ABSTRACT
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 80% of people rely on medicinal plants for their primary health needs. Traditional medicine's principal benefits are their vast population knowledge, low severe adverse effects rate, low cost, and the lack of a medical prescription to use them. While obesity has become a global health issue, an increase in finding cheap and fast ways to lose weight escalates medicinal herbs' use for this purpose, both in dietary supplements or in teas. At the same time that Brazil aims to expand traditional medicine, reports regarding toxicology and poisoning put natural products' safety in check. Plants can accumulate heavy metals and metalloids leading to health risks; however, there is a lack of information on that matter, possibly due to a lack of international standardization regarding elemental contamination - this study aimed to determine metal and metalloid concentrations in slimming medicinal plants and their respective teas and evaluate their safety consumption. Metal and metalloid content were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES). All plants and teas were within the set limits for tolerable upper intake level (UL), provisional tolerable daily maximum intake (PTDMI), and provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI). The hazard quotient index (HQ) was above 1 for almost all plants, and the Hibiscus sabdariffa tea regarding aluminum content. The arsenic level was above the Brazilian Pharmacopeia limit in natura plants demonstrating risk in their consumption. Some herbs also presented detection for elements with no safety limits set, such as lead, cadmium, and arsenic, which could mark as a red flag for consumption once their security intake is not precise yet.
Subject(s)
Arsenic , Metals, Heavy , Plants, Medicinal , Arsenic/analysis , Arsenic/toxicity , Cadmium/analysis , Food Contamination/analysis , Humans , Medicine, Traditional , Metals, Heavy/analysis , Metals, Heavy/toxicity , Risk AssessmentABSTRACT
The inflorescence of Musa paradisiaca, known as "banana heart" is a structure that includes flowers and bracts of banana, commonly used as food source worldwide. The aims of this study were (1) to determine the mineral components of Musa paradisiaca and (2) to compare the obtained results with previously reported data of Recommendation Dietary Allowances (RDAs) and edible plant permissible limits set by FAO/WHO. The samples were digested using microwave-assisted equipment, while elemental contents were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP OES). Metal (Mg, Ca, Cr, Ni, Cu, Fe, and Zn) and nonmetal (S and P) contents were detected. According to RDA, the inflorescences could be excellent sources of Mg, P, Cr, Cu, Zn, and Fe for females, males, and pregnant women, all age 31-50 y, as well as children (4-8 y). Bracts are good source of Zn for male and pregnant women and good source of Fe for children. All the samples contained considerable amounts of Mg, Ca, P, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Fe, which were quite low to induce deleterious effects (UL). FAO/WHO limits for edible plants have not yet been established for S, P, Mg, and Ca, but Ni and Zn are below of those limit values. However, Cr and Cu concentrations are higher than the values established for edible plants and may pose a threat to human health. Farmers should be encouraged by government agencies, not only for sustainability of production but also to ensure the storage and trade of banana tree inflorescence.
Subject(s)
Inflorescence/chemistry , Micronutrients/analysis , Musa/chemistry , Nutrients/analysis , Recommended Dietary Allowances , Spectrophotometry, Atomic/methods , Female , Humans , Male , Trees/chemistryABSTRACT
Dersani® and sunflower® oils are used by the Brazilian population as a cicatrizing agent. However, data on physical and chemical properties of these oils are scarce. In this data article on oils, we determined a total of 14 fatty acids composition by gas chromatography (GC), as well as quantifying the elements contents (Ca, K, Mg, Al, Cr, Fe, Mn, Na, P, Se and Zn) using inductively coupled plasma optical spectrometry (ICP OES). Rancimat method was used to determine the oxidative stability of the oils at temperature of 110 °C, in which the induction times for Dersani® and Sunflower® oils were 1.54 (±0.02) and 6.21 (±0.17) hours, respectively. Spectroscopic techniques UV-VIS and fluorescence were employed to obtain spectral datasets. UV-VIS and fluorescence spectroscopy reveals the presence of phenolic, tocopherols, tocotrienols and methyl-linolenate compounds in the oils. The determination of mineral and others contents in oils is an important criterion for the assessment of oil quality with regard to oxidation and their toxicity, properties and storage.
ABSTRACT
The study of the breeding system of Anadenanthera peregrina (L.) Speg. and Vochysia haenkiana (Spreng.) Mart. was the main purpose of this work. It was also studied fruit maturation, seed dispersal and seed germination to characterize the reproductive system of these two species. Field work was carried out in a fragment of cerrado forest from Chapada dos Guimarães-MT (15(0)10'S, 55(0)35' W), with an altitude of 450m. Date analyses followed the randomized block design, with. six treatments for Vochysia haenkiana and five treatments for Anadenanthera peregrina, each treatment replicated three individuals. Both species showed a breeding system preferably xenogamic (cross-pollination), but fruit production by autogamy suggests a gradual increase of genetic self-compatibility as a strategy for maintenance of progeny presence in fragmented forest environment. The degree of genetic self-incompatibility demonstrated by Anadenanthera peregrina is favoured by its dicogamy patterns that promotes cross-pollination. Fruit maturation and seed dispersal pattern, were different for each species, and were observed during or at the end of the dry season, making seed dispersal of anemocoric propagules more effective. Germination was fast and observed in a high percentage of seeds from both species.
O presente estudo objetivou avaliar o sistema reprodutivo das espécies Anadenanthera peregrina (L.) Speg. e Vochysia haenkiana (Spreng.) Mart. Foram estudados aspectos do sistema de cruzamento, complementados pelas observações de maturação dos frutos e a germinação das sementes em função dos tipos de cruzamentos testados. As síndromes de dispersão das sementes foram também avaliadas através das características morfológicas dos frutos e sementes. O estudo foi realizado em um fragmento de cerrado com aproximadamente 32 ha, no município de Chapada dos Guimarães, MT, a 15(0)10' S, 55(0)35' W, e à altitude de 450m. O delineamento experimental utilizado na determinação do sistema de cruzamento para cada espécie foi o de blocos ao acaso, com seis tratamentos para a espécie Vochysia haenkiana e cinco tratamentos para Anadenanthera peregrina, ambas com três repetições. O sistema de cruzamento detectado para as duas espécies foi o preferencialmente alogâmico, porém, com a possibilidade, não desprezível, de produção de frutos/sementes por autofertilização, sugerindo um aumento gradual de autocompatibilidade genética como estratégia de geração de descendência no ambiente florestal fragmentado. A polinização cruzada em Anadenanthera peregrina é favorecida tanto pelo alto grau de auto-incompatibilidade genética quanto pela protandria detectada. O padrão de maturação dos frutos e sementes e o período de dispersão das sementes foram distintos em ambas as espécies, ocorrendo, entretanto, durante ou no final da estação seca, facilitando a distribuição dos propágulos anemocóricos. A germinação em ambas as espécies foi rápida e em alta percentagem.
ABSTRACT
The study of the breeding system of Anadenanthera peregrina (L.) Speg. and Vochysia haenkiana (Spreng.) Mart. was the main purpose of this work. It was also studied fruit maturation, seed dispersal and seed germination to characterize the reproductive system of these two species. Field work was carried out in a fragment of cerrado forest from Chapada dos Guimarães-MT (15(0)10'S, 55(0)35' W), with an altitude of 450m. Date analyses followed the randomized block design, with. six treatments for Vochysia haenkiana and five treatments for Anadenanthera peregrina, each treatment replicated three individuals. Both species showed a breeding system preferably xenogamic (cross-pollination), but fruit production by autogamy suggests a gradual increase of genetic self-compatibility as a strategy for maintenance of progeny presence in fragmented forest environment. The degree of genetic self-incompatibility demonstrated by Anadenanthera peregrina is favoured by its dicogamy patterns that promotes cross-pollination. Fruit maturation and seed dispersal pattern, were different for each species, and were observed during or at the end of the dry season, making seed dispersal of anemocoric propagules more effective. Germination was fast and observed in a high percentage of seeds from both species.
O presente estudo objetivou avaliar o sistema reprodutivo das espécies Anadenanthera peregrina (L.) Speg. e Vochysia haenkiana (Spreng.) Mart. Foram estudados aspectos do sistema de cruzamento, complementados pelas observações de maturação dos frutos e a germinação das sementes em função dos tipos de cruzamentos testados. As síndromes de dispersão das sementes foram também avaliadas através das características morfológicas dos frutos e sementes. O estudo foi realizado em um fragmento de cerrado com aproximadamente 32 ha, no município de Chapada dos Guimarães, MT, a 15(0)10' S, 55(0)35' W, e à altitude de 450m. O delineamento experimental utilizado na determinação do sistema de cruzamento para cada espécie foi o de blocos ao acaso, com seis tratamentos para a espécie Vochysia haenkiana e cinco tratamentos para Anadenanthera peregrina, ambas com três repetições. O sistema de cruzamento detectado para as duas espécies foi o preferencialmente alogâmico, porém, com a possibilidade, não desprezível, de produção de frutos/sementes por autofertilização, sugerindo um aumento gradual de autocompatibilidade genética como estratégia de geração de descendência no ambiente florestal fragmentado. A polinização cruzada em Anadenanthera peregrina é favorecida tanto pelo alto grau de auto-incompatibilidade genética quanto pela protandria detectada. O padrão de maturação dos frutos e sementes e o período de dispersão das sementes foram distintos em ambas as espécies, ocorrendo, entretanto, durante ou no final da estação seca, facilitando a distribuição dos propágulos anemocóricos. A germinação em ambas as espécies foi rápida e em alta percentagem.