Anti-inflammatory effects of red pepper (Capsicum baccatum) on carrageenan- and antigen-induced inflammation

Inflammation is a pivotal component of a variety of diseases, such as atherosclerosis and tumour progression. Various naturally occurring phytochemicals exhibit anti-inflammatory activity and are considered to be potential drug candidates against inflammation-related pathological processes. Capsicum baccatum L. var. pendulum (Willd.) Eshbaugh (Solanaceae) is the most consumed species in Brazil, and its compounds, such as capsaicinoids, have been found to inhibit the inflammatory process. However, the anti-inflammatory effects of C. baccatum have not been characterized. Thus, this study was designed to evaluate the effects of C. baccatum juice in animal models of acute inflammation induced by carrageenan and immune inflammation induced by methylated bovine serum albumin. Pretreatment (30 min) of rats with pepper juice (0.25-2.0 g kg(-1)) significantly decreased leucocyte and neutrophil migration, exudate volume and protein and LDH concentration in pleural exudates of a pleurisy model. This juice also inhibited neutrophil migration and reduced the vascular permeability on carrageenan-induced peritonitis in mice. C. baccatum juice also reduced neutrophil recruitment and exudate levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha, and IL-1 beta in mouse inflammatory immune peritonitis. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the main constituent of C. baccatum juice, as extracted with chloroform, is capsaicin. In agreement with this, capsaicin was able to inhibit the neutrophil migration towards the inflammatory focus. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of the anti-inflammatory effect of C. baccatum juice and our data suggest that this effect may be induced by capsaicin. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory effect induced by red pepper may be by inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokine production at the inflammatory site.

Pfaffia paniculata (Brazilian ginseng) roots decrease proliferation and increase apoptosis but do not affect cell communication in murine hepatocarcinogenesis

Pfaffia paniculata (Brazilian ginseng) roots and/or its extracts have shown anti-neoplastic, chemopreventive, and anti-angiogenic properties. The aim of this work was to investigate the chemopreventive mechanisms of this root in Mice Submitted to the infant model of hepatocarcinogenesis, evaluating the effects oil cellular proliferation, apoptosis. and intercellular communication. Fifteen-day-old BALB/c male mice were given, i.p., 10 mu g/g of the carcinogen N-nitrosodiethylamine (DEN). Animals were separated into three groups at weaning and were given different concentrations of powdered P. paniculata root (0%, 2%, or 10%) added to commercial food for 27 weeks. Control group (CT) was not exposed to the carcinogen and was given ration without the root. After euthanasia, the animals` liver and body weight were measured. Liver fragments were sampled to Study intercellular communication, molecular biology, and histopathological analysis. Cellular proliferation was evaluated by immunohistochemistry for PCNA, apoptosis was evaluated by apoptotic bodies count and alkaline cornet technique, and inter-cellular communication by diffusion of lucifer yellow dye, immunofluorescence, western blot and real-time PCR for connexins 26 and 32. Chronic treatment with powdered P. paniculata root reduced cellular proliferation and increased apoptosis in the 2%, group. Animals in the 10% group had an increase in apoptosis with chronic inflammatory process. Intercellular communication showed no alterations in any of the groups analyzed. These results Indicate that chemopreventive effects of P. paniculata are related to the control of cellular proliferation and apoptosis, but not to cell communication and/or connexin expression, and are directly Influenced by the root concentration. (C) 2009 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Protective action of indole-3-acetic acid on induced hepatocarcinoma in mice

In this study, we report the protective effects of IAA on diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis. BALB/c mice received daily IAA at 50 (T(50)), 250 (T(250)), and 500 (T(500)) mg K(-1) per body mass by gavage for 15 days. At day 15, animals were administered DEN and sacrificed 4 h later. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were analyzed in sera. In addition., hepatomorphologic alterations, activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione reductase (GR), gene expression of antioxidant enzymes and DNA integrity were evaluated in the liver. IAA administration did not show any alterations in any of the parameters available, except for a reduction of the gene expression for antioxidant enzyrries by 55, 56, 27, and 28% for SOD, CAT, GPx, and GR upon T(500). respectively compared with the control. Several hepatic alterations were observed by DEN exposure. Moreover, IAA administration at 3 doses was shown to provide a total prevention of the active reduction of CAT and GR induced by DEN exposure compared with the control. IAA at T5(00) was shown to give partial protection (87, 71, 57, and 90% for respectively SOD, CAT. GPx. and GR) on the down-regulation of the enzymes induced by DEN and this auxin showed a partial protection (50%) on DEN-induced DNA fragmentation for both parameters when compared to DEN alone. This work showed IAA hepatocarcinogenesis protection for the first time by means of a DEN-protective effect on CAT and GR activity. and by affecting antioxidant gene expression and DNA fragmentation. Copyright (C) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The sequence of a 200 kb portion of a Plasmodium vivax chromosome reveals a high degree of conservation with Plasmodium falciparum chromosome 3

Within a 199 866 base pair (bp) portion of a Plasmodium vivax chromosome we identified a conserved linkage group consisting of at least 41 genes homologous to Plasmodium falciparum genes located on chromosome 3. There were no P. vivax homologues of the P. falciparum cytoadherence-linked asexual genes clag 3.2, clag 3.1 and a var C pseudogene found on the P. vivax chromosome. Within the conserved linkage group, the gene order and structure are identical to those of P. falciparum chromosome 3. This conserved linkage group may extend to as many as 190 genes. The subtelomeric regions are different in size and the P. vivax segment contains genes for which no P. falciparum homologues have been identified to date. The size difference of at least 900 kb between the homologous P. vivax chromosome and P. falciparum chromosome 3 is presumably due to a translocation. There is substantial sequence divergence with a much higher guanine + cytosine (G + C) content in the DNA and a preference for amino acids using GC-rich codons in the deduced proteins of P. vivax. This structural conservation of homologous genes and their products combined with sequence divergence at the nucleotide level makes the P. vivax genome a powerful tool for comparative analyses of Plasmodium genomes. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Time of treatment influences the appearance of drug-resistant parasites in Plasmodium falciparum infections

A deterministic mathematical model which predicts the probability of developing a new drug-resistant parasite population within the human host is reported, The model incorporates the host's specific antibody response to PfEMP1, and also investigates the influence of chemotherapy on the probability of developing a viable drug-resistant parasite population within the host. Results indicate that early, treatment, and a high antibody threshold coupled with a long lag time between antibody stimulation and activity, are risk factors which increase the likelihood of developing a viable drug-resistant parasite population. High parasite mutation rates and fast PfEMP1 var gene switching are also identified as risk factors. The model output allows the relative importance of the various risk factors as well as the relationships between them to be established, thereby increasing the understanding of the conditions which favour the development of a new drug-resistant parasite population.

Transpecific microsatellites for hard pines M. Shepherd, M. Cross, T. Maguire, M. Dieters, C. Williams, R. Henry

Microsatellites are difficult to recover from large plant genomes so cross-specific utilisation is an important source of markers. Fifty micro satellites were tested for cross-specific amplification and polymorphism to two New World hard pine species, slash pine (Pinus elliottii var. elliottii) and Caribbean pine (R caribaea var. hondurensis). Twenty-nine (58%) markers amplified in both hard pine species, and 23 of these 29 were polymorphic. Soft pine (subgenus Strobus) microsatellite markers did amplify, but none were polymorphic. Pinus elliottii var. elliottii and R caribaea var. hondurensis showed mutational changes in the flanking regions and the repeat motif that were informative for Pinus spp. phylogenetic relationships. Most allele length variation could be attributed to variability in repeat unit number. There was no evidence for ascertainment bias.

Genetic variation in foliar carbon isotope composition in relation to tree growth and foliar nitrogen concentration in clones of the F-1 hybrid between slash pine and Caribbean pine

The objectives of this study were: (1) to quantify the genetic variation in foliar carbon isotope composition (delta(13)C) of 122 clones of ca. 4-year-old F-1 hybrids between slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm var. elliottii) and Caribbean pine (Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis Barr.,et Golf.) grown at two field experimental sites with different water and nitrogen availability in southeast Queensland, Australia, in relation to tree growth and foliar nitrogen concentration (N-mass); and (2) to assess the potential of using delta(13)C measurements, in the foliage materials collected from the clone hedges at nursery and the 4-year-old tree canopies in the field, as an indirect index of tree water use efficiency for selecting elite F-1 hybrid pine clones with improved tree growth. There were significant differences in foliar delta(13)C between the nursery hedges and the 4-year-old tree canopies in the field, between the summer and winter seasons, between the two experimental sites, and between the upper outer and lower outer canopy positions sampled. This indicates that delta(13)C measurements in the foliage materials are significantly influenced by the sampling techniques and environmental conditions. Significant differences in foliar delta(13)C, at the upper outer canopy in both field experiments in summer and winter, were detected between the clones, and between the female parents of the clones. Clone means of tree height at age ca. 3 years were positively related to those of the upper outer canopy delta(13)C at both experimental sites in winter, but only for the wetter site in summer. There were positive, linear relationships between clone means of canopy delta(13)C and those of canopy N-mass, indicating that canopy photosynthetic capacity might be an important factor regulating the clonal variation in canopy delta(13)C. Significant correlations were found between clone means of canopy delta(13)C at both experimental sites in summer and winter, and between those at the upper outer and lower outer canopy positions. Mean clone delta(13)C for the nursery hedges was only positively related to mean clone stem diameter at 1.3 m height at age 3 years on the wetter site. The clone by site interaction for foliar delta(13)C at the upper outer canopy was significant only in summer. Overall, the relatively high genetic variance components for foliar delta(13)C and significant, positive correlations between clone means of foliar delta(13)C and tree growth have highlighted the potential of using foliar delta(13)C measurements for assisting in selection of the elite F-1 hybrid pine clones with improved tree growth. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Inércia da taxa de juros : teoria e evidência para a economia brasileira (2005-2013)

No âmbito da condução da política monetária, as funções de reação estimadas em estudos empíricos, tanto para a economia brasileira como para outras economias, têm mostrado uma boa aderência aos dados. Porém, os estudos mostram que o poder explicativo das estimativas aumenta consideravelmente quando se inclui um componente de suavização da taxa de juros, representado pela taxa de juros defasada. Segundo Clarida, et. al. (1998) o coeficiente da taxa de juros defasada (situado ente 0,0 e 1,0) representaria o grau de inércia da política monetária, e quanto maior esse coeficiente, menor e mais lenta é a resposta da taxa de juros ao conjunto de informações relevantes. Por outro lado, a literatura empírica internacional mostra que esse componente assume um peso expressivo nas funções de reação, o que revela que os BCs ajustam o instrumento de modo lento e parcimonioso. No entanto, o caso brasileiro é de particular interesse porque os trabalhos mais recentes têm evidenciado uma elevação no componente inercial, o que sugere que o BCB vem aumentando o grau de suavização da taxa de juros nos últimos anos. Nesse contexto, mais do que estimar uma função de reação forward looking para captar o comportamento global médio do Banco Central do Brasil no período de Janeiro de 2005 a Maio de 2013, o trabalho se propôs a procurar respostas para uma possível relação de causalidade dinâmica entre a trajetória do coeficiente de inércia e as variáveis macroeconômicas relevantes, usando como método a aplicação do filtro de Kalman para extrair a trajetória do coeficiente de inércia e a estimação de um modelo de Vetores Autorregressivos (VAR) que incluirá a trajetória do coeficiente de inércia e as variáveis macroeconômicas relevantes. De modo geral, pelas regressões e pelo filtro de Kalman, os resultados mostraram um coeficiente de inércia extremamente elevado em todo o período analisado, e coeficientes de resposta global muito pequenos, inconsistentes com o que é esperado pela teoria. Pelo método VAR, o resultado de maior interesse foi o de que choques positivos na variável de inércia foram responsáveis por desvios persistentes no hiato do produto e, consequentemente, sobre os desvios de inflação e de expectativas de inflação em relação à meta central.

Análise de crescimento do amarílis cultivado a pleno sol

O cultivo de amarílis (Hippeastrum x hybridum Hort.) visa, principalmente, à produção e comercialização de bulbos para exportação. Informações sobre o seu ciclo de crescimento ainda são incongruentes. Assim, foi objetivo realizar medições que possam contribuir com estudos de análise de crescimento do amarílis var. Orange Souvereign, cultivado a pleno sol, nas condições encontradas em Santo Antônio de Posse, Estado de São Paulo. O delineamento experimental empregado foi o inteiramente casualizado. Utilizaram-se plantas cultivadas em uma área de 2 ha, onde os dados foram coletados mensalmente, durante 14 meses, de forma aleatória. Para cada uma das características analisadas foram utilizadas quatro repetições de 10 plantas. A área foliar determinada ao final do experimento foi de, em média, 3.102,65 cm², tendo em vista 10 folhas por planta. O diâmetro do bulbo aumentou, gradualmente, durante todo o período de produção, finalizando aos 420 dias após plantio, com 9,15 cm em média. A massa fresca total ao final do ciclo foi de, em média, 1.050,55 g, dos quais 39% (410 g) foram de massa fresca obtida pelo bulbo da forma como é comercializado (bulbo + raízes). Os índices fisiológicos da análise de crescimento (taxa de crescimento absoluto, taxa de crescimento relativo, taxa de assimilação líquida e razão de área foliar) demonstraram o comportamento da planta no campo, tendo o sistema assimilatório atingido bom desempenho nas condições de cultivo. O crescimento de amarílis foi considerado satisfatório do ponto de vista comercial.

Broccoli yield in response to top-dressing fertilization with green manure and biofertilizer

The objective of this work was to evaluate the productive performance of broccoli under different top-dressing organic fertilizations. The experiment was conducted under protected cultivation, in a completely randomized design with four replications, with two plants per experimental unit. Broccoli seedlings were produced in a commercial substrate in styrofoam trays. The seedlings were transplanted to plastic pots containing 10.0 L of substrate made up of subsoil and organic compost at the ratio of 3:1 (v/v), respectively, which is equivalent to about 20.0 t ha-1 of organic compost at planting. After seedling establishment, the top-dressing fertilization treatments were applied: gliricidia biomass associated or not with liquid biofertilizer of cattle manure to the soil and bokashi. Two control treatments were established: one with mineral fertilization recommended for the crop and the other without top-dressing fertilization. The broccoli production was evaluated (commercial standard). Plants that received mineral fertilizer were more productive, however, they were not significantly different (p>0.05), by Dunnet test, from the plants fertilized with 2.5 t ha-1 gliricidiabiomass (dry mass) associated with liquid biofertilizer (2.0 L m-2) applied to soil. Top-dressing fertilizations with only gliricidia, at 2.5 and 5.0 t ha-1 of biomass (dry mass), resulted in no significant increase in production of broccoli inflorescence. The use of bokashi in addition to gliricidia biomass and liquid biofertilizer reduced the efficiency of the fertilization compared with plants that received only gliricidia and liquid biofertilizer.

Estudo comparativo da carbonização de resíduos agrícolas e florestais visando à substituição da lenha no processo de secagem de grãos de café

Este trabalho visou a comparar o potencial energético de resíduos produzidos no beneficiamento de grãos de café (Coffea canephora var. Conilon) e no processo de fresamento da madeira, sugerindo seu uso em substituição ao da lenha de eucalipto, no processo de secagem de grãos de café. O uso destes resíduos agrícola e florestal pode contribuir para a redução de problemas ambientais relacionados com a contaminação do solo, ar e água, devidos a seu descarte inadequado, e para reduzir os custos de produção e, ou, beneficiamento do café. Os subprodutos da destilação seca e o carvão vegetal dessas matérias-primas foram quantificados e comparados. De acordo com os resultados, pôde-se verificar que os resíduos de casca de café proporcionaram uma boa produção de carvão vegetal, visto que seu rendimento gravimétrico em carvão foi estatisticamente superior ao da lenha. Considerando a produtividade e qualidade do carvão vegetal, o melhor resultado foi obtido pela carbonização da casca de café nas temperaturas de 350 ºC a 550 ºC e dos resíduos da fresa de madeira a 550 °C, principalmente, graças aos rendimentos médios em carbono fixo, que, nesses casos, superaram aqueles apresentados pelos carvões derivados de lenha do eucalipto. Em se tratando do poder calorífico superior, verificou-se que os resíduos da fresa de madeira e os resíduos de casca de café poderão ser utilizados para secagem de grãos de café, visto que apresentaram valores de poder calorífico superior (PCS) muito próximo aos de lenha de eucalipto. Graças aos bons rendimentos gravimétricos e rendimentos em carbono fixo, os carvões vegetais derivados dos resíduos produzidos no beneficiamento de grãos de café e no processo de fresamento da madeira apresentaram potencial considerável para serem utilizados como insumo energético.

Influência da idade da planta na produção de óleo essencial de alevante

O teor de óleo essencial e a sua composição química são características genéticas e podem ser influenciados pelo ambiente e pelo estádio de desenvolvimento ou idade da planta. Dessa forma, objetivou-se, com este trabalho, avaliar a influência da idade da planta sobre a produção e a qualidade do óleo essencial de alevante. O experimento foi conduzido em Ilhéus, BA, no período de maio a dezembro de 2009. Os tratamentos foram constituídos da colheita, em seis idades da planta (60, 90, 120, 150, 180 e 210 dias após o transplante), utilizando-se o delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições. O óleo essencial foi obtido por hidrodestilação, em aparelho de Clevenger modificado. A identificação dos constituintes químicos foi realizada por cromatografia gasosa acoplada ao espectrômetro de massas (CG-EM). O maior teor do óleo essencial (1%) ocorreu aos 120 dias e o maior teor dos compostos majoritários α-fenchol (49,92%) e cis-mirtanol (30,03%), aos 120 e 150 dias após o transplante, respectivamente.

Teste de condutividade elétrica para avaliação do potencial fisiológico de sementes de canola

O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar o volume de água e o período de imersão a serem utilizados no teste de condutividade elétrica, para avaliar o potencial fisiológico de sementes de canola. Foram utilizados quatro lotes de sementes, os quais foram inicialmente caracterizados, quanto à qualidade, por meio dos testes de germinação, primeira contagem, comprimento de plântulas e emergência em areia. O teste de condutividade elétrica foi realizado a 25 ºC, por períodos de: 2, 4, 8, 16 e 24 horas de imersão, em 25 e 50 mL de água deionizada. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado, com os tratamentos em esquema fatorial 4 x 2 x 5 (quatro lotes, dois volumes de água e cinco períodos de imersão em água), com quatro repetições de 50 sementes. O teste de condutividade elétrica é eficiente para a avaliação do potencial fisiológico de sementes de canola, sob a condição de 50 sementes imersas em 25 mL de água deionizada por 8 horas.

Vida útil pós-colheita do repolho roxo minimamente processado, armazenado em diferentes embalagens

A demanda por alimentos minimamente processados deve-se necessidade de economia de tempo e de maior facilidade de preparo dos alimentos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o comportamento do repolho roxo 'Red Dynasty', minimamente processado, submetido a quatro tipos de embalagens e a armazenamento refrigerado. Após minimamente processados, 200g de repolho foram acondicionados em quatro tipos de embalagens: tereftalato de polietileno, com tampa; bandejas de poliestireno expandido, revestidas com filme flexível de policloreto de vinila de 12 µm; filme de polietileno de baixa densidade de 70 µm e polipropileno perfurado. A temperatura durante o período de armazenagem em câmara fria foi de 5 ± 2 °C. As avaliações foram feitas a cada quatro dias, totalizando doze dias de armazenamento. Os parâmetros avaliados foram: perda de matéria fresca, teor de sólidos solúveis, pH, acidez titulável, vitamina C e antocianina. A embalagem PP não é recomendada por causa da grande perda de matéria fresca do repolho. As embalagens PET e PEBD foram as melhores para o armazenamento de repolho minimamente processado; proporcionaram menor perda de massa por doze dias, porém, aos quatro dias já apresentavam aparência escurecida, por causa da oxidação.

Production of cabbage grown in pots containing legumes' root and shoot

Roots effect is not generally considered in studies assessing the performance of crops in response to green manuring. However, such effect can contribute to a better understanding of crop rotation. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of root and shoot of two legumes on the production of cabbage. The experiment was conducted in pots of 10 liters containing substrate of 2:1 soil/sand. The experiment was arranged in a factorial scheme (2x3 + 2) in a randomized block design with five replicates using two legume species (Crotalaria juncea L. and Canavalia ensiformis L), three plant parts (root, shoot, or whole plant), and two additional treatments (mineral fertilization with 100% and 50% of the recommended dose of N for growing cabbage). Pots with legume treatments received mineral fertilizer with 50% of the recommended dose of N for growing cabbage. The experimental plot consisted of a pot containing one plant of cabbage. Legumes were grown in pots and harvested at 78 days. The root biomass was determined in extra pots. Production was assessed using head fresh and dry weight. The application of the whole plant of both legume species reduced cabbage production. However, root or shoot of both legume species was equivalent to 50% of mineral N fertilization required for the cultivation of cabbage.