Anderson Assaid Simão

Antioxidants from medicinal plants used in the treatment of obesity.

Aims: The objective of this work was to quantify phenolic compounds, flavonoids, vitamin C, total carotenoids, �≤ -carotene and lycopene and to measure the antioxidant activity in themedicinal plantsAloe vera(L.)Burm. (aloe),Simaba ferrugineaSt. Hil. (calunga), Baccharis trimera(Less.) DC (carqueja),Garcinia cambogia Desr., andTournefortia paniculataCham. (marmelinho) and of the phytotherapic made with the combination of these plants.

Cereal bars enriched with antioxidant substances and rich in fiber, prepared with flours of acerola residues

In the processing for obtaining acerola juice, a large amount of residues, which is usually discharged, is generated (seeds and bagasse). Adding value to these by-products is of great interest, since their use can enrich human food as a good source of nutrients and dietary fiber. In this study, acerola seed flours (ASF) and acerola bagasse flours (ABF) were used to develop cereal bars (CB) in different combinations with brown oats: CB 1: control - with the addition of 25% brown oats, CB 2: with the addition of 12.5% ASF and 12.5% ABF, CB 3: with the addition of 6.25% ASF and 18.75% ABF, CB 4: with the addition of 12.5% ASF and 12.5% brown oats and CB 5: with the addition of 12.5% ABF and 12.5% brown oats. These bars were sensorially evaluated and CB 1, CB 4 and CB 5 received the highest scores. We conclude that CB 4 and CB 5 can be considered as products with enhanced nutritional value, containing iron with a low energetic value and high levels of dietary fibre, besides being enriched with antioxidants.

Inhibition of proteases and phospholipases A2 from Bothrops atrox and Crotalus durissus terrificus snake venoms by ascorbic acid, vitamin E, and B-complex vitamins

The enzyme inhibition by natural and/ or low-cost compounds may represent a valuable adjunct to traditional serotherapy performed in cases of snakebite, mainly with a view to mitigate the local effects of envenoming. The objective of this study was to evaluate possible interactions between vitamins and enzymes that comprise Bothrops atrox and Crotalus durissus terrificus venoms, in vitro. Proteolysis inhibition assays (substrates: azocasein, collagen, gelatin and fibrinogen), hemolysis, coagulation, hemagglutination were carried out using different proportions of vitamins in face of to inhibit minimum effective dose of each venom. The vitamins were responsible for reducing 100% of breaking azocasein by C.d.t. venom, thrombolysis induced by B. atrox and fibrinogenolysis induced by both venoms. It is suggested the presence of interactions between vitamin and the active site of enzymes, for example the interactions between hydrophobic regions present in the enzymes and vitamin E, as well as the inhibitions exercised by antioxidant mechanism.

Avaliação de compostos funcionais e atividade antioxidante em farinhas de polpa de goiabas

Guava (Psidium guajava) is a native Brazilian plant and its fruits are rich in antioxidants compounds which can inhibit the liproteins oxidation, reducing the aggravations of oxidative stress. The objective of this study was to determine these substances and antioxidant activity of the flours from the fruits of Pedro Sato, Paluma and Seculo XXI cultivars. The parameters analyzed were phenolic compounds, vitamin C, beta-carotene, dietary fiber, minerals (iron, potassium, copper, magnesium, manganese, zinc and calcium) and antioxidant activity by DPPH methods and beta-carotene/acid linoleic. The levels of phenolic compounds were higher for the Seculo XXI cultivar.The level of beta-carotene and dietary fiber did not vary among cultivars analyzed. The Paluma and Seculo XXI cultivars stood out in antioxidant activity by both methods. Regarding to minerals, there was no significant difference for potassium, copper and zinc. Calcium was not detected by the used method. Iron, magnesium and manganese were higher for Paluma, Pedro Sato and Seculo XXI, respectively.

Anti-nutritional compounds in fresh and dried lychee fractions (Litchi chinensis Sonn.)

The present study evaluated the anti-nutritional factors of “Bengal” lychee (Litchi chinensis Sonn.), in the fresh pulp, peel and seed, both fresh and processed. The samples were analyzed for the levels of phenolic compounds, nitrate, oxalic acid and inhibitory activities of trypsin, lipase and α-amylase. Drying influenced the activity of all enzyme inhibitors, resulting in a reduction in the inhibitory activity of lipase (0.13 and 0.15 lipase inhibitor units for peel and seed, respectively) and an increase in the inhibitory activities of trypsin (10.14 and 10.66 trypsin inhibitor units for peel and seed, respectively) and α-amylase (1.13 and 1.08 amylase inhibitor units for peel and seed, respectively). With drying, it was possible to observe an increase in the levels of phenolic compounds, the low content of nitrate did not change with drying, while oxalic acid was not detected. The antinutrients evaluated in lychee fractions are present in amounts that do not preclude its use; thus, the use of lychee fractions, fresh or dried, is feasible as nutrient sources and add value to the fruits, since industries can use these residues for developing new products, as well as in food enrichment.

Malpighia emarginata DC. bagasse acetone extract: Phenolic compounds and their effect on Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Annually, several tons of residues that are rich in phenolic compounds are produced during the processing of acerola (Malpighia emarginata DC.) juice. Adding value to these residues is of great interest, since they can be a viable solution in the search for natural substances with insecticidal action and low impact on the environment and humans. Taking into account the economic losses from the attacks by the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in different crops, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the extract of acerola bagasse flour (ABF) against this insect and determine the phenolic compounds in this extract. Bagasse of acerola (BRS238 or Frutacor clon) generated after juice production, was frozen and lyophilized. To obtain the extract, 6 g ABF was mixed with 60 mL acetone:water solution (7:3 v/v), and the extract was lyophilized. Spodoptera frugiperda caterpillars, 48 h-old, obtained by the maintenance breeding, were transferred to glass tubes supplied with an artificial diet containing the ABF extract at 0, 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg L-1 diet. The following variables were evaluated: duration and survival of larval and pupal stages, pupal weight, sex ratio, adult longevity, oviposition period, number of egg masses, and total number of eggs. The ABF extract contained several phenolic compounds including gallic acid, epigallocatechin gallate, catechin, p-coumaric acid, salicylic acid, and quercetin. The extract was toxic to S. frugiperda, prolonging the pre-pupal stage and increasing the mortality of caterpillars.

Anti-obesity effects of the administration of tournefortia paniculata cham extract on wistar rats subjected to a hypercaloric diet

The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic and toxicologic effects of the administration of the powered vegetable extract and aqueous extract of Tournefortia paniculata leaves on Wistar rats, subjected to a hypercaloric diet for 42 days. The rats were divided into five groups and were given the following treatments by gavage: T0 (control) - 1.0 mL water day-1; T1 - aqueous extract containing 14 mg phenolic compounds kg-1 rat day-1; T2 - 14 mg quercetin kg-1 rat day-1; T3 - 50 mg powered vegetable extract from T. paniculata leaves (PVE) kg-1 rat day-1 and T4 - 100 mg PVE kg-1 rat day-1. The treatments did not significantly alter the weight, but were effective in reducing liver fat, glucose and serum triglycerides. The treatment T1 reduced food consumption and lipid peroxidation. None of the treatments showed genotoxic potential. Results showed that T. paniculata leaves possessed an anti-obesity potential. However, a more detailed study of the medicinal potential and characterization of phytochemicals in this plant would be still necessary for a better understanding of its mechanisms of action, enabling future applications in the treatment of this pathology or for various therapeutic purposes.

The protective effect exerted by ascorbic acid on DNA fragmentation of human leukocytes induced by Lachesis muta muta venom: CARDOSO TRENTO et al.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the genotoxic and mutagenic effects of the toxins present in Lachesis muta mutas venom on human peripheral blood leukocytes and the protective potential of ascorbic acid on DNA fragmentation. The venom of L. muta muta was incubated in different concentrations (1, 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, and 120 µg/mL) with human blood to evaluate DNA fragmentation using the comet, agarose gel electrophoresis, and micronucleus assays. In these concentrations evaluated, the venom of L. muta muta induced genotoxicity (comet assay and agarose gel electrophoresis) and mutagenicity (micronucleus test), but they were not cytotoxic, as they did not change the rate of cell proliferation after cytokinesis blockade with cytochalasin B. The ascorbic acid significantly inhibited the genotoxicity induced by L. muta muta venom in the proportions evaluated (1:0.1 and 1:0.5, venom/ascorbic acid ‐ w/w). Thus, future studies are needed to elucidate the protective mechanisms of ascorbic acid on the genotoxic effects induced by toxins present in snake venoms.

Protective effect of β-D-glucan and glutamine on the genomic instability induced by Cytarabine/Ara-C in BALB/c mice

Prophylactic antibiotics and growth promoters have been substituted, mainly for livestock, by immunomodulators and intestinal health promoters - such as β-D-glucans and glutamine. The aim of this study was to verify the beneficial effects of β-D-glucans and glutamine against Cytarabine/Ara-C, evaluating the DNA damage in leukocytes, the leukogram, and the mitotic index of intestinal crypts cells. Balb/C mice received treatment with β-D-glucan (80 mg/Kg), glutamine (150 mg/Kg), or both, for 21 days. On the last two days of this period, Ara-C was administered (1.8 mg/animal) by intraperitoneal injection every 12 h. The animals submitted to the treatment with Ara-C presented the highest genotoxic index, a significant leukopenia, and a decrease in the mitotic index of the intestinal crypts cells. Treatment with β-D-glucan protected the leukocytes against DNA fragmentation induced by Ara-C. Glutamine alone promoted maintenance of the mitotic index and, in association with β-Dglucan, reduced leukopenia. Thus, the use of β-D-glucan and glutamine proved to be beneficial to intestinal tropism. This can happen once the damage to the genetic material, prevented by the treatments with β-D-glucan and glutamine, can result in genotoxicity. Not only this, but it might be capable of turning into a mutagenesis, with consequential physiopathological alterations.

Modifications in the methods to extract pectin from cv. “Pedro Sato” guavas during ripening

Guava is a highly perishable fruit due to its intense metabolism during ripening, with a shelf life of up to five days at room temperature. The loss of firmness during ripening is caused by the activity of hydrolytic enzymes that promote dissolution of the pectin constituents of the cell wall. Although guava is considered to be rich in pectin, the amounts reported in the literature do not exceed 2.4%, a content indicating it is not responsible for the firmness of guava. The aim of this study was to extract pectin from the guava pulp during 7 days of ripening by two methods (ethanol and EDTA extraction) and suggest modifications in the methods by adding to the extraction residue, cellulase and pectinase to degrade the cell wall structure of the fruit and obtain larger amounts of pectin, which would imply the participation of pectin in the maintenance of fruit firmness. It was possible to infer there were no differences in the pectin levels extracted by the two methods, due to sugar contamination. As from the new stage in the execution by the two methods, the extraction was more efficient: 9.10% of pectin with EDTA and 7.63% with ethanol. The pectin contents found were higher than those mentioned in the literature, better explaining their responsibility in fruit firmness.