Mitochondriotropic action and DNA protection: Interactions between phenolic acids and enzymes.

The protective action of caffeic (CA) and syringic (SA) acids on the genotoxicity exercised by snake venoms was investigated in this study. Molecular interactions between phenolic acids and the enzyme succinate dehydrogenase were also explored. In the electrophoresis assay, SA did not inhibit the genotoxicity induced by the venom. However, CA partially inhibited DNA degradation. In the comet assay, SA and CA exerted an inhibitory effect on the venom-induced fragmentation. Succinate dehydrogenase presented, in computational analyzes, favorable energies to the molecular bond to both the malonic acid and the phenolic compounds evaluated. In the enzymatic activity assays, SA inhibited succinate dehydrogenase and interfered in the interaction of malonic acid. Meanwhile, CA potentiated the inhibition exerted by the malonic acid. The results suggest transient interactions between toxins present in venoms and phenolic acids, mainly by hydrogen interactions, which corroborate with the data from previous works.

Protective effect of ß-D-glucan and glutamine on the genomic instability induced by Cytarabine/Ara-C in BALB/c mice.

Prophylactic antibiotics and growth promoters have been substituted, mainly for livestock, by immunomodulators and intestinal health promoters - such as ß-D-glucans and glutamine. The aim of this study was to verify the beneficial effects of ß-D-glucans and glutamine against Cytarabine/Ara-C, evaluating the DNA damage in leukocytes, the leukogram, and the mitotic index of intestinal crypts cells. Balb/C mice received treatment with ß-D-glucan (80 mg/Kg), glutamine (150 mg/Kg), or both, for 21 days. On the last two days of this period, Ara-C was administered (1.8 mg/animal) by intraperitoneal injection every 12 h. The animals submitted to the treatment with Ara-C presented the highest genotoxic index, a significant leukopenia, and a decrease in the mitotic index of the intestinal crypts cells. Treatment with ß-D-glucan protected the leukocytes against DNA fragmentation induced by Ara-C. Glutamine alone promoted maintenance of the mitotic index and, in association with ß-Dglucan, reduced leukopenia. Thus, the use of ß-D-glucan and glutamine proved to be beneficial to intestinal tropism. This can happen once the damage to the genetic material, prevented by the treatments with ß-D-glucan and glutamine, can result in genotoxicity. Not only this, but it might be capable of turning into a mutagenesis, with consequential physiopathological alterations.

Mechanism of firmness loss in guava cv. Pedro Sato during ripening at room temperature

Abstract Guava (Psidium guajava L.) is fruit with very short shelf life due to associated with the loss of firmness in the pulp and information on the activity of enzymes that degrade pectic substances, as well as the amount of pectin, is very contradictory and not clearly defined. This work showed that the firmness of the fruit decreased sharply on the first four day­s of ripening. The identified phenolic compounds had their content increased with fruit maturation. The addition of the enzymes cellulase and hemicellulase in the pectin extraction in fruits of Psidium guajava revealed higher contents of this polyssacaride that the ones reported in literature, highlighting pectin as the responsible for the firmness of these fruits at more adequate contents. β-D-glucosidase was identified as one of the responsible enzymes for the maturation of P. guajava fruits. Thus, studies about possible inhibitory effects of this enzyme in P. guajava fruits may reveal an important tool to reduce pectin release and early maturation of these fruits.

Improvement of physiological parameters of rats subjected to hypercaloric diet, with the use of Pereskia grandifolia (Cactaceae) leaf flour.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the anti-obesity effects of Pereskia grandifolia leaf flour on rats fed a hypercaloric diet. METHODS: After a hypercaloric diet for 10 weeks, 21 animals were divided into the following groups and were fed the following diets for 4 weeks: control (CH), hypercaloric diet with P. grandifolia flour (PGF) 5%, and hypercaloric diet with PGF 10%. Several measurements were performed including body weight, food consumption, body mass index, Lee index, liver weight, liver and body moisture content, and body and hepatic lipid level. Data were analyzed by Tukey's test at 5% probability. RESULTS: Rats fed PGF diet had decreased food consumption and body weight and showed lower body mass and Lee indices compared to control group. At week 2, weight of the PGF 10% group was statistically lower than the control group (CH). At week 4, the PGF 10% group demonstrated the highest body weight loss compared to the other two groups. There were no significant difference in total lipids and moisture level between the groups; however, rats fed PGF diet had lower hepatic lipids levels than control group and reduced liver weight. CONCLUSION: This suggests that PGF induced weight loss and decreased hepatic lipid level and may be effective in treating obesity and related metabolic diseases.

Cereal bars enriched with antioxidant substances and rich in fiber, prepared with flours of acerola residues.

In the processing for obtaining acerola juice, a large amount of residues, which is usually discharged, is generated (seeds and bagasse). Adding value to these by-products is of great interest, since their use can enrich human food as a good source of nutrients and dietary fiber. In this study, acerola seed flours (ASF) and acerola bagasse flours (ABF) were used to develop cereal bars (CB) in different combinations with brown oats: CB 1: control - with the addition of 25% brown oats, CB 2: with the addition of 12.5% ASF and 12.5% ABF, CB 3: with the addition of 6.25% ASF and 18.75% ABF, CB 4: with the addition of 12.5% ASF and 12.5% brown oats and CB 5: with the addition of 12.5% ABF and 12.5% brown oats. These bars were sensorially evaluated and CB 1, CB 4 and CB 5 received the highest scores. We conclude that CB 4 and CB 5 can be considered as products with enhanced nutritional value, containing iron with a low energetic value and high levels of dietary fibre, besides being enriched with antioxidants.

Anti-obesity Effects of the Administration of Tournefortia paniculata Cham Extract on Wistar Rats Subjected to a Hypercaloric Diet

The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic and toxicologic effects of the administration of the powered vegetable extract and aqueous extract of Tournefortia paniculata leaves on Wistar rats, subjected to a hypercaloric diet for 42 days. The rats were divided into five groups and were given the following treatments by gavage: T0 (control) - 1.0 mL water day-1; T1 - aqueous extract containing 14 mg phenolic compounds kg-1 rat day-1; T2 - 14 mg quercetin kg-1 rat day-1; T3 - 50 mg powered vegetable extract from T. paniculata leaves (PVE) kg-1 rat day-1 and T4 - 100 mg PVE kg-1 rat day-1. The treatments did not significantly alter the weight, but were effective in reducing liver fat, glucose and serum triglycerides. The treatment T1 reduced food consumption and lipid peroxidation. None of the treatments showed genotoxic potential. Results showed that T. paniculata leaves possessed an anti-obesity potential. However, a more detailed study of the medicinal potential and characterization of phytochemicals in this plant would be still necessary for a better understanding of its mechanisms of action, enabling future applications in the treatment of this pathology or for various therapeutic purposes.

Composição química e fitoquímica das farinhas da casca e da semente de lichias (Litchi chinensis Sonn) cultivar 'Bengal' / Chemical and phytochemical composition of flours from skin and seeds of 'Bengal' lychee (Litchi chinensis Sonn)

Este estudo teve como objetivo determinar a composição química e fitoquímica das farinhas da casca e da semente de lichias (Litchi chinensis Sonn), família Sapindaceae, da cultivar 'Bengal'. A composição centesimal, o valor energético total, sólidos solúveis, pH, acidez e os teores de compostos fenólicos, antocianinas, flavonoides, minerais, açúcares, vitamina C e a triagem fitoquímica foram determinados. A farinha da casca de lichia apresentou os maiores teores de flavonoides, vitamina C, compostos fenólicos, antocianinas, lipídios, proteínas, cinzas e fibras, enquanto a farinha da semente se destacou pelos teores de potássio, enxofre, cobre e zinco. Ambas as farinhas apresentaram resultado positivo para açúcares redutores, proteína e aminoácidos, taninos, catequinas, flavonoides, depsídeo e depsidonas. Somente a farinha da casca apresentou resultado positivo para alcaloides. As farinhas dos subprodutos da lichia apresentaram-se como fontes promissoras de nutriente e substâncias bioativas, no entanto suas propriedades biológicas devem ser estudadas.

This study had the objective to determine the chemical and phytochemical composition of flours from skin and seeds of 'Bengal' lychees (Litchi chinensis Sonn), Sapindaceae family. Proximate composition, total energy value, soluble solids, pH, acidity and levels of phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, flavonoids, minerals, sugars, vitamin C and the phytochemical screening were determined. Lychee skin flour presented the highest levels of flavonoids, vitamin C, phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, lipids, proteins, ash and fiber, while the seed flour stood out for the contents of potassium, sulfur, copper, and zinc. Both flours were positive for reducing sugars, protein and amino acids, tannins, catechins, flavonoids, depsides and depsidones. Only the skin flour showed a positive result for alkaloids. The flours made from lychee by-products were promising sources of nutrients and bioactive substances; however, their biological properties need to be further studied.

Caracterização química das hortaliças não-convencionais conhecidas como ora-pro-nobis / Chemical characterization of the non-conventional vegetable known as ora-pro-nobis

Esse estudo teve como objetivo realizar a caracterização química das hortaliças não-convencionais conhecidas como ora-pro-nobis (Pereskia aculeata e Pereskia grandifolia). Foi determinada a composição centesimal e mineral, bem como os teores de vitamina C, carotenoides totais, -caroteno, licopeno, ácido oxálico, nitrato, saponinas, compostos fenólicos e o inibidor da tripsina da farinha das folhas destas plantas. P. grandifolia apresentou os maiores teores de proteínas e de lipídios e os menores de cinzas e fibra alimentar total, que P. aculeata. Já P. grandifolia apresentou maior teor de cálcio, e para os demais minerais a P. aculeata se destacou. A P. aculeata também apresentou os maiores teores de vitamina C e -caroteno. Quanto aos carotenoides totais e o ácido oxálico P. grandifolia apresentou maiores níveis, sendo que na P. aculeata não foi detectado o licopeno, mas os teores de nitratos foram 15 vezes superiores ao de P. grandifolia, apresentando também maior inibição da tripsina. Os teores de saponinas foram semelhantes nas duas amostras de farinhas analisadas. Conclui-se que as folhas destas cactáceas são importantes fontes de proteínas, fibras, minerais (principalmente o cálcio e o ferro) e de compostos bioativos. Mesmo sendo detectados antinutrientes nas farinhas, seu consumo diário não será suficiente para causar malefícios à saúde humana.

The aim of this study was to chemistry characterize the non-conventional vegetable known as ora-pro-nobis (Pereskia grandifolia and Pereskia aculeata). The proximate and mineral compositions were determined as well as vitamin C, total carotenoids, -carotene, lycopene, oxalic acid, nitrate, saponins, phenolic compounds and the trypsin inhibitor from flour produced from the leaves of these plants. P. grandifolia showed higher levels of proteins and lipids and lower ash and total dietary fiber than P. aculeata. The P. grandifolia showed greater calcium concentrations while P. aculeata presented higher concentrations of the other minerals. The P. aculeata also showed the highest levels of vitamin C and -carotene. Regarding total carotenoids and oxalic acid the P. grandifolia showed higher levels, while in P. aculeata lycopene was not detected, but nitrate levels were 15 times higher than in P grandifolia, also showing greater trypsin inhibition. The saponin contents were similar in the two flour samples analyzed. It was concluded that these plants are important sources of proteins, fibers, minerals (especially calcium and iron) and bioactive compounds. Although antinutrients were found in flour, it is suggested that these cacti can enrich the diet with nutrients, since daily intake does not present harm to human health.