Ana Maria Costa

Gene discovery in Boophilus microplus, the cattle tick: the transcriptomes of ovaries, salivary glands, and hemocytes.

Abstract: The quest for new control strategies for ticks can profit from high throughput genomics. In order to identify genes that are involved in oogenesis and development, in defense, and in hematophagy, the transcriptomes of ovaries, hemocytes, and salivary glands from rapidly ingurgitating females, and of salivary glands from males of Boophilus microplus were PCR amplified, and the expressed sequence tags (EST) of random clones were mass sequenced. So far, more than 1,344 EST have been generated for these tissues, with approximately 30% novelty, depending on the the tissue studied. To date approximately 760 nucleotide sequences from B. microplus are deposited in the NCBI database. Mass sequencing of partial cDNAs of parasite genes can build up this scant database and rapidly generate a large quantity of useful information about potential targets for immunobiological or chemical control.

Antioxidants and sensory properties of the infusions of wild passiflora from Brazilian savannah: potential as functional beverages.

BACKGROUND The study of biodiversity for species recovery and sustainable use has encouraged research with plants from Brazilian savannah. We aimed to characterize chemical and sensory properties of infusions of passifloras, due to their potential as functional beverages. Infusions and hydroalcoholic extracts of four species of wild passifloras, three varieties of Passiflora edulis and a commercial passiflora tea were evaluated for total phenolics (TPs), total flavonoids (TFs), condensed tannins (CTs), and antioxidant activity (DPPH and FRAP). Free-choice Profile and acceptance, compared with green tea, were performed for sensory characterization. RESULTS In general, infusions had higher levels of TPs and CTs than hydroalcoholic extracts, which in turn had higher levels of TFs. Infusion of P. nitida showed higher amounts of TPs and antioxidant activity. Acceptance of passiflora infusions was similar or higher than that of green tea, except for P. alata. P. setacea presented a sensory profile similar to other commercial teas and higher acceptance by a group of consumers. CONCLUSION Passiflora infusions showed different degrees of suitability as acceptable functional beverage. Identification of phenolics and other bitter compounds is needed to understand the intense bitterness of P. alata, as it did not present the highest contents of TPs, CTs and TFs.

Bioactive amines in Passiflora are affected by species and fruit development

Bioactive amines were determined in selected passion fruit species and throughout fruit development. The same amines (spermine, spermidine, agmatine, putrescine and tryptamine) were found in four Passiflora species (2008-2010 growing seasons) at different concentrations: P. alata had higher polyamines (spermine+spermidine, 8.41mg/100g); P. setacea and P. nitida had higher putrescine (>7.0mg/100g); and P. setacea had higher agmatine contents (1.37mg/100g) compared to the others. The indolamine tryptamine was present at low concentrations in all species (~0.05mg/100g). P. nitida and P. alata had the highest soluble solids (~18°Brix); P. edulis had the lowest pH (2.97) and P. nitida the highest pH (4.19). Throughout P. setacea fruit development, the concentrations of spermidine, putrescine and agmatine decreased; spermine contents did not change; and pH decreased. Fruit shelf life and some of the health promoting properties of Passiflora and their synthesis are modulated by species.

Qualidade sensorial de néctares de maracujás BRS Ouro Vermelho produzidos em diferentes sistemas de cultivo

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o perfil sensorial e a aceitabilidade de nectares de maracujas obtidos de plantas submetidas a diferentes sistemas de producao, orgânico e convencional, com ou sem sombreamento pelo consorcio com mandioca. As amostras foram avaliadas por Analise Descritiva Quantitativa e por teste de aceitacao com escala hedonica. Os dados do perfil descritivo e de aceitacao foram analisados por Mapa de Preferencia Externo, Analise de Variância e teste de comparacao de medias de Fisher. Observou-se que os frutos que nao foram submetidos ao sombreamento apresentaram nectares com perfil sensorial bastante semelhante e maior aceitacao. Nectares de maracuja convencional nao sombreado e orgânico nao sombreado apresentaram correlacao com os atributos aroma verde, homogeneidade e gosto acido. As maiores diferencas na aceitacao foram observadas entre as amostras convencional sombreada e orgânico nao sombreada, com diferencas significativas nos atributos de cor, sabor e qualidade global. O Mapa de Preferencia Externo apontou que a amostra de nectar convencional sombreado, com menor aceitacao, foi correlacionada com os atributos fibrosidade e viscosidade.

A systematic review on phenolic compounds in Passiflora plants: Exploring biodiversity for food, nutrition, and popular medicine.

ABSTRACT Passiflora plants are strategic in the context of biodiversity for food and nutrition. We applied the procedures of a systematic review protocol to study the state of the art on identification of phenolic compounds from Passiflora plants. An automated literature search was conducted using six databases and a combination of seven keywords. All the analytical, chromatographic, and spectroscopic methods were included. The studies were classified according to their method of identification, phenolic classes, and method of extraction. In total, 8,592 abstracts were found, from which 122 studies were selected for complete reading and 82 were selected for further analysis. Techniques of extraction, evaluated parts of the plant and methods of identification were systematized. Studies with leaves were most conspicuous (54.4%), 34 species of Passiflora were evaluated and orientin, isoorientin, vitexin, isovitexin were commonly found structures. A High Performance Liquid Chromatography-diode array detector was the technique most applied, with which the same structures were identified all through the studies, although other unknown structures were detected, but not elucidated. The use of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Mass Spectrometry, which are more sensitive techniques, needs to be intensified, to identify other unconventional compounds detected in Passiflora, to enhance the comprehension of the bioactive compounds in these plants.

Pre-harvest factors related to sensory profile of Passiflora setacea nectars, a wild passion fruit from Brazilian savannah: Pre-harvest factors related to sensory profile of Passiflora setacea nectars

BACKGROUND Passiflora setacea DC. is a passion fruit species native from Brazilian savannah characterized by naturally sweet sensory characteristics. The sensory quality of the pulp can be affected by the growing environment. The effect of training systems (trellis or espalier), seasons (the weather conditions in periods of drought and rain) and addition of seeds to the juice (25%) were evaluated, with emphasis on the sensory quality of P. setacea nectars. RESULTS Training systems of P. setacea plantation did not influence flavor or aroma of nectars. Season had an effect on texture attributes. Although training system and season had impact on pH, total soluble solid (TSS) content, titratable acidity (TA), polyphenolics and condensed tannins content, these environment factors had no influence on acceptance. Seeds addition had a negative effect on overall liking. Frequency of consumption of passion fruit and functional food did not influence nectar preference whereas being neophilic or having higher level of knowledge about functional foods favored greater acceptance of P. setacea nectars. CONCLUSION Passiflora setacea nectar is a potential functional beverage, due its bioactive contents. Training system and season had no influence on acceptance as isolated factors. However, there was an interaction between these factors, which could be considered to market projection, as well as the addition of seeds.

Effect of training system and climate conditions on phytochemicals of Passiflora setacea, a wild Passiflora from Brazilian savannah

Passiflora setacea is a Brazilian savannah fruit known as a good source of phytochemicals. The phytochemical composition is influenced by environmental factors and management techniques such as training system. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of training system (espalier or trellis) and environmental factors (temperature, precipitation and sunlight exposure) on antioxidant capacity and bioactive composition of P. setacea pulp. Total phenolic compounds (TP), proantocyanidins (PA), total flavonoids (TF), vitamin C and total antioxidant activity were analyzed. Five flavonoids (orientin, isoorientin, vitexin, isovitexin and hesperetin) were determined by HPLC-DAD, using calibration curves. Training system presented no effects on TP, PA, TF and antioxidant activity, whereas rainy season year 2 increased FRAP values, TF, orientin, isovitexin and hesperetin content, which could be associate to climate stressful condition leading to higher levels of these compounds.

Conservação pós-colheita de frutos de Passiflora setacea DC. submetidos a diferentes sanitizantes e temperaturas de armazenamento

A Passiflora setacea DC. e uma especie silvestre de maracujazeiro que ocorre nos biomas Cerrado e Caatinga, e em areas de transicao, como o Semiarido norte-mineiro do Brasil. A alta perecibilidade dos frutos de P. setacea reduz sua vida util, limitando sua comercializacao. Objetivou-se determinar a melhor temperatura e o melhor sanitizante para a conservacao pos-colheita de frutos de P. setacea. Os frutos foram submetidos a dois sanitizantes quimicos e armazenados por 21 dias, sob condicao ambiente (21,3 °C e 77,8% de umidade relativa) e nas temperaturas de 6 °C, 10 °C, 15 °C e 20 °C e 90% de umidade relativa. No inicio do armazenamento e aos 4, 7, 14 e 21 dias, realizaram-se analises de perda de massa fresca, cor, acidez titulavel, solidos soluveis, ratio e pH dos frutos. A temperatura de 10 °C e 90% de umidade relativa e a condicao mais recomendada para o armazenamento dos frutos. Os sanitizantes nao aumentaram a vida util dos frutos, nao sendo recomendados para utilizacao nas concentracoes estudadas, uma vez que os mesmos nao auxiliaram na reducao da perda de massa fresca e na conservacao dos mesmos. De acordo com as condicoes experimentais do presente trabalho, a vida util pos-colheita dos frutos foi inferior a quatro dias de armazenamento, mesmo sob refrigeracao; observou-se que, assim como o maracujazeiro azedo comercial, frutos de P. setacea perdem massa fresca e apresentam o enrugamento da casca apos quatro dias de armazenamento. No entanto, de acordo com os valores de acidez titulavel, solidos soluveis e pH, essas caracteristicas nao inviabilizam o consumo da polpa apos sete dias de armazenamento.