João Carlos Possamai

Controle em pós-colheita de Monilinia fructicola em pêssegos

The Brown rot (Monilinia fructicola) causes economic losses for peach (Prunus persicae) producers in spite of sanitation and pre and post-harvest chemicals. There have been several researches on biological control as an desirable alternative for controling plant diseases. We screened putative antagonists of Monilinia fructicola and also evaluated the efficiency of fungicides and biological controls in reducing post-harvest diseases. In the laboratory, the antagonistic potential of filamentous fungi obtained from peaches from the region of Lapa, PR, was evaluated using two methods: pairing culture and diffusion of products per membrane. Two experiments were conducted after growing seasons of 1997 and 1999 that involved fungal screening in vitro, chemical controls. Each fruit was immersed in the treatments (suspension of spores) and then inoculated by spraying the pathogen. The incidence of the disease in the wounds and around them was then assessed. Several antagonists were efficient in vitro using cellophane membrane tests: isolates of Trichothecium spp. (F1, F2 and F4), Trichoderma spp. (F8 and F12), and also with the method of paring culture: isolates of Trichoderma spp. (F7, F8 and F12) and Penicillium sp (F9). In post-harvest the biological control (isolates F1 and F2) showed very good results (above 80% of control) with no statistical differences between them and the best fungicides tested (iminoctadine and azoxystrobin). The phosphite of K showed good results, above 85% of control of latent infections in both experiments.

Development of mesalazine pellets coated with methacrylic-derived polymer

Mesalazine (5-ASA) is the standard drug for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) due to its local effect on intestinal and colonic mucosa. The effective and safe treatment of this disease requires more efficient delivery of the active substance to its site of action. The focus of this study was the use of multiparticulate systems, a modified release form in which the drug is divided into several functional subunits of release in the form of granules or pellets. When these forms are administered, they are rapidly disintegrated, distributing their content throughout the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a multiparticulate system consisting of pellets coated with polymer for pH-dependent release, derived from methacrylic acid and incorporated into the tablet dosage form of mesalazine as a model drug. The extrusion-spheronisation technique was used, resulting in smooth and spherical pellets with uniform size distribution, which were coated in fluidized bed using Opadry® Enteric 94K28327 containing Eudragit® S100 as the agent regulating drug release. The dissolution profile of coated pellets showed good control of drug release from the polymer at the two levels of coating evaluated (8% and 10%), but only the 10% coated pellets were statistically similar to Asalit® 400 mg.