Evaluation of the Chemical Profile and Antioxidant Capacity of Green, Brown, and Dark Propolis.

The chemical composition of propolis varies between different types, due to the specific vegetation found near the hives and the climatic and soil conditions worldwide. Green propolis is exclusive to Brazil, produced by bees, with the resin of the plant Baccharis dracunculifolia. Brown propolis is a specific variety produced mainly in Northeast Brazil from the plant Hyptis divaricata, also known as "maria miraculosa". Dark propolis is a variety of propolis produced by bees from the resin of the plant known as Jurema Preta (Mimosa hostilis benth). In this study, the aqueous extracts of green, brown, and dark propolis were analyzed for their antioxidant capacity using ABTS, FRAP, and DPPH, and their chemical profiles were determined using paper spray mass spectrometry. Among the three extracts, green propolis had the highest content of total phenolic compounds (2741.71 ± 49.53 mg GAE. 100 g-1), followed by brown propolis (1191.55 ± 36.79 mg GAE. 100 g-1), and dark propolis had the lowest content (901.79 ± 27.80 mg GAE. 100 g-1). The three types of propolis showed high antioxidant capacity, with green showing the highest antioxidant capacity for the three methods used. Using paper spray mass spectrometry, it was possible to suggest the presence of 116 substances, including flavonoids (56), phenylpropanoids (30), terpenes (25), carboxylic acids (1), benzoic acid derivatives (1), fatty acids (1), amino acids (1) and alkaloids (1). The compounds in the green, brown, and dark propolis extracts reinforce the bioactive potential for application in these tree extracts' food and pharmaceutical products.

An Integrative Review on the Main Flavonoids Found in Some Species of the Myrtaceae Family: Phytochemical Characterization, Health Benefits and Development of Products.

This integrative review aims to identify the main flavonoids present in some species of the Myrtaceae family. Studies published between 2016 and 2022 were selected, specifically those which were fully available and written in Portuguese, English, or Spanish, and which were related to the fruits araçá (Psidium cattleianum), cambuí (Myrciaria floribunda), gabiroba (Campomanesia xanthocarpa), jabuticaba (Plinia cauliflora), and jambolan (Syzygium cumini). Scientific studies were gathered and selected in Google Scholar, Scielo, and Science Direct indexed databases, out of which 14 were about araçá, 7 concerned cambuí, 4 were about gabiroba, 29 were related to jabuticaba, and 33 concerned jambolan, when we observed the pre-established inclusion criteria. Results showed that the anthocyanins, such as cyanidin, petunidin, malvidin, and delphinidin, were the mostly identified class of flavonoids in plants of the Myrtaceae family, mainly relating to the purple/reddish color of the evaluated fruits. Other compounds, such as catechin, epicatechin, quercetin, and rutin were also identified in different constituent fractions, such as leaves, peel, pulp, seeds, and in developed products, such as jams, desserts, wines, teas, and other beverages. It is also worth noting the positive health effects verified in these studies, such as anti-inflammatory qualities for jambolan, antidiabetic qualities for gabiroba, antioxidant qualities for araçá, and cardioprotective actions for jabuticaba, which are related to the presence of these phytochemicals. Therefore, it is possible to point out that flavonoids are important compounds in the chemical constitution of the studied plants of the Myrtaceae family, with promising potential in the development of new products by the food, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries due to their bioactive properties.

Fracionamento da dieta e o perfil nutricional e de saúde de mulheres / Women's meal frequency and nutritional and health profiles

[{"text": "OBJETIVO: Verificar a associação entre o fracionamento da dieta e o perfil nutricional e de saúde de mulheres de um Serviço de Promoção da Saúde. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal com usuárias de uma Academia da Cidade de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais entre agosto de 2009 e dezembro de 2011. Investigaram-se condição sociodemográfica e econômica, perfil de saúde, antro-pometria e hábitos alimentares. O fracionamento dietético foi obtido pelo número diário de refeições autor-referido, sendo classificado como adequado quando >5. Realizou-se regressão de Poisson com variância robusta ao nível de significância de 5% (p<0,05). RESULTADOS: Avaliaram-se 342 usuárias, 72,5% adultas, 50,6 (±13,7) anos, com renda per capita de R$500,00 (85,0; 4.666,7). Constatou-se mediana de 4 (1,0; 7,0) refeições ao dia e 52,0% de fracionamento inadequado da dieta, que foi mais frequente entre as mulheres que referiram hipertensão arterial (RP: 0,71; IC95%: 0,56; 0,90; p=0,005) e constipação intestinal (RP: 0,77; IC95%: 0,61; 0,98; p=0,040). Esse hábito também teve maior ocorrência naquelas que apresentaram inadequação para ingestão de água (RP: 0,74; IC95%: 0,59; 0,93; p=0,009) e de açúcar (RP: 0,79; IC95%: 0,63; 0,98). Apresentar consumo inadequado de frutas (RP: 0,79; IC95%: 0,63; 0,98; p=0,036) e de hortaliças (RP: 0,74; IC95%: 0,59; 0,94; p=0,012) e preferência por leite integral (RP: 0,72; IC95%: 0,57; 0,89; p=0,003) também se associou diretamente ao fracionamento inadequado da dieta. CONCLUSÃO: O insuficiente número diário de refeições se associou a um pior perfil nutricional e de saúde, denotando a importância da intervenção nutricional nesse aspecto. .", "_i": "pt"}, {"text": "OBJECTIVE: To verify whether meal frequency is associated with the nutritional and health profiles of women attending a health-promoting service. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included users of an Academia da Cidade in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais from August 2009 to December 2011. The following were collected: socioeconomic, demographic, health profile, anthropometric, and dietary data. Meal frequency was given by the self-reported number of daily meals and considered appropriate when >5. Poisson regression with a robust variance was performed with a significance level of 5% (p<0.05). RESULTS: The sample consisted of 342 females with a mean age of 50.6±13.7 years and a per capita income of R$ 500.0 (85.0; 4,666.7); 72.5% were adults. They had a median of 4 (1.0; 7.0) meals per day and 52.0% had fewer than five meals a day. Inadequate meal frequency was associated with high blood pressure (PR: 0.71; 95%CI: 0.56, 0.90; p=0.005) and constipation (PR: 0.77; 95%CI: 0.61, 0.98; p=0.040); inappropriate intakes of water (PR: 0.74; 95%CI: 0.59, 0.93; p=0.009), sugar (PR: 0.79; 95%CI: 0.63, 0.98; p=0,036), fruits (PR: 0.79; 95%CI: 0.63, 0.98; p=0.036), and non-starchy vegetables (PR: 0.74; 95%CI: 0.59, 0.94; p=0.012); and preference for whole milk (PR: 0.72; 95%CI: 0.57, 0.89; p=0.003). CONCLUSION: Inadequate daily meal frequency was associated with worse nutritional and health profiles, highlighting the importance of pertinent nutrition intervention. .", "_i": "en"}]