Hibiscus acetosella: An Unconventional Alternative Edible Flower Rich in Bioactive Compounds.

The interest in the consumption of edible flowers has increased since they represent a rich source of bioactive compounds, which are significantly beneficial to human health. The objective of this research was to access the bioactive compounds and antioxidant and cytotoxic properties of unconventional alternative edible flowers of Hibiscus acetosella Welw. Ex Hiern. The edible flowers presented pH value of 2.8 ± 0.00, soluble solids content of 3.4 ± 0.0 °Brix, high moisture content of about 91.8 ± 0.3%, carbohydrates (6.9 ± 1.2%), lipids (0.90 ± 0.17%), ashes (0.4 ± 0.0%), and not detectable protein. The evaluation of the scavenging activity of free radicals, such as 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), of the flower extract was better than the results observed for other edible flowers (507.8 ± 2.7 µM TE and 783.9 ± 30.8 µM TE, respectively) as well as the total phenolic composition (TPC) value (568.8 ± 0.8 mg GAE/g). These flowers are rich in organic acids and phenolic compounds, mainly myricetin, and quercetin derivatives, kaempferol, and anthocyanins. The extract showed no cytotoxicity for the cell lineages used, suggesting that the extract has no directly harmful effects to cells. The important bioactive compound identified in this study makes this flower especially relevant in the healthy food area due to its nutraceutical potential without showing cytotoxicity.

Microencapsulation by spray chilling in the food industry: Opportunities, challenges, and innovations.

Background: The increasing demand for healthy eating habits and the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in a health crisis and global economic slowdown, has led to the consumption of functional and practical foods. Bioactive ingredients can be an alternative for healthy food choices; however, most functional compounds are sensitive to the adverse conditions of processing and digestive tract, impairing its use in food matrices, and industrial-scale applications. Microencapsulation by spray chilling can be a viable alternative to reduce these barriers in food processing. Scope and approach: This review discusses the use of spray chilling technique for microencapsulation of bioactive food ingredients. Although this technology is known in the pharmaceutical industry, it has been little exploited in the food sector. General aspects of spray chilling, the process parameters, advantages, and disadvantages are addressed. The feasibility and stability of encapsulated bioactive ingredients in food matrices and the bioavailability in vitro of solid lipid microparticles produced by spray chilling are also discussed. Main findings and conclusions: Research on the microencapsulation of bioactive ingredients by spray chilling for use in foods has shown the effectiveness of this technique to encapsulate bioactive compounds for application in food matrices. Solid microparticles produced by spray chilling can improve the stability and bioavailability of bioactive ingredients. However, further studies are required, including the use of lipid-based encapsulating agents, process parameters, and novel formulations for application in food, beverages, and packaging, as well as in vivo studies to prove the effectiveness of the formulations.

Encapsulation of Bromelain in Combined Sodium Alginate and Amino Acid Carriers: Experimental Design of Simplex-Centroid Mixtures for Digestibility Evaluation.

Bromelain has potential as an analgesic, an anti-inflammatory, and in cancer treatments. Despite its therapeutic effects, this protein undergoes denaturation when administered orally. Microencapsulation processes have shown potential in protein protection and as controlled release systems. Thus, this paper aimed to develop encapsulating systems using sodium alginate as a carrier material and positively charged amino acids as stabilizing agents for the controlled release of bromelain in in vitro tests. The systems were produced from the experimental design of centroid simplex mixtures. Characterizations were performed by FTIR showing that bromelain was encapsulated in all systems. XRD analyses showed that the systems are semi-crystalline solids and through SEM analysis the morphology of the formed systems followed a pattern of rough microparticles. The application of statistical analysis showed that the systems presented behavior that can be evaluated by quadratic and special cubic models, with a p-value < 0.05. The interaction between amino acids and bromelain/alginate was evaluated, and free bromelain showed a reduction of 74.0% in protein content and 23.6% in enzymatic activity at the end of gastric digestion. Furthermore, a reduction of 91.6% of protein content and 65.9% of enzymatic activity was observed at the end of intestinal digestion. The Lis system showed better interaction due to the increased stability of bromelain in terms of the amount of proteins (above 63% until the end of the intestinal phase) and the enzymatic activity of 89.3%. Thus, this study proposes the development of pH-controlled release systems aiming at increasing the stability and bioavailability of bromelain in intestinal systems.

Poly(o-methoxyaniline) Chain Degradation Based on a Heat Treatment (HT) Process: Combined Experimental and Theoretical Evaluation.

Poly(o-methoxyaniline) emeraldine-salt form (ES-POMA) was chemically synthesized using hydrochloric acid and subjected to a heat treatment (HT) process for 1 h at 100 °C (TT100) and 200 °C (TT200). The HT process promoted a progressive decrease in crystallinity. The Le Bail method revealed a decomposition from tetrameric to trimeric-folded chains after the HT process. The unheated POMA-ES presented a globular vesicular morphology with varied micrometric sizes. The heat treatment promoted a reduction in these globular structures, increasing the non-crystalline phase. The boundary length (S) and connectivity/Euler feature (χ) parameters were calculated from the SEM images, revealing that ES-POMA presented a wide distribution of heights. The TT100 and TT200 presented a narrow boundary distribution, suggesting smoother surfaces with smaller height variations. The UV-VIS analysis revealed that the transition at 343 nm (nonlocal π → π*) was more intense in the TT200 due to the electronic delocalization, which resulted from the reduced polymer chain caused by the HT process. In addition to the loss of conjugation, counter ion withdrawal reduced the ion-chain interaction, decreasing the local electron density. This result shows the influence of the chlorine counter ions on the peaks position related to the HOMO → LUMO transition, since the π → polaron transition occurs due to the creation of the energy states due to the presence of counter ions. Finally, the electrical conductivity decreased after the HT process from 1.4 × 10-4 S.cm-1 to 2.4 × 10-6 S.cm-1 as result of the polymer deprotonation/degradation. Thus, this paper proposed a systematic evaluation of the POMA molecular structure and crystallite size and shape after heat treatment.

Head-to-Tail and Head-to-Head Molecular Chains of Poly(p-Anisidine): Combined Experimental and Theoretical Evaluation.

Poly(p-anisidine) (PPA) is a polyaniline derivative presenting a methoxy (-OCH3) group at the para position of the phenyl ring. Considering the important role of conjugated polymers in novel technological applications, a systematic, combined experimental and theoretical investigation was performed to obtain more insight into the crystallization process of PPA. Conventional oxidative polymerization of p-anisidine monomer was based on a central composite rotational design (CCRD). The effects of the concentration of the monomer, ammonium persulfate (APS), and HCl on the percentage of crystallinity were considered. Several experimental techniques such as X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), multifractal analysis, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (13C NMR), Fourier-transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and complex impedance spectroscopy analysis, in addition to Density Functional Theory (DFT), were employed to perform a systematic investigation of PPA. The experimental treatments resulted in different crystal structures with a percentage of crystallinity ranging from (29.2 ± 0.6)% (PPA1HT) to (55.1 ± 0.2)% (PPA16HT-HH). A broad halo in the PPA16HT-HH pattern from 2θ = 10.0-30.0° suggested a reduced crystallinity. Needle and globular-particle morphologies were observed in both samples; the needle morphology might have been related to the crystalline contribution. A multifractal analysis showed that the PPA surface became more complex when the crystallinity was reduced. The proposed molecular structures of PPA were supported by the high-resolution 13C NMR results, allowing us to access the percentage of head-to-tail (HT) and head-to-head (HH) molecular structures. When comparing the calculated and experimental FTIR spectra, the most pronounced changes were observed in ν(C-H), ν(N-H), ν(C-O), and ν(C-N-C) due to the influence of counterions on the polymer backbone as well as the different mechanisms of polymerization. Finally, a significant difference in the electrical conductivity was observed in the range of 1.00 × 10-9 S.cm-1 and 3.90 × 10-14 S.cm-1, respectively, for PPA1HT and PPA16HT-HH.

PANI-WO3·2H2O Nanocomposite: Phase Interaction and Evaluation of Electronic Properties by Combined Experimental Techniques and Ab-Initio Calculation.

The development of conjugated polymer-based nanocomposites by adding metallic particles into the polymerization medium allows the proposition of novel materials presenting improved electrical and optical properties. Polyaniline Emeraldine-salt form (ES-PANI) has been extensively studied due to its controllable electrical conductivity and oxidation states. On the other hand, tungsten oxide (WO3) and its di-hydrated phases, such as WO3·2H2O, have been reported as important materials in photocatalysis and sensors. Herein, the WO3·2H2O phase was directly obtained during the in-situ polymerization of aniline hydrochloride from metallic tungsten (W), allowing the formation of hybrid nanocomposites based on its full oxidation into WO3·2H2O. The developed ES-PANI-WO3·2H2O nanocomposites were successfully characterized using experimental techniques combined with Density Functional Theory (DFT). The formation of WO3·2H2O was clearly verified after two hours of synthesis (PW2 nanocomposite), allowing the confirmation of purely physical interaction between matrix and reinforcement. As a result, increased electrical conductivity was verified in the PW2 nanocomposite: the DFT calculations revealed a charge transfer from the p-orbitals of the polymeric phase to the d-orbitals of the oxide phase, resulting in higher conductivity when compared to the pure ES-PANI.

Use of prebiotic carbohydrate as wall material on lime essential oil microparticles.

The aim of this work was to study the use of different prebiotic biopolymers in lime essential oil microencapsulation. Whey protein isolate, inulin and oligofructose biopolymers were used. The addition of prebiotic biopolymers reduced emulsion viscosity, although it produced larger droplet sizes (0.31-0.32 µm). Moisture values (2.94-3.13 g/100 g dry solids) and water activity (0.152-0.185) were satisfactory, being within the appropriate range for powdered food quality. Total oil content, limonene retention values and antioxidant activity of the microparticles containing essential oil decreased in the presence of the carbohydrates. The addition of prebiotic biopolymers reduced the microparticle thermal stability. X-ray diffraction confirmed the amorphous characteristic of the microparticles and the interaction of the essential oil with the wall material. The presence of prebiotic biopolymers can be a good alternative for lime essential oil microparticles, mainly using fibre that has a functional food appeal and can improve consumer health.

Development of cassava starch-based films incorporated with phenolic compounds produced by an Amazonian fungus.

Drug-release systems have attracted attention over the last few years since they can be used as a substitute for traditional methods of drug delivery. These have the advantage of being directly administered at the treatment site and can maintain the drug at adequate levels for a longer period, thus increasing their efficacy. Starch-based films are interesting candidates for use as matrices for drug release, especially due to starch's non-toxic properties and its biocompatibility. Endophytic fungi are an important source of bioactive molecules, including secondary metabolites such as phenolic compounds with antioxidant activity. In the present study, cassava starch-based films were developed to act as release systems of phenolic compounds with antioxidant activity. The Amazonian endophytic fungus Aspergillus niger MgF2 was cultivated in liquid media, and the fungal extract was obtained by liquid-liquid partition with ethyl acetate. The starch-based films incorporated with the fungal extract were characterized in regards to their physicochemical properties. The release kinetics of the extract from the film and its antioxidant and cytotoxic properties were also evaluated. The films incorporated with the extract presented maximum release after 25 min at 37 °C and pH 6.8. In addition, it was observed that the antioxidant compounds of the fungal extract maintain their activity after being released from the film, and were non-toxic. Therefore, considering the promising physicochemical properties of the extract-incorporated films, and their considerable antioxidant capacity, the films demonstrate great biotechnological potential with diverse applications in the pharmacological and cosmetic industries.

Virus adsorbent systems based on Amazon holocellulose and nanomaterials.

The environment preservation has been an important motivation to find alternative, functional, and biodegradable materials to replace polluting petrochemicals. The production of nonbiodegradable face masks increased the concentration of microplastics in the environment, highlighting the need for sustainable alternatives, such as the use of local by-products to create efficient and eco-friendly filtering materials. Furthermore, the use of smart materials can reduce the risk of contagion and virus transmission, especially in the face of possible mutations. The development of novel materials is necessary to ensure less risk of contagion and virus transmission, as well as to preserve the environment. Taking these factors into account, 16 systems were developed with different combinations of precursor materials (holocellulose, polyaniline [ES-PANI], graphene oxide [GO], silver nanoparticles [AgNPs], and activated carbon [AC]). Adsorption tests of the spike protein showed that the systems containing GO and AC were the most efficient in the adsorption process. Similarly, plate tests conducted using the VSV-IN strain cultured in HepG2 cells showed that the system containing all phases showed the greatest reduction in viral titer method. In agreement, the biocompatibility tests showed that the compounds extracted from the systems showed low cytotoxicity or no significant cytotoxic effect in human fibroblasts. As a result, the adsorption tests of the spike protein, viral titration, and biocompatibility tests showed that systems labeled as I and J were the most efficient. In this context, the present research has significantly contributed to the technological development of antiviral systems, with improved properties and increased adsorption efficiency, reducing the viral titer and contributing efficiently to public health. In this way, these alternative materials could be employed in sensors and devices for filtering and sanitization, thus assisting in mitigating the transmission of viruses and bacteria. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Sixteen virus adsorbent systems were developed with different combinations of precursor materials (holocellulose, polyaniline (ES-PANI), graphene oxide (GO), silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), and activated carbon (AC)). The system that included all of the nanocomposites holocellulose, PANI, GO, AgNPs, and AC showed the greatest reduction in viral titration. The biocompatibility tests revealed that all systems caused only mild or moderate cytotoxicity toward human fibroblasts.

Passion fruit (Passiflora spp.) pulp: A review on bioactive properties, health benefits and technological potential.

The Passiflora genus (Passifloraceae family) extends worldwide, but it is mainly found in the Americas. The present review aimed to select the main reports published over the last 5 years involving the chemical composition, health benefits, and products obtained from the pulps of Passifora spp. The pulps of at least 10 species of Passiflora have been studied presenting different classes of organic compounds, especially phenolic acids, and polyphenols. The main bioactivity properties include antioxidant and in vitro α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzyme inhibition. These reports highlight the potential of Passiflora for the development of a variety of products, especially fermented and non-fermented beverages, as well as foods to attend a demand for non-dairy products. In general, these products are prominent source of probiotic bacteria resistant to in vitro gastrointestinal simulation, representing an alternative for intestinal microbiota regulation. Therefore, sensory analysis is encouraging herein, as well as in vivo tests to enable the development of high value pharmaceuticals and food products. The patents confirm the great interest in research and products development in different food technology areas, as well as in biotechnology, pharmacy, and materials engineering.

Pouteria spp. fruits: Health benefits of bioactive compounds and their potential for the food industry.

The Sapotaceae family encompasses the genus Pouteria spp., comprising approximately 1,250 species of fruits cherished by consumers for their delightful assortment and flavors. Over the years, extensive research has been devoted to exploring the natural bioactive compounds present in these fruits, with the primary goal of preventing and/or mitigating the risk of degenerative diseases. Despite their widespread popularity in numerous countries, the chemistry, nutritional content, and biological potential of these fruits remain relatively unexplored. This comprehensive review aims to shed light on the principal volatile and non-volatile chemical components found in Pouteria fruits, which present notable antioxidant properties. By doing so, a broad perspective on the current trends in characterizing these compounds and their potential applications were provided, as well as the associated health benefits. Additionally, the prospects and potential applications of Pouteria fruits in the food industry were explored herein.

Synbiotic Sapota-do-Solimões (Quararibea cordata Vischer) Juice Improves Gut Microbiota and Short-Chain Fatty Acid Production in an In Vitro Model.

Sapota-do-Solimões (Quararibea cordata Vischer) is Amazon South América fruit found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. The orange-yellow fruit is usually eaten out of hand or as juice. Despite being a source of carotenoids and dietary fibers (pectin) that can reach the colon and act as an energy source for intestinal microbiota, the fruit is rarely known outside of South America. The symbiotic juice was prepared by fermenting the fruit juice with Lacticaseibacillus casei B-442 and adding prebiotic fructooligosaccharides (FOS, 7% w/v). This study evaluated the functional juice immediately after L. casei fermentation (SSJ0) and after 30 days of cold storage (SSJ30) regarding its effect on human colonic microbiota composition after in vitro fermentation. Fecal samples were collected from two healthy female volunteers, and the 16s rRNA gene sequencing analyzed the fecal microbiota composition. In vitro, colonic fermentation was performed using a batch bioreactor to simulate gastrointestinal conditions. The L. casei viability did not change significantly after 30 days of the synbiotic juice cold storage (4 °C). After the colonic fermentation, the relative abundance of Firmicutes decreased while Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria increased. Regarding short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production by fecal colonic microbiota, the butyric acid was higher after sample SSJ0 fecal fermentation. In contrast, propionic, isobutyric, and acetic acids were higher after SSJ30 sample fecal fermentation. This study contributes to understanding the interactions between specific foods and the gut microbiota, which can affect human health and well-being.

Microstructured lipid microparticles containing anthocyanins: Production, characterization, storage, and resistance to the gastrointestinal tract.

Anthocyanins from grape peel extract have several biological properties and can act as a natural colorant and antioxidant agent. However, these compounds are susceptible to degradation by light, oxygen, temperature, and the gastrointestinal tract. Thus, this study produced microstructured lipid microparticles (MLMs) containing anthocyanins by the spray chilling technique and evaluated the particle stability. trans-free fully hydrogenated palm oil (FHPO) and palm oil (PO) were used as encapsulating materials in the ratios 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, 60:40, and 50:50, respectively. The concentration of grape peel extract was 40 % (w/w) in relation to the encapsulating materials. The microparticles were evaluated for thermal behavior by DSC, polymorphism, FTIR, size distribution and particle diameter, bulk density, tapped density, flow properties, morphology, phenolic compounds content, antioxidant capacity, and retention of anthocyanins. Furthermore, the storage stability of the microparticles was investigated at different temperatures (-18, 4, and 25 °C), and the anthocyanins retention capacity, kinetic parameters (half-life time and degradation constant rate), total color difference, and visual aspects were evaluated during 90 days of storage. The resistance of MLMs to the gastrointestinal tract was also evaluated. In general, higher FHPO concentrations increased the thermal resistance of the MLMs and both showed defined peaks of ß' and ß forms. The FTIR analysis showed that the MLMs preserved the original forms of their constituent materials even after atomization, with interactions between them. The increase in the PO concentration directly affected the increased mean particle diameter, agglomeration, and cohesiveness, as well as lower bulk density, tapped density, and flowability. The retention of anthocyanins in MLMs ranged from 81.5 to 61.3 % and was influenced by the particle size, with a better result observed for the treatment MLM_90:10. The same behavior was observed for the phenolic compounds content (1443.1-1247.2 mg GAE/100 g) and antioxidant capacity (1739.8-1660.6 mg TEAC/100 g). During the storage, MLMs made with FHPO to PO ratios of 80:20, 70:30, and 60:40 showed the highest stability for anthocyanin retention and color changes at the three temperatures (- 18 °C, 4 °C, and 25 °C). The gastrointestinal simulation in vitro revealed that all treatments were resistant to gastric phase and maintained a maximum and controlled release in the intestinal phase, demonstrating that FHPO together with PO are effective to protect anthocyanins during gastric digestion, and can improve the bioavailability of this compound in the human organism. Thus, the spray chilling technique may be a promising alternative for the production of anthocyanins-loaded microstructured lipid microparticles with functional properties for various technological applications.

Starch as a Matrix for Incorporation and Release of Bioactive Compounds: Fundamentals and Applications.

Due to its abundance in nature and low cost, starch is one of the most relevant raw materials for replacing synthetic polymers in a number of applications. It is generally regarded as non-toxic, biocompatible, and biodegradable and, therefore, a safe option for biomedical, food, and packaging applications. In this review, we focused on studies that report the use of starch as a matrix for stabilization, incorporation, or release of bioactive compounds, and explore a wide range of applications of starch-based materials. One of the key application areas for bioactive compounds incorporated in starch matrices is the pharmaceutical industry, especially in orally disintegrating films. The packaging industry has also shown great interest in using starch films, especially those with antioxidant activity. Regarding food technology, starch can be used as a stabilizer in nanoemulsions, thus allowing the incorporation of bioactive compounds in a variety of food types. Starch also presents potential in the cosmetic industry as a delivery system. However, there are still several types of industry that could benefit from the incorporation of starch matrices with bioactive compounds, which are described in this review. In addition, the use of microbial bioactive compounds in starch matrices represents an almost unexplored field still to be investigated.

Effect of polyvinyl alcohol and carboxymethylcellulose on the technological properties of fish gelatin films.

The objective of this work was to develop biodegradable films by mixing gelatin/carboxymethylcellulose (FG/CMC) and gelatin/polyvinyl alcohol (FG/PVOH) and to evaluate the effect of adding these polymers on the properties of fish gelatin films. The films FG/CMC and FG/PVOH were produced in the proportions 90/10, 80/20 and 70/30 and characterized their physical, chemical and functional properties. The addition of CMC and PVOH improved the mechanical strength, barrier property and water solubility of gelatin films. FG/CMC films showed greater tensile strength and greater solubility than FG/PVOH. The maximum concentration of CMC promoted the highest mechanical resistance, while the highest PVOH content produced the film with the lowest solubility. The proposed mixing systems proved to be adequate to improve the properties of fish gelatin films, with potential for application in the packaging sector.

Ficus spp. fruits: Bioactive compounds and chemical, biological and pharmacological properties.

The aim of this review was to compile the main reports over the last 5 years concerning the Ficus spp. fruits (Moraceae family) based on chemistry, properties, and applications as products. About 30 Ficus spp. fruits were reported focusing on their chemical composition rich in phenolic acids such as gallic, caffeic and chlorogenic acids, as well as quercetin and cyanidin derivatives. The fruits from Moraceae family presented mainly antioxidant and antimicrobial properties in addition to other functional properties to consumers health. Therefore, these fruits can be successfully considered by the food industry for the development of new products with high added value and also be considered a source of bioactive compounds.

Pulsatile Controlled Release and Stability Evaluation of Polymeric Particles Containing Piper nigrum Essential Oil and Preservatives.

Considerable efforts have been spent on environmentally friendly particles for the encapsulation of essential oils. Polymeric particles were developed to encapsulate the essential oil from Piper nigrum based on gelatin and poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) carriers. Gas Chromatography ((Flame Ionization Detection (GC/FID) and Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS)), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA), Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM), Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-VIS) spectroscopy were used for the full colloidal system characterization. The essential oil was mainly composed of ß-caryophyllene (~35%). The stability of the encapsulated systems was evaluated by Encapsulation Efficiency (EE%), electrical conductivity, turbidity, pH, and organoleptic properties (color and odor) after adding different preservatives. The mixture of phenoxyethanol/isotialzoni-3-one (PNE system) resulted in enhanced stability of approximately 120 and 210 days under constant handling and shelf-life tests, respectively. The developed polymeric system presented a similar controlled release in acidic, neutral, or basic pH, and the release curves suggested a pulsatile release mechanism due to a complexation of essential oil in the PCL matrix. Our results showed that the developed system has potential as an alternative stable product and as a controlling agent, due to the pronounced bioactivity of the encapsulated essential oil.

Alternative Controlling Agent of Theobroma grandiflorum Pests: Nanoscale Surface and Fractal Analysis of Gelatin/PCL Loaded Particles Containing Lippia origanoides Essential Oil.

A new systematic structural study was performed using the Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) reporting statistical parameters of polymeric particles based on gelatin and poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) containing essential oil from Lippia origanoides. The developed biocides are efficient alternative controlling agents of Conotrachelus humeropictus and Moniliophtora perniciosa, the main pests of Theobroma grandiflorum. Our results showed that the particles morphology can be successfully controlled by advanced stereometric parameters, pointing to an appropriate concentration of encapsulated essential oil according to the particle surface characteristics. For this reason, the absolute concentration of 1000 µg·mL-1 (P1000 system) was encapsulated, resulting in the most suitable surface microtexture, allowing a faster and more efficient essential oil release. Loaded particles presented zeta potential around (-54.3 ± 2.3) mV at pH = 8, and particle size distribution ranging from 113 to 442 nm. The hydrodynamic diameter of 90% of the particle population was found to be up to (405 ± 31) nm in the P1000 system. The essential oil release was evaluated up to 80 h, with maximum release concentrations of 63% and 95% for P500 and P1000, respectively. The best fit for the release profiles was obtained using the Korsmeyer-Peppas mathematical model. Loaded particles resulted in 100% mortality of C. humeropictus up to 48 h. The antifungal tests against M. perniciosa resulted in a minimum inhibitory concentration of 250 µg·mL-1, and the P1000 system produced growth inhibition up to 7 days. The developed system has potential as alternative controlling agent, due to its physical stability, particle surface microtexture, as well as pronounced bioactivity of the encapsulated essential oil.

Biodefensive Based on Piper nigrum Essential Oil for Controlling of Anopheles aquasalis Larvae: Influence of Temperature (35 °C) and Preservatives.

Considerable efforts have been spent on the development of biodefensives based on the encapsulation of essential oils for controlling of urban pests from their larval stage, especially as anopheline controlling agents. The larval source management of Anopheles aquasalis is important for malaria prevention. For this reason, this research proposes larvicidal biodefensives based on polymeric particles loaded with Piper nigrum essential oil, considering the influence of temperature (35 °C) and preservatives on the formulation stability. The biodefensive containing the preservative phenoxyethanol/methylisothiazolinone (PNE) resulted in 5 months of shelf-life storage with an Encapsulation Efficiency (EE%) of essential oil of 70%. The biodefensive PNE (containing 500 µg.mL-1 of encapsulated essential oil) presented a polydisperse particle size distribution, ranging from D10 = (127 ± 10) nm to D90 = (472 ± 78) nm and a particle mean size of (236 ± 34) nm. The AFM images revealed a spherical morphology with an external surface almost regular and smooth. The controlled release of the essential oil was evaluated up to 72 h according to the Korsmeyer-Peppas mathematical model, confirming the anomalous transport (n = 0.64 in pH = 3 and pH = 10, and n = 0.65 in pH = 7). The total larvae mortality on the in loco bioassays was almost reached (92%) after 24 h. However, according to the in vitro bioassays applying the in natura essential oil alone, the concentration of 454 µg.mL-1 resulted on the mortality of 70% of the larvae after 24 h. For this reason, the highest efficiency of the biodefensive PNE may be related to the encapsulation of essential oil, delivering the loaded particles more efficiently inside the larvae. From this perspective, the present study shows that a formulation based on P. nigrum essential oil may be taken into account in the integrated management of disease vector mosquitoes.

Edible flowers from Theobroma speciosum: Aqueous extract rich in antioxidant compounds.

Theobroma speciosum, known as "cacauí" in Brazil, is considered a prominent unconventional food plant. The objective of this work was to evaluate the chemical profiles, antioxidant capacity and minerals of the aqueous extract and fractions from its flowers. The identified compounds were sugars, organic acids and phenolics compounds such as citric, malic and protocatechuic acids, quercetin, quercetin pentoside and quercetin-3-O-glucoside. The extract was rich in phenolic compounds (640 mg GAE g-1). Furthermore, fractions also presented phenolic compounds from 170.7 to 560.7 mg GAE g-1 (mainly protocatechuic acid, quercetin and derivatives), which influenced on the high antioxidant capacity in DPPH, ABTS, FRAP and co-oxidation ß-carotene/linolenic acid assays. Flowers presented potassium (115 ± 2 µg mL-1), magnesium (18.4 ± 0.2 µg mL-1), phosphorus (7.0 ± 0.0 µg mL-1) and calcium (3.1 ± 0.1 µg mL-1). Moreover, the flowers aqueous extract represents a new promising food source rich in antioxidant compounds.