João Evangelista Fiorini

Bacteriostatic effect of copaiba oil (Copaifera officinalis) against Streptococcus mutans

This study evaluated the inhibitory activity of copaiba oil (Copaifera officinalis against the cariogenic microorganism, Streptococcus mutans. For such purpose, a minimum inhibition concentration test of copaiba oil against S. mutans was performed, using the serial dilution in broth technique, with a negative control, a positive control (0.12% chlorhexidine) and a 10% copaíba oil solution as a test. A minimum bactericidal concentration test with tubes presenting microbial inhibition was also conduced. In the minimum inhibitory concentration test, copaiba oil showed inhibition of bacterial growth at all concentrations tested up to 0.78 µL/mL of the 10% copaiba oil solution in the broth. In addition, the negative control had no inhibition, and the 0.12% chlorhexidine solution was effective up to 6.25 µL/mL in the broth. Copaiba oil showed a bacteriostatic activity against S. mutans at low concentrations, and could be a an option of phytotherapic agent to be used against cariogenic bacteria in the prevention of caries disease.

Cicatrizing and antimicrobial properties of an ozonised oil from sunflower seeds.

The ozonised sunflower oil, Bioperoxoil®, was tested for its antimicrobial activity against some pathological strains in vitro together with its healing potential against Staphylococcus aureus in vivo. Bioperoxoil® was tested against S. aureus, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Candida albicans, S. typhimurium and Escherichia coli suspensions using the agar diffusion method. Healing experiments were carried out with Wistar rats through topical application of 3.5 mg/ml of the ozonised oil up to the 7th day after inoculation with S. aureus. Bioperoxoil® showed anti-inflammatory effects against all strains tested, with MIC values ranging from 2.0 to 3.5 mg/ml. Bioperoxoil® also demonstrated protective effects on skin connective tissue and to enhance wound healing during the treatment, as compared to a neomycin–clostebol association used as a positive control. The overall results indicated a significant antimicrobial activity, anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties for Bioperoxoil®, as compared to other antimicrobial agents commercially available.

Membrane‐Associated Polysaccharides Composition, Nutritional Requirements and Cell Differentiation in Herpetomonas roitmani: Influence of the Endosymbiont

Herpetomonas roitmani, a trypanosomatid containing a bacterial endosymbiont, was cured by high doses of chloramphenicol. Wild‐type and cured flagellates were compared as to polysaccharide composition, nutritional requirements and cellular differentiation. Fucose (18.0%), xylose (15.7%), mannose (38.9%), galactose (10.8%), glucose (16.4%) and inositol (< 1.0%) were identified as polysaccharide components of cured H. roitmani as assessed by gas‐liquid chromatography. However, the wild‐type strain displayed a markedly different sugar profile, in that xylose was absent and inositol preferentially synthesized, whereas the other monosaccharide components remained unchanged. Variations in nutritional pattern also occurred between both strains. The bacterial endosymbiont seems to provide the flagellates with nutritional factors, including usual amino acids, vitamins, purine (as adenine) and hemin. The process of cell differentiation was also significantly influenced by the endosymbiont. Opisthomastigote forms predominate (72.0%) in cured as compared with wild‐type H. roitmani (37.0%).

Morphological, Biochemical and Molecular Characterization of Herpetomonas samuelpessoai camargoi n. subsp., a Trypanosomatid Isolated from the Flower of the Squash Cucurbita moschata

Abstract We report the morphological, biochemical and molecular characteristics of a trypanosomatid isolated from the flower of Cucurbita moschata. Although the trypanosomatid was isolated from a plant, the lack of recognition of Phytomonas-specific molecular markers based on spliced-leader and ribosomal genes as well as by monoclonal antibodies specific for Phytomonas argues against assigning it to this genus. Because the isolate displayed typical opisthomastigote forms in culture, it is assigned to the genus Herpetomonas. Analysis of randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) patterns and characterization of ribosomal SSU and ITS markers suggest that it is more closely related to H. samuelpessoai than to any other species. However, the presence of spined flagellates in culture (displaying lateral expansions of the plasma membrane originating near the flagellar pocket) and isolate-specific RAPD fingerprints argue strongly that the trypanosomatid belongs to a new subspecies, for which the name Herpetomonas samuelpessoai camargoi n. subsp. is proposed.

Microbial profile of a kefir sample preparations - grains in natura and lyophilized and fermented suspension

Probiotics are supplementary foods developed by microbial strains that improve animal health beyond basic nutrition. Probiotics are consumed orally, regardless of being considered as normal inhabitants of the intestines, able to survive in enzimatic and biliary secretions. Kefir is a probiotic originated from the old continent, fermented by several bacteria and yeasts, encapsulated in a polyssacharide matrix, and resembles jelly grains. Kefir is also presented as its sourish product both in sugary or milky suspensions containing vitamins, aminoacids, peptides, carbohydrates, ethanol, and volatile compounds. Kefir is known to have a diverse microbial content depending on the country and fermentative substrates, which cause distinct probiotic effects. In this sense, the purpose of this work was to isolate, identify, and quantify the microbial content of a native sugary kefir sample (fermented suspension and lyophilized natural grains). Serial dilutions were plated on Rogosa agar (AR) and De Man, Rogosa and Sharpe (MRS), for Lactobacillus; Brain Heart Infusion (BHI), for total bacteria; Sabouraud-Dextrose-Agar (SDA), for yeasts and filamentous fungi; Thioglycolate Agar (TA), for Streptococcus, Acetobacteria and Leuconostoc; and Coconut Water Agar (CWA), and CWA supplemented with yeast extract (CWAY), for various genera. Genera and species for all strains were identified through biochemical reactions and specific API systems. The microbial profile of kefir was different from other sources of grains despite the presence of similar microorganisms and others which have not been reported yet. The data obtained with the CWA and CWAE media suggest that both substrates are alternative and salutary media for culture of kefir strains.

Ozônio e ultra-som: processos alternativos para o tratamento do café despolpado

There is a growing interest in technologies that improve food quality, as well as food safety aspects. After water, coffee is the most consumed beverage in the planet, with a rising demand for special types, such as fermented coffee, in some importing countries. This type of coffee is obtained by removing the mucilage, submitting the coffee to fermentation, a process that varies with the climate and the associated natural micro-organisms, among other factors, and that can lead to detrimental effects to the quality of the product and to the health of consumers. Thus, it is necessary to investigate new technologies that can help obtain better standardized products, of higher quality and that offer greater food safety. Ozone and ultrasound are technologies used in various areas, with great flexibility and promising results in the production and treatment of an infinity of food products. The potent oxidant and antimicrobial characteristics of both are well-known, however, their mechanisms are still not clearly understood when used in live tissues. Their effects on the various quality parameters must be studied, understood and adjusted, before widespread use in the food industry. In the present paper, ozone or ultrasound were applied as pre-treatments before coffee fermentation, demonstrating their efficacy in improving food safety of the fermented coffee, without perceptible changes in the quality of the beverage.

Avaliação microbiológica de um processo de sanificação de galões de água com a utilização do ozônio

Brazil is ranked as the seventh in worldwide consumer of bottled mineral water. The mineral water bottles should be inspected regarding the physical integrity and then submitted to sanitization, using specific wash machines. Recently diseases associated with new microbial strains have increased interest in exploring different disinfectants in food sanitizing processing. Ozone is particularly attractive because of its high security and effectiveness than conventional disinfectants, without risk of toxic residues generating. The current work evaluated the ozone as an alternative method for sanitizing 20 liters mineral water gallons in Alfenas-MG (Brazil). Thirty gallons were analyzed before (pre-wash) and thirty after washing with ozonated water (4mg/L, 2 min.) (post-wash). The samples were evaluated regarding the number of aerobic mesophiles, Escherichia coli, total coliforms, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas spp. The data about the aerobic mesophiles at pre-wash was 5,7 colony forming units/cm2 and post-wash was 0,003CFU/cm2. The post-wash samples showed negative of total coliforms, E. coli and Pseudomonas spp. and only 13,3% samples presented grow of S. aureus. In comparison, all the pre-wash showed presence of total coliforms and S. aureus. E. coli and Pseudomonas spp. were present in 80% and 50% of the samples, respectively. Therefore, the sanitizing processing with ozone (4mg/L) was demonstrated in this study was an adequate alternative method for washing mineral water gallons in tested condition.

Evaluation of the mutagenicity and antimutagenicity of Ziziphus joazeiro Mart. bark in the micronucleus assay

The aim of this study was to evaluate the mutagenicity (clastogenicity/aneugenicity) of a glycolic extract of Ziziphus joazeiro bark (GEZJ) by the micronucleus assay in mice bone marrow. Antimutagenic activity was also assessed using treatments associated with GEZJ and doxorubicin (DXR). Mice were evaluated 24–48 h after exposure to positive (N-nitroso-N-ethylurea, NEU - 50 mg.kg−1 and DXR - 5 mg.kg−1) and negative (150 mM NaCl) controls, as well as treatment with GEZJ (0.5–2 g.kg−1), GEZJ (2 g.kg−1) + NEU and GEZJ (2 g.kg−1) + DXR. There were no significant differences in the frequencies of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in mice treated with GEJZ and GEJZ + DXR compared to the negative controls, indicating that GEZJ was not mutagenic. Analysis of the polychromatic:normochromatic erythrocyte ratio revealed significant differences in the responses to doses of 0.5 g.kg−1 and 1–2 g.kg−1 and the positive control (NEU). These results indicated no systemic toxicity and moderate toxicity at lower and higher doses of GEZJ. The lack of mutagenicity and systemic toxicity in the antimutagenic assays, especially for treatment with GEZJ + DXR, suggested that phytochemical compounds in Z. joazeiro bark attenuated DXR-induced mutagenicity and the moderate systemic toxicity of a high dose of Z. joazeiro bark (2 g.kg−1). Further studies on the genotoxicity of Z. joazeiro extracts are necessary to establish the possible health risk in humans and to determine the potential as a chemopreventive agent for therapeutic use.

Efeito da administração de cogumelo tibetano, um consórcio microbiano, sobre a peristalse intestinal em ratos

The Tibetan mushroom (CT) is a probiotic beverage fermented by a big group of bacteria and yeasts, some of which of well-known anti-bacterial activity, immunomodulatory, pro-digestive and to aid of the intestinal peristalsis. In this sense, this work had the aim of evaluating the possible action of the suspension produced by CT on the peristalsis intestinal of rats. Animal groups weighing 200 ± 20 g were used (Wistar rats (male, n = 6/group)). The different groups were treated v.o. for 15 days (1,5 mL/animal of 24h fermented of CT in continuously cultured into molasses solutions (50 g/l)), and the other groups treated with distilled water (1,5 mL/animal). After 15 days the animals were maintained in fast for 24h, and treated with suspension CT (1,5 mL/animal/v.o), distilled water (control, 1,5mL/animal/v.o), acetylcholine (1mg/kg/s.c) and atropine (1mg/kg/i.m). After 30 min, the animals received a suspension of active coal 10% (0,1 mL/10g, v.o), after the euthanasia, excision of the portion of the pylorus to the beginning of the cecum, and determination of the distance traveled by the coal. The administration of the CT suspension increased the intestinal peristalsis in 68,7% and the other treatments presented the following percentages: atropine 20,2%, acetylcholine 78,7% and control 42,9% (p < 0,05, ANOVA followed by Tukey-Kramer test). Those results showed that the CT suspension stimulated the peristalsis in the animals, what suggests a positive effect in the digestion and alimentary absorption for the microbial consortium.

Características microbiológicas e físico-químicas do leite de cabra submetido à pasteurização e ao congelamento, comercializado na cidade de Alfenas-MG doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.5892/ruvrv.2013.111.224233

Demand for goat milk has increased in Brazil along the years. This food represents a high quality protein and calcium resource besides being an alternative for individuals who are allergic to cow milk. However, it is highly susceptible to contamination and subjected to fraud. Therefore, this paper was aimed at verifying the quality of goat milk commercialized in Alfenas, Minas Gerais, and at evaluating the effect of pasteurization and of freezing on its microbiological and physicochemical characteristics. Microbiological and physicochemical analysis were carried out in three lots of raw, pasteurized and pasteurized-frozen goat milk for 90 days, during 9 months, a milk-lot being purchased every 90 days. Data obtained underwent analysis of variance and Turkey test (p<0.05). It was observed that pasteurization was efficient to improve microbiological quality of milk, which was kept by freezing. Physicochemical characteristics were in accordance with legislation and pasteurization and freezing for 90 days did not alter them. It was concluded that goat milk commercialized in Alfenas, Minas Gerais presents microbiological and physicochemical qualities within the standards established by legislation and that pasteurization and freezing did not interfere with those qualities.