Bioaccessibility and oral immunization efficacy of a chimeric protein vaccine against Ascaris suum.

Human ascariasis has been characterized as the most prevalent neglected tropical disease worldwide. There is an urgent need for search to alternative prevention and control methods for ascariasis. Here we aimed to establish a protocol of oral immunization with a previously described chimera protein capable of resist through digestion and induce mucous protection against Ascaris suum infection. Mice were oral immunized with seven doses with one day interval and challenged with A. suum ten days after the last dose. In vitro digestion showed that 64% of chimeric protein was bioaccessible for absorption after digestion. Immunized mice display 66,2% reduction of larval burden in lungs compared to control group. In conclusion we demonstrated that oral immunization with chimera protein protects the host against A. suum larval migration leading to less pronounced histopathological lesions.

Proliferative Effect of Food Plant Species from Brazil's Cerrado on Cultured Fibroblasts.

Brazilian Cerrado is the second largest biome in South America and contains many unstudied valuable plant species rich in bioactive substances. In this study we investigated the phenolic content and proliferative effects on cultured fibroblasts of 32 extracts of different polarities prepared from 11 plants found in Cerrado regions. Eight extracts from six species increased cell proliferation and significantly induced ATP production by the cells. Four of these extracts were obtained from plants used as food, specifically from its fruits or seeds. A high phenolic content for these eight extracts, which directly correlated with the induction of cell proliferation, was corroborated by mass spectrometry analysis. We suggest that the bioactive substance content of these species shows an interesting potential use in cosmetic and food industry, which can contribute to the conservation and sustainable development of this region.

Influence of cultivar and germination on bioactive amines in soybeans (Glycine max L. Merril).

The levels of amines in soybeans as affected by cultivar in two consecutive years and by germination were investigated. Spermidine, spermine, putrescine, agmatine, and cadaverine were detected, whereas tyramine, histamine, tryptamine, serotonine, and phenylethylamine were not. Spermidine was the predominant amine followed by spermine. High concentrations of these amines confirmed soybean as a rich source. Cadaverine was confirmed to be inherent to soybean. The percent contribution of spermidine and spermine to total levels was not affected by cultivar in either years. However, amine levels were affected by cultivars in different ways in the consecutive years. Cadaverine was affected more by the cultivar, whereas spermidine, spermine, and agmatine were affected by harvest year. During germination the levels of amines from soybean increased significantly, except for agmatine. Spermidine and spermine accumulated in the cotyledon, whereas cadaverine and putrescine accumulated in the radicle and hypocotyl.

Spectrophotometric determination of urea in sugar cane distilled spirits.

Urea is an important precursor in the formation of ethyl carbamate, a known carcinogen in alcoholic beverages. Ethyl carbamate has recently been detected at high concentrations in sugar cane distilled spirits, but little is known about the concentration of urea in these beverages. The objectives of this study were to validate methodology for the determination of urea in sugar cane distilled spirits, to determine the levels in 68 samples from different regions within the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, and to examine the relationship between the concentrations of urea and ethyl carbamate. The method, based on the reaction of urea with 1-phenyl-1,2-propanodione-2-oxime and spectrophotometric quantification at 540 nm, provided linear response from 0.5 to 15.0 mg/L. No purification of the sample was required. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.1 and 0.5 mg/L, respectively. Urea was detected in 69% of the samples at levels varying from 0.50 to 5.10 mg/L. There was no significant difference on the levels of urea in samples from different regions of the state. No significant correlation between the levels of urea and ethyl carbamate was observed for the samples analyzed.

Starch levels in refrigerated and frozen chiken based meat products

Os teores de amido foram determinados em produtos a base de frango comercializados em Belo Horizonte , MG, no período de dezembro de 1996 a março de 1997. As amostras foram analisadas quanto aos teores de umidade e amido. O amido foi submetido a hidrolise ácida e a glicose resultante foi determinada a 620nm após reaçäo com antrona. O método apresentou exatidäo (92,7 por cento de recuperaçä), precisäo (CV=3,0 por cento), sensibilidade (limite de quantificaçäo-1,25G/100) e simplicidade na determinaçäo de amido em produtos cárneos. Dentre os produtos analisados, amido foi detectado em 100 por cento das amostras de almôndega e empanado, 60 por cento de linguiça, 50 por cento das de mortadela e 30 por cento de salsicha. Amido näo foi detectado nas amostras de hambúrguer analisadas. Teores médios mais elevados de amido foram encontrados em empanado (14,85 g/100g) seguido de almôndegas (4,45 g/100g), linguiça (1,73 g/100g), mortadela (1,14 g/100g) e salsicha (0,57 g/100g). O teor médio de umidade variou de 35,68 em linguiça a 46,24g/100 g em empanado. Todas as amostras de mortadela e 90 por cento das de salsicha atenderam a legislaçäo vigente quanto aos teores de amido. Foi observada variaçäo nos teores de amido entre produtos de diferentes marcas e de uma mesma marca