In vitro and in vivo acute toxicity of an artificial butter flavoring.

Flavorings used in cookies, electronic cigarettes, popcorn, and breads contain approximately 30 chemical compounds, which makes it difficult to determine and correlate signs and symptoms of acute, subacute or chronic toxicity. The aim of this study was to characterize a butter flavoring chemically and subsequently examine the in vitro and in vivo toxicological profile using cellular techniques, invertebrates, and lab mammals. For the first time, the ethyl butanoate was found as the main compound of a butter flavoring (97.75%) and 24 h-toxicity assay employing Artemia salina larvae revealed a linear effect and LC50 value of 14.7 (13.7-15.7) mg/ml (R2 = 0.9448). Previous reports about higher oral doses of ethyl butanoate were not found. Observational screening with doses between 150-1000 mg/kg by gavage displayed increased amount of defecation, palpebral ptosis, and grip strength reduction, predominantly at higher doses. The flavoring also produced clinical signs of toxicity and diazepam-like behavioral changes in mice, including loss of motor coordination, muscle relaxation, increase of locomotor activity and intestinal motility, and induction of diarrhea, with deaths occurring after 48 h exposure. This substance fits into category 3 of the Globally Harmonized System. Data demonstrated that butter flavoring altered the emotional state in Swiss mice and disrupted intestinal motility, which may be a result of neurochemical changes or direct lesions in the central/peripheral nervous systems.

Retinol palmitate and ascorbic acid: Role in oncological prevention and therapy.

Cancer development has been directly related to oxidative stress. During chemotherapy, some cancer patients use dietary antioxidants to avoid nutritional deficiencies due to cancer treatment. Among the antioxidants consumed, there are vitamins, including retinyl palmitate (PR) and ascorbic acid (AA), which have the capacity to reduce free radicals formation, protect cellular structures and maintain the cellular homeostasis. This systematic review evaluated the antioxidant and antitumor mechanisms of retinol palmitate (a derivative of vitamin A) and/or ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in cancer-related studies. Ninety-seven (97) indexed articles in the databases PubMed and Science Direct, published between 2013 and 2017, including 23 clinical studies (5 for every single compound while 13 in interaction) and 74 non-clinical studies (37 for retinol palmitate, 36 for ascorbic acid and 1 in interaction) were considered. Antioxidant and antitumor effects, with controversies over dosage and route of administration, were observed for the test compounds in their isolated form or associated in clinical studies. Prevention of cancer risks against oxidative damage was seen in lower doses of retinol palmitate and/or vitamin C. However, at high doses, they can generate reactive oxygen species, cytotoxicity and apoptosis in test systems. Non-clinical studies using cell lines have allowed understanding the mechanisms related to antioxidants and antitumor effects of the isolated compounds, however, studies on vitamin interactions, acting as antioxidants and/or antitumor are still rare and controversial. More studies, mainly related to modulation of antineoplastic drugs are needed for understanding the risks and benefits of their use during treatment in order to achieve effectiveness in cancer therapy and patient's quality of life.

In Vitro and Ex Vivo Chemopreventive Action of Mauritia flexuosa Products.

Mauritia flexuosa (Arecaceae), known as "Buriti," is a Brazilian palm tree with high economic potential for local communities. Herein, we investigated the phytochemistry profile and antioxidant potential of M. flexuosa fruits and determined the bioaccessibility of phenolic compounds. Peels revealed upper values for phenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, tannins, and ascorbic acid when compared to the pulps and endocarps. All samples showed capacity to scavenger free radicals (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, and 8.0 mg/mL) but peels presented higher scavenger action in all methods explored. Phenolic compounds identified by HPLC displayed reduced bioaccessibility after in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion for pulp (38.7%), peel (18.7%), and endocarp (22.3%) extracts (P < 0.05). Buriti fruits also protected rat blood cells against lysis induced by peroxyl radicals. We demonstrated the promising chemopreventive potentialities of M. flexuosa fruits and their by-products and peels with higher quantities of bioactive compounds and phenolic substances before and after in vitro bioaccessibility investigation. In Brazil, these parts are discarded or underused, mainly as feed for ruminant animals. Consequently, it is extremely important to explore nutritional characteristics of these by-products for human/livestock foods and to install biofriendly techniques and sustainable biotechnology handling of natural resources.

Exposição ocupacional de trabalhadores rurais a agrotóxicos / Occupational exposure of rural workers to pesticides

Resumo Objetivos Avaliar o perfil dos trabalhadores rurais do município de Picos, no Estado do Piauí e suas práticas e atitudes quanto à utilização de agrotóxicos. Métodos A coleta dos dados (n=159) foi realizada em Picos com levantamento de dados socioeconômicos, utilização de equipamentos de proteção individual (EPIs), armazenamento e destino das embalagens de agrotóxicos, toxicidade e risco ambiental. Resultados A maioria dos agricultores era do sexo feminino (63%), não concluiu o ensino fundamental (55,6%), tinha entre 31 e 50 anos (55,3%), com renda de até um salário mínimo (66%) e possuía água encanada (84,3%). Quanto ao uso, 64,1% (102) utilizavam agrotóxicos, principalmente na agricultura (86,3%). Eles obtiveram informações sobre essas substâncias com vizinhos (44,2%), liam o rótulo para utilizar o produto (64,8%), usavam agroquímicos devido à ação rápida (81,4%), compravam em casas agropecuárias (87,4%), sem receituário agronômico (92%) e armazenavam embalagens dentro da própria casa (33,6%). Mais da metade não usava EPIs (56,8%), embora considerassem os agrotóxicos prejudiciais à saúde humana (94,1%) e ao meio ambiente (80,4%), além de 15% (24 pessoas) terem sentido algum sintoma de envenenamento. Conclusões Os entrevistados, em sua maioria, usavam agrotóxicos inadequadamente, tinham baixa escolaridade e conheciam sobre os riscos individuais e coletivos aos quais estavam expostos, mas não usavam EPIs.

Abstract Objectives To evaluate rural workers’ profile at Picos (Piauí, Brazil) and their practices and attitudes regarding the use of pesticides. Methods Data collection (n=159) was performed in Picos (Piauí, Brazil) to describe socioeconomic information, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), storage and disposal of pesticide packaging, toxicity and environmental risk. Results Most farmers were women (63%), with incomplete primary education (55.6%), age between 31-55 years-old (55.3%), income of up to a 1 minimum wage (66%) and with access to city water (84.3%). In relation to the use, 64.1% (102) use pesticides, especially in agriculture (86.3%). They receive information about pesticides with neighbors (44.2%), read label to use the product (64.8%), use pesticides due to their quick action (81.4%), purchase in agricultural houses (87.4%) without agronomic prescription (92%) and store packages indoors (33.6%). More than half do not use PPE (56.8%), though they consider pesticides damaging products to the human health (94.1%) and environment (80.4%) and 15% (24 persons) reported some poisoning symptoms. Conclusions The majority of the farmers use pesticides incorrectly, has low educational status and know about the individual and collective risks to which they are exposed but do not use PPE.

Biomedical properties and potentiality of Lippia microphylla Cham. and its essential oils.

Lippia microphylla Cham. (Verbenaceae) is an endemic underexploited Brazilian vegetal. This work reviewed the biological potentialities of Lippia microphylla, emphasizing the properties of essential oils (EOs) and analyzed scientific indicators about genus Lippia and L. microphylla. Databases from 1948 to the present were searched and a software (vantage point 7.1) associated with Derwent Innovation Index was used to identify the indicators of the genus Lippia, and biological activities and compounds in the L. macrophylla species. Ethnopharmacological records report use of L. microphylla leaves to treat gastrointestinal disorders, influenza, bronchitis, cough, nasal congestion, and sinusitis during vaporization, whose aromatic volatile oils are rich in monoterpenes, especially cineole, terpineol, and thymol. Other EOs have larvicidal activity on Aedes aegypti larvae, and antifungal, antibacterial and cytotoxic and antitumor action on human and murine cancer cells. Brazil is the country with more articles about Lippia species, but it deposited only 9 patents since 1993. Most of the publications about L. microphylla are concentrated in food and chemical sciences. This bioprospection helps to choice areas of interest for capital investment and to give support for Brazilian Institutions to establish cooperation and improve technological impact at the point of view of creation and innovation.

Perfil do uso populacional de inseticidas domésticos no combate a mosquitos / Profile of the population use of household insecticides against mosquitoes

Esse trabalho descreve a utilização doméstica de inseticidas pela população de Picos (Piauí, Brasil),identifica quais são os tipos de inseticidas mais utilizados e descreve a incidência de intoxicação e a consciência ambiental da população. Após visitas domiciliares (n=700), notou-se que a maioria dos entrevistados foi representada por mulheres (75%), com idade entre 31-55 anos (49%), ensino fundamental incompleto (38,1%) e renda familiar entre 1-2 salários mínimos (64%). A maioria das residências tem entre 1-3 moradores (48%), 85% dos entrevistados usam inseticidas escolhidos principalmente em propagandas de TV e radio e apenas 54% leem o rótulo antes de aplicar o produto. A forma de apresentação mais usada é o aerossol (70,7%). A maioria (79%) reconhece que inseticidas são maléficos à saúde, mas 74% não usam nenhum Equipamento de Proteção Individual (EPI). Sintomas de toxicidade foram relatados por 27%dos entrevistados. Duas mulheres relataram irritação, tonturas e problemas respiratórios e necessidade de intervenção médica e internação hospitalar. Todos os entrevistados descartam as embalagens como lixo comum, uma vez que em Picos não há coleta seletiva. Em conclusão, a maioria das pessoas usam inseticidas, conhecem sobre os riscos individuais e coletivos aos quais estão expostos mas não usam EPI mesmo acreditando que sejam tóxicos. Notou-se que aquisição de conhecimentos não resulta,necessariamente, em mudanças de comportamento, uma vez que o conhecimento não se traduz em atitudes e práticas preventivas adequadas, ressaltando-se a necessidade de campanhas de conscientização quanto à toxicidade e aos riscos ambientais, capacitação de profissionais e política fiscalizatória contra a venda indiscriminada.

This study described the use of household insecticides in Picos (Piauí, Brazil), identify which are the mostused types of insecticides and describes the incidence of poisoning and environmental awareness of the population. After home visits (n = 700), it was seen that the majority of respondents was represented by women (75%), with 31-55 years-old (49%), incomplete primary education (38.1%) and income between 1-2 earnings (64%). Most homes have between 1-3 residents (48%), 85% of the persons use insecticides mainly chosen in TV and radio and only 54% of them read the label before employing the product. The most used form of presentation is the aerosol (70.7%). Majority (79%) recognizes that insecticides are harmful to health, but 74% do not use any Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Symptoms of toxicity were reported by 27% of people interviewed. Two women reported irritation, dizziness and respiratory problems and need for medical intervention and hospitalization. All interviewed discard the package as regular trash, since Picos does not has selective collection. In conclusion, most people use insecticides, know about the individual and collective risks to which they are exposed but do not use PPE, though they believe insecticides are toxic. It was noted that acquisition of knowledge does not necessarily result in behavioral changes, since learning does not translate into appropriate preventive attitudes and practices, emphasizing the requirement for awareness campaigns about toxicity and environmental risks, preparation of professionals and surveillance policy against indiscriminate sale.