, a substance with potential antitumor activity, and in view of preclinical testing of the toxicity of drug candidate compounds, the main aim of this study was to determine the mutagenic and antimutagenic activity of nemorosone by the Ames test, using the strains TA97a, TA98, TA100 and TA102 of Salmonella typhimurium. Secondly, to characterize the estrogenic activity in an experimental recombinant yeast model (Recombinant Yeast Assay) mutagenic activity was observed at in any of the concentrations in any of the test strains. To evaluate the antimutagenic potential, direct and indirect mutagenic agents were used: 4 nitro-o-phenylenediamine (NPD), mitomycin C (MMC) and aflatoxin B1 (AFL). Nemorosone showed moderate antimutagenic activity (inhibition level 31%), in strain TA100 in the presence of AFL, and strong antimutagenic activity in TA102 against MMC (inhibition level 53%). Estrogenic activity was observed, with an EEq of 0.41±0.16 nM at various tested concentrations.

Mutagenicity induced by the hydroalcoholic extract of the medicinal plant Plathymenia reticulata Benth

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Assessment of DNA damage induced by extracts, fractions and isolated compounds of Davilla nitida and Davilla elliptica (Dilleniaceae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Mutagenicity of Mouriri pusa Gardner and Mouriri elliptica Martius

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

Genotoxicity of polar and apolar extracts obtained from Qualea multiflora and Qualea grandiflora

Ethnopharmacological relevance: The species Qualea grandiflora and Qualea multiflora, which belong to the Vochysiaceae family, are common in the Brazilian savannah (Cerrado biome), and the local inhabitants use these species to treat external ulcers and gastric diseases and as an anti-inflammatory agent. Studies have demonstrated that these plants contain compounds that exhibit pharmacological activities; however, the risks associated with their consumption are not known.Material and methods: In the present study, the mutagenicity of polar and apolar extracts from Qualea grandiflora and Qualea multiflora were assessed by employing the Ames assay with and without metabolic activation. Additionally, phytochemical analyses (HPLC-ESI-IT-MS, HPLC-UV-PDA and GC-IT-MS) were performed to identify the chemical constituents present in these species, including the evaluation of physico-chemical properties, such as polarity or apolarity of the organic compounds, which are related to each fraction obtained. These studies provide important information regarding the biochemical behaviour of these compounds.Results: All extracts exhibited mutagenicity, inducing frameshift mutations and base substitutions in DNA. Phytochemical analysis identified terpenes, ellagic acid derivatives and phytosteroids.Conclusions: The mutagenicity observed might be due to the presence of pentacyclic triterpenes and polyphenols, which are able to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and result in the potential to cause DNA damage. The genetic risk identified in this present work shows that special attention should be considered for the use of compounds obtained from these plant species in medicinal treatments. Further studies must be conducted to identify safe therapeutic doses. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.