Multiresidue Analytical Method for Pesticides in Soybean Extract.

Developed and validated a fast, simple and effective method based on the use of DLLME technique and determination by GC-MS of 26 pesticides in SE. To carry out the extraction of the pesticides of the matrix, 70 µL of mix of pesticides (1.5 µg/mL) was added to 5.0 mL of SE, containing 1.0 g of sodium chloride and 3.0 mL of acetonitrile. The results of validation were suitable. The calibration curve was linear in the range of 0.500-5.0 µg/mL. The method showed a limit of detection and quantification of 0.17 µg/mL and 0.50 µg/mL, respectively. The recovery recovering between 47% and 115%, with relative standard deviation (RSD) of <20% for fortification levels (range of 1.0-3.0 µg/mL). The method validated can be applied for routine analysis in soy-based drinks, considering it is fast, easy to perform and has satisfactory validation results.

Addition of Saturated and Trans-fatty Acids to the Diet Induces Depressive and Anxiety-like Behaviors in Drosophila melanogaster.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the addition of saturated fat and hydrogenated vegetable fat (HVF) to the diet on depressive and anxiety-like behaviors in Drosophila melanogaster. Flies were exposed to experimental diets: regular diet (RD), or HVF in the concentrations of the substitute (SHVF), HVF 10% and HVF 20%, or Lard (L) in the concentrations of the substitute (SL), L 10% and L 20%, during seven days. Our results showed that flies fed with the HVF diet presented similar behaviors to depression, anxiety, and a higher number of aggressive events. Flies exposed to L showed only depressive-like behavior. Regarding serotonin levels (5HT), there was a significant reduction in the flies exposed to SHVF, HVF 10%, HVF 20%, and L 20%. Regarding the levels of octopamine (OA), there was a significant reduction in the flies exposed to both HVF and L rich diets when compared with the RD group. Also, there was a significant negative correlation between 5HT or OA levels and behaviors of aggressiveness, negative geotaxis, immobility time, light/dark, and grooming in the flies. This study shows that D. melanogaster can serve as a valuable model for understanding psychiatric disorders and that the type of fatty acid (FA) offered in the diet can influence these disorders. This demonstrates the importance of the composition of the FAs in the neural pathways, being able to influence the signaling of neurotransmitters, such as 5HT and OA, and thus, cause behavioral changes.

The phytoremediation potential of Plectranthus neochilus on 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and the role of antioxidant capacity in herbicide tolerance.

The possible phytoremediation capacity of Plectranthus neochilus (boldo) exposed to the commercial pesticide (Aminol) in soil and water through consecutive extractions (days interval) was evaluated. After the exposure period, tea leaves from the plant were analyzed in terms of the presence of 2,4-D, total antioxidant capacity (DPPH), concentration of total polyphenols and flavonoids for plants exposed to soil and water. In water, 2,4-D remained up to 67% in the 60 days of experiment in the control group, which provided the use of two treatment groups with the plant (one group of plants for 30 days and another group in the remaining 30 days in the same system), thus, a decontamination up to 49% of the 2,4-D was obtained in this system with water. In both experiments (soil and water) the 2,4-D was not detected in tea leaves, the reduction of the antioxidant activity, polyphenols and flavonoids of plants exposed to the herbicide was also observed when compared to the non-exposed plants. In tea - plants in water - it was also possible to quantify the phenolic compounds and it was observed that in the group of plants of the first 30 days there was a decrease in caffeic acid and an increase in coumaric and ferulic acids, compared to the group of plants that were not exposed to 2,4-D. In the remaining 30 days with the new seedlings there was a decrease of the coumaric acid and an increase of the caffeic and ferulic acids.

Peumus boldus (Boldo) Aqueous Extract Present Better Protective Effect than Boldine Against Manganese-Induced Toxicity in D. melanogaster.

The cellular, intracellular and molecular mechanism(s) underlying the toxicity of Mn are still incompletely understood, although several points concerning Mn neurotoxicity have been addressed. Importantly, oxidative changes have been reported to be involved in Mn-induced toxicity. As a consequence, antioxidants are expected to offer protection in Drosophila melanogaster exposed to this metal. So, in this study we evaluated the hypothesis that the aqueous extract of boldo (Peumus boldus), and its alkaloids boldine, could prevent/ameliorate behavioral and oxidative alterations induced by Mn in a D. melanogaster intoxication model. Adult wild-type flies were concomitantly exposed to Mn (3 mM) and boldo aqueous extract (5 mg/mL) or boldine (327.37 µg/mL) in the food during 9 days. Mn-fed flies had a worse performance in the negative geotaxis assay and in the open-field test, as well as a higher incidence of mortality and TBARS levels in head and body, when compared to control group. Boldo aqueous extract was found to reduce the mortality rate of the flies exposed to Mn. In turn, boldine was ineffective against Mn-induced mortality and significantly increases mortality per se. Additionally, Mn-induced locomotors dysfunction were fully ameliorated by boldo crude extract and only partially ameliorated by boldine. Likewise, boldo completely normalize head and body TBARS levels, whereas boldine only partially normalize in body. Finally, we found that flies treated with Mn presented significantly decrease in dopamine levels. Our results suggest that boldo crude extract can exert protective effect against Mn-induced toxicity in D. melanogaster, whereas boldine do not. Moreover, our data confirm the utility of this model to investigate potential therapeutic strategies on movement disorders, such as that caused by Mn.

Hippocampal noradrenergic activation is necessary for object recognition memory consolidation and can promote BDNF increase and memory persistence.

Previously we showed that activation of the Nucleus of the Solitary Tract (NTS)-Nucleus Paragigantocellularis (PGi)-Locus coeruleus (LC) pathway, which theoretically culminates with norepinephrine (NE) release in dorsal hippocampus (CA1 region) and basolateral amygdala (BLA) is necessary for the consolidation of object recognition (OR) memory. Here we show that, while the microinjection of the beta-noradrenergic receptor blocker timolol into CA1 impairs OR memory consolidation, the microinjection of norepinephrine (NE) promotes the persistence of this type of memory. Further, we show that OR consolidation is attended by an increase of norepinephrine (NE) levels and of the expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in hippocampus, which are impaired by inactivation of the NTS-PGi-LC pathway by the infusion of muscimol into the NTS.