Growth and Phytochemistry of Cymbopogon citratus Stapf Inoculated with Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria under Different Lead Levels.

This study aimed to investigate the phytochemistry of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) inoculated with Azospirillum brasilense and grown in lead (Pb)-contaminated soil to assess its responses to inoculation under different Pb levels. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 2 × 5 factorial scheme: two levels of A. brasilense (absence or presence) and five Pb levels. After four months of treatment, the following were analyzed: total and reducing sugars, total phenolic content, flavonoids, antioxidant activity, antioxidant enzymes, proline, and essential oil (EO) content and composition. Soil Pb levels and A. brasilense inoculation affected phytochemicals in lemongrass plants. Azospirillum inoculation reduced total sugars in the roots at all soil Pb levels, while increasing Pb levels favored a rise in sugar contents. There was an increase in flavonoid content in treatments associated with Pb and inoculated with A. brasilense. Antioxidant capacity was lower at lower Pb levels, regardless of bacterial inoculation. Enzymatic response was mainly affected by Pb concentrations between 50 and 100 mg kg-1 soil. EO content was influenced by soil Pb levels, with higher EO production at 500 mg Pb kg-1 soil and without A. brasilense inoculation. Overall, lemongrass cultivation in Pb-contaminated areas can be an alternative to phytoremediation and EO production for the industry.

Simultaneous Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Olea europaea L. Leaves and Healthy Seed Oils Using Pressurized Propane.

Olive leaves (OL) are products of olive cultivation with a high commercial value because they contain valuable bioactive compounds. Chia and sesame seeds have a high functional value because of their attractive nutritional properties. When combined in the extraction process, the two products constitute a product of high quality. The use of pressurized propane in vegetable oil extraction is advantageous because it provides solvent-free oil. This study aimed to combine two high-quality products to obtain oils with a unique combination of attractive nutritional properties and high levels of bioactive compounds. The mass percentage yields of the OL extracts with chia and sesame oils were 23.4% and 24.8%, respectively. The fatty acid profiles of the pure oils and their respective OL-enriched oils were similar. There was an aggregation of the 35% and 32% (v/v) bioactive OL compounds in chia and sesame oils, respectively. OL oils exhibited superior antioxidant capacities. The induction times of the OL extracts with the sesame and chia oils increased by 73% and 4.4%, respectively. Incorporating OL active compounds in healthy edible vegetable oils using propane as a solvent promotes the reduction of lipid oxidation, improves the lipid profiles and health indices of the oils, and forms a product with attractive nutritional characteristics.

Simultaneous extraction of sunflower oil and active compounds from olive leaves using pressurized propane.

Sunflower is grown in different parts of the world and oil from the grain has many uses, including cosmetics and food. Olive leaves are rich in active compounds with potential for industrial use. The simultaneous extraction of raw materials is an economical and sustainable way of using the same extraction process to obtain products with high added value. The aim of this work was to promote the incorporation of bioactive compounds from olive leaves in sunflower oil by two extraction techniques: pressurized propane (PRO) and Soxhlet (SOX) and to evaluate the increase in oxidative stability and antioxidant activity of oils. The techniques used were useful in producing sunflower oil incorporating olive leaf extract (SFO + OLE); 4.3% 1-octacosanol and 5.8% 1-triacontanol were incorporated, and ß-sitosterol increased by at least 90%. Also, SFO + OLE showed an increase in the induction time of 2.7 and 3.7 h compared to SFO for the PRO and SOX methods, respectively. The profile of fatty acids was maintained, with the majority in all samples being oleic and linoleic acids. Consequently, with this procedure is possible to produce SFO + OLE with better antioxidant activity and better nutritional characteristics using PRO and SOX. The scaled-up of the simultaneous extraction process via pressurized propane is economically viable according to the process simulation and economic evaluation.

Thermo and Photoresponsive Emulgel Loaded with Copaifera reticulata Ducke and Chlorophylls: Rheological, Mechanical, Photodynamic and Drug Delivery Properties in Human Skin.

Recently, the number of new cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis has been of concern among health agencies. Research that offers new therapeutic alternatives is advantageous, especially those that develop innovative drugs. Therefore, this paper presents the incorporation of Copaifera reticulata Ducke and chlorophyll extract into Pluronic®® F127 and Carbopol gels, under optimized polymer quantities. The chlorophyll extract (rich in photosensitizing compounds) was obtained by continuous-flow pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), a clean, environmentally friendly method. The system aims to act as as a leishmanicidal, cicatrizant, and antibiotic agent, with reinforcement of the photodynamic therapy (PDT) action. Rheological and mechanical analyses, permeation studies and bioadhesiveness analyses on human skin, and PDT-mediated activation of Staphylococcus aureus were performed. The emulgels showed gelation between 13° and 15 °C, besides pseudoplastic and viscoelastic properties. Furthermore, the systems showed transdermal potential, by releasing chlorophylls and C. reticulata Ducke into the deep layers of human skin, with good bioadhesive performance. The application of PDT reduced three logarithmic colony-forming units of S. aureus bacteria. The results support the potential of the natural drug for future clinical trials in treating wounds and cutaneous leishmania.

Photodamage on Staphylococcus aureus by natural extract from Tetragonia tetragonoides (Pall.) Kuntze: Clean method of extraction, characterization and photophysical studies.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a clinical modality that allows the destruction of tumor cells and microorganisms by reactive oxygen species, formed by the combination of photosensitizer (PS), molecular oxygen and adequate wavelength light. This research, through a clean methodology that involves pressurized liquids extraction (PLE), obtained a highly antimicrobial extract of Tetragonia tetragonoides, which rich in chlorophylls as photosensitizers. The Chlorophylls-based extract (Cbe-PLE) presented pharmacological safety, through the maintenance of cellular viability. In addition, Cbe-PLE showed great efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus, with severe dose-dependent damage to the cell wall of the pathogen. The obtained product has a high potential for the development of photostimulated phytotherapic formulations for clinical applications in localized infections, as a complementary therapeutic alternative to antibiotics.

Green propolis ethanolic extract in bean plant protection against bacterial diseases / Extrato etanólico de própolis verde na proteção de feijoeiro contra bacterioses

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to evaluate the ethanolic extract of green propolis (EEP) in the protection of common bean plants against two main bacterial cultures, bacterial blight (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli) and wildfire (Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci). Experiments on antimicrobial activity were performed, inducing phytoalexins, defense-related enzymes, and disease severity, under concentrations of 0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, and 5.0%. The EEP presented antimicrobial activity on both phytobacteria, causing a decrease in their development. It has also promoted a linear accumulation of phaseolin in bean hypocotyls according to the EEP concentration used. There was a reduction in the lesion area, which was caused by bacterial blight on bean leaves treated with EEP, and local and systemic effect were observed. Polyphenoloxidase was activated with 5% EEP, reaching the maximum activation time 62.5 h after application. An increase was observed in the activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase in plants treated with EEP, with local and systemic effect. Results indicated the potential of EEP in the control of these diseases.

RESUMO: Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o extrato etanólico de própolis verde (EEP) na proteção de plantas de feijoeiro contra as duas principais bacterioses da cultura, crestamento bacteriano (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli) e fogo selvagem (Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci). Foram realizados experimentos sobre atividade antimicrobiana indutora de fitoalexinas, de enzimas relacionadas à defesa, e na severidade da doença, usando as concentrações de 0, 0,5, 1,0, 2,5 e 5,0%. O EEP apresentou atividade antimicrobiana sobre ambas fitobactérias, causando uma redução em seu desenvolvimento. O EEP também promoveu um acúmulo linear de faseolina em hipocótilos de feijoeiro conforme a concentração usada. Houve uma redução na área lesionada pelo crestamento bacteriano em folhas de feijoeiro tratadas com EEP, com efeito local e sistêmico. A enzima polifenoloxidase foi ativada pelo EEP a 5%, com ponto máximo de ativação 62,5 horas após aplicação. Houve um aumento na atividade de fenilalanina amônia-liase em plantas tratadas com EEP, com efeito local e sistêmico. Os resultados indicam o potencial do EEP no controle dessas doenças.