Eduardo Antonio Ferreira

Stilbenes and tyrosol as target compounds in the assessment of antioxidant and hypolipidemic activity of Vitis vinifera red wines from southern Brazil.

The contents of stilbene monomers, cis-resveratrol, trans-resveratrol, cis-piceid, trans-piceid, and tyrosol, were quantified in Vitis vinifera red wines, cvs. Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Sangiovese, and Syrah, 2006 and 2007 vintages, from the São Joaquim region, a new grape-growing region at southern Brazil. Moreover, the effect of chronic consumption of these wines on the antioxidant and hypolipidemic activities was monitored in C57BL6 LDL receptor knockout mice and treated with a hypercholesterolemic diet. Red wines from this region had substantial levels of resveratrols (the predominant forms were glycoside and trans) and tyrosol. Biomonitoring of antioxidant and hypolipidemic activities in vivo revealed that consumption of these wines increased the antioxidant capacity and reduced the hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia promoted by the hypercholesterolemic diet. Significant correlations were found between the increase of antioxidant capacity markers, the decrease of lipid levels promoted by wine consumption, and the contents of stilbenes and tyrosol, supporting the important biological activity of these compounds.

Potent hepatoprotective effect in CCl4-induced hepatic injury in mice of phloroacetophenone from Myrcia multiflora

Background: This study investigated the hepatoprotective effect and antioxidant properties of phloroacetophenone (2′,4′,6′-trihydroxyacetophenone – THA), an acetophenone derived from the plant Myrcia multiflora. Material & Method: The free radical scavenging activity in vitro and induction of oxidative hepatic damage by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) (0.5 ml/kg, i.p.) were tested in male Swiss mice (25±5 g). Results: This compound exhibited in vitro antioxidant effects on FeCl2–ascorbate-induced lipid peroxidation (LPO) in mouse liver homogenate, scavenging hydroxyl and superoxide radicals, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl. The in vivo assays showed that THA significantly (p<0.01) prevented the increases of hepatic LPO as measured by the levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, mitochondrial swelling. It also protected hepatocytes against protein carbonylation and oxidative DNA damage. Consistent with these observations, THA pre-treatment normalized the activities of antioxidant enzymes, such as catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase, and increased the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) in CCl4-treated mice. In addition, THA treatment significantly prevented the elevation of serum enzymatic activities of alanine amino transferase, aspartate amino transferase, and lactate dehydrogenase, as well as histological alterations induced by CCl4. Silymarin (SIL) (24 mg/kg), a known hepatoprotective drug used for comparison, led to a significant decrease (p<0.01) in activities of theses enzymes in way very similar to that observed in pre-treatment with THA. Conclusion: These results suggest that the protective effects are due to reduction of oxidative damage induced by CCl4 resulting from the antioxidant properties of THA.

Brazilian Bidens pilosa Linné yields fraction containing quercetin-derived flavonoid with free radical scavenger activity and hepatoprotective effects

Bidens pilosa is a plant used by Amazonian and Asian folks for some hepatopathies. The hydroethanol crude extract and three fractions were assessed for antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects. Higher levels of scavenger activity on the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical, inhibition of deoxyribose oxidation and lipid peroxidation in vitro were detected for the ethyl acetate fraction (IC50∼4.3–32.3 µg/ml) followed by the crude extract (IC50∼14.2–98.0 µg/ml). The ethyl acetate fraction, again followed by the crude extract, showed high contents of total soluble polyphenols (3.6±0.2 and 2.1±0.2 GAE/mg, respectively) and presence of a quercetin-derived flavonoid identified as quercetin 3,3′-dimethyl ether 7-O-β-d-glycopyranoside. Both products were assayed for hepatoprotector effects against CCl4-induced liver injury in mice. Markers of oxidative stress and hepatic injury were evaluated. The results showed that the 10-day pretreatments (15 mg/kg, p.o.) protected the livers against injury by blocking CCl4-induced lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation and the DNA fragmentation was decreased (∼60%). The pretreatments avoided the loss of the plasma ferric reducing/antioxidant power and the elevation of serum transaminases and lactate dehydrogenase activities. The results suggest that the main constituents responsible for the hepatoprotective effects with free radical scavenger power associated are well extracted by performing fractionation with ethyl acetate. The findings support the Brazilian traditional use of this plant and justify further evaluations for the therapeutic efficacy and safety of the constituents of the ethyl acetate fraction to treat some liver diseases.

Free-radical scavenging by Ouratea parviflora in experimentally-induced liver injuries

Abstract The antioxidant potential of crude extracts and fractions from leaves of Ouratea parviflora, a Brazilian medicinal plant used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, was investigated in vitro through the scavenging of radicals 2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH), hydroxyl radical (HO•), superoxide anion (O2•−), and lipid peroxidation in rat liver homogenate. The crude extract (CEOP) and hydro-alcoholic fraction (OP4) showed strong inhibitory activity toward lipid peroxidation induced by tert-butyl peroxide (IC50 = 2.3 ± 0.2 and 1.9 ± 0.1 μg/ml, respectively). The same products exhibited a strong concentration-dependent inhibition of deoxyribose oxidation (14.9 ± 0.2 and 0.2 ± 0.1 μg/ml, respectively), and also showed a considerable antioxidant activity against O2•−(87.3 ± 0.1 and 73.1 ± 0.4 μg/ml, respectively) and DPPH radicals (55.4 ± 0.3 and 38.3 ± 0.4 μg/ml, respectively). The protective effects of CEOP and OP4 were also studied in mouse liver. CCl4 significantly increased (by 90%) levels of lipid hydroperoxides, carbonyl protein content (64%), DNA damage index (133%), aspartate aminotransferase (261%), alanine aminotransferase (212%), catalase activity (23%), and also caused a decrease of 60% in GSH content. The results showed that CEOP and OP4 exerted cytoprotective effects against oxidative injury caused by CCl4 in rat liver, probably related to the antioxidant activity showed by the in vitro free radical scavenging property.

PROSPECÇÃO TECNOLÓGICA DA PRODUÇÃO DE CÁPSULAS GELATINOSAS DE POLPA DE PEQUI (CARYOCAR BRASILIENSE CAMB) COMO UM NOVO NUTRACÊUTICO

Realizou-se a prospeccao tecnologica da invencao de processo de preparacao de capsulas gelatinosas produzidas a partir do oleo da polpa de pequi para consumo como suplemento vitaminico natural, com propriedades nutraceuticas e antioxidantes. O objetivo foi abordar a prospeccao tecnologica da producao de nutraceuticos, bem como do fruto pequi ( Caryocar brasiliense Camb.) na sua forma nutraceutica. Foram mapeadas em bases de dados internacionais, as patentes e os artigos sobre a tematica, a fim de verificar a maturidade tecnologica dessa producao. A parit dos resultados sugere-se ampliacao da utilizacao dos principios ativos do pequi para a industria de cosmeticos e nutricosmeticos. Sugerem-se estudos para utilizacao de componentes nanoencapsulados do pequi como corante para produtos de bronzeamento ou protecao solar. Empresas passiveis de transferencia de tecnologia foram identificadas.

PROSPECÇÃO TECNOLÓGICA DA PRODUÇÃO DE ÁCIDO HIALURÔNICO POR MEIO DE MICROORGANISMOS

O presente trabalho teve a finalidade de abordar a prospeccao tecnologica da producao de Acido Hialuronico (AH) por meio de microrganismos . Foram mapeados em bases de dados internacionais as patentes e artigos sobre a tematica, a fim de verificar a maturidade tecnologica e outros aspectos desse processamento microbriano do AH. Dos resultados obtidos constatou-se que a utilizacao de bacterias e muito comum, especialmente as da especie Streptococcus sp e sua subespecie Streptococcus zooepidemicus , seguidas da especie Bacillus sp. Como alternativas, ainda que embrionarias, as leveduras geneticamente modificadas tem surgido como microrganismos alternativos no processo de obtencao de AH, destacando-se a Pichia pastoris . Ao analisar os aspectos da prospeccao, conclui-se que a tecnologia de producao de AH por microrganismos quando utilizadas bacterias e madura e embrionaria, porem promissora, quando considerado o uso de leveduras recombinantes.