Neurotoxicity of Dietary Supplements from Annonaceae Species.

Dietary supplements containing plant materials of Annonaceae species (Annona muricata L., A. squamosa L., A. mucosa JACQ., A. squamosa × cherimola Mabb.) were extracted by hot, pressurized ethyl acetate and analyzed for their effect in vitro on Lund human mesencephalic neurons. Cell viability was measured by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, and cell death was determined by lactate dehydrogenase levels. Three supplements strongly decreased the cell viability at extract concentrations of 1 µg/mL, of which 1 decreased cell viability at 0.1 µg/µL. Also, strong neuronal toxicities of these supplements were found. Cell death was observed at concentrations of 10 µg/mL. The degree of toxicity was comparable to the ones found in Annonaceous fruit extracts. Two fruit pulps of Annonaceae (A. muricata and A. squamosa) showed a reduction in cell viability at lower concentrations. The fruit pulp extract of A. muricata revealed the strongest neurotoxic effect, with 67% cell death at a concentration of 1 µg/mL. A high reduction in cell viability coupled with pronounced cell death was found at 0.1 µg/mL for an Annonaceous seed extract. These results demonstrate that the intake of dietary supplements containing plant material from Annonaceae may be hazardous to health in terms of neurotoxicity.

Qualidade do melão 'Orange Flesh' minimamente processadoarmazenado sob atmosfera modificada / Quality of the fresh cut 'Orange Flesh' melon stored under modified atmosphere

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito da atmosfera modificada na qualidade do melão‘OrangeFlesh’minimamente processado. Os cubos de melões foram sanificados com 100 mg L-1 de hipoclorito desódio por um minuto, lavados, drenados e embalados com diferentes concentrações de O2 e CO2 emsacos plásticos de polietileno (Nylon Poli). Foram avaliados a cada dois dias durante dez dias quanto afirmeza, pectina total, pectina solúvel e atividade da polifenoloxidase e peroxidase. Ao final do períodode conservação, os produtos vegetais com modificação da atmosfera mantiveram a textura mais firme ea concentração de 5%O2 + 3% CO2 apresentaram menor teor de pectina total e juntamente com aconcentração de 100% N2 o menor teor de pectina solúvel e não apresentaram atividades depolifenoloxidase e peroxidase.

This work aimed at evaluate the effect of the fresh cut ‘Orange Flesh’ melon stored under modified atmosphere. The cubes of melons were sanitizationed with 100 mg L-1 of hypoclorite of sodium for one minute, washed, drained and wrapped with different concentrations of O2 and CO2 in plastic bags of polyethylene (Nylon Polished). They were appraised every other day for ten days as regards the firmness, total pectin, soluble pectin and activity of the polifenoloxidase and peroxidase. At the end of the conservation period, it was verified that melons sustained the firmest texture of the vegetable products under modified atmosphere, and the concentration of 5%O2 + 3% CO2 showed smaller content of total pectin and together with the concentration of 100% N2 the smallest content of soluble pectin, the polifenoloxidase activity was not verified as well as of the peroxidase.