Aline Pereira

Banana (Musa spp) from peel to pulp: Ethnopharmacology, source of bioactive compounds and its relevance for human health

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Banana is a fruit with nutritional properties and also with acclaimed therapeutic uses, cultivated widely throughout the tropics as source of food and income for people. Banana peel is known by its local and traditional use to promote wound healing mainly from burns and to help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses, as depression. AIM OF THE STUDY This review critically assessed the phytochemical properties and biological activities of Musa spp fruit pulp and peel. MATERIALS AND METHODS A survey on the literature on banana (Musa spp, Musaceae) covering its botanical classification and nomenclature, as well as the local and traditional use of its pulp and peel was performed. Besides, the current state of art on banana fruit pulp and peel as interesting complex matrices sources of high-value compounds from secondary metabolism was also approached. RESULTS Dessert bananas and plantains are systematic classified into four sections, Eumusa, Rhodochlamys, Australimusa, and Callimusa, according to the number of chromosomes. The fruits differ only in their ploidy arrangement and a single scientific name can be given to all the edible bananas, i.e., Musa spp. The chemical composition of bananas peel and pulp comprise mostly carotenoids, phenolic compounds, and biogenic amines. The biological potential of those biomasses is directly related to their chemical composition, particularly as pro-vitamin A supplementation, as potential antioxidants attributed to their phenolic constituents, as well as in the treatment of Parkinsons disease considering their contents in l-dopa and dopamine. CONCLUSION Bananas pulp and peel can be used as natural sources of antioxidants and pro-vitamin A due to their contents in carotenoids, phenolics, and amine compounds, for instance. For the development of a phytomedicine or even an allopathic medicine, e.g., banana fruit pulp and peel could be of interest as raw materials riches in beneficial bioactive compounds.

Utilização de vestimentas de proteção radiológica para redução de dose absorvida: uma revisão integrativa da literatura

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a relacao entre o uso de vestimenta de protecao radiologica e a diminuicao da dose absorvida de radiacao ionizante, reforcando a eficacia do seu uso tanto para pacientes quanto para individuos ocupacionalmente expostos. MATERIAIS E METODOS: O estudo foi desenvolvido utilizando-se o metodo de revisao integrativa de literatura, e teve como materiais: 21 artigos, 2 livros, 1 tese, 1 trabalho de conclusao de curso, 1 programa de computador, 4 pesquisas em base de dados (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica e Departamento de Informatica do Sistema Unico de Saude) e 2 diretrizes de protecao radiologica. RESULTADOS: A utilizacao da vestimenta de protecao radiologica, teoricamente, reduz 86% a 99% a dose absorvida. Na pratica, a reducao nos pacientes pode ser de 88% na radiologia convencional e chegar a 95% no exame tomografico. Nos individuos ocupacionalmente expostos, a reducao durante um cateterismo cardiaco e em torno de 90% e durante uma cirurgia ortopedica e de 75%. CONCLUSAO: Conforme demonstrado em varias pesquisas, o uso de vestimenta de protecao radiologica e eficaz e de baixo custo e reduz a dose desnecessaria nos pacientes e nos individuos ocupacionalmente expostos. Logo, sua utilizacao e necessaria para a implementacao de um efetivo programa de protecao radiologica em um servico de radiodiagnostico.

Effects of perioperative hypothermia on healing of anastomosis of the colon in rats

ObjectiveWe evaluated the hypothesis that induced perioperative hypothermia in rats causes adverse effects on the healing of colonic anastomosis.Materials and methodsForty-eight Wistar rats were divided into eight groups of six animals that underwent laparotomy, sigmoid section, and anastomosis. Four groups were operated under normothermic conditions (36 ± 1 °C) and four under hypothermic conditions (32 ± 1 °C). The reoperations were performed on days 3, 7, and 14 post-surgery, and two groups where SHAM reoperated on day 3. We evaluated anastomotic bursting pressure and tissue hydroxyproline content; performed a histological analysis of inflammatory parameters and healing (inflammatory cell infiltrate, edema, fibrin, collagen deposition and apoptotic cells) with categorization scores = 0, 1, 2, 3; and examined the relative quantification gene expression (cDNA) of inflammatory cytokines [interleukin 1 (IL-1), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and interleukin 10 (IL-10)] and growth factors [vascular endothelial growth factor and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1)] by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.ResultsBoth of the hypothermic groups showed lower anastomotic burst pressure on days 7 and 14 post-surgery, reduced hydroxyproline content on day 14, reduction of inflammatory infiltrates and edema at day 3, and less collagen deposition on day 14. In animals that were hypothermic, the cytokine gene expression showed reduced IL-1 on day 3, reduced IL-6 on days 7 and 14, and reduced IL-10 on days 7 and 14 and a reduction in the growth factor IGF-1 on day 7.ConclusionPerioperative hypothermia had detrimental effects on the healing of colonic anastomosis in rats.

A Chemometrics Approach for Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Data to Characterize the Partial Metabolome Banana Peels from Southern Brazil

Abstract Banana peels are well recognized as a source of important bioactive compounds, such as phenolics, carotenoids, biogenic amines, among others. As such, they have recently started to be used for industrial purposes. However, its composition seems to be strongly affected by biotic or abiotic ecological factors. Thus, this study aimed to investigate banana peels chemical composition, not only to get insights on eventual metabolic changes caused by the seasons, in southern Brazil, but also to identify the most relevant metabolites for these processes. To achieve this, a Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolic profiling strategy was adopted, followed by chemometrics analysis, using the specmine package for the R environment, and metabolite identification. The results showed that the metabolomic approach adopted allowed identifying a series of primary and secondary metabolites in the aqueous extracts investigated. Besides, over the seasons the metabolic profiles of the banana peels showed to contain biologically active compounds relevant to the skin wound healing process, indicating the biotechnological potential of that raw material.

In Vitro Evaluation of the Antioxidant Activity and Wound Healing Properties of Jaboticaba (Plinia peruviana) Fruit Peel Hydroalcoholic Extract

Jaboticaba is a fruit from a native tree to Brazil, Plinia peruviana. Jaboticaba peels are an important source of antioxidant molecules such as phenolic compounds. This study aimed to evaluate in vitro the activity of a hydroalcoholic extract of jaboticaba fruit peels (HEJFP) in wound healing processes and antioxidant activity in murine fibroblasts (L929 cell line). HEJFP concentrations (0.5, 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, and 200 µg/mL) were tested in MTT assay and cell proliferation was verified at 100 µg/mL after 24 h and at 25, 50, and 100 µg/mL after 48 h of extract exposure. Evaluation of antioxidant activity was performed at 0.5, 5, 25, 50, and 100 µg/mL HEJFP concentrations. Cell treatment with HEJFP at 25, 50, and 100 µg/mL for 24 h followed by H2O2 exposure for 3 h showed a strong cytoprotective effect. In vitro scratch wound healing assay indicated that none of tested HEJFP concentrations (0.5, 5, 25, 50, and 100 µg/mL) were capable of increasing migration rate after 12 h of incubation. These results demonstrate a positive effect of HEJFP on the wound healing process on L929 fibroblasts cell line, probably due to the antioxidant activity exhibited by phytochemicals in the extract.

Solutions in radiology services management: a literature review

Objective The present study was aimed at reviewing the literature to identify solutions for problems observed in radiology services. Materials and Methods Basic, qualitative, exploratory literature review at Scopus and SciELO databases, utilizing the Mendeley and Illustrator CC Adobe softwares. Results In the databases, 565 papers – 120 out of them, pdf free – were identified. Problems observed in the radiology sector are related to procedures scheduling, humanization, lack of training, poor knowledge and use of management techniques, and interaction with users. The design management provides the services with interesting solutions such as Benchmarking, CRM, Lean Approach, ServiceBlueprinting, continued education, among others. Conclusion Literature review is an important tool to identify problems and respective solutions. However, considering the small number of studies approaching management of radiology services, this is a great field of research for the development of deeper studies.

Effects of perioperative hypothermia and reactive oxygen species in the healing of colonic anastomosis in rats.

PURPOSE We evaluated the hypothesis that induced perioperative hypothermia (32 ± 1ºC) affects the redox balance in the tissue of colonic anastomosis in rats by modifying biochemical enzymatic and non-enzymatic markers related to oxidative stress. METHODS Forty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly divided into eight experimental groups of six animals each and underwent laparotomy, sigmoid section and immediate anastomosis. Four groups were operated under normothermia (36 ± 1ºC), and the other four under hypothermia (32 ± 1ºC). The animals were reoperated on days 3, 7 and 14 postoperatively, and two groups underwent SHAM at 3 days. From the scar tissue samples, the activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) was evaluated, and the levels of non-enzymatic markers of oxidative stress, such as reduced glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxidation, were measured by the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay. The means were compared between groups corresponding to each day of sampling and euthanasia. RESULTS The hypothermic groups showed a significant reduction on the activity of SOD on day 7 postoperatively, on the activity of CAT on days 7 and 14 postoperatively and on the levels of GSH on day 7 postoperatively. The level of lipid peroxidation was increased in the hypothermia group on day 7 postoperatively and decreased on day 14 compared with the normothermic groups. CONCLUSION Perioperative hypothermia reduced the activity of the antioxidant enzymes catalase and superoxide dismutase, glutathione levels and increased lipid peroxidation in the scar tissue of colonic anastomoses in rats.

Evaluation of reference genes for reverse transcription-quantitative PCR assays in organs of zebrafish exposed to glyphosate-based herbicide, Roundup

Roundup is a glyphosate-based herbicide (GBH) widely used in agriculture and may cause toxic effects in non-target organisms. Model organisms, as zebrafish, and analysis of gene expression by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) could be used to better understand the Roundup toxicity. A prerequisite for RT-qPCR is the availability of appropriate reference genes; however, they have not been described for Roundup-exposed fish. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression stability of six reference genes (rpl8, β-act, gapdh, b2m, ef1α, hprt1) and one expressed repetitive element (hatn10) in organs of males (brain, gill, testis) and females (ovary) of zebrafish exposed to Roundup WG at three concentrations (0.065, 0.65 and 6.5 mg N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine/l) for 7 days. Genes were ranked by geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, Delta C t and RefFinder, and their best combinations were determined by geNorm and NormFinder programs. The two most stable ranked genes were specific to each organ: gill (β-act; rpl8); brain (rpl8; β-act); testis (ef1α; gapdh); and ovary (rpl8; hprt1). The cat transcript level was used to evaluate the effect of normalization with these reference genes. These are the first suitable reference genes described for the analysis of gene expression in organs of Roundup-exposed zebrafish, and will allow investigations of the molecular mechanisms of Roundup toxicity.

Bioactive compounds of citrus as health promoters

Different chestnut species can be cultivated for fruit production, the most valorised part for nutritional purposes. However Castanea sativa Mill., the “European chestnut”, is one of the most valorised worldwide. Its fruits are consumed either raw or after processing, being boiling and roasting the most usual ones. The nutritional composition of fresh chestnut is variable, with interesting amounts of carbohydrates and fibre, together with low fat content, with differences between cultivars and producing regions. In respect to the presence of bioactive compounds, such as phenolic compounds, vitamins, fatty acids, among others, some studies had focused on the fruit benefits to human health but few reported the effect of processing in those compounds. In this context, this chapter intended to review the current knowledge on chestnut composition, together with the influence of diverse post-harvest technologies, such as refrigeration, flame peeling, freezing with CO2, irradiation, boiling and roasting on the bioactive compounds of chestnut.

Assessment of In Vitro Biological Activities of Anthocyanins-Rich Plant Species Based on Plinia cauliflora Study Model.

Plinia cauliflora (jaboticaba) is a native fruit tree from Brazilian rainforest widely used in popular medicine to prevent diarrhea, asthma, and infections. Studies have shown that the major therapeutic potential of jaboticaba fruits is on its peel, a rich source of anthocyanins. These secondary metabolites have well-known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities and have been claimed to be effective to treat diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and stroke. This chapter describes a series of methodologies to evaluate important in vitro biological activities like cytotoxicity, proliferation, and migration of a hydroalcoholic extract of jaboticaba peel on mouse fibroblast L929 line. Assays to assess total phenolic, flavonoid, and anthocyanin contents and antioxidant activities are described as well.