Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) green synthesis of silver nanoparticles: antimicrobial efficacy and ecotoxicological assessment.

The synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is usually based on expensive methods that use or generate chemicals that can negatively impact the environment. Our study presents a simple one-step synthesis process for obtaining AgNP using an aqueous extract of Amazonian fruit açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) as the reducing and stabilizing agents. The bio-synthesized AgNP (bio-AgNP) were comprehensively characterized by diverse techniques, and as a result, 20-nm spherical particles (transmission electron microscopy) were obtained. X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) confirmed the presence of crystalline AgNP, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) suggested that polyphenolic compounds of açaí were present on the surface. The bio-AgNP showed antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii. In Caenorhabditis elegans exposed to 10 µg/L bio-AgNP for 96 h, there were no significant effects on growth, reproduction, or reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentration; however, there was an increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) enzymatic activity. In contrast, when worms were exposed to chemically synthesized AgNP (PVP-AgNP), an increase in ROS, SOD, and GST activity and a reduction in oxidative stress resistance were observed. In conclusion, our study not only showcased the potential of açaí in the simple and rapid production of AgNP but also highlighted the broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity of the synthesized nanoparticles using our protocol. Moreover, our findings revealed that these AgNPs exhibited reduced toxicity to C. elegans at environmentally realistic concentrations compared with PVP-AgNP.

Water pH and hardness alter ATPases and oxidative stress in the gills and kidney of pacu ( Piaractus mesopotamicus )

This study aimed to assess the effects of low and high water hardness in interaction with different water pH in pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus). Pacu juveniles were subjected to low (50 mg CaCO3 L-1 - LWH) or high water hardness (120 mg CaCO3 L-1 - HWH) at water pH of 5.5 (acidic), 7.5 (circumneutral) or 9.0 (alkaline) for 15 days. Gills and kidneys were collected (days 1, 5 and 15). Gill Na+/K+-ATPase (NKA) and vacuolar-type H+-ATPase (V-ATPase) activities were higher in alkaline pH with HWH on day 1. Gill and kidney NKA and V-ATPase activities were higher in acidic pH with LWH on day 15. Gill NKA activity of pacus under alkaline pH with LWH was higher than those exposed to HWH. Reduced antioxidant capacity in the gills and kidney and enhanced thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels were demonstrated in fish exposed to acidic or alkaline pH, mainly with LWH. HWH increased glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity and reduced TBARS levels in the gills and kidney. On day 15, GST activity was increased at acidic pH with LWH. In conclusion, circumneutral pH presents less oxidative stress and fewer variations in ATPases and HWH reduced deleterious effects in fish exposed to acidic or alkaline pH.(AU)

Este estudo objetivou analisar o efeito de baixa e alta dureza da água em interação com diferentes pH da água em pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus). Juvenis de pacu foram submetidos a baixa (50 mg CaCO3 L-1 - BDA) ou alta dureza da água (120 mg CaCO3 L-1 - ADA) em pH da água de 5.5 ácido), 7.5 (circum-neutro) ou 9.0 (alcalino) por 15 dias. Foram coletados brânquias e rim (dias 1, 5 e 15). Atividade de Na+/K+-ATPase (NKA) e H+-ATPase do tipo vacuolar (V-ATPase) branquial foram maiores em pH alcalino com ADA no dia 1. Atividade de NKA e V-ATPase branquial e renal foram maiores em pH ácido com BDA no dia 15. Atividade de NKA branquial de pacus submetidos a pH alcalino com BDA foi maior que aqueles expostos para ADA. Em peixes expostos a pH ácido ou alcalino com BDA houve redução da capacidade antioxidante nas brânquias e rim e aumento dos níveis de "substâncias reativas ao ácido tiobarbitúrico" (TBARS). Em ADA aumentou a atividade da "glutationa-S-transferase" (GST) e reduziu níveis de TBARS nas brânquias e rim. No dia 15, a atividade da GST foi maior em pH ácido com BDA. Em conclusão, pH circum-neutro apresentou menor estresse oxidativo e poucas variações na atividade de ATPases e ADA reduziu efeitos deletérios em peixes expostos a pH ácido ou alcalino.(AU)