Sensory and physicochemical evaluation of low-fat chicken mortadella with added native and modified starches.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of adding different starches (native and modified) on the physicochemical, sensory, structural and microbiological characteristics of low-fat chicken mortadella. Two formulations containing native cassava and regular corn starch, coded CASS (5.0 % of cassava starch) and CORN (5.0 % of regular corn starch), and one formulation produced with physically treated starch coded as MOD1 (2.5 % of Novation 2300) and chemically modified starch coded as MOD2 (2.5 % of Thermtex) were studied. The following tests were performed: physicochemical characterization (moisture, ash, protein, starch and lipid contents, and water activity); cooling, freezing and reheating losses; texture (texture profile test); color coordinates (L*, a*, b*, C and h); microbiological evaluation; sensory evaluation (multiple comparison and preference test); and histological evaluation (light microscopy). There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) for ash, protein, cooling loss, cohesiveness or in the preference test for the tested samples. The other evaluated parameters showed significant differences (p < 0.05). Histological study allowed for a qualitative evaluation between the physical properties of the food and its microscopic structure. The best results were obtained for formulation MOD2 (2.5 % Thermtex). The addition of modified starch resulted in a better performance than the native starch in relation to the evaluated technological parameters, mainly in relation to reheating losses, which demonstrated the good interaction between the modified starch in the structure of the product and the possibility of the application of this type of starch in other types of functional meat products.

Antioxidant and genotoxic properties of Maytenus dasyclada: a comparative study in relation to Maytenus reference species.

In these work the in vitro antioxidant activity and the in vivo genotoxicity of M. dasyclada was compared to the reference species M. aquifolium and M. ilicifolia. M. dasyclada showed in vitro antioxidant activity comparable to M. aquifolium but lower than M. ilicifolia, being that a inverse Pearson correlation between DPPH IC50 values and total phenolic content was detected (-0.932). The carbonyl content of M. dasyclada and M. aquifolium extracts promoted a similar increase in protein oxidation in vivo, while M. ilicifolia no altered the carbonyl levels. The comet assay demonstrated that the three analyzed species promoted a low and similar level of genotoxicity; which is compatible with DNA damage induced by other medicinal plants and is partially recovered by a co-treatment with vitamin C. The data showed M. dasyclada as antioxidant activity in vitro, and that its genotoxic and pro-oxidant effects in vivo are comparable to the Maytenus reference species.

Insecticidal and repellent activity of the essential oil of Cinnamomum camphora var. linaloolifera Y. Fujita (Ho-Sho) and Cinnamomum camphora (L. ) J Presl. var. hosyo (Hon-Sho) on Sitophilus zeamaisMots. (Coleoptera, Curculionedae) / Atividade inseticida e repelente do óleo essencial de Cinnamomum camphora var. linalooliferaY. Fujita (Ho-Sho) e Cinnamomum camphora (L. ) J Presl. var. hosyo (Hon-Sho) sobre Sitophilus zeamais Mots. (Coleoptera, Curculionedae).

ABSTRACT: The aim of this work was to evaluate the insecticidal and repellency activity of the essential oil of Cinnamomum camphora var. linaloolifera Y. Fujita (Ho-Sho) and Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J Presl.var. hosyo (Hon-Sho), against the Sitophilus zeamais in maize grains. The essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-MS.The insecticidal activity was determined by the toxicity of different concentrations of essential oils during 24 hours of contact with the insects, in the absence of feed substrate. The Bioassays of repellency were conducted with lethal doses (LD50,LD25,and LD12.5) obtained from insecticidal bioassay. In order to compare the treatments the preference index (PI) was employed. The analysis of the essential oils of Cinnamomum camphora leaves indicated 68% of camphor and 9% of linalool for the variation Hon-Sho and 95% of linalool to the variation Ho-Sho. The variation Ho-Sho presented greatest insecticidal activity than the variation Hon-Sho against the Sitophilus zeamais, with LD50 of 0.35 µL/cm2, whereas in the variation Hon-Sho the ratewas 0.48 µL/cm2. However, considering only the concentrations of linalool and camphor of Ho-Sho and Hon-Sho, the lethal doses' evaluation of these compounds were similar. The values of the preference index ranged from -0.3 to -0.8 for thevariation Ho-Sho and -0.2 to -0.7 for the variation Hon-Sho. The essential oils evaluated in this work showed repellent activity against Sitophiluszeamais in vitro and in trials performed in mini-silos

RESUMO: Atividade inseticida e repelente do óleo essencial de Cinnamomum camphora var. linaloolifera Y. Fujita (Ho-Sho) e Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J Presl. var. hosyo (Hon-Sho) sobre Sitophilus zeamais Mots. (Coleoptera, Curculionedae). O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a atividade inseticida e de repelência dos óleos essenciais de Cinnamomum camphora var. linaloolifera Y. Fujita (Ho-Sho) e Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J Presl. var. hosyo (Hon-Sho) contra Sitophilus zeamais em grãos de milho. Os óleos essenciais foram obtidos por hidrodestilação e analisados por CG-EM. A atividade inseticida foi determinada pela toxicidade de diferentes concentrações dos óleos essenciais durante 24 horas de contato com os insetos, na ausência de substrato alimentar. Os bioensaios de repelência foram realizados com as doses letais (DL50, DL25, e DL12,5) obtidas do bioensaio inseticida. Para comparar os tratamentos foi utilizado o índice de preferência (PI). A análise de óleos essenciais de folhas de Cinnamomum camphora indicou a presença de 68% de cânfora e 9% de linalol na var. Hon-Sho e de 95% de linalol na var. Ho-Sho. A var. Ho-Sho apresentou maior toxicidade que var. Hon-Sho contra Sitophilus zeamais, com DL50 de 0,35 µL/cm2,enquanto que na var. Hon-Sho foi de 0,48 µL/cm2. No entanto, considerando apenas as concentrações de linalol e cânfora de Ho-Sho e Hon-Sho, a avaliação das doses letais destes compostos foram semelhantes. Os valores do índice de preferência variaram de -0,3 a -0,8 para a var. Ho-Sho e -0,2 para -0,7 para a var. Hon-Sho. Os óleos essenciais avaliados neste trabalho apresentaram atividade repelente contra Sitophilus zeamais in vitro e em experimentos realizados em mini-silos

Essential oil of Cinnamodendron dinisii Schwanke for the control of Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) / Óleo essencial de Cinnamodendron dinisii Schwanke para controle de Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

ABSTRACT The use of natural compounds is a less aggressive alternative for the control of insects in stored grains, in relation to synthetic chemical agents. Plants with insecticidal properties can be used as a source of these compounds to the direct application in pest control. In this work, the essential oil of Cinnamodendron dinisii was chemically characterized and tested regarding its insecticidal and repellent effect on the control of Sitophilus zeamais in stored grains. The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The insecticidal potential was evaluated through the maintenance of the insects during 24 hours in contact with several doses of the oil, in the absence of feed substrate. The Bioassays of repellency were conducted with lethal doses (LD5, LD25, LD50 and LD95) obtained from insecticidal bioassay. In order to compare the treatments, the preference index (PI) was used. The essential oil of C. dinisii had insecticidal activity against S. zeamais, causing a linear and crescent mortality with LD of 0.04, 0.17, 0.34 and 0.63 µL/cm2, respectively. The repellency ranged from 55.4% to 85.2%, using the LD values previously mentioned. The DL5 was neutral regarding repellence (PI index -0,09), but from DL25 on, the PI index was between -0.1 and -1.0, indicating repellence activity.

RESUMO O uso de compostos naturais é uma alternativa menos agressiva para o controle de insetos em grãos armazenados em relação aos agentes químicos sintéticos. Plantas com propriedades inseticidas podem ser usadas como fonte destes compostos para a aplicação direta no controle de pragas. No presente trabalho, o óleo essencial de Cinnamodendron dinisii foi caracterizado quimicamente e testado em relação ao seu efeito repelente inseticida no controle de Sitophilus zeamais em grãos armazenados. O óleo essencial foi obtido por hidrodestilação e analisado por cromatografia gasosa-espectrometria de massa (GC-MS). O potencial inseticida foi avaliado pela manutenção dos insetos durante 24 horas em contato com várias doses de óleo, na ausência de substrato alimentar. Os bioensaios de repelência foram realizados com as doses letais (DL5, DL25, DL50 e DL95) obtidas do bioensaio inseticida. Para comparar os tratamentos foi utilizado o índice de preferência (PI). O óleo essencial de C. dinisii apresentou atividade inseticida sobre S. zeamais, causando mortalidade linear e crescente com DL de 0,04, 0,17, 0,34 e 0,63 µL/cm2, respectivamente. A repelência variou entre 55,4% até 85,2%, utilizando os valores de DL acima mencionados. A DL5mostrou-se neutra em relação à repelência (índice PI -0,09), mas a partir de DL25 o índice PI foi entre -0,1 e -1,0, indicando atividade de repelência.

Protective effect of 2,2'-dithienyl diselenide on kainic acid-induced neurotoxicity in rat hippocampus.

In this study, we investigated the effects of 2,2'-dithienyl diselenide (DTDS), an organoselenium compound, against seizures induced by kainic acid (KA) in rats. Rats were pretreated with DTDS (50 or 100 mg/kg) by oral route 1 h before KA injection (10 mg/kg, intraperitoneal). Our results showed that DTDS (100 mg/kg) was effective in increasing latency for the onset of the first clonic seizure episode induced by KA, as well as in decreasing the appearance of seizures and the Racine's score. DTDS also caused a decrease in the excitatory electroencephalographic (EEG) changes, resulting from KA exposure in hippocampus and cerebral cortex of rats. Besides, elevated reactive species (RS) and carbonyl protein levels and Na(+), K(+)-ATPase activity in hippocampus of rats treated with KA were ameliorated by DTDS (50 and 100 mg/kg). Lastly, as evidenced by Cresyl-Violet stain, DTDS (100 mg/kg) elicited a protective effect against KA-induced neurodegeneration in rat hippocampus 7 days after KA injection. In conclusion, the present study showed that DTDS attenuated KA-induced status epilepticus in rats and the subsequent hippocampal damage.

Toxicity of 3'3-ditrifluormethyldiphenyl diselenide administered during intra-uterine development of rats.

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of the organoselenium compound, 3'3-ditrifluormethyldiphenyl diselenide [(F(3)CPhSe)(2)], during the intra-uterine development of Wistar rats. Dams were given repeated doses of 1, 5 or 10mg/kg (F(3)CPhSe)(2) by intragastric route on gestation days 6-15, and cesarean sections were performed on day 20 of pregnancy. The numbers of implantation sites, living and dead fetuses and resorptions were recorded. Fetuses were weighed and stained with Alizarin red S for skeletal evaluation. The placental morphology was also evaluated. In 1mg/kg (F(3)CPhSe)(2) group, neither maternal toxicity nor prenatal growth retardation was observed. Conversely, in 5 and 10mg/kg groups, there was a decrease in maternal weight gain during pregnancy indicating that (F(3)CPhSe)(2) was maternally toxic, without affecting fetuses weight and length. (F(3)CPhSe)(2) caused some morphological alterations in placenta of 5 and 10mg/kg-exposed dams. Results also showed that skeletal variations were produced by (F(3)CPhSe)(2) only at doses (10mg/kg) in which a marked embryolethality was found. We conclude that (F(3)CPhSe)(2) was toxic to the dams and induced embryofeto-toxicity at doses equal to 10mg/kg.