Effects of acai supplementation (Euterpe precatoria Mart) on muscle recovery markers after jump protocol.

The objective was to evaluate the effects of acai supplementation (AS) on markers of muscle damage. Twelve men participated in the 21-day study. All performed the damage protocol (DP) in two moments, separated by 7 days. The DP consisted of 10 sets of 10 CMJs, with a recovery of 1 min between sets. The AS was performed for 7 days with 40 g/day of dehydrated acai (GA) or placebo (GP). Blood parameters (CK, LDH and Trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity - TEAC) were evaluated at 0 h and 24 h. Ultrasound images (VL, RF and GM), DOMS in lower limbs and isometric peak torque (IPT) of knee extensors and flexors were evaluated at 0 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after DP. A time-treatment interaction was observed for TEAC (p = 0.01), in which the GA presented increases of 11% after 24 h. Similarly, time-treatment interaction was observed for knee flexors IPT (p = 0.02), where GA showed superior recovery after 24 h (GA = 108 ± 23 vs. GP = 92 ± 24 N∙m) and 72 h (GA = 113 ± 31 vs. GP = 98 ± 26 N∙m). No significance was observed in the fatigue index for knee extensors (p = 0.75) and flexors (p = 0.89), indicating similar fatigue in both situations. We concluded that AS increased the TEAC and promoted faster recovery of the knee flexors IPT when compared to GP.

Bioassay-guided isolation of α-glucosidase inhibitors from Byrsonima garcibarrigae Cuatrec

SUMMARY Introduction: Byrsonima garcibarrigae is an endemic tree of Amazonas state, Brazil, with pharmacological and chemical knowledge poorly understood. Aim: To investigate the antidiabetic potential of the B. garcibarrigae stem bark. Methods: The stem bark was sequentially extracted by maceration with hexane (EHBG), ethyl acetate (EABG), and methanol (EMBG). The antioxidant capacity, α-glucosidase inhibitory potentials and anti-glycation capacities were evaluated. A bio-guided fractionation gave compounds that were characterized by MS and NMR. Results: 8 compounds were identified by HPLC-MS. EMBG showed the highest α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (1.09±0.32 µg/mL), antioxidant activity (9.2±0.23 µg/mL) and phenolic compounds content (61.43±0.50%), thus was fractionated producing hexane (FHX), chloroform (FCL) and hydromethanolic (FHM) fractions. After additional anti- α-glucosidase assays, FHM (1.02±0.49 µg/mL) was fractionated giving quercitrin and epicatechin. The anti-glycation assay showed that EMBG, FHM and quercitrin presented higher activities in comparison to the positive control, amino-guanidine. Conclusions: B. garcibarrigae displayed antidiabetic potential since inhibited α-glucosidase, as well as presented expressive antioxidant and anti-glycation activities were recorded.

Introducción: Byrsonima garcibarrigae es un árbol endémico del estado de Amazonas, Brasil, con poco conocimiento farmacológico y químico. Objetivo: investigar el potencial antidiabético de la corteza del tallo de B. garcibarrigae. Métodos: la corteza del tallo se extrajo secuencialmente mediante maceración con hexano (EHBG), acetato de etilo (EABG) y metanol (EMBG). Se evaluó la capacidad antioxidante, los potenciales inhibidores de la α-glucosidasa y las capacidades anti-glicación. Un fraccionamiento bioguiado dio compuestos que se caracterizaron por MS y NMR. Resultados: se identificaron 8 compuestos mediante HPLC-MS. EMBG mostró la mayor actividad inhibidora de α-glucosidasa (1,09 ± 0,32 µg/mL), actividad antioxidante (9,2±0.23 µg/mL) y contenido de compuestos fenólicos (61,43 ± 0.50%), por lo que se fraccionó produciendo hexano (FHX), cloroformo (FCL) e hidrometanólicas (FHM). Después de ensayos adicionales de anti- α-glucosidasa, se fraccionó FHM (1,02 ± 0,49 µg/mL) dando quercitrina y epicatequina. El ensayo antiglicación mostró que EMBG, FHM y quercitrina presentaron actividades más altas en comparación con el control positivo, aminoguanidina. Conclusiones: B. garcibarrigae mostró potencial antidiabético ya que se registró una inhibición de la α-glucosidasa, así como también presentó actividades expresivas antioxidantes y antiglicación.

Introdução: Byrsonima garcibarrigae é uma árvore endêmica do estado do Amazonas, Brasil, com pouco conhecimento farmacológico e químico. Objetivo: investigar o potencial antidiabético da casca do caule de B. garcibarrigae. Métodos: a casca do caule foi extraída sequencialmente por maceração com hexano (EHBG), acetato de etila (EABG) e metanol (EMBG). A capacidade antioxidante, potencial inibibitório de α-glicosidase e capacidade antiglicação foram avaliadas. Um fracionamento bioguiado isolou compostos que foram caracterizados por MS e RMN. Resultados: 8 compostos foram identificados por HPLC-MS. O EMBG apresentou a maior atividade inibitória de α-glicosidase (1,09 ± 0,32 µg/mL), atividade antioxidante (9,2±0,23 µg/mL) e teor de compostos fenólicos (61,43 ± 0,50%), por isso foi fracionado produzindo hexano (FHX), clorofórmio (FCL) e hidrometanólico (FHM). Após ensaios anti- α-glicosidase adicionais, FHM (1,02 ± 0,49 µg/mL) foi fracionado, originando a quercitrina e epicatequina. O ensaio de antiglicação mostrou que EMBG, FHM e quercitrina exibiram atividades mais altas em comparação com o controle positivo, aminoguanidina. Conclusões: B. garci-barrigae apresentou potencial antidiabético, uma vez que foi registrada inibição da α-glicosidase, bem como expressiva atividade antioxidante e antiglicação.

Physicochemical Characterization, Stability and Cytotoxicity of a Blue Dye Obtained from Genipap Fruit (Genipa americana L.).

RESEARCH BACKGROUND: The current commercial scenario indicates an increase in the demand for natural dyes. Compared to synthetic dyes, natural ones have the advantage of being sustainable, making them of great interest for the food and cosmetic industries. The development of new natural dyes is necessary, as well as the carrying out of complementary research regarding the existing ones. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: The present study aims to characterize the physicochemical and biological characteristics of the dye obtained from dehydrated endocarp of the genipap (Genipa americana) fruit, as well as perform the relevant stability and cytotoxicity tests. The chemical characterization was performed by HPLC-MS/MS analyses. The stability studies were carried out by spectrophotometry and cytotoxicity assays using cell culture and fluorometric methods. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: After dehydration and milling of the fruit endocarp, water was added to the obtained powder (in the ratio 4:1) to extract the dye. Five compounds were elucidated using HPLC-MS/MS and confirmed the presence of the geniposide as its main compound. With the X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy analysis, we characterised the obtained powder as being amorphous and of porous structure with a variable size. The thermogravimetric analysis indicated a maximum loss of 61% mass after exposure to a temperature range from 240 to 760 °C. The obtained blue dye was stable in the absence of light, at room temperature and had neutral pH. In the cytotoxicity assay, (95.0±1.3) % of viable human fibroblasts were observed after exposure to this dye. The genipap fruit can be a viable alternative to produce a natural blue dye, since it is easy to obtain and has very low toxicity in food, pharmaceutical or cosmetic products. NOVELTY AND SCIENTIFIC CONTRIBUTION: This study demonstrates for the first time the physicochemical and biological properties of a natural blue dye from G. americana fruit.

The selective obtaining of amyrins from Amazonian Protium oleoresins / La obtención selectiva de amirinas a partir de oleorresinas de Protium amazónicas

SUMMARY The oleoresin produced by species of genus Protium sp. is rich in alpha and betaamyrins, two triterpenes with many pharmacogical activities. Considering the need to make the improved obtainment of these products feasible, this study sought to optimize techniques for the extraction and isolation of amyrins from resin. Two methods of extraction (maceration and sonication) with different solvents were compared to direct isolation from crude resin. The isolation of triterpenes was performed by chromatographic columns and the yields of extracts and fractions were analyzed by analysis of variance. The best extraction solvent for amyrins was hexane for both maceration and sonication methods (38.16±2.06% and 37.67±8.21%, respectively). There was no statistical difference between these methods and the direct method (32.05±2.40%). Additionally, the direct method is cheaper and more environmentally friendly. Thus, this study showed that it is possible to obtain a large quantity of amyrins by means of cheap, fast and ecological methods.

RESUMEN La oleorresina producida por especies del género Protium sp. es rica en amirinas alfa y beta, dos triterpenos con muchas actividades farmacológicas. Esta investigación buscó optimizar las técnicas de extracción y aislamiento de amirinas de la resina para hacer factible la obtención mejorada de esos productos. Se compararon dos métodos de extracción (maceración y sonicación) con diferentes solventes con aislamiento directo de la resina cruda. El aislamento de los triterpenos se realizó mediante columnas cromatográficas y los rendimientos de extractos y fracciones fueron hechos mediante análisis de varianza. El mejor solvente para la extracción de amirinas fue el hexano para ambos métodos de maceración y sonicación (38,16±2,06% y 37,67±8,21%, respectivamente). No hubo diferencia estadística entre estos métodos y el método directo (32,05±2,40%). Además, el método directo es más barato y ecológico. De este modo, esta investigación demostró que es posible obtener una gran cantidad de amirinas a través de métodos rápidos, baratos y ecológicos.

Stability and antioxidant activity of semi-synthetic derivatives of 4-nerolidylcatechol.

4-nerolidylcatechol (4-NC) is an unstable natural product that exhibits important antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and other properties. It is readily obtainable on a multi-gram scale through straightforward solvent extraction of the roots of cultivated Piper peltatum or P. umbellatum, followed by column chromatography on the resulting extract. Semi-synthetic derivatives of 4-NC with one or two substituent groups (methyl, acetyl, benzyl, benzoyl) on the O atoms have been introduced that have increased stability compared to 4-NC and significant in vitro inhibitory activity against the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties may be important for the antiplasmodial mode of action of 4-NC derivatives. Thus, we decided to investigate the antioxidant properties, cytotoxicity and stability of 4-NC derivatives as a means to explore the potential utility of these compounds. 4-NC showed high antioxidant activity in the DPPH and ABTS assays and in 3T3-L1 cells (mouse embryonic fibroblast), however 4-NC was more cytotoxic (IC50 = 31.4 µM) and more unstable than its derivatives and lost more than 80% of its antioxidant activity upon storage in solution at -20 °C for 30 days. DMSO solutions of mono-O-substituted derivatives of 4-NC exhibited antioxidant activity and radical scavenging activity in the DPPH and ABTS assays that was comparable to that of BHA and BHT. In the cell-based antioxidant model, most DMSO solutions of derivatives of 4-NC were less active on day 1 than 4-NC, quercetin and BHA and more active antioxidants than BHT. After storage for 30 days at -20 °C, DMSO solutions of most of the derivatives of 4-NC were more stable and exhibited more antioxidant activity than 4-NC, quercetin and BHA and exhibited comparable antioxidant activity to BHT. These findings point to the potential of derivatives of 4-NC as antioxidant compounds.

Anemia e marcadores séricos da deficiência de ferro em grávidas atendidas na rede pública municipal de Manaus, Amazonas, Brasil

This study aimed to evaluate anemia in pregnant women, comparing results of hemoglobin and hemotocrit dosages with analysis of iron serum status markers. 92 pregnant women, in pre-natal attendance in Public Health Service of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil, participated in this study. A questionnaire was used to access anthropometric data and life style information. Serum levels of iron, latent iron binding capacity (LIBC), total iron binding capacity (TIBC), transferrin saturation (TS), transferrin, ferritin, and blood levels of hemoglobin and hematocrit were measured by automated methods, using commercially available kits. The study showed that 26.1% of the pregnant women had hemoglobin levels below 11 g/dL. Also, of the pregnant women with normal levels of hemoglobin, 17.4% showed inadequate iron levels and 9.8% low levels of ferritin. Ferritin and hemoglobin levels showed a significant statistical difference among the trimester pregnant women (p 0.05, ANOVA). Theses results suggest that the dosage of hemoglobin together with other iron serum markers can make for a more specific evaluation of iron deficiency in pregnancy.

O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a anemia em grávidas, associando os resultados da dosagem de hemoglobina e hematócrito com a análise de marcadores do perfil sérico do ferro. Participaram do estudo 92 grávidas que estavam realizando pré-natal em unidades de atendimento à saúde no Município de Manaus, Amazonas, Brasil. Foi aplicado um formulário para obtenção dos dados antropométricos e informações sobre estilo de vida, além de serem realizadas dosagens dos níveis séricos de ferro, capacidade latente de ligação do ferro (CLLF), capacidade total de ligação do ferro (CTLF), índice de saturação da transferrina (IST), transferrina, ferritina e níveis sanguíneos de hemoglobina e hematócrito por metodologia automatizada utilizando kits comerciais disponíveis. Foram encontradas 26,1% de grávidas com níveis de hemoglobina abaixo de 11 g/dL. Observou-se que 17,4% das grávidas com níveis normais de hemoglobina apresentavam níveis inadequados de ferro sérico e 9,8% apresentavam níveis baixos de ferritina sérica. Os níveis de ferritina e de hemoglobina apresentaram diferença significativa entre os trimestres de gestação (p 0,05, ANOVA). Os resultados sugerem que a dosagem da hemoglobina juntamente com outros marcadores do perfil sérico do ferro pode trazer uma avaliação mais precisa da deficiência de ferro na gravidez.