Wild Amaranthus caudatus seed oil, a nutraceutical resource from Ecuadorian flora.

Seed oil of wild Amaranthus caudatus from Ecuador was analyzed for determining the tocopherol, fatty acid, and sterol contents. The data obtained were compared with the analogous chemical profile of seed oil of Italian A. caudatus with the objective of evaluating the nutraceutical and alimentary potential of the Ecuadorian matrix. Supercritical fluid and ultrasound-enhanced extractions were performed on both matrices. Qualitative and quantitative determinations of tocopherols were performed by HPLC, whereas GC and GC-MS were used to determine the fatty acid composition and sterols, respectively. Supercritical fluid extraction at 400 atm was the most efficient extraction method in terms of both total yield extract and tocopherol yield. Seeds of Ecuadorian of A. caudatus contained higher levels of tocopherols than Italian samples, whereas the fatty acid composition and sterol content were similar. From the obtained results it can be suggested that seed oil of wild Ecuadorian A. caudatus can prove to be an effective nutraceutical and alimentary resource and a valid alternative to the European varieties.

Lipid composition of wild ecuadorian Theobroma subincanum Mart. seeds and comparison with two varieties of Theobroma cacao L.

The present work analyzes the lipid fraction from seeds of wild Ecuadorian Theobroma subincanum and selected commercial varieties of Theobroma cacao from Mexico (var. Criollo) and Ecuador (var. Arriba). The lipid fraction was obtained from the seeds through supercritical fluid extraction and analysis performed by preparatory thin-layer chromatography followed by gas chromatography. The results revealed that in T. subincanum the triglycerides contain fatty acids with longer chains. The melting point and peroxide and saponifiable numbers were determined for each Theobroma sample. The results lead to the conclusion that T. subincanum would produce a poorer quality butter than T. cacao. Nevertheless, the results do point toward a significant commercial use of T. subincanum for low-profile products.

Apheresis: the Italian experience / Aférese: a experiência italiana

The Italian experience is a long one, beginning with granulocyte collection in the late Bruni R. months of 1972 and progressively expanding to new application and new techniques, many of which Italian in origin and diffusion. This is true for sequestration, multiple Carlier P. component collection, ascitapheresis, dy-platelet collection, but is also true for the new application of known techniques such as cascade, filtration for disorders such as acute Guillain Barr Syndrome, KT, Cyclosporin induced or secondary hypertriglericeridemia, lepromotous vasculitis leptospirosis, hyperacute kidney rejection, autoimmune pure redcell aplasia and many other disorders treated by plasma exchange for the first time in Italy and in general terms in Italy this intermediate level of complexity techniques have found a wide if not enthusiastic acceptance. Twenty-four years later the general appreciation and interest have not modified their impact onto transfusion medicine and Italy continues to be among the leaders also because of the presence in the country of a couple of industries of international excellence involved in apheresis and/or related fields. The presence of Italy in apheresis was marked by the first international Society (ESFH, European Society for Hemapheresis) set up in 1982, with its first meeting organized in Florence the following year and the one of 2001 that will be held in Italy. The Italian presence in apheresis is also marked by the large Italian participation in the international meetings, frequently as invited speakers and chairmen. Furthermore, many well recognized investigators got their training in Italy and Italy is proud of their achievements.

A experiência italiana em aféreses é antiga e teve início nos últimos meses de 1972 e progressivamente se expandiu com novas aplicações e novas técnicas, muitas delas de origem italiana. Isto é real para sequestração, coleção multipla de componentes, citaféreses e coleção de plaquetas, mas também é verdade que novas aplicações como na sindrome de Guillain-Barré, PTT, hipertrigliceridemia secundária a ciclosporina, vasculite lepromatosa, leptospirose, rejeição renal aguda.