Daniele Fernanda Felipe

Phytochemical Analysis of Pfaffia glomerata Inflorescences by LC-ESI-MS/MS

Pfaffia glomerata contains high levels of β-ecdysone, which has shown a range of beneficial pharmacological effects. The present study demonstrated that inflorescences of P. glomerata contain other important bioactive compounds in addition to β-ecdysone. The identification of compounds from inflorescences using liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) was performed for the first time. The eight compounds identified were β-ecdysone, flavonoid glycosides such as quercetin-3-O-glucoside, kaempferol-3-O-glucoside and kaempferol-3-O-(6-p-coumaroyl)-glucoside, oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins such as ginsenoside Ro and chikusetsusaponin IV, in addition to oleanonic acid and gluconic acid. This study provided information on the phytochemicals contained in P. glomerata inflorescences revealing the potential application of this plant part as raw material for the phytotherapeutic and cosmetic industries.

Antioxidant Capacity of the Leaf Extract Obtained from Arrabidaea chica Cultivated in Southern Brazil

Arrabidaea chica leaf extract has been used by people as an anti-inflammatory and astringent agent as well as a remedy for intestinal colic, diarrhea, leucorrhea, anemia, and leukemia. A. chica is known to be a good producer of phenolics. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated its antioxidant activity. The phenolic composition of A. chica leaves was studied by liquid chromatography coupled to diode array detection (LC–DAD) and liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–ESI-MS/MS), and isoscutellarein, 6-hydroxyluteolin, hispidulin, scutellarein, luteolin, and apigenin were identified. The extract from leaves of A. chica was tested for antioxidant activity using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method, β-carotene bleaching test, and total reactive antioxidant potential (TRAP) method. The crude extract quenched DPPH free radicals in a dose-dependent manner, and the IC50 of the extract was 13.51 µg/mL. The β-carotene bleaching test showed that the addition of the A. chica extract in different concentrations (200 and 500 µg/mL) prevented the bleaching of β-carotene at different degrees (51.2% ±3.38% and 94% ±4.61%, respectively). The TRAP test showed dose-dependent correlation between the increasing concentrations of A. chica extract (0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 µg/mL) and the TRAP values obtained by trolox (hydro-soluble vitamin E) 0.4738±0.0466, 1.981±0.1603, and 6.877±1.445 µM, respectively. The 2 main flavonoids, scutellarein and apigenin, were separated, and their antioxidant activity was found to be the same as that of the plant extract. These 2 flavonoids were quantified in the plant extract by using a validated HPLC-UV method. The results of these tests showed that the extract of A. chica had a significant antioxidant activity, which could be attributed to the presence of the mixture of flavonoids in the plant extract, with the main contribution of scutellarein and apigenin.

Comparação da Ação Antioxidante de Uma Formulação Contendo Extrato de Pereskia aculeata com Cosméticos Anti-Idade Presentes no Mercado

According to WHO, mental health does not merely comprise mental disturbances but also defines it as the well-being and potential of individuals in being capable of dealing with normal day-to-day stress and its influence on productivity in themselves and in their community. Current investigation, a transversal analysis with a quantitative-analytic focus, identifies the activities of nurses of the Family Help Strategy (ESF) with people with mental disturbances. Study was undertaken in ten Basic Health Units (UBS) in the municipality of Maringa PR Brazil. A self-applicable questionnaire was undertaken for data collection, with ten closed questioned. Subjects were 33 nurses working at the ESF of whom 31 (94%) were females and 2 (6%) were males, aged between 25 and 54 years old. Service time varied accordingly, or rather, 19 (58%) worked between five and ten years; 9 (27%) worked less than five years; 4 (12%) worked between 10 to 15 years; only 1 (3%) worked for more than 15 years. It should be highlighted than 23 (70%) nurses who worked for ESF did not have any experience in dealing with patients with mental disturbances, while 10 (30%) already had. Data showed that the most frequent activities were home visits and introduction undertaken by 32 (97%) nurses. ESF proposes changes in the links between the current assistance model and the patients coupled to the organization of presentation and realization in health promotion.The quality of inside air in closed places is affected by several conditions such as premise structure, external environment, occupants´ habits and activities developed there. Pollution by micro-organisms, such as bacteria and fungi, may trigger the development of allergies, respiratory problems and other immunological reactions. It may be considered as one of the main environmental and public health problems. The concentration of fungi and bacteria in an agricultural-industrial firm in the central-western region of the state of Parana, Brazil, is quantified to verify internal air pollution through basic parameters established by the National Agency for Sanitary Vigilance (ANVISA). Samples were collected by sedimentation methods in Petri plates during August and September 2012 during working hours, with the air-conditioning running on. Microbiological quality of the external air was also undertaken to compare inside and outside air. Concentrations of fungi and bacteria complied with limits permitted by Brazilian law (I/E < 1.5). It may be said that the internal air was of good quality with regard to concentrations of micro-organisms.

Estudo da Estabilidade de Géis Contendo Vitamina C, Manipulados em Farmácias da Cidade de Maringá - PR

According to WHO, mental health does not merely comprise mental disturbances but also defines it as the well-being and potential of individuals in being capable of dealing with normal day-to-day stress and its influence on productivity in themselves and in their community. Current investigation, a transversal analysis with a quantitative-analytic focus, identifies the activities of nurses of the Family Help Strategy (ESF) with people with mental disturbances. Study was undertaken in ten Basic Health Units (UBS) in the municipality of Maringa PR Brazil. A self-applicable questionnaire was undertaken for data collection, with ten closed questioned. Subjects were 33 nurses working at the ESF of whom 31 (94%) were females and 2 (6%) were males, aged between 25 and 54 years old. Service time varied accordingly, or rather, 19 (58%) worked between five and ten years; 9 (27%) worked less than five years; 4 (12%) worked between 10 to 15 years; only 1 (3%) worked for more than 15 years. It should be highlighted than 23 (70%) nurses who worked for ESF did not have any experience in dealing with patients with mental disturbances, while 10 (30%) already had. Data showed that the most frequent activities were home visits and introduction undertaken by 32 (97%) nurses. ESF proposes changes in the links between the current assistance model and the patients coupled to the organization of presentation and realization in health promotion.The quality of inside air in closed places is affected by several conditions such as premise structure, external environment, occupants´ habits and activities developed there. Pollution by micro-organisms, such as bacteria and fungi, may trigger the development of allergies, respiratory problems and other immunological reactions. It may be considered as one of the main environmental and public health problems. The concentration of fungi and bacteria in an agricultural-industrial firm in the central-western region of the state of Parana, Brazil, is quantified to verify internal air pollution through basic parameters established by the National Agency for Sanitary Vigilance (ANVISA). Samples were collected by sedimentation methods in Petri plates during August and September 2012 during working hours, with the air-conditioning running on. Microbiological quality of the external air was also undertaken to compare inside and outside air. Concentrations of fungi and bacteria complied with limits permitted by Brazilian law (I/E < 1.5). It may be said that the internal air was of good quality with regard to concentrations of micro-organisms.

Efeito da Adubação Orgânica e da Consorciação no Rendimento de Biomassa e Óleo Essencial de Rosmarinus officinalis

Adolescence is a phase in human development characterized by revolt, alternating childish and adult attitudes, and marked by many conflicting emotions and feelings which produce deep anxiety. Current research characterizes the social and environmental conditions of development and its implications and identifies the emotional factors that cause adolescent revolt within the family context and its influence on the socialization process. Subjects comprise twenty adolescents within the 11 – 15 year-old bracket, equally divided into males and females. Sample was composed of 10 male and 10 female adolescents, from five randomly chosen districts in Astorga PR Brazil. Adolescents interviewed had a good knowledge on the body’s physical changes and sexuality. They talk on these theme with friends, acknowledge and seek freedom and independence common to all adolescents, even though the older participants acknowledge the needs of certain limits.Current research characterizes the influence of organic fertilization and consortiation in biomass, essential oil and height yield of the aromatic medicinal herb Rosmarinus officinalis (Lamiaceae). Rosemary plants were cultivated in the Didactic Medicinal Herb Garden of the CESUMAR, Maringa PR Brazil, in monoculture plots and consortiated plots with rosemary and yarrow, manured with organic fertilization and with vegetal compost in increasing weight doses of 0, 1%, 2% and 3%. Harvest occurred 10 months after planting; fresh biomass was weighed and then dried at room temperature. Essential oil was extracted by hydro-distillation by Clavenger apparatus. Results show that biomass yield increased in proportion to increase of fertilization doses. Highest increase occurred in monoculture since essential oil and plant height showed no significant difference between the types of culture.

Desenvolvimento de Formulação de uso Tópico com Ação Cicatrizante Contendo Extrato de Pereskia aculeata

The inclusion of Afro-Brazilian and African culture in the school curriculum by Act 10,639/2003 favors the demystification of the Negro stereotype as from the transcultural process which occurred in Brazil and an analysis of Negro artists who became prominent in certain areas of social and cultural interest. The above-mentioned law has not become really effective since there is a dearth of didactic material on the production of Brazilian Negro artists and on Negros in the pre-slavery period. Educators feel themselves unprepared to deal with such a delicate and discriminated subject matter. Current analysis analyzes the biography of two Negro Brazilians, namely Estevao Roberto da Silva and Heitor dos Prazeres. They were specifically chosen because they were Afro-descendents and highly prominent in the difficult Abolition period. The importance of Negros prominent in certain cultural or social environments has been perceived so that Brazilian identity could be recovered.The relationship between the employment of information and knowledge for renewal according to the Neo-Schumpeterian approach is provided. Since analysis is restricted to the municipality of Sorocaba SP Brazil, interviews and questionnaires were applied to a non-randomized sample of ten industrial firms specialized in transport materials in the city. Descriptive statistics and Mann-Whitney U Test were employed for data analysis. External sources most employed consisted of clients and consumers, manufacturers of machines, equipments, materials, components and/or software, coupled to test and/or certificate institutions. Internal sources of the most common technological knowledge are the production, sales and marketing departments. Results show that the greater the use of technological knowledge sources, the higher the innovation capacity, and vice-versa. Such relationship not only exists in all investigated transport material sectors but innovation is substantially upgraded.