Extracts from pitanga (Eugenia uniflora L.) leaves: Influence of extraction process on antioxidant properties and yield of phenolic compounds

Different extraction processes were employed to extract the polyphenolic compounds from pitanga (Eugenia uniflora L) leaves: a one-step process using water, ethanol or supercritical CO(2) as solvents, and a two-step process using supercritical CO(2) followed by either water or ethanol. The total polyphenolic compounds, total flavonoids and antioxidant activity were determined in all the extracts obtained. The process performance was evaluated with respect to three variables: global extraction yield, concentration and yield of both polyphenols and flavonoids in the extracts. For the one-step extraction, the results showed that the extraction yield increased with solvent polarity. For the two-step process, the results suggested that water was more efficient in extracting the phenolic compounds from E. uniflora when the matrix was previously extracted with scCO(2). With respect to the antioxidant activity, the ethanolic extracts obtained from both processes, using either the DPPH radical scavenging method or the beta-carotene bleaching method, presented high antioxidant activities. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

COMPOSITION OF SUPERCRITICAL CARBON DIOXIDE EXTRACTS OF PITANGA (EUGENIA UNIFLORA L.) LEAVES

The leaves of the Pitanga bush (Eugenia uniflora L.) are considered to be effective against many diseases. Extracts from Pitanga leaves have been found to show pronounced anti-inflammatory action and to have antimicrobial and antifungal activities, among other properties. In this work, extracts from Pitanga leaves were obtained by hydrodistillation and by extraction with supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO(2)) at three conditions of temperature and pressure. In the SC-CO(2) extractions also were collected the components that are lost with the CO(2) in the exit of the system using Porapak-Q polymer trap. All extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Thirty-nine compounds were found in the extracts and twenty-six were identified. The main components identified in the extracts in decreasing quantitative order were: curzerene, germacrene B, C(15)H(20)O(2) and beta-elemene for hydrodistillation; C(15)H(20)O(2) and curzerene for SC-CO(2) extracts and 3-hexen-1-ol, curzerene, C(15)H(20)O(2), beta-elemene and germacrene B for SC-CO(2) extracts captured in Porapak-Q. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS The natural extracts are a potential source of compounds possessing biological activities. They can be used in foods, pharmaceutics and cosmetics. Pitanga is an exotic fruit from Brazil and extracts from its leaves have been used against many diseases in Brazilian folk medicine. Supercritical extraction is an interesting process for the production of natural extracts because it is a clean process and the knowledge of composition of extracts is crucial for the identification of the probable active components.

Supercritical CO(2) extraction of carotenoids from pitanga fruits (Eugenia uniflora L.)

Supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO(2)) extraction was employed to extract carotenoids from the freeze-dried pulp of pitanga fruits (Eugenia uniflora L.), an exotic fruit, rich in carotenoids and still little explored commercially. The SC-CO(2) extraction was carried out at two temperatures, 40 and 60 degrees C, and seven pressures, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350 and 400 bar. The carotenoids were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography connected to photodiode array and mass spectrometry detectors. Lycopene, rubixanthin and P-cryptoxanthin were the main carotenoids present in the freeze-dried pitanga pulp, whereas beta-cryptoxanthin concentration was negligible in the SC-CO(2) extracts, for all the investigated state conditions. The maximum recovery of carotenoids was obtained at 60 degrees C and 250 bar, extracting 55% of the total carotenoid content, 74% of the rubixanthin and 78% of the lycopene from the pulp. Under these state conditions, the total carotenoid concentration in the extract was 5474 mu g/g, represented by 66% lycopene and 32% rubixanthin. The experimental state conditions produced different SC-CO(2) extracts with respect to the extraction yield and concentration of different carotenoids, indicating that the supercritical carbon dioxide was selective in the extraction of the pitanga carotenoids as a function of temperature and pressure. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Efeitos hipotensivo e diurético dos extratos aquosos de pitanga (Eugenia uniflora L.) e jambolão (Eugenia jambolana Lam.) em ratos normotensos anestesiados

Plants that possess a diuretic effect are widely used by people in the treatment of some important diseases as edema and hypertension. The objective of this work was to study the effects of pitanga and jambos aqueous extracts (AE) about the arterial pressure (AP) and urinary flow (V) in normotensive and anesthetized rats. The AE were prepared for the decoction method and administrated for intragastric way in different concentrations: 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%. These concentrations corresponded respectively at doses of 56, 94, 145, 172 mg of pitanga dried extract /Kg and 44, 73, 83, 95 mg of jambos dried extract/Kg. The animals were divided in nine groups with seven individuals (n=7): control (C), P-10%, P-15%, P-20%, P-25%, J-10%, J-15%, J-20% and J-25%. The rats were anesthetized (hypnol 3%) and submitted to tracheotomy. The left carotide artery was catheterized to measure the AP through a mercury manometer, in periods of 15 minutes. The bladder was catheterized for urine collection and to measure the V, in periods of 30 minutes. The experimental protocol was divided in four periods of 30 minutes each: basal (to evaluate of the basal parameters) and experimental (Exp) 1, 2 and 3 (after the administration of the AE). The results were analyzed for ANOVA and Tukey (X±SD, p<0.05). In the C group did have not alteration of the AP basal but the V basal increased. In the experimental groups (AE of P and J) had significative decline in the AP basal: 34% (P-10%), 20% (P-15%), 21% (P-20%), 31% (P-25%), 24% (J-10%), 20% (J-15%) 16% (J-20%) and 29% (J-25%). Moreover, the administration of AE increased the V basal in: 280% (P-15%) and 192% (J-20%). The results showed that the plants evaluated are hypotensive and diuretic.

Otimização para a obtençao de extrato aquoso de tremoço branco (Lupinus albus L.) adicionado de suco de pitanga

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Termotectônica por traços de fissão em apatitas dos altos estrutrais de Pitanga, Pau d'Álho e Jibóia - centro do Estado de São Paulo

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

História natural de Brachycephalus pitanga (Anura: Brachycephalidae) no Núcleo Santa Virgínia, Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, estado de São Paulo

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

Estudo dos altos estruturais de Pitanga, Artemis, Pau D'Alho e Jibóia (flanco nordeste da bacia sedimentar do Paraná), através dos métodos geofísicos da gravimetria e magnetometria terrestres

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Evolução tectônica dos altos estruturais de Pitanga, Artemis, Pau D'Alho e Jibóia - Centro do Estado de São Paulo

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

Reconhecimento da tectônica mezozóica-cenozóica na borda leste da Bacia do Paraná através da aplicação de traços de fissão em apatitas no Domo de Pitanga (Sudoeste de Rio Claro, SP)

A tectônica Mesozóica-Cenozóica na borda leste da Bacia do Paraná foi interpretada com base no estudo geocronológico de uma importante feição estrutural conhecida como Domo de Pitanga (sudoeste de Rio Claro, SP), que, como outras estruturas do mesmo tipo presentes na borda da bacia, coincide com grandes alinhamentos estruturais formados pela reativação de estruturas preexistentes no seu embasamento. O método utilizado foi o de datação por análise de traços de fissão em apatitas, o qual permite a modelagem térmica entre 120oC e a temperatura ambiente. Utilizando apatitas de rochas sedimentares, foi possível a modelagem da história térmica da área, graças à homogeneidade dos dados que cada amostra apresentou em função do aquecimento no Eocretáceo pelo magmatismo Serra Geral. Além do resfriamento posterior ao magmatismo marcado pelas idades (Eocretáceo), foram detectadas as principais épocas de resfriamento na área de estudo, sendo elas do Neocretáceo, Paleoceno e, com menor importância, do Mioceno. Estes períodos remontam a importantes eventos tectônicos ocorridos no Sudeste brasileiro, bem descritos no embasamento cristalino. Fica clara a influência desta tectônica de caráter ascensional do embasamento adjacente no interior da bacia, atuando na formação de estruturas, como é o caso do Domo de Pitanga.

Sísmica de Refração no Domo Estrutural de Pitanga, Rio Claro (SP)

Este trabalho apresenta a interpretação dos ensaios de sísmica de refração executado no Alto Estrutural Domo de Pitanga., localizado entre as cidades de Rio Claro e Piracicaba, nordeste do Estado de São Paulo. Foi executada uma seção de refração sísmica com aproximadamente 14.100m de comprimento onde foram dispostos 12 conjuntos de geofones e registradores digitais. Como fontes de ondas sísmicas foram utilizadas explosões de pedreiras localizadas nas extremidades da seção. Os resultados obtidos com a interpretação tomográfica e a do método plus-minus mostrou a existência de um alto do embasamento da Bacia do Paraná localizado em 1000m e 4000 m da Pedreira Bonança, foi também detectado um grande corpo de diabásio próximo à Pedreira Stavias. O alto estrutural encontrado pode ter sido causado por esforços compressivos resultantes das intrusões básicas. Este alto pode ter elevado a coluna de sedimentos, expondo sedimentos mais antigos.

Papel da tectônica rúptil na possível migração de hidrocarbonetos: estudo da porção noroeste da estrutura de Pitanga, região central do estado de São Paulo

This work presents structural studies in the northwestern portion of the Pitanga Structural High, between the towns of Ipeúna and Charqueada. The area is composed by the sedimentary rocks from Paraná Basin, represented basically by Paleozoic rocks (Itararé Group, Tatuí, Irati and Corumbataí formations) and Mesozoics rocks (Pirambóia and Botucatu formations), in association with lower Cretaceous intrusive basic rocks expressed by dikes and sills. The most important structural features are distensive faults, which put together unleveled tectonic blocks and are frequently filled by diabase dikes. In this context, the main objective of this work is the study of local structures and the recognition of the tectonic association between dropped and uplifted blocks, jointly with the caracterization of a production, migration and storage model for hydrocarbons. Through the interpretation of aerial photos, field recognitions, structural and laboratorial analysis, a normal fault with direction of N30W and a slip of 20-25 meters located south of Ipeúna was recognized this fault puts the Tatuí and Irati Formations side by side. At this place and by the SP-191 route (north of Ipeúna city), sandstones from the top of Tatuí Formation are impregnated by asfaltic material. The data interpretation shows that local fault systems with NW directions have played a determinant part in the fault blocks arrangement, placing sandstone lenses from Tatuí Formation topographically above the oil shales from Irati Formation. In addition, these systems acted as migration paths to transport and storage hydrocarbon in sanstone lenses from Tatuí Formation

Sementes de pitanga (Eugenia uniflora L.): potencial antioxidante e perfil de ácidos graxos

The purpose of the present investigation was to characterize the pitanga seeds on centesimal composition, and also to evaluate its antioxidant potential and fatty acid profile. For obtaining the extract, the dehydrated and ground seeds were treated with ethyl alcohol for 30 minutes, at a proportion of 1:3 of seeds:ethyl alcohol, under continuous agitation at room temperature. Afterwards, the mixture was filtered and the supernatant was placed into a rotoevaporator at 40ºC for determining the extract’s dry matter yield, by direct weighing. According to the results, the seeds of cherry showed high amounts of carbohydrates, and offer relevant content and antioxidant activity of phenolic compounds. In the seed oil, cherry high lighted a higher percentage of unsatured fatty acids, oleic being the main component.

Diet Seasonality and Feeding Preferences of Brachycephalus pitanga (Anura: Brachycephalidae)

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

Formulação de extrato aquoso de tremoço branco (Lupinus albus L.) adicionado de suco de pitanga utilizando metodologia de superfície de resposta

The aim of the present study was to verify, through the response surface methodology, the optimum conditions for the combined use of aqueous extract of white lupine (Lupinus albus L.) and tropical pitanga juice (Eugenia unifl ora L.) in the development of a drink. Therefore, the independent variables were represented by the volume of aqueous extract of lupine (mL) and by the volume of pitanga juice (mL). The dependent variables (responses) were obtained through sensory test of acceptance (“appearance”, “aroma”, “taste” and “overall acceptability”). The combined optimization of the variables pointed the second formulation (50mL of aqueous extract of lupine and 30mL of pitanga juice) of the experimental project as the most adequate. In conclusion it was possible to get a drink with attractive sensory characteristics using aqueous extract of white lupine and tropical pitanga juice. The usage of response surface methodology made possible the determination of regions of maximum acceptance for each attribute evaluated in the formulation of a drink with aqueous extract of white lupine and pitanga juice, with a minimum of tests.