Effects of Diospyros kaki peel, Momordica charantia, and Canavalia gladiata extracts on the cariogenic traits of Streptococcus mutans / 대한구강보건학회지

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to determine methods of dental caries prevention by investigating the use of compounds of Diospyros kaki (D. kaki) peel, Momordica charantia (M. charantia), and Canavalia gladiata (C. gladiata) extracts to limit the cariogenic traits of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), such as their ability to proliferate and adhere to the tooth surface. METHODS: Broth microdilution and the agar spreading assay were used to determine the antimicrobial effect and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of S. mutans extracts. In order to identify the adhesive ability of S. mutans at varying concentrations, culture plates were first stained with 1 ml of 0.01% crystal violet for 15 minutes at room temperature, and then eluted with 1 ml of EtOH:Acetone (8:2) solution for 15 minutes in a 37℃ incubator. Eluted solutions were then evaluated by use of a spectrophotometer at 575 nm. RESULTS: Experiments were conducted in order to investigate the effectiveness of D. kaki peel, M. charantia, and C. gladiata extracts on limiting the proliferation of S. mutans. The MIC was measured as an indication of whether the antibacterial activity of D. kaki peel, M. charantia, and C. gladiata extracts had a significant bacteriostatic effect on S. mutans. M. charantia extract was effective for growth inhibition on S. mutans at a minimum concentration of 0.25%. From the adhesion ability assay, M. charantia extract had an anti-adhesive effect. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that M. charantia extract demonstrates antibacterial activity and has an anti-adhesive effect on S. mutans. Due to these properties, M. charantia extract may be used to prevent dental caries.

Plant extracts with potential to control of two-spotted spider mite / Extratos vegetais com potencial de uso no controle do ácaro rajado

Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) is a species of great economic importance to Brazil. In its control, the main option is the use of synthetic miticides, which, if used indiscriminately, can contaminate the environment, farmers and consumers. In the search for control alternatives, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of plant extracts and essential oils on females of this pest. For this, T. urticae females, reared in laboratory, were sprayed in Potter tower. Fourteen plants were tested in the form of aqueous extracts (AE), hydroethanolic extracts (HE) or essential oils (EO). The experimental plot consisted of a Petri dish with a Canavalia ensiformis L. leaf disk containing five T. urticae females, using ten plates per treatment. Mortality evaluations were performed 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours after spraying, recording the number of dead females on the disc and the number of dead females on the moistened cotton. We considered that females found on cotton were repelled by treatments. Matricaria chamomilla L. HE and Pimpinella anisum L. AE have acaricidal effect for females, providing above 83% of mortality, after 120 hours. Origanum vulgare L. HE causes at least 75% mortality after 24 hours. Also 120 hours after spraying, P. anisum HE and O. vulgare AE cause repellency of females above 16%, and A. absinthium HE exceeds 22% for this parameter. The results stimulate further researches to determine the optimum dose and evaluation of additional effects on the fertility of surviving females.(AU)

Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) é uma espécie de grande importância econômica para o Brasil. Em seu controle, a principal opção são os acaricidas sintéticos, que, se usados de forma indiscriminada, podem contaminar ambiente, produtores e consumidores. Na busca de alternativas de controle, este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar o efeito de extratos vegetais e óleos essenciais sobre fêmeas dessa praga. Para isso, fêmeas de T. ­urticae criadas em laboratório foram pulverizadas em torre de Potter. Foram testadas 14 espécies vegetais, na forma de extratos aquosos (EA), hidroetanólicos (EH) ou óleos essenciais (OE). A parcela experimental consistiu de uma placa de Petri com um disco de folha de feijão-de-porco (Canavalia ­ensiformis L.) contendo cinco fêmeas de T. urticae, sendo utilizadas dez placas por tratamento. As avaliações de mortalidade foram realizadas 24, 48, 72, 96 e 120 horas após a pulverização, registrando-se o número de fêmeas mortas no disco e no algodão umedecido. Considerou-se que fêmeas encontradas no algodão foram repelidas pelos tratamentos. Matricaria chamomilla L. na forma de extrato hidroetanólico e Pimpinella anisum L. na forma de extrato aquoso possuem efeito acaricida para fêmeas proporcionando acima de 83% de mortalidade, após 120 horas da pulverização. Origanum ­vulgare L. EH causa no mínimo 75% de mortalidade após 24 horas. Também após 120 horas, P. anisum EH e O. vulgare EA causam repelência de fêmeas acima de 16% e A. absinthium EH ultrapassa 22% para esse parâmetro. Os resultados estimulam a realização de pesquisas futuras para determinação da dose ótima e avaliação de efeitos adicionais sobre a fertilidade das fêmeas sobreviventes.(AU)

Influence of green manures on epiedaphic macrofauna in cerrado/pantanal ecotone / Influência de adubos verdes sobre a macrofauna epiedáfica no ecótono cerrado/pantanal

The aim of this study was to determine the similarity between nine species of green manure regarding the occurrence of epiedaphic macrofauna. The experiment was conducted during the months of August 2014 to July 2015 at the Crop Science sector of the State University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Unit of Aquidauana. Treatmentes evaluated were: Canavalia ensiformes, Dolichos lablab, Mucuna pruriens, Mucuna aterrima, Crotalaria spectabilis, Crotalaria juncea, Crotalaria ochroleuca, Cajanus cajan, Cajanus cajan and two control (fallow area and native vegetation). Experimental design was completely randomized with two replications. Each plot consists of 10 lines with 4.5 m long. Epiedaphic macrofauna inhabiting the interphase between the vegetation cover and the soil surface was collected weekly by the Pitfall model. Individuals collected in all green manure species in the same month were added and subjected to cluster analysis. The months of September and October composed group 2 due to higher averages of epiedaphic macrofauna individuals. The month of July had the highest number of individuals from Isoptera order, composing the group 3. The month of November was in which was collected the greatest number of individuals from Hymenoptera order, which has allocated this month in group 4. The others months of the year formed the group 1, indicating that the region climatic conditions in this period do not affect significantly the distribution of epiedaphic macrofauna individuals.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar a similaridade entre nove espécies de adubo verde quanto à ocorrência de macrofauna epiedáfica. O experimento foi conduzido durante os meses de agosto de 2014 a julho de 2015 no setor de Fitotecnia da Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Unidade de Aquidauana. Os tratamentos avaliados foram: Canavalia ensiformes, Dolichos lablab, Mucuna pruriens, Mucuna aterrima, Crotalaria spectabilis, Crotalaria juncea, Crotalaria ochroleuca, Cajanus cajan, Cajanus cajan e duas testemunhas (área de pousio e mata nativa). O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, com duas repetições. Cada parcela foi composta por 10 linhas com 4,5 m de comprimento. A macrofauna epiedáfica, que habita na interfase entre a cobertura vegetal e a superfície do solo foi coletada semanalmente por meio de armadilhas modelo Pitfall (de queda). Os indivíduos coletados em todas as espécies de adubação verde no mesmo mês foram somados e submetidos à análise de agrupamento. Os meses de setembro e outubro compuseram o grupo 2 devido as maiores médias de indivíduos da macrofauna epiedáfica. O mês de julho obteve o maior número de indivíduos da ordem Isoptera, compondo o grupo 3. O mês de novembro foi no qual foi coletado o maior número de indivíduos da ordem Hymenoptera, o que alocou este mês no grupo 4. Os demais meses do ano formaram o grupo 1, o que indica que as condições climáticas da região neste período não afetam significativamente a distribuição dos indivíduos da macrofauna epiedáfica.

Jaburetox: update on a urease-derived peptide

Urease from Canavalia ensiformis seeds was the first enzyme ever to be crystallized, in 1926. These proteins, found in plants, bacteria and fungi, present different biological properties including catalytic hydrolysis of urea, and also enzyme-independent activities, such as induction of exocytosis, pro-inflammatory effects, neurotoxicity, antifungal and insecticidal properties. Urease is toxic to insects and fungi per se but part of this toxicity relies on an internal peptide (~11 kDa), which is released upon digestion of the protein by insect enzymes. A recombinant form of this peptide, called jaburetox (JBTX), was constructed using jburell gene as a template. The peptide exhibits liposome disruption properties, and insecticidal and fungicidal activities. Here we review the known biological properties activities of JBTX, and comment on new ones not yet fully characterized. JBTX was able to cause mortality of Aedes aegypti larvae in a feeding assay whereas in a dose as low as of 0.1 μg it provoked death of Triatoma infestans bugs. JBTX (10−5-10−6 M) inhibits the growth of E. coli, P. aeruginosa and B. cereus after 24 h incubation. Multilamellar liposomes interacting with JBTX undergo reorganization of the membrane's lipids as detected by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) studies. Encapsulating JBTX into lipid nanoparticles led to an increase of the peptide's antifungal activity. Transgenic tobacco and sugarcane plants expressing the insecticidal peptide JBTX, showed increased resistance to attack of the insect pests Spodoptera frugiperda, Diatraea saccharalis and Telchin licus licus. Many questions remain unanswered; however, so far, JBTX has shown to be a versatile peptide that can be used against various insect and fungus species, and in new bacterial control strategies.(AU)

Produtividade de vinagreira, pimenta rosa e carobinha cultivadas em sucessão a mucuna preta e feijão de porco / Productivity of roselle, Brazilian peppertree, and carobinha grown in succession to black velvet bean and jack bean

RESUMO O uso de adubos verdes e/ou de plantas de cobertura é uma técnica que vem sendo difundida para o cultivo de espécies medicinais, por garantir a sustentabilidade do solo agrícola, ser flexível em seu uso e por melhorar a atividade biológica do solo. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o uso de culturas de cobertura para incrementar a produção de massa de plantas de vinagreira, pimenta rosa e carobinha. Foram avaliadas duas espécies de leguminosas tropicais (mucuna preta e feijão de porco) como cobertura do solo e uma testemunha (sem cultura de cobertura) e três espécies medicinais (vinagreira, pimenta rosa e carobinha). O experimento foi arranjado em esquema de parcelas subdivididas, tendo nas parcelas as coberturas vegetais e nas subparcelas, as plantas medicinais. As plantas para a cobertura vegetal foram propagadas por semeadura direta no local de cultivo, enquanto as medicinais foram transplantadas diretamente entre a palhada da cobertura vegetal. A produção da mucuna preta foi de 8,37 t ha-1 de massa seca e do feijão de porco, de 14,37 t ha-1 de massa seca. O uso das culturas de cobertura contribuiu para uma maior biomassa microbiana do solo. As produções de massas frescas de folhas, caules e frutos de vinagreira e de frutos da pimenta rosa foram maiores quando cultivadas em sucessão às coberturas vegetais do solo, independente da espécie. As produções da carobinha foram semelhantes quando cultivadas em áreas com ou sem a cobertura. Visando à maior produtividade da vinagreira e pimenta rosa, são indicadas as culturas antecessoras feijão de porco e mucuna preta.

ABSTRACT The use of green manure and/or cover crops is a technique that has been widespread for the cultivation of medicinal species, since it ensures the sustainability of agricultural soil, is flexible in its use, and improves biological activity in the soil. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of cover crops to increase biomass production of roselle, Brazilian peppertree, and carobinha plants. Two species of tropical legumes (black velvet bean and jack bean) were evaluated as ground covers, and also assessed were one control plot (without cover crops) and three medicinal species (roselle, Brazilian peppertree, and carobinha). The experiment was arranged in a split-plot design, where the plots had cover crops and the subplots contained the medicinal plants. The plants for the cover crop were propagated by direct sowing in the growing site, while the medicinal ones were transplanted directly between the cover crop. The dry mass production of the velvet beans and jack beans were 8.37 t ha-1 and 14.37 t, respectively. The use of cover crops contributed to the increased microbial biomass of the soil. The production of dry mass of leaves, stems, and fruits of roselle and fruits of Brazilian peppertree were higher when grown in succession to the crop cover for the soil, regardless of the species. The production of carobinha was similar when grown in areas with or without the cover. To increase the yield of roselle and Brazilian peppertree, preceding crops of jack bean and black velvet bean are recommended.

Number of leaves needed to model leaf area in jack bean plants using leaf dimensions / Número de folhas para modelar a área foliar de feijão de porco por dimensões foliares

Leaf area estimation models based on linear leaf dimensions are an important method because their application is not destructive to the leaves. For these models to be reliable, it is important that the estimation of model parameters is accurate, and for that to occur, the models must be generated using an adequate sample size (number of leaves). The objective of this study was to determine the number of leaves necessary to accurately model the leaf area of jack beans (Y), determined by digital photos, according to the width of the central leaflet (x), by a power model (Y = axb) generated through an iterative process. Accordingly, an experiment was performed in a 256 m2 area. A total of 745 leaves were randomly collected at six different crop development stages (29, 43, 57, 73, 87 and 101 days after emergence). Each leaf was comprised of a left, central and right leaflet. The width of the central leaflet (x) was measured on the 745 leaves. Leaf area (sum of the area of the left, central and right leaflets; Y) was then determined using a digital photo method. The number of leaves necessary for the estimation of the parameters a and b and the coefficient of determination (R2) of the power model were determined through resampling with replacement. The power model (Y = 4.2049x1.8215, R2 = 0.9701), based on the width of the central leaflet was determined to be adequate for estimating jack bean leaf area. Data collected from a sample of 200 leaves were determined to be sufficient for constructing an accurate power model for the leaf area of jack beans (Y) as a function of the width of the central leaflet (x), based on determinations of leaf area using digital photos.

Modelos de estimação de área foliar de plantas em função das dimensões lineares das folhas são importantes, principalmente, por não haver necessidade de destruição das folhas. Para modelos fidedignos, é importante que as estimativas de seus parâmetros sejam precisas, e, para isso, devem ser gerados a partir de um número adequado de folhas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar o número de folhas necessário para modelar a área foliar de feijão de porco determinada por fotos digitais (Y) em função da largura do limbo do folíolo central da folha (x), por meio do modelo potência (Y = axb) gerado por processo iterativo. Para isso foi conduzido um experimento numa área de 256 m2, no qual, em seis períodos de desenvolvimento da cultura (29, 43, 57, 73, 87 e 101 dias após a emergência) foram coletadas, aleatoriamente, o total de 745 folhas. Cada folha é composta pelos folíolos esquerdo, central e direito. Nas 745 folhas foi mensurada a largura do limbo do folíolo central (x). A seguir, determinou-se a área foliar (soma da área dos folíolos esquerdo, central e direito) por meio do método de fotos digitais (Y). O número de folhas, necessário para a estimação dos parâmetros a e b do modelo potência e do coeficiente de determinação do modelo (R2), foi determinado por reamostragens, com reposição. Em feijão de porco, o modelo potência (Y = 4,2049x1,8215, R2 = 0,9701) da largura do limbo do folíolo central é adequado para estimar a área foliar obtida por fotos digitais. Mensurar 200 folhas é suficiente para construir modelos precisos do tipo potência, da área foliar de feijão de porco determinada por fotos digitais (Y) em função da largura do limbo do folíolo central da folha (x).

Analysis on the arcelin expression in bruchid pest resistant wild pulses using real time RT-qPCR.

Arcelin, the antimetabolic protein from wild pulses is a known natural insecticidal molecule. Wild pulses with high arcelin content could serve as potential source to increase the levels of insect resistance in cultivated pulse crops. In this study, arcelin (Arl) gene expression was screened in seven stored product insect pest resistant wild pulse varieties using real time RT-qPCR. Arcelin gene specific real time PCR primers were synthesized from arcelin mRNA sequence of the wild pulse variety, Lablab purpureus. The results revealed different levels of arcelin gene expression in the tested varieties. Canavalia virosa registered significantly high content indicating its suitability for utilization of arcelin gene in developing stored product insect pest resistance with other cultivated pulses.

Resposta do milho cultivado em sistema de plantio direto à aplicação de doses de nitrogênio e cultivo de plantas de cobertura em pré-safra / Response of corn grown in tillage system for the application of nitrogen doses in a sequence of plant cover

O uso de plantas de cobertura é capaz de produzir grandes quantidades de fitomassa, melhorando a ciclagem de nutrientes, em especial o nitrogênio, promovendo ganho de produtividade e economia de N-fertilizante. Diante disto, o objetivo foi avaliar o efeito do uso de doses de N-mineral associada às plantas de coberturas cultivadas na pré-safra no estado nutricional, acúmulo de nitrogênio e na produção de grãos da cultura do milho, em dois anos agrícolas. O experimento foi desenvolvido em um Latossolo Vermelho distrófico, com a cultura do milho em sistema de plantio direto. O delineamento experimental adotado foi em blocos ao acaso, em parcelas subdivididas, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos principais foram: seis sistemas de semeadura (crotalária, feijão-de-porco, lablabe, milheto, mucuna-preta e pousio); nos tratamentos secundários: quatro doses de nitrogênio (0, 60, 120 e 180 kg ha-1 de N). A produção de grãos de milho não foi afetada pelo tipo de cobertura em pré-safra, independente da dose de nitrogênio aplicada no solo. Ainda, o uso de adubação nitrogenada no solo promove ganhos de produtividade de grãos de milhos, no primeiro ano de cultivo, independente do tipo de cobertura em pré-safra. No primeiro ano (2006/2007) as espécies de cobertura que produziram mais fitomassa foram mucuna-preta, feijão-de-porco, crotalárea-júncea e lablabe, enquanto que no segundo ano (2007/08) foram a crotalárea-júncea, milheto, lablabe, feijão-de-porco e mucuna-preta, respectivamente.

The use of cover crops can produce large amounts of biomass, improving the cycling of nutrients, particularly nitrogen, promoting productivity gains and cost savings. Given this, the objective was to evaluate the use of Nrates associated to cover crops grown in pre-harvest nutritional status, nitrogen accumulation and corn yield in both years. The experiment was conducted in an Oxisol with maize, no-tillage system. The experimental design was a randomized block, split plot with four replications. The main treatments were: six cropping systems (sun hemp, jack bean, lablab, millet, and velvet bean fallow) in secondary treatments: four doses of nitrogen (0, 60, 120 and 180 kg ha-1 N). Corn yield was not affected by the type of coverage for pre-season, regardless of the nitrogen applied in the soil. Still, the use of nitrogen fertilizer in the soil promotes gains in grain yield in the first year of cultivation, regardless of the type of coverage in pre-season. In the first year (2006/2007) the species of coverage produced more biomass were velvet bean, jack bean, sun hemp and lablab, while in the second year (2007/08) were the sun hemp, millet, lablab, jack bean and velvet bean, respectively.

Plantas de cobertura e seus efeitos na cultura em sucessão / Cover crops and their effects on succession culture

As plantas de cobertura podem melhorar as condições físicas, químicas e biológicas do solo, com consequente aumento na produtividade da cultura em sucessão. Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar a produtividade de matéria fresca e seca de plantas de cobertura, em dois espaçamentos, a extração de nutrientes, e o potencial destas espécies vegetais, visando o controle da erosão e o fornecimento de nutrientes à cultura em sucessão. O estudo foi conduzido, em duas etapas, no Departamento de Agricultura da UFLA. A primeira etapa, consistiu da semeadura das plantas de cobertura, usando delineamento experimental de blocos casualizados, em esquema fatorial (4 x 2), com três blocos. O primeiro fator constituído de Canavalia ensiformes (L.) DC. (feijão-de-porco), Stizolobium deeringianum Bort (mucuna-rajada), Stizolobium aterrimum Piper et Tracy (mucuna-preta), e Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (sorgo), e o segundo pelos espaçamentos de 25 e 50 cm. As características avaliadas nesta etapa foram: índice de cobertura, matéria fresca e seca e acúmulo de nutrientes. A espécie Canavalia ensiformes apresentou a maior cobertura do solo em menor tempo no espaçamento de 25 cm e as leguminosas proporcionaram maior produção de fitomassa e acúmulo de nutrientes no espaçamento de 50 cm. A segunda etapa foi implantada sob a cobertura vegetal remanescente do cultivo anterior obtida na primeira etapa, com a inclusão do esquema fatorial com tratamento adicional, que foi a parcela com vegetação espontânea. Nesta etapa foram avaliadas: produtividade de espigas empalhadas e despalhadas, produtividade de espigas comerciais despalhadas, porcentagem de espigas comerciais, altura de planta da cultura do milho verde. O milho verde, quando cultivado nas parcelas com palhadas de leguminosas apresentou maior produtividade comparado com a palhada de sorgo.

Cover crops can improve the physical, chemical and biological soil, with consequent increase in productivity of the crop in succession. The objective of this work to estimate the productivity of fresh and dry plant cover, in two spaces, nutrient uptake, and the potential of these plant species in order to control erosion and providing nutrients to the crop in succession. The study was conducted in two phases, in the Department of Agriculture UFLA. The first phase consisted of the planting of cover plants, using the experimental design of randomized blocks in factorial scheme (4 x 2), with 3 replications. The first factor consists of Canavalia ensiformes (L.) DC. (Pig bean), Stizolobium deeringianum Bort (Mucuna-burst), Stizolobium aterrimum Piper et Tracy (mucuna-blast) and Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (sorghum), and the second by spacings of 25 and 50 cm. The characteristics evaluated in this phase were: coverage ratio, fresh and dry matter and nutrient accumulation. The species Canavalia ensiformes showed the highest soil cover in less time with spacing of 25 cm and legumes showed greater production of biomass and nutrient accumulation in the spacing of 50 cm. The second phase was implemented under the straw of the culture remaining from the previous first stage, with the inclusion of the factorial with additional treatment, which was the spontaneous vegetation. In this step were evaluated: yield of ears with husk and without husk, husked productivity of commercial ears, percentage of commercial ears, plant height of corn green. After the management of plant cover was sown green corn. The straw of legumes promoted greater productivity of green corn compared with the straw of sorghum.

Plantas de cobertura no controle da erosão hídrica sob chuvas naturais / Cover plants in water erosion control under natural rainfall

As plantas de cobertura desempenham um conjunto de ações integradas que proporcionam benefícios aos sistemas agrícolas, com destaque para a redução da erosão hídrica que é a principal forma de degradação dos solos brasileiros. Assim, objetivou-se com este trabalho quantificar as perdas de solo, água e o potencial de arraste de sedimentos decorrentes da erosão hídrica, sob chuva natural. Neste experimento foram utilizadas quatro espécies de plantas de cobertura em dois sistemas: consórcio milheto (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Brown) com crotalária (Crotalaria spectabilis Roth) e consórcio de milheto com feijão-guandu (Cajanus cajan (L.) Huth), além do cultivo solteiro do milheto, feijão-guandu, feijão-de-porco (Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC) e crotalária. Para a quantificação das perdas de solo, água e potencial de arraste de sedimentos do solo utilizaram-se parcelas de 4 x 12 m. Observou-se que os maiores índices de cobertura foram obtidos pelas espécies feijão-de-porco (77,63%), feijão-guandu (64,55%) e pelo consórcio milheto + feijão-guandu (64,11%). As menores perdas de solo foram obtidas pelo cultivo do feijão-guandu (1,27 Mg ha-1), do milheto (1,47 Mg ha-1) e do feijão-de-porco (1,77 Mg ha-1), e as menores perdas de água foram obtidas pelo cultivo do feijão-guandu (37,90 mm), do consórcio milheto + crotalária (40,04 mm) e pelo feijão-de-porco (41,83 mm). Não é possível inferir sobre uma relação entre os índices fitotécnicos e a proteção do solo contra a erosão hídrica.

Cover crops play a set of integrated actions that provide benefits to agricultural systems, with emphasis on reducing water erosion that is the main form of land degradation in Brazil. Thus the aim of this work was to quantify the losses of soil, water and the potential for entrainment of sediment resulting from water erosion under natural rainfall. In this experiment we used four species of cover crops in two systems: intercropping sunn hemp with millet and intercropping millet with pigeon pea, and the cropping to millet, pigeon pea, jack bean and sunn hemp. To quantify the losses of soil, water and the potential for entrainment of soil sediment were used plots of 4 x 12 m. It was observed that the highest rates of coverage were obtained by species jack bean (77.63%), pigeon pea (64.55%) and the consortium millet + pigeon pea (64.11%). The lowest soil loss was obtained by cultivation of pigeon pea (1.27 Mg ha-1), millet (1.47 Mg ha-1) and jack bean (1.77 Mg ha-1), and lowest water loss was obtained by cultivation of pigeon pea (37.90 mm), in the consortium millet + sunn hemp (40.04 mm) and jack bean (41.83 mm). It is not possible to infer a relationship between the rates phytotechnical and protection against soil erosion.

Purificación y determinación de carbohidratos en la vicilina de Canavalia ensiformis / Purification and carbohydrate determination of vicilin from Canavalia ensiformis

Este estudio reporta la purificación y determinación de carbohidratos en la vicilina de Canavalia ensiformis ( Jack bean). La vicilina se purificó por precipitación isoeléctrica a pH 6,4 y 4,8, cromatografía de intercambio iónico (DEAE -Sephadex A-50) y cromatografía de afinidad (Con A -Sepharosa 4B). La pureza de la proteína se verificó por SDS-PAGE y su identidad se confirmó por espectrometría de masas empleando la técnica de ionización MALDI (desorción-ionización con láser asistida por una matriz) en un espectrómetro de tiempo de vuelo (TOF) obteniéndose un espectro de masas característico de la proteína (PMF) (MALDI-TOF-PMF).La oxidación de residuos glicosídicos en la vicilina demostró la presencia de carbohidratos en la proteína, lo cual se corroboró por deglicosilación enzimática con Péptido N-glicosidasa F (PNGasa F) y por el método de Dubois, el cual mostró un contenido de carbohidratos del 4,03% en la proteína. Estos resultados muestran, por primera vez, la presencia de glicósidos en la vicilina de Canavalia ensiformis.El proceso de purificación de la vicilina de la semilla de Canavalia ensiformis, desarrollado en este trabajo, permitió obtener la proteína con un grado de pureza muy superior al descrito previamente en la literatura.

This study reports the purification and carbohydrate determination of vicilin from anavalia ensiformis (Jack bean). The vicilin was purified by isoelectric precipitation at pH 6.4 and 4.8, ion exchange chromatography (deae-Sephadex A-50) and affinity chromatography (Con A -Sepharosa 4B). Protein identity was confirmed by mass spectrometry (maldi-tof-pmf) (Matrix assisted laser desorption ionizationtime of flight-Peptide mass fingerprinting) and purification was confirmed by sdspage. Oxidation of glycosylated moiety in pure vicilin demonstrates the presence of carbohydrates in the protein. The presence of carbohydrates in the pure vicilin fraction was confirmed by enzymatic deglycosylation by Peptide N-glycosidase F (PNGasa F) and by Dubois’ method, finding a 4.03% carbohydrate content in such protein. These results demonstrate for the first time the presence of glycosides in C. ensiformis vicilin. The purification process of vicilin seed of Canavalia Ensiformis used in this study allowed us to obtain a protein with a high degree of purity, superior to the ones described in the literature.

Compostos nutricionais e fatores antinutricionais do feijão comum (Phaseolus vulgaris L. ) / Nutritional compoounds and antinutritional aspects of commom beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L. )

Leguminosa intensamente estudada na América Latina, o feijão comum Phaseolus vulgaris L. é a principal fonte de proteína e faz parte dos hábitos alimentares da população, sendo sua importância alimentícia, entre outros, devida ao menor custo de produção em relação à proteína animal. Embora o potencial de proteínas das leguminosas seja alto, elas podem conter fatores antinutricionais e outras substâncias nocivas à saúde, tais como inibidores das enzimas proteases, lectinas, antivitaminas, taninos, fatores de flatulência, alérgenos, fitatos e toxinas. Desta forma, o objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar uma revisão bibliográfica sobre a qualidade nutricional do feijão comum Phaseolus vulgaris L., mostrando a importância dos compostos nutricionais e de alguns fatores antinutricionais. Além das proteínas, o feijão é composto por carboidrato, sendo o amido o principal, e fibras alimentares, que possuem importantes fatores preventivos de algumas doenças. Os principais componentes antinutricionais são os polifenóis ou taninos, que se encontram no tegumento, as saponinas, os fitatos, a rafinose, as lectinas, que são tóxicas a aves e mamíferos, e os inibidores de proteases. Apesar do baixo aproveitamento nutricional e dos desconfortos físicos que pode causar sua ingestão, a grande importância que essa leguminosa tem na dieta dos latino-americanos demanda maior atenção dos pesquisadores, buscando otimizar essa importante fonte alimentar rica em proteína.

The common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris L., an intensely studied legume in Latin America, is its main protein source being part of the dietary habits of the population, and its nourishing importance, among others, is due to its low cost of production in relation to animal protein. Although the protein potential of the legumes is high, they may present antinutritional factors and other substances harmful to health, such as enzyme protease inhibitors, lectins, antivitamins, tannins, flatulence factors, allergenics, phytates, and toxins. Therefore, this paper reviews the literature on the nutritional quality of common beans, Phaseolus vulgaris L., showing the importance of nutritional compounds and some antinutritional factors. Besides protein, the bean is composed by carbohydrates; amide is the main one, and dietary fibers, which present important preventive factors for some illnesses. Polyphenols, or tannins, found in the tegument, saponins, phytates, raffinose, and lectins, which are toxic to birds and mammals, and the inhibitors of proteases, are the major antinutritional components. Despite of the low nutritional exploitation and physical discomforts that its ingestion may cause, the great importance this legume has for the Latin American diet demands a great deal of attention by the researchers in order to optimize such important dietary source of protein.

Ureases display biological effects independent of enzymatic activity: Is there a connection to diseases caused by urease-producing bacteria?

Ureases are enzymes from plants, fungi and bacteria that catalyze the hydrolysis of urea to form ammonia and carbon dioxide. While fungal and plant ureases are homo-oligomers of 90-kDa subunits, bacterial ureases are multimers of two or three subunit complexes. We showed that some isoforms of jack bean urease, canatoxin and the classical urease, bind to glycoconjugates and induce platelet aggregation. Canatoxin also promotes release of histamine from mast cells, insulin from pancreatic cells and neurotransmitters from brain synaptosomes. In vivo it induces rat paw edema and neutrophil chemotaxis. These effects are independent of ureolytic activity and require activation of eicosanoid metabolism and calcium channels. Helicobacter pylori, a Gram-negative bacterium that colonizes the human stomach mucosa, causes gastric ulcers and cancer by a mechanism that is not understood. H. pylori produces factors that damage gastric epithelial cells, such as the vacuolating cytotoxin VacA, the cytotoxin-associated protein CagA, and a urease (up to 10 percent of bacterial protein) that neutralizes the acidic medium permitting its survival in the stomach. H. pylori whole cells or extracts of its water-soluble proteins promote inflammation, activate neutrophils and induce the release of cytokines. In this paper we review data from the literature suggesting that H. pylori urease displays many of the biological activities observed for jack bean ureases and show that bacterial ureases have a secretagogue effect modulated by eicosanoid metabolites through lipoxygenase pathways. These findings could be relevant to the elucidation of the role of urease in the pathogenesis of the gastrointestinal disease caused by H. pylori.

Establishment of a heterologous system for the expression of Canavalia brasiliensis lectin: a model for the study of protein splicing

During its biosynthesis in developing Canavalia brasiliensis seeds, the lectin ConBr undergoes a form of protein splicing in which the order of the N- and C-domains of the protein is reversed. To investigate whether these events can occur in other eukaryotic organisms, an expression system based on Pichia pastoris cells was established. A DNA fragment encoding prepro-ConBr was cloned into the vector pPICZB, and the recombinant plasmid was transformed in P. pastoris strain GS115. Ten clones were screened for effective recombinant protein production. Based on Western blot analysis of the two clones with the highest level of protein expression: 1) diffuse high-molecular mass immunoreactive bands were produced as early as 24 h after induction; 2) a single-, high-molecular mass protein was secreted into the medium, and 3) a significant fraction of the recombinant polypeptides that cross-reacted with anti-ConBr antibodies comprised a band of approximately 34.5 kDa. Diffuse protein bands with high molecular masses are attributed to hyperglycosylation at the single potential N-glycosylation site located in the linker peptide of prepro-ConBr. In contrast, native ConBr is made up of three polypeptides, the intact alpha chain (aa 1-237) and the fragments beta (aa 1-118) and gamma (aa 119-237), which have apparent molecular masses of 30, 16 and 12 kDa, respectively. Apparently, the yeast P. pastoris is not able to carry out all the complex post-translational proteolytic processing necessary for the biosynthesis of ConBr.

Efecto de la extrusión sobre la actividad de factores antinutricionales y digestibilidad in vitro de proteínas y almidón en harinas de Canavalia ensiformis / Effect of extrusion on the activity of anti-nutritional factors and in vitro digestibility of protein and starch in flours of Canavalia ensiformis

The effect of the extrusion (155 degrees C, 20 per cent moisture, screw speed 75 rpm, feed speed 205 g min-1) on antinutritional factors of Canavalia ensiformis was studied. In vitro protein and starch digestibilities were assessed. The extrusion not affect protein content (23 per cent) in the flours, but significantly (P < 0.01) decrease moisture content. The protein digestibility values were improved from 57.5 to 89.5 per cent, these values were lower than casein (98.19 per cent). The digestibility of starch values were improved from 37.7 to 53 per cent. The protease inhibitors activities (trypsin and chymotrypsin) and alpha-amylase inhibitor activity were reduced by 95 per cent. The haemagglutinating activity was eliminated as result of the high temperature employed during the extrusion process. The canavanine content in the flours were not affect by the treatment of extrusion.