Microencapsulation of Yarrowia lipolytica: cell viability and application in vitro ruminant diets.

Microencapsulation is an alternative to increase the survival capacity of microorganisms, including Yarrowia lipolytica, a widely studied yeast that produces high-value metabolites, such as lipids, aromatic compounds, biomass, lipases, and organic acids. Thus, the present study sought to investigate the effectiveness of different wall materials and the influence of the addition of salts on the microencapsulation of Y. lipolytica, evaluating yield, relationship with cell stability, ability to survive during storage, and in vitro application of ruminant diets. The spray drying process was performed via atomization, testing 11 different compositions using maltodextrin (MD), modified starch (MS) and whey protein concentrate (WPC), Y. lipolytica (Y. lipo) cells, tripolyphosphate (TPP), and sodium erythorbate (SE). The data show a reduction in the water activity value in all treatments. The highest encapsulation yield was found in treatments using MD + TPP + Y. lipo (84.0%) and WPC + TPP + Y. lipo (81.6%). Microencapsulated particles showed a survival rate ranging from 71.61 to 99.83% after 24 h. The treatments WPC + Y. lipo, WPC + SE + Y. lipo, WPC + TPP + Y. lipo, and MD + SE + Y. lipo remained stable for up to 105 days under storage conditions. The treatment WPC + SE + Y. lipo (microencapsulated yeast) was applied in the diet of ruminants due to the greater stability of cell survival. The comparison between the WPC + SE + Y. lipo treatment, wall materials, and the non-microencapsulated yeast showed that the microencapsulated yeast obtained a higher soluble fraction, degradability potential, and release of nutrients.

Characterization of the chemical profile and the effects of ethanolic extracts of Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. ex Reissek on glucose metabolism in normal hyperglycemic rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. ex Reissek, Celastraceae, is popularly known as "espinheira-santa" and used to treat pathologies related to the stomach. However, in popular culture, this species has also been used to treat other disorders such as diabetes, but without scientific evidence, requiring more phytochemical and pharmacological studies on the plant. AIM OF THE STUDY: This work aims to investigate the anti-hyperglycemic potential of ethanolic extracts obtained from leaves from two different accessions of Maytenus ilicifolia (MIA and MIB) in normal hyperglycemic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The animals were divided into different experimental groups: normal hyperglycemic (negative control); MIA (treatment of Maytenus ilicifolia extract from access 116); MIB (treatment with Maytenus ilicifolia extract from access 122; and glipizide (positive control). At 30 min after treatment, all animals received glucose overload orally. Blood collection occurred at different periods for the assessment of blood glucose (0, 60, 90 and 210 min after treatment) and at the end of the experiment blood was collected through cardiac puncture and the liver, muscle, pancreas and intestine were dissected for further analysis. RESULTS: Chromatographic analysis identified oleic and palmitic acid as the most common constituents, and both extracts of Maytenus ilicifolia caused a reduction in blood glucose levels within 60 min after administration of glucose overload when compared to the normal hyperglycemic group. No significant changes were observed in hepatic and muscular glycogen levels, plasma insulin concentration and disaccharidases activity with none of the extracts in the model employed. However, hyperglycemic rats treated with the extracts showed a marked increase in triglyceride and HDL cholesterol levels. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that Maytenus ilicifolia extracts from different locations showed differences in chemical composition which did not reflect significant differences in the results of biological tests. In addition, it was possible to conclude that the treatment with Maytenus ilicifolia had a discreet anti-hyperglycemic effect; however, it was not possible to identify the responsible mechanism, being necessary, therefore, new studies using different technologies in order to determine the possible mechanisms of action of the extract.

The influence of the environment in the incorporation of copper and cadmium in scraper insects.

In regions with intense agricultural activity, increases in heavy metal concentrations in aquatic environments are common. Among the metals associated with agricultural activities, copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd) have been found to directly affect aquatic trophic structures due to the ease of incorporation by primary producers and consuming organisms. Aquatic insects are predominantly found in streams, and their presence is determined by environmental characteristics and food availability. In this study, we seek to understand how the incorporation of Cu and Cd by scraper insects relates to their environment and food sources. We collected water, sediment, biofilm and scraper insect samples in streams with different intensities of agricultural activities in the drainage areas. The intensity of agricultural activities in the catchment area positively influenced the Cu and Cd concentrations in organisms and other aquatic compartments. The metals were readily incorporated by the biofilms. Although the functional characteristics are important to understand the functioning of ecosystems, in this study, we found that the physiological characteristics can be determinants in the concentrations of metals in aquatic insects.

Hexane extract from SpoSndias mombin L. (Anacardiaceae) prevents behavioral and oxidative status changes on model of Parkinson's disease in zebrafish.

The search for new therapies, derived from natural compounds in order to prevent and treat Parkinson's disease (PD) has aroused the interest of many researchers. Spondias mombin (L) has active constituents with known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the neuroprotective potential of the hexane extract of S. mombin (EHSm) in an experimental model of DP induced by rotenone in zebrafish. The analysis of GC/MS demonstrated cyclogallipharaol (13.88%) and dl-α-tocopherol (8.08%) mostly, while HPLC-DAD indicated the presence of quercetin (<5), quercetrin (6.54 mg/g) and rutin (8.83 mg/g). The zebrafish exposed for 4 weeks to rotenone (ROT, 3 µg/L) and EHSm (5, 15, 25 mg/L). EHSm (25 mg/L) was able to reverse the behavioral damage induced by ROT in the entries and time spent in the top area of the tank. The parameters biochemicals indicated of EHSm prevented oxidative stress (TBARS e total thiols), inflammation and dopamine uptake triggered by ROT, evidenced of increased on the CAT, SOD and GSH and decreased of GST, O2- production and NADPH oxidase activities. We conclude that EHSm demonstrate a neuroprotector effect mediated through anxiolytic and antioxidant activities. However, more studies are necessary to elucidate the exact mechanism underlying the effects of EHSm on DP induced by rotenone in zebrafish.

Eugenia umbelliflora mediated reduction of silver nanoparticles incorporated into O-carboxymethylchitosan/y-Fe2O3: Synthesis, antimicrobial activity and toxicity.

The purpose of this study was to synthesize a new magnetic material with antimicrobial properties, incorporated into a biopolymer and containing silver nanoparticles (Ag NP) prepared extract of Eugenia umbelliflora as a reducing agent. Silver nanoparticles incorporated into magnetic nanocomposite O-carboxymethylchitosan/y-Fe2O3/Ag0 (CMAgE) composite were synthesized using an extract of E. umbelliflora. The antimicrobial activity of the pathogenic microorganism is reported here. The synthesized nanoparticles were also characterized, and quantified by Ag analysis. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of CMAgE against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans were 16.5, 1000 and 500 µg/mL, respectively. The results show that these materials have significant synergistic effect on each other. The potential phytotoxic effect of the nanocomposites was evaluated using Cucumis sativus seeds. The positive values for seedling elongation inhibition (SEI) show that CMAgE and methanol extract of Eugenia umbelliflora (Eug) cause growth inhibition at a concentration of 1000 mg/L. The germination index (GI) values of 40% and 80% at 1000 mg/L, for CMAgE and Eug, respectively, showed inhibition of germination. CMAgE and Eug showed cytotoxic effects against Artemia salina nauplii, with LC50 values of 72.5 µL/mL and < 5.0 µL/mL respectively, after 48 h.