Arcelina Pacheco Cunha

Insecticidal activity against Aedes aegypti of m‐pentadecadienyl‐phenol isolated from Myracrodruon urundeuva seeds

BACKGROUND Myracrodruon urundeuva Fr. Allemao is a common tree in the Caatinga that has been widely used for various medical purposes. Previous studies showed that the ethanol seed extract of M. urundeuva has potent activity against the larval stage of the dengue vector Aedes aegypti. Given this potential insecticidal activity, bioguided separation steps were performed in order to isolate the active compound(s). RESULTS The isolation process resulted in only one active chemical compound, identified by infrared spectroscopy and mass spectrometry as m-pentadecadienyl-phenol. This compound presented potent larvicidal and pupicidal activity (LC50 10.16 and 99.06 µg mL(-1) respectively) and great egg hatching inhibitory activity (IC50 49.79 µg mL(-1)). The mode of action was investigated through observations of behavioural and morphological changes performed in third-instar larvae treated with m-pentadecadienyl-phenol solution after 1, 6, 12, 16 and 20 h of exposure. Some changes were observed as flooding of the tracheal system, alterations in siphonal valves and anal gills and lethargy, probably caused by the strong anticholinesterasic activity reported previously. CONCLUSION The compound isolated from M. urundeuva seeds, m-pentadecadienyl-phenol, showed potent activity against immature stages of dengue vector, Ae. aegypti, being considered the main larvicidal principle.

Wheat straw hemicelluloses added with cellulose nanocrystals and citric acid. Effect on film physical properties

Wheat straw has been used as a source of hemicelluloses (WSH) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) for the elaboration of biodegradable films. Different films have been formed by using WSH as a matrix and different contents of CNC and citric acid. The predominant hemicelluloses were arabinoxylans. CNC reinforced the films, improving tensile strength and modulus, water resistance and water vapor barrier. Citric acid, on the other hand, presented concomitant plasticizing and crosslinking effects (the latter also evidenced by FTIR), probably due to a crosslinking extension by glycerol. The use of 5.9wt% CNC and 30wt% citric acid was defined as optimal conditions, resulting in minimum water sensitivity and permeability, while maintaining a good combination of tensile properties. Under those conditions, the films presented enhanced modulus, elongation, water resistance, and barrier to water vapor when compared to the control WSH film, and might be used for wrapping or coating a variety of foods.

ENCAPSULAÇÃO DO ÁCIDO L-ASCÓRBICO NO BIOPOLÍMERO NATURAL GALACTOMANANA POR SPRAY‑DRYING: PREPARAÇÃO, CARACTERIZAÇÃO E ATIVIDADE ANTIOXIDANTE

In this study, the spray drying technique was used to prepare L-ascorbic acid (AA) microparticles encapsulated with galactomannan-an extract from the seeds of the Delonix regia species. The physico-chemical characteristics, antioxidant activity, and encapsulation efficiency of the AA microparticles were evaluated and characterized using thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. The free-radical scavenging activity of the AA microparticles was determined at different environmental conditions using DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl). X-ray diffraction measurements demonstrated a loss of crystallinity in AA after the encapsulation process, and a DSC scan also showed the loss of the compounds melting peak. Thermogravimetric analysis showed small differences in the thermal stability of galactomannan before and after the incorporation of AA. The mean diameters of the obtained spherical microspheres were in the range of 1.39 ± 0.77 µm. The encapsulation efficiency of AA microparticles in different environmental conditions varied from 95.40 to 97.92, and the antioxidant activity showed values ranging from 0.487 to 0.550 mg mL-1.

The anticonvulsant effect of a polysaccharide-rich extract from Genipa americana leaves is mediated by GABA receptor

BACKGROUND This study aimed to chemically characterize a polysaccharide-rich extract (PRE) obtained from Genipa americana leaves and evaluate its neuroprotective effect in the brain morphology and oxidative markers using mice behavioral models. METHODS Dry powder (5 g) of G. americana leaves were submitted to depigmentation in methanol. PRE was obtained by extraction in NaOH and precipitation with absolute ethanol and characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (1H and 13C NMR). Swiss mice (25-35 g) received saline (0.9% NaCl) or PRE (1-27 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal (i.p.) route, 30 min before evaluation in behavioral models (open field, elevated plus maze, sleeping time, tail suspension, forced swimming, seizures induced by pentylenetetrazole-PTZ). Animals brain were dissected and analyzed for histological alterations and oxidative stress. RESULTS FTIR spectrum showed bands around 3417 cm-1 and 2928 cm-1, relative to the vibrational stretching of OH and CH, respectively. 1H NMR spectrum revealed signals at δ 3.85 (methoxyl groups) and δ 2.4 (acetyl) ppm. 13C NMR spectrum revealed signals at δ 108.0 and δ 61.5 ppm, corresponding to C1 and C5 of α-L-arabinofuranosyl residues. PRE presented central inhibitory effect, increasing the latency for PTZ-induced seizures by 63% (9 mg/kg) and 55% (27 mg/kg), and the latency to death by 73% (9 mg/kg) and 72% (27 mg/kg). Both effects were reversed by the association with flumazenil. CONCLUSIONS PRE, containing a heteropolysaccharide, presents antioxidant and anticonvulsant effect in the model of PTZ-induced seizures via gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), decreasing the number of hippocampal black neurons.

Modificação química da pectina do melão caipira ( Cucumis melo var. Acidulus)

In this work the extraction of substances from the common melon (Cucumis melo var. Acidulus) was carried out, which has more specific application in both, the food industry, as in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry, becoming more valuable than the fruit in natura. The objective of this study was to extract, quantify, characterize and modify chemically by sulfation pectin the common melon (Cucumis melo var. acidulus). The extractions were performed in neutral, acidic and basic conditions, with yields of 8%, 10.8% and 14%, respectively. In addition to the Elementary Analysis, pectin extracted with acid, it was characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance of carbon (C NMR) and Hydrogen (H NMR), Potentiometric Titration, Spectroscopy in the Infrared (FT-IR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC), Rheology and Zeta Potential. Some of these analyzes were not performed for samples extracted in alkaline, neutral and sulfated acid, as well as for commercial use sample, for which the analysis depended on the purpose for which it was proposed, is it to determine a specific feature the material and the degree of esterification (DE) or to identify overall change in polymer structure such as sulfation. The 13C-NMR showed peaks characteristic of galacturonic acid. The FT-IR and potentiometric titration permitted the calculation of the degree of esterification (DE) of acidic, basic, neutral and sulfated samples and also a commercial sample from Sigma Aldrich; GE results of the samples obtained by these techniques were compared, showing that the samples are acidic and neutral low GE. The result of GE acid sample was also obtained by H NMR, confirming its low GE condition. The SEM of the sample showed particles with acidic spherical structure with surface flattening, typical drying spray dried, suggesting potential application in drug encapsulation. The XRD revealed that the material has amorphous character, an increase of crystallinity after chemical modification. The TGA technique revealed the pectin degradation in three stages. The DSC curve showed an endothermic peak at 150 °C and an exotherm at 245°C for the loss of water and the main step of breakdown of the material, respectively. The molecular weight of the acid sample, determined by GPC, showed values of typical polymeric materials 4.5 x 10 g/mol, consistent with pectins. The rheological study revealed the shear-thinning property of pectin solution.