An overview of the potential of select edible Amazonian fruits and their applications in dairy products.

BACKGROUND: The Amazon forest produces a variety of fruits with strong biotechnological potential. However, their use in dairy products is restricted. SCOPE AND APPROACH: This work aims to carry out a bibliographic survey on the technological applications of select edible Amazonian fruits and their residues in the elaboration and quality of dairy products. The Web of Science© (WOS), Science Direct®, PubMed®/MEDLINE, and Capes Periodicals databases were used. KEY FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS: Adding Amazonian fruits to dairy products expands their nutritional and functional profile, presenting significant technological potential. Incorporating pulps from fruits such as "açaí" (Euterpe oleracea), "araçá-boi" (Eugenia stipitata), "bacuri" (Platonia insignis), "buriti" (Mauritia flexuosa), "camu-camu" (Myrciaria dubia), and "cupuaçu" (Theobroma grandiflorum) provides varied technological benefits, improving sensory aspects, positively influencing the growth and survival of relevant microorganisms, and increasing acceptance. In addition to the pulp, "camu-camu" residues (peel and seed) can be incorporated into dairy products as food additives or functional ingredients. This approach also diversifies the dairy market, promoting food security and sustainability for local and regional communities.

Multilayer microparticles for programmed sequential release of phenolic compounds from Eugenia stipitata: Stability and bioavailability.

A co-delivery system based on multilayer microparticles was developed and characterized for the sequential release of phenolic compounds (PCs) using different encapsulation processes (spray drying: SD and drying-chilling spray: SDC) and wall materials to improve the stability and bioavailability of PCs. Samples were characterized in terms of process yield (PY%), phenolic retention efficiency (PRE%), chemical structure and crystallinity (NMR, FTIR, DXR), thermal stability (DSC and FT-IR), anti-radical capacity (ORAC and ABTS) and in vitro digestion. PRE% of samples by SD were higher (p < 0.05) than SDC due to the formation of PCs from CRF (cará-roxo flour). NMR, FTIR, DXR confirmed the presence of key components and interactions for the formation of the advanced co-delivery system. The SDC particles showed crystalline regions by XRD and were stable at ∼47 °C. All samples showed good release of PC in the intestinal phase, and antiradical capacity that reached 23.66 µmol TE g-1.

The high biodiversity of benthic organisms in a coastal ecosystem revealed by an integrative approach / A alta biodiversidade de organismos bentônicos em um ecossistema costeiro revelada por uma abordagem integrativa

Abstract Increasing habitat modification and species loss demand consistent efforts to describe and understand biodiversity patterns. The BIOTA/FAPESP Program was created in this context and it has been a successful initiative to promote studies on biodiversity and conservation in Brazil. The BIOTA/Araçá is an interdisciplinary project that provided a detailed evaluation of the biodiversity of Araçá Bay, a coastal seascape located on the North coast of the state of São Paulo, Southeast Brazil. The bay encompasses multiple habitats, such as beaches, mangroves, rocky shores, and a tidal flat, and provides important ecosystem services. Unfortunately, the bay is the subject of complex social-environmental conflicts that oppose economic, social, and environmental demands (i.e., the expansion of neighboring harbor activities vs. small-scale artisanal fisheries and protection of biodiversity). The present study presents a survey of the benthic species occurring in the different habitats of Araçá Bay, including data obtained during the BIOTA/Araçá project and previous assessments of the area. The benthic species play an important role in marine environments and studying the diversity of these organisms that live associated with the bottom is indispensable for comprehending the environment's functioning. The macrofauna, meiofauna, and microorganisms associated with soft and hard bottom were listed, and additional information, such as the habitat and geographical distribution, were provided for each species. The checklist includes 826 species, almost 70% recorded during the BIOTA/Araçá project. The most speciose taxa were the annelids (225 spp.), mollusks (194 spp.), and crustaceans (177 spp.). Seven benthic species are endemic to Araçá Bay, 14 are considered threatened, and seven are economically exploited. Furthermore, the bay is the type locality of many taxa, and 11 new benthic species were described based on specimens sampled during the project. This project shows the importance of Araçá Bay as a unique biologically rich environment and highlights the need for conservation efforts in light of the current threats.

Resumo O aumento da modificação dos habitats e da perda de espécies demanda esforços consistentes para descrever e compreender os padrões de biodiversidade. O programa BIOTA/FAPESP foi criado nesse contexto e é uma iniciativa de sucesso para promover estudos em biodiversidade e conservação no Brasil. O BIOTA/Araçá é um projeto interdisciplinar que promoveu uma avaliação detalhada da biodiversidade da Baía do Araçá, um ecossistema costeiro localizado ao Norte do estado de São Paulo, Sudeste do Brasil. A baía engloba múltiplos habitats, tais como praias, manguezais, costões rochosos, e uma planície de maré, e também fornece importantes serviços ecossistêmicos. Infelizmente, a baía está sujeita à conflitos sócio-ambientais complexos que contrastam demandas econômicas, sociais e ambientais (i.e. a expansão das atividades do porto vizinho vs. a pesca artesanal de pequena escala e a proteção da biodiversidade). O presente estudo apresenta um levantamento das espécies bentônicas que ocorrem nos diferentes habitats da Baía do Araçá, incluindo dados obtidos durante o projeto BIOTA/Araçá e de investigações realizadas anteriormente na área. As espécies bentônicas desempenham um papel importante no ambiente marinho, e estudar a diversidade desses organismos que vivem associados ao fundo é indispensável para compreender o funcionamento do meio ambiente. A macrofauna, meiofauna, e microorganismos associados aos fundos consolidado e inconsolidado foram listados, e informações adicionais foram fornecidas para cada espécie, tais como a distribuição geográfica e nos habitats. O checklist inclui 826 espécies, quase 70% registradas durante o projeto BIOTA/Araçá. Os taxa mais especiosos foram os anelídeos (225 spp.), moluscos (194 spp.), e crustáceos (177 spp.). Entre as espécies bentônicas listadas, sete são endêmicas da Baía do Araçá, 14 são consideradas ameaçadas de extinção, e sete são exploradas economicamente. A baía é a localidade tipo de vários taxa, e 11 novas espécies bentônicas foram descritas com base em espécimes amostrados durante o projeto. Este projeto mostra a importância da Baía do Araçá como um ambiente de riqueza biológica única e demonstra a necessidade de esforços para a sua conservação considerando as atuais ameaças.

Herbicide and Cytogenotoxic Activity of Inclusion Complexes of Psidium gaudichaudianum Leaf Essential Oil and ß-Caryophyllene on 2-Hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin.

The present investigation aimed to develop inclusion complexes (ICs) from Psidium gaudichaudianum (GAU) essential oil (EO) and its major compound ß-caryophyllene (ß-CAR), and to evaluate their herbicidal (against Lolium multiflorum and Bidens pilosa) and cytogenotoxic (on Lactuca sativa) activities. The ICs were obtained using 2-hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin (HPßCD) and they were prepared to avoid or reduce the volatility and degradation of GAU EO and ß-CAR. The ICs obtained showed a complexation efficiency of 91.5 and 83.9% for GAU EO and ß-CAR, respectively. The IC of GAU EO at a concentration of 3000 µg mL-1 displayed a significant effect against weed species B. pilosa and L. multiflorum. However, the ß-CAR IC at a concentration of 3000 µg mL-1 was effective only on L. multiflorum. In addition, the cytogenotoxic activity evaluation revealed that there was a reduction in the mitotic index and an increase in chromosomal abnormalities. The produced ICs were able to protect the EO and ß-CAR from volatility and degradation, with a high thermal stability, and they also enabled the solubilization of the EO and ß-CAR in water without the addition of an organic solvent. Therefore, it is possible to indicate the obtained products as potential candidates for commercial exploration since the ICs allow the complexed EO to exhibit a more stable chemical constitution than pure EO under storage conditions.

Brazilian Agroindustrial Wastes as a Potential Resource of Bioative Compounds and Their Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities.

The study of the recovery of bioactive compounds from natural resources and its implications in several areas is very significant for the scientific community. This work aimed to study Brazilian agroindustrial wastes' antioxidant and antimicrobial activities using green extraction. Olive leaves, jaboticaba peel, araçá peel, and pecan nut shells were evaluated under four conditions: (1) convective-drying and aqueous extraction, (2) convective-drying and ethanolic extraction, (3) freeze-drying and aqueous extraction, and (4) freeze-drying and ethanolic extraction. The results demonstrated that all samples showed high antioxidant potential, and the highest antioxidant activity was obtained for the extract of pecan nut shell. As for the quantification of compounds by HPLC, the olive leaf presented the highest content of phenolic compounds in the extract, mainly oleuropein. Finally, the antimicrobial activity analysis revealed the extracts' bactericidal potential against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The present study shows that green extraction can extract bioactive compounds with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, highlighting the importance of choosing the drying method and solvent for future uses of these natural resources by the industry.

Rheological Behavior of Pectin Gels Obtained from Araçá (Psidium cattleianum Sabine) Fruits: Influence of DM, Pectin and Calcium Concentrations.

In this work, purified pectins from Araçá fruits (Psidium cattleianum Sabine) were obtained and characterized after partial demethylation. On each prepared sample, the carboxylic yield was obtained by titration, the degree of methylation (DM) by 1H-NMR, and the molecular weight distribution by steric exclusion chromatography (SEC). Then, the gelation ability in the presence of calcium counterions was investigated and related to DM (59-0%); the pectin concentration (2-10 g L-1); and the CaCl2 concentration (0.1-1 mol L-1) used for dialysis. The critical pectin concentration for homogeneous gelation was above 2 g L-1 when formed against 1 mol L-1 CaCl2. The elastic modulus (G') increased with pectin concentration following the relationship G'~C2.8 in agreement with rigid physical gel network predictions. The purified samples APP and APP-A with DM ≥ 40% in the same conditions released heterogeneous systems formed of large aggregates. Gels formed against lower concentrations of CaCl2 down to 0.1 mol L-1 had a higher degree of swelling, indicating electrostatic repulsions between charged chains, thus, counterbalancing the Ca2+ cross-linkage. Compression/traction experiments demonstrated that an irreversible change in the gel structure occurred during small compression with an enhancement of the G' modulus.

Two morphotypes versus two chemotypes of Psidium cattleyanum: Chemical and pharmacological comparison and a rational approach for marker selection.

Psidium cattleyanum has two morphotypes: one with yellow fruits and other with red fruits. The leaves are popularly used as anti-inflammatory. However, no distinction is made between the types. Therefore, this study compared chemical and pharmacological data of both morphotypes to select proper biomarkers to ensure P. cattleyanum leaves quality. After extraction optimization by experimental design, 28 samples were analyzed by HPLC. Using Principal Component Analysis, it was possible to detect two chemotypes, unrelated to the color of the fruits. However, the extracts obtained from both chemotypes seemed to play similar anti-inflammatory effect, demonstrated by anti-chemotactic activity. The compounds common to both chemotypes were isolated and identified as hyperoside, miquelianin and quercitrin; these compounds also demonstrated anti-inflammatory potential. Since both chemotypes played similar activity, along with the isolated flavonoids, these flavonoids were selected as biomarkers for quality control of P. cattleyanum leaves. Following ICH guidelines, a HPLC method was validated. In summary, this study demonstrated that hyperoside, miquelianin and quercitrin can be used as biomarkers for quality control of P. cattleyanum leaves and a method was developed and validated to be used interchangeably for both morpho- and chemotypes.

Oral administration of essential oil from Psidium glaziovianum Kiaersk leaves alleviates pain and inflammation in mice.

Plants of the genus Psidium have been employed in "in natura" consumption and agroindustry, and owing to the diversity of phytochemicals, the development of new pharmaceutical forms has received remarkable research interest. In this study, the essential oil obtained from Psidium glaziovianum (PgEO) leaves were evaluated antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated in mouse models. Initially, PgEO was characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography with flame ionization detection, and the profile was dominated by sesquiterpene compounds. In the evaluation of acute antinociceptive activity (abdominal contortions induced by acetic acid, formalin, tail immersion, and hot plate tests), PgEO promoted a reduction in nociception in the chemical and thermal models. Additionally, the potential underlying mechanism was investigated using pain pathway blockers, and the results revealed a combined action of opioidergic and muscarinic pathways. The anti-inflammatory potential was confirmed by anti-edematogenic action, reduced cell migration, pro-inflammatory cytokine production, and granuloma formation in chronic processes. This study provides evidence that PgEO can be effective for the treatment of pain and acute and chronic inflammation.

Exploiting the chemical composition of essential oils from Psidium cattleianum and Psidium guajava and its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.

The genus Psidium comprises several native Brazilian plants, such as the araçá and guava trees. They are interesting sources of essential oils (EOs) that can be used as natural preservatives in foods due to their bioactive properties. This work aimed to evaluate and correlate the biological properties of the EOs from araçá and guava leaves with their chemical compounds. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used to determine the chemical composition of EOs. The antimicrobial activity was tested against 16 foodborne pathogens and the antioxidant capacity was determined by ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP assays. The major compounds identified in the essential oil of araçá (EOA) were ß-caryophyllene and ß-elemene, representing 38.69% and 7.47%, respectively, whereas ß-selinene (13.83%), α-humulene (10.90%), and ß-caryophyllene (7.61%) were the major compounds identified in the essential oil of guava (EOG). Both EOs showed activity against Salmonella Enteritidis, with MIC being 1.41 µg/ml for the EOA and 1.37 µg/ml for the EOG. The EOA was more effective than the EOG against strains of Listeria monocytogenes and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with the MIC being 1.41 µg/ml. The EOA showed 10.43, 12.35, and 3.92 µmol TE/ml at 90 µg/ml whereas the EOG showed 4.54, 8.94, and 3.43 µmol TE/ml at 88 µg/ml for ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP, respectively. Thus, the EOs demonstrated an effective action against foodborne pathogens and free radicals, indicative of their potential use as natural preservatives for foods. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Guava and araçá are native Brazilian plants producers of essential oils, natural compounds with antimicrobial and antioxidant potential. The chemical composition of essential oils is responsible for its beneficial properties. The results demonstrated that the essential oils studied are rich in ß-caryophyllene and has excellent activity against malefic microorganisms and free radicals, and can also be used as natural preservatives in foods.

Chemical analysis and antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and toxicological evaluations of the hydromethanolic extract of Psidium guineense Swartz leaves.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Psidium guineense, popularly known as "araçá-do-campo", is used in popular medicine for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Our research group studied an essential oil obtained from its leaves and reported anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. However, to date, the anti-inflammatory actions of the leaf extract have not been evaluated although the traditional folk use of this plant has these indications. AIM OF STUDY: The current study was designed to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and toxicity of the hydromethanolic extract of the leaves from P. guineense (HME-PG), as well as to investigate the chemical composition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HME-PG was chemically investigated by Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). The antioxidant activity was evaluated with 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Swiss mice were orally (p.o.) pretreated with HME-PG (30, 100 and 300 mg/kg), and after 1 h received carrageenan via paw injection (edema, cold sensitivity and mechanical hyperalgesia were analyzed) or pleural injection (leukocyte migration was analyzed after 4 h) and for nociception using the formalin model. Acute (14 days) and subacute (28 days) toxicity was assessed with female Wistar rats orally treated with 500 and 2000 mg/kg HME-PG. RESULTS: HME-PG showed high levels of phenolic and flavonoid compounds. Six compounds were identified based on UHPLC-MS/MS analysis, including gallic acid, quercetin, 3'-formyl-2',4',6'-trihydroxy-5'-methyldihydrochalcone, vanillic acid, ursolic acid and corilagin. HME-PG exhibited an IC50 of 48.14 µg/mL in the MDA assay and an IC50 of 45.15 µg/mL in the DPPH test. The treatment with HME-PG (100 and 300 mg/kg) significantly inhibited edema at all time points evaluated, mechanical hyperalgesia after 4 h and the response to cold 3 and 4 h after carrageenan injection and anti-nociceptive effects in both phases of formalin nociception. All oral HME-PG treatments significantly inhibited leukocyte migration and plasma extravasation in the pleurisy model. Toxicity tests did not cause signs of toxicity in the treated animals. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that HME-PG has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and no toxicity was detected after acute or subacute treatment with HME-PG, showing the possibility for the safe traditional use of P. guineense.

Chemical composition of the leaf oils from two morphotypes of Psidium cattleyanum at four phenological stages.

The chemical composition of volatile oil extracted from leaves of two morphotypes of Psidium cattleyanum Sabine from southern Brazil was evaluated at four phenological stages. In addition, plant material was evaluated at four different locations of the Planalto Serrano Region of Santa Catarina state, Brazil. Major components found were: 1,8-cineole, α-pinene, α-eudesmol, (E)-caryophyllene and p-cymene in red morphotype whereas 1,8-cineole, α-pinene, myrcene, (E)-caryophyllene and valerianol were found in the yellow morphotype. The differences observed in the chemical composition in red and yellow morphotypes may help in the differentiation between the two morphotypes in the absence of fruits. Also, important differences were observed mainly for 1,8-cineole and α-pinene percentage at different phenological stages.

Population Genetics of Polyploid Complex Psidium cattleyanum Sabine (Myrtaceae): Preliminary Analyses Based on New Species-Specific Microsatellite Loci and Extension to Other Species of the Genus.

Polyploidy is a phenomenon that alters the genetic diversity of populations and has been reported as one of the most important evolutionary forces for plant diversification. The Psidium cattleyanum complex comprises a group of wild populations with several ploidy levels reported in the literature. The multiple cytotypes, associated with its wide distribution area, make this species a potential key model for understanding evolutionary processes related to polyploidization. In this study, we isolated and characterized nuclear microsatellite markers of P. cattleyanum and tested their transferability to other nine species of the genus. We performed a preliminary analysis of genetic diversity and population structure in three populations of P. cattleyanum. The three populations analyzed had different chromosome numbers, being polyploid cytotypes (2n = 6x = 66, 2n = 7x = 77 and 2n = 8x = 88). We designed 46 primer pairs and successfully amplified 37 markers, from which the 10 best were selected for analysis. Considering both the PIC and DP values, most of markers were highly informative. The new SSR markers were used to assess the levels of genetic diversity of the populations and detected one population with predominance of sexual reproduction. DAPC analysis pointed the formation of three groups, which corresponded to the populations analyzed. The markers were successfully amplified in related species, with some species presenting 80% transferability. By producing this panel of polymorphic microsatellites, we contribute to the understanding evolution in groups of natural polyploids for future studies.

Comprehensive identification and quantification of unexploited phenolic compounds from red and yellow araçá (Psidium cattleianum Sabine) by LC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS.

LC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS was used to comprehensively characterise the non-extractable phenolic compounds (NEPC) in red and yellow araçá genotypes. Results showed a total of 45 and 43 phenolic compounds in the NEPC fraction and, similarly, 51 and 50 compounds in extractable phenolic compounds (EPC) fraction from red and yellow araçá, respectively. Gallic acid and ellagic acid were the unique compounds found in both fractions. The NEPC fraction represented about 35% (m/m) of the total phenolic content and was characterised by an abundance of phenolic acids, while the EPC fraction was rich in flavanols. Although NEPC represented one-third of the total phenolic compounds found in araçá, its antioxidant capacity (against peroxyl radical) was 50% higher than the EPC fraction. The results of this work show that the NEPC fraction of araçá has great diversity and a relatively high concentration of low-molecular-weight phenolic compounds with high antioxidant capacity.

A review of the Neotropical microcaddisfly genus Acostatrichia Mosely, 1939 with description of a new species from Brazil (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae: Leucotrichiinae).

The microcaddisfly genus Acostatrichia Mosely (Leucotrichiinae, Leucotrichiini) is revised. Based on morphological features of the adult male, species assigned to the genus are here divided into three species groups: A. plaumanni Group, A. brevipenis Group, and A. cerna Group. After examination of type specimens, the subjective synonymy of Acostatrichia darda Oláh Flint, A. hosulaba Oláh Flint, and A. pika Oláh Flint is proposed, with the first name being chosen to have priority over the other two. Acostatrichia ketvilla Oláh Flint is considered a junior synonym of Costatrichia nelsonferreirai Santos Nessimian, and another 3 species are removed from Acostatrichia: A. tapada Oláh Flint and A. rovidka Oláh Flint are transferred to Costatrichia; and A. topora Oláh Flint is transferred to Leucotrichia Mosely. A new species, Acostatrichia araca sp. nov. is described and illustrated from northern Brazil; descriptions and illustrations are also provided for the other 11 Acostatrichia species. After these nomenclatural acts, the genus Acostatrichia includes 15 species restricted to South America.

Determination of Phenolic Compounds in Three Edible Ripening Stages of Yellow Guava (Psidium cattleianum Sabine) after Acidic Hydrolysis by LC-MS/MS.

Yellow guava (Psidium cattleianum Sabine) has received considerable attention in the last years because of their high content in bioactive compounds with potential application in food and pharmaceutical industries. In this regard, this study aimed to investigate the phenolic compounds of three edible ripening stages of yellow guava fruits after acidic hydrolysis by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and their antioxidant capacity. Among the 23 phenolics quantified, catechin, isoquercitrin, quercetin, gallic acid, and syringic acid showed significant concentrations in all the evaluated stages, with values ranging from 479.59 ± 12.52 to 12,795.50 ± 320.95 µg 100 g-1 of dry matter. In general, higher concentrations of phenolic acids were found in the latter ripening stages, while flavonoids were in the earlier ripening stages. These findings suggest that the ripening process promotes changes in the phenolic composition of yellow guava. However, considering the sum of phenolic compounds and the antioxidant capacity, all ripening stages investigated can be suggested as a supply of bioactive compounds for consumers.

Efficacy of alginate- and clay-encapsulated microorganisms on the growth of Araçá-Boi seedlings (Eugenia stipitata)

The present work aimed to evaluate the effects of encapsulated microorganisms on seedlings of Eugenia stipitata, popularly known as araçá-boi, to evaluate the interaction between the inoculum and encapsulating agents such as clay and alginate. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design using a 3×2 factorial scheme. The treatments were control, inoculum, clay without microbial inoculum, clay with microbial inoculum, alginate without microbial inoculum, and alginate with microbial inoculum. The seedlings were grown under nursery conditions over a period of 3 months. No treatment increased the height, stem diameter, shoot dry matter or root dry matter of the araçá-boi seedlings. The use of alginate increased the ammonium content compared to the clay and control treatments. Alginate and clay increased the nitrate content in relation to the control. Alginate increased the total number of bacteria in relation to the clay and control treatments. The application of inoculum combined with alginate increased the nitrate content only in relation to the clay and control treatments. Although the application of inoculum promoted an increase in the nitrate content compared to the uninoculated treatments, there was no effect for the other parameters analyzed. The results suggest that clay and alginate encapsulating agents with the presence or absence of microorganisms may improve some soil parameters.

The use of metabarcoding for meiofauna ecological patterns assessment.

Marine meiofauna comprises up to 22 phyla. Its morphological identification requires time and taxonomists' expertise, and molecular tools can make this task faster. We aim to disentangle meiofaunal diversity patterns at Araçá Bay by applying a model selection approach and estimating the effectiveness of metabarcoding (18S rDNA) and morphological methods for estimating the response of meiofauna diversity in small-scale interactions with environmental variables. A rarefaction curve indicated that ten samples were sufficient for estimating the total number of meiofauna OTUs in a tidal flat. In both approaches, richness was predicted by mean sand percentage, sediment sorting, and bacteria concentration. Nematode genera composition differed significantly between approaches, the result of taxonomic mismatch in the genetic database. The similarity between the model selected for diversity descriptors, the richness of nematode genera and meiofauna composition emphasized the utility of predictive models for metabarcoding estimates to detect small-scale interactions of these organisms.

Psidium cattleianum fruits: A review on its composition and bioactivity.

Psidium cattleianum Sabine, commonly known as araçá, is a Brazilian native fruit, which is very juicy, with sweet to sub acid pulp and a spicy touch. The fruit can be eaten fresh or processed into juice, jellies and ice creams. Araçás are source of vitamin C, minerals, fatty acids, polysaccharides, volatile compounds, carotenoids and phenolic compounds, which can provide nutrients and phytochemical agents with different biological functions. Different pharmacological studies demonstrate that P. cattleianum exerts antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antiaging effects. Thus, this article aims to review the chemical composition and biological effects reported for araçá fruit in the last years.

Unraveling the performance of the benthic index AMBI in a subtropical bay: The effects of data transformations and exclusion of low-reliability sites.

We investigated the relationship between the AMBI index and different contamination proxies in an urbanized bay in South America (SE Brazil), and the effect of (a) abundance data transformation and (b) exclusion of low-reliability sites (high SD; low N) on the index' performance. Poor ecological quality and opportunistic species were related to an increase in contaminants concentrations and mud content. Good ecological status and sensitive species (EG I) were mainly related to increased hydrodynamics. Data transformation caused minimal changes to the overall relationships, but exclusion of low-reliability sites improved the relationship between ecological groups and contamination proxies. Our results show that AMBI is robust in detecting effects of different contaminants in the area and reinforce the importance of the index as a tool for coastal management, but local joint efforts are needed to improve and adjust local species classification in ecological groups to improve the index' performance.

Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative and antimycobacterial activities of the essential oil of Psidium guineense Sw. and spathulenol.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Leaves from Psidium guineense Sw. are used in popular medicine for the treatment of inflammatory disease. However, there is no scientific evidence demonstrating this activity. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative and antimycobacterial activities of the essential oil of P. guineense and spathulenol (a major constituent). The study was conducted in part to provide evidence supporting the ethnobotanical use of the leaves of this species. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The essential oil (EOPG) was extracted from the leaves of P. guineense by hydrodistillation and analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The major compound, spathulenol (PG-1), was isolated in a chromatographic column and characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). EOPG and PG-1 were evaluated in vitro for antioxidant activity by DPPH, ABTS and MDA methods; anti-inflammatory potential was assessed using two models, including pleurisy and oedema, in mice. The impact of EOPG and PG-1 on cell proliferation was determined via spectrophotometric quantification of the cellular protein content using a sulforhodamine B assay, and anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis activity was determined using the REMA method. RESULTS: A total of 38 components were identified from the EOPG, with the sesquiterpenic alcohol spathulenol (PG-1) (80.7%) being the major constituent. EOPG and PG-1 exhibited the highest antioxidant activities in the DPPH and MDA system compared with reference standard, with IC50 values ranging from 26.13 to 85.60µg/mL. Oral administration of EOPG and PG-1 showed significant inhibition in the Cg-induced mice paw oedema and pleurisy model. The EOPG (GI50 = 0.89µg/mL) and PG-1 (GI50 = 49.30µg/mL) were particularly effective against the ovarian cancer cell line. Both showed moderate antimycobacterial activity. CONCLUSION: For the first time, this study demonstrated the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative and antimycobacterial properties of the essential oil of P. guineense (leaves were collected in Dourados-MS) and spathulenol, collaborating the etnhopharmacologycal use of this plant due to its an anti-inflammatory effect.