Extraction of antioxidants from eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) bark

The extraction of phenolic compounds from eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) bark was examined with the aim of analyzing the potential of the extracts as natural antioxidants. Experiments were planned according to a 2³ factorial design to analyze the influence of temperature and Na₂SO₃ and NaOH concentrations in aqueous solutions on extraction yield, extract total phenols content, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and number- and weight-average molecular weights. Extract total phenols content and FRAP antioxidant activity in the ranges 0.91–2.58?g gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/100?g oven-dried bark and 4.70–11.96?mmol ascorbic acid equivalent (AAE)/100?g oven-dried bark, respectively, demonstrated the potential of eucalyptus bark as a source of antioxidant compounds. Extraction at the highest temperature (100°C), the lowest Na₂SO₃ concentration (1.5% on oven-dried bark), and without NaOH provided the highest extract total phenols content and FRAP antioxidant activity. Those eucalyptus bark extracts with lower molecular weight showed higher antioxidant activity. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry revealed the presence of polygalloyl glucoses, catechin, epicatechin, ellagic acid, quercetin-3-o-rhamnoside, and isorhamnetin in eucalyptus bark aqueous extracts.     

Effects of isopulegol on pentylenetetrazol-induced convulsions in mice: Possible involvement of GABAergic system and antioxidant activity

The present study investigated the effects of isopulegol, a monoterpene alcohol, in PTZ-induced convulsions and verified possible involved mechanisms. Saline, isopulegol or diazepam were intraperitonealy injected 30 min before PTZ. The latency for development of convulsions and mortality, as well as the mortality protection percentage was recorded. For investigating the involvement of GABAergic system, flumazenil was utilized. The activity of antioxidant enzyme catalase as well as the levels of reduced glutathione and lipid peroxidation were measured in brain hippocampus. Similarly to diazepam, isopulegol significantly prolonged the latency for convulsions and mortality of mice. All animals were protected against mortality at higher dose of isopulegol. Flumazenil pretreatment decreased the prolongation of seizure latency induced by both diazepam and isopulegol, although it was not able to reverse the latency and protection percent for mortality. Isopulegol also significantly prevented PTZ-induced increase in lipid peroxidation, preserved catalase activity in normal levels, and prevented the PTZ-induced loss of GSH in hippocampus of mice. These results suggest that the anticonvulsant and bioprotective effects of isopulegol against PTZ-induced convulsions are possibly related to positive modulation of benzodiazepine-sensitive GABA_A receptors and to antioxidant properties.     

Astaxanthin Delivery Systems for Skin Application: A Review

Astaxanthin (AST) is a biomolecule known for its powerful antioxidant effect, which is considered of great importance in biochemical research and has great potential for application in cosmetics, as well as food products that are beneficial to human health and medicines. Unfortunately, its poor solubility in water, chemical instability, and low oral bioavailability make its applications in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical field a major challenge for the development of new products. To favor the search for alternatives to enhance and make possible the use of AST in formulations, this article aimed to review the scientific data on its application in delivery systems. The search was made in databases without time restriction, using keywords such as astaxanthin, delivery systems, skin, cosmetic, topical, and dermal. All delivery systems found, such as liposomes, particulate systems, inclusion complexes, emulsions, and films, presented peculiar advantages able to enhance AST properties, among which are stability, antioxidant potential, biological activities, and drug release. This survey showed that further studies are needed for the industrial development of new AST-containing cosmetics and topical formulations.     

Molecular diversity in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium oxysporum</Emphasis> isolates from common bean fields in Brazil

The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is widely cultivated in Brazil and is known as a very important crop for families in this country. Fusarium wilt severely harms common beans and has become a big issue for this crop. In order to assist the breeding programs that target resistance to this disease, the evaluation of genetic diversity of the pathogen and its molecular characterization are crucial. Thus, the present goal was to identify Fusarium isolates obtained from several places in Brazil using molecular tools; select molecular markers for these isolates; and analyze their diversity. All of isolates were molecularly identified as Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. phaseoli (Fop). By using seven selected SSR markers, the results of diversity obtained by the dendrogram and the Bayesian analysis formed four groups where a large diversity of this fungus was found within each state. However, the groups were more homogenous according to the collection source and the pathogenicity test. More specifically, group 2 was composed of the most virulent strains and originated from Minas Gerais State – UFV, and group 3 was mostly composed by isolates from Goias state. Group I was also more diverse in terms of location and virulence. The overall results indicated a positive correlation between Fusarium diversity and its virulence to common bean. Furthermore, the use of these markers was effective in molecular identification and in detecting polymorphism within F. oxysporum f. sp. phaseoli.     

Testosterone serum profile,semen characteristics and testicular biometry of Mangalarga Marchador stallions in a tropical environment

This study was conducted to characterize the daily profile of testosterone secretion and its mean concentrations in the four seasons as well as to evaluate the semen characteristics and testicular biometry of Mangalarga Marchador stallions throughout the year in a tropical region. Three stallions were submitted to semen collections and evaluation of testicular biometry every 14 days along a year. Blood samples were collected once at the middle of each season, in a 20‐min interval during 24 hr in order to evaluate the testosterone secretion profiles among seasons. Testosterone concentrations along the day were higher at the beginning of the afternoon (from 12:00 to 15:00 hr), but a circadian secretion was not clearly observed. Mean testosterone concentrations did not differ among seasons (p > .05), but a pattern of secretion along the day showed variations with higher concentrations in the afternoon during the winter. Ejaculate volume was higher during summer; however, sperm motility decreased in summer and spring. Total sperm in ejaculate, sperm morphology and testicular biometry kept constant along the year showing no differences among the seasons. The results demonstrated that in a tropical region, reproductive aspects of stallions did not show a clearly defined seasonal variation, and months of autumn and winter were not unsuitable for reproduction of the males.     

Bioremoval of Surfactant from Laundry Wastewater in Optimized Condition by Anoxic Reactors

Effects of ethanol and nitrate on linear alkyl benzene sulfonate (LAS) degradation were investigated using central composite design. At experimental design, removal of 99.9% was observed in batch reactors (1 L) with 9.8 to 41.2 mg L^?1 of LAS. The batch reactors were kept under agitation at 120 rpm and 30 °C. Ethanol (co-substrate) and nitrate (electron acceptor) were statistically significant factors (p?<?0.05) in surfactant removal. Optimal values were 97.5 and 88 mg L^?1 for ethanol and nitrate, respectively. LAS removal was kinetically investigated by varying surfactant concentration while using optimal values. Batch I (27 mg L^?1 LAS) exhibited greater degradation rate (K^LAS) (0.054 h^?1) in the presence of ethanol and nitrate. Nonetheless, in Batch II (60 mg L^?1 LAS), the K^LAS values decreased in those reactors probably due to inhibition by excess substrate for same concentrations of nitrate and ethanol added in reactors. As LAS concentration increased, the dominance of bacterial populations also increased, whereas diversity index decreased from 2.8 (inoculum) to 2.4 and 2.5 for reactors with both added nitrate and ethanol and those with only added ethanol, respectively. Probably, a selection of microbial populations occurred in relation to LAS concentration. The nitrate and ethanol, at able concentration, made it possible the induction of denitrifying microrganisms foward to LAS removal.     

Phytoextraction Potential of Atriplex Nummularia Plants under Nitrogen and Phosphate Fertilization

The soil areas affected by salts have increased in recent years. Searching intensively for management and recovery strategies should help minimize these problems. Studies related to the response of halophytes to fertilization can provide important information regarding the most adequate management for phytoremediation. The aim of this study was to evaluate dry matter production and sodium extraction capacity of atriplex plants, in response to nitrogen doses, with and without phosphorus application. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse at the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco (UFRPE), in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil and was set up in a randomized block design, with four replicates, in a 2 × 5 factorial scheme (0 and 134 mg dm^?3 of P and 0, 20, 40, 60, and 80 mg dm^?3 of N). The addition of nitrogen (N) and improved sodium (Na) uptake increased Na contents by 4.1, 3.6, and 1.8 times, for P0, and by 4.0, 8.4, and 2.1, for P134, in leaves, stems, and roots, respectively. There was a decrease in Na both in the saturation-paste extract and in the exchange complex with the increase in N in soil. N supply potentiates Na extraction by Atriplex nummularia, being a feasible technique to recover saline soils through phytoremediation.     

Lipophilic extracts from banana fruit residues: a source of valuable phytosterols

The chemical composition of the lipophilic extracts of unripe pulp and peel of banana fruit 'Dwarf Cavendish' was studied by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Fatty acids, sterols, and steryl esters are the major families of lipophilic components present in banana tissues, followed by diacylglycerols, steryl glucosides, long chain fatty alcohols, and aromatic compounds. Fatty acids are more abundant in the banana pulp (29-90% of the total amount of lipophilic extract), with linoleic, linolenic, and oleic acids as the major compounds of this family. In banana peel, sterols represent about 49-71% of the lipophilic extract with two triterpenic ketones (31-norcyclolaudenone and cycloeucalenone) as the major components. The detection of high amounts of steryl esters (469-24405 mg/kg) and diacylglycerols (119-878 mg/kg), mainly present in the banana peel extract, explains the increase in the abundance of fatty acids and sterols after alkaline hydrolysis. Several steryl glucosides were also found in significative amounts (273-888 mg/kg), particularly in banana pulp (888 mg/kg). The high content of sterols (and their derivatives) in the 'Dwarf Cavendish' fruit can open new strategies for the valorization of the banana residues as a potential source of high-value phytochemicals with nutraceutical and functional food additive applications.     

Mass transport studies of model migrants within dry foodstuffs

Cereals are widely consumed foodstuffs and it is therefore important to take them into account when estimating consumer exposure to packaging-related chemicals. The mass transport of three model migrants (diphenylbutadiene, triclosan and BHT) from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) within dry foodstuffs of different particle size (rice and wheat flour) was studied because of the relationship between consumer exposure and possible harmful effects on human health. The conditions that most affect the mass transport of substances within dry foods are evaluated and discussed. The diffusion coefficients (D_F) for diphenylbutadiene (DPBD) and triclosan in the studied foodstuffs were estimated. The D_F values for DPBD and triclosan in wheat flour at 25 °C were 7.1 × 10⁻⁸ cm²/s and 3.3 × 10⁻⁸ cm²/s, respectively. The D_F values for DPBD and triclosan in rice at 25 °C were 4.7 × 10⁻⁸ and 4.3 × 10⁻⁸ cm²/s, respectively. BHT displayed different behaviour and other tests were therefore carried out to elucidate the associated mass transport process.