Maria Regina Alves Rodrigues

Dry washing in biodiesel purification: a comparative study of adsorbents

The purpose of this work is to compare the efficiency of different adsorbents in the purification of biodiesel produced by alkaline transesterification of soybean oil (Methanol/KOH). The proposed methodologies were based on the use of Magnesol®, silica, Amberlite BD10 DRY® and Purolite PD 206® as adsorbents and were developed by adsorption at 65 oC. The response of each adsorbent was measured through the residual potassium, alcohol, water and soaps dissolved in the purified biodiesel. As a result, we observe that Magnesol® and silica showed better adsorption properties than Amberlite BD10 DRY® and Purolite PD 206®, especially for removing soap, free and bonded glycerol and potassium. In comparison to the conventional acid water washing, these matrices were found to be equally appropriate for the removal of inorganic and organic contaminant species from biodiesel. The main results found for these two adsorbents (Magnesol® 1% and silica 2%) were values below 0.17 mg KOH g-1 for acid number, 1 mg kg-1 of K, 61 ppm of soap, 500 mg kg-1 of water, 0.22% of methanol and 0.03% of free glycerol

EVALUATION OF ORIGANUM VULGARE ESSENTIAL OIL AS ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT IN SAUSAGE

This work reports antimicrobial activity of oregano (Origanum vulgare) essential oil against several bacteria in sausage. The in vitro minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined for 9 selected aerobic heterotrofic bacteria. The antimicrobial activity of distinct concentrations of the essential oil on the basis of the highest MIC found was tested in a food system comprised of fresh sausage. Batch food samples were also inoculated with Escherichia coli with a fixed concentration and the time course of the product was evaluated with respect to the action of the different concentrations of essential oil. Sensory analysis were conducted, and results showed that the addition of oregano essential oil to sausage may be a promising route as bacteriostatic effect was verified for oil concentrations lower than the MIC.

In vitro activity of Origanum vulgare essential oil against Candida species

The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro activity of the essential oil extracted from Origanum vulgare against sixteen Candida species isolates. Standard strains tested comprised C. albicans (ATCC strains 44858, 4053, 18804 and 3691), C. parapsilosis (ATCC 22019), C. krusei (ATCC 34135), C. lusitaniae (ATCC 34449) and C. dubliniensis (ATCC MY646). Six Candida albicans isolates from the vaginal mucous membrane of female dogs, one isolate from the cutaneous tegument of a dog and one isolate of a capuchin monkey were tested in parallel. A broth microdilution technique (CLSI) was used, and the inoculum concentration was adjusted to 5 x 10 6 CFU mL -1 . The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation in a Clevenger apparatus and analyzed by gas chromatography. Susceptibility was expressed as Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimal Fungicidal Concentration (MFC). All isolates tested in vitro were sensitive to O. vulgare essential oil. The chromatographic analysis revealed that the main compounds present in the essential oil were 4-terpineol (47.95%), carvacrol (9.42%), thymol (8.42%) and �-terpineol (7.57%). C. albicans isolates obtained from animal mucous membranes exhibited MIC and MFC values of 2.72 �L mL -1 and 5 �L mL -1 , respectively. MIC and MFC values for C. albicans

Intestinal mucosa structure of broiler chickens infected experimentally with Eimeria tenella and treated with essential oil of oregano

In the first trial a total of 250 day-old male chicks were distributed into five treatments and given the following diets: a diet with growth promoter; a diet without added growth promoter; a diet added with avilamycin only; diet supplemented with 0.5g of oregano oil kg diet-1; 1.0g of oregano oil kg diet-1. In other trial a total of 288 day-old chicks was used and distributed into four treatments, which were given the following diets: a diet with anticoccidial agent; a diet without anticoccidial agent; a diet supplemented with 0.5g of oregano oil kg diet-1; a 1.0g of oregano oil kg diet-1. In the first trial the nonmedicated group had the highest crypt depth which differs from chickens fed with growth promoter or with 0.5 and 1.0g of oregano oil kg diet-1. The broilers fed with positive control (antibiotic and anticoccidial) had the highest villous: crypt ratio compared with the negative control that had the lowest villous:crypt ratio and the highest oocyst excretion in litter (P<0.05) In the second trial it was observed that broilers fed with non anticoccidial agent had the highest cecal lamina propria thickeness which differ from chickens fed with anticoccidial agent in diet or supplemented with 1.0 of oregano oil kg diet-1 (P<0.05).

Uso de óleo de aroeira-vermelha sobre o desempenho e a morfometria intestinal de frangos de corte

The aim of this research was to evaluate the use of essential oil obtained from the fruits of Brazilian red pepper in the performance and intestinal morphometry of broilers. A total of 240 day-old male chicks Cobb were used, distributed in a randomized design in groups of five treatments and four replicates of 12 birds each: diet without antibiotics and anticoccidial agent (negative control); diet with antibiotic and anticoccidial agent (positive control); diets with 0.1% of Brazilian red pepper oil; diets with 0.2% of Brazilian red pepper oil; diets with 0.4% of Brazilian red pepper oil. Feed intake, body weight and feed conversion were influenced by treatments (P <0.05). It was observed that the broilers fed with the growth promoter antibiotic had a superior performance than the untreated broilers (P<0.05). In the period of 1-21 days, the inclusion of 0.4% Brazilian red pepper oil resulted in improvements in feed conversion and increased weight gain compared to other treatments (P<0.05). From 22-47 days of age it was observed that regardless of the level of Brazilian red pepper oil, their use resulted in a higher weight gain and final weight (P<0.05) and it was recorded a maximum villous height in broilers fed with Brazilian red pepper oil as compared to birds not treated with antibiotics (P<0.05). The Brazilian red pepper improved production rates and increased the intestinal absorptive surface.

Atividade inibitória do óleo essencial de orégano em fungos de importância médica e veterinária

ABSTRACT The in vitro activity of Origanum vulgare essential oil against fungal isolates was evaluated. A total of 27 clinical isolates were used, including: C. albicans, S. schenckii, M. pachydermatis , Aspergillus flavus , and A. fumigatus. Microdilution in broth technique (NCCLS M27-A2 and M-38) was used and susceptibility was expressed as Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). Essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation in Clevenger and analyzed by gas chromatography, showing the presence of 4-terpineol, alpha-terpineol, 4-terpinene, thymol and carvacrol, as the main compounds. Origanum oil MIC for C. albicans varied from 125 to 50 0μ L/mL; for S. schenckii, from 250 to 500μ L/mL; for M. pachydermatis, from 15 to 30μ L/mL; and for Aspergillus, from 30 to 60  L/mL. Isolates sensitivity showed to the origanum oil stimulates the accomplishment of new studies, including in vivo tests, contributing to the search of alternative treatments to mycosis. Keywords: fungal, essential oil, origanum

Atividade in vitro do óleo essencial de Origanum vulgare frente à Sporothrix Schenckii

In vitro activity of the essential oil Origanum vulgare against Sporothrix schenckii was determined by the MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration). For this, seven samples of S. schenckii were studied, two isolated from two cases of human sporotrichosis and five isolated from cats. Analysis of the essential oil was carried out in a gas chromatograph (GC/FID) for the identification and quantification of thymol and carvacrol (antifungal agents). MIC was obtained based on the microdilution method according to the adapted document NCCLS-M 27A2 for fitopharmacy. All the isolates presented sensibility to the essential oil. S. schenckii was inhibited in a concentration of 0.25% (250m l/ml). Chromatographic analysis showed that thymol concentration was bigger than carvacrol. The antifungal activity demonstrated by the essential oil of O. vulgare against S. Schenckii stimulates the accomplishment of more studies, including in vivo studies.

Óleo essencial de aroeira-vermelha como aditivo na ração de frangos de corte

The aim was to evaluate the effect of inclusion of Brazilian red pepper oil (Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi), as an additive in feed on performance and intestinal morphometry of broilers. A total of 300 day-old male chicks, Cobb, distributed in a randomized design in groups of four (4) treatments and five repetitions, with 15 birds each: diet without growth promoter and without Brazilian red pepper oil (negative control); diet with growth promoter (antimicrobial and anticoccidial - positive control); diet containing only antimicrobial (bacitracin zinc); diet with 0.4% of Brazilian red pepper oil. It was not verified significantly dietary effects on the performance of birds (P>0.05). At 21 days of age, the broilers chicks fed with growth promoter showed greater ratio of villous:crypt which not differs from chickens fed with 0.4% Brazilian red pepper oil (P 0.05). It was concluded that the addition of 0.4% Brazilian red pepper oil resulted an improvement in intestinal absorptive surface of broilers compared with chickens fed with diet without growth promoter.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons from Candiota (South Brazilian) Coal Extracts

The bitumen composition of Candiota coal (south Brazil) was investigated. Coal bitumen was produced by Soxhlet extraction using toluene. Two chromatographic techniques were tested for bitumen fractionation: adsorption liquid chromatography on silica (ALCS) and adsorption liquid chromatography on alumina (ALCA). Results were compared in terms of the quality and quantity of hydrocarbons isolated. Several linear saturated hydrocarbons were found in the range of 14 to 33 carbons. Pyrene, chrysene, and other polycyclic hydrocarbons with recognized mutagenic and carcinogenic properties were found in the aromatic fractions. Chromatographic methodology using alumina shows better results in the fractionation of bitumen.

Chemical profiles of essential oils of marjoram (Origanum majorana) and oregano (Origanum vulgare) obtained by hydrodistillation and supercritical CO2

Abstract The objective of this work was to evaluate and compare the chemical profile of essential oils of marjoram (Origanum majorana) and oregano (Origanum vulgare) obtained by hydrodistillation and supercritical CO2. The yield of marjoram and oregano essential oils obtained by supercritical CO2 was higher than those from hydrodistillation. Both essential oils presented similar chemical profiles. The major compound was terpinen-4-ol in essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation and cis-sabinene hydrate in the essential oil obtained by supercritical CO2, to both species. The hydrodistillation method showed higher quantitative differences between the extraction fractions in relation to the supercritical extraction. The extracts obtained by supercritical CO2 presented higher concentrations of oxygenated monoterpenes, without significant differences between fraction 1 and 2. A comparison between the extraction methods showed a higher extraction capacity of monoterpene hydrocarbons by hydrodistillation and oxygenated monoterpenes by supercritical extraction, allowing optimizing the extraction of compounds of interest by the choice of the most adequate extraction method.