Mangroves as traps for environmental damage to metals: The case study of the Fundão Dam.

This essay is a conceptual framework for testing the causal mechanisms of system degradation by metals in the mangrove ecosystem. The Fundão Dam collapse caused massive damage to the marine environment on the Southern Atlantic and Brazilian coast, reaching various kilometers from its origin, becoming a source of contamination. Along this Brazilian coast are vast mangrove areas with high biodiversity, different geomorphology, and distinct ecological functioning. These mangroves support fisheries' productivity in the Tropical South Atlantic, in connection with Abrolhos Reef. Brazil does not have a protocol to monitor environmental damage in this ecosystem, and we proposed to develop a way to identify the impact and quantify it. Along the estuaries, to assess the damage, the plots were demarked in three regions: the upper, middle, and lower estuary, and in both types of forest: fridge and basin. Samples of sediment and leaves were collected bi-monthly to evaluate metal concentrations, especially iron and manganese, the most abundant metals in Fundão Dam. The monitoring also evaluated the forest structure, dynamics of the crabs' population, and flora productivity. First-year monitoring identifies a high concentration of iron or manganese in the sediment above the NOAAs' recommendation in all the estuaries. The concentration of Fe and Mn in sediment varies seasonally in magnitude, concentration, and types of metals between estuaries, sectors, and forests. The behavior of biological indicators in the presence of metals (type and concentration) differed between fauna and flora species. The monitoring recognized that the tailings mining from Fundão Dam impacted all estuaries by different magnitudes and persistence. These differences are due to geomorphology diversity, climate, and oceanographic influences.

Some triterpenic compounds in extracts of Cecropia and Bauhinia species for different sampling years

ABSTRACT The aim of this paper is to provide an overview on the chemical composition of triterpenes in widespread used folk medicine species, through the development and validation of eleven compounds using HPLC-UV detection. The compounds were separated using isocratic elution, on a reverse phase column (Kinetex C18, 250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) with mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile:tetrahydrofuran (90:10, v/v), flow-rate of 0.5 ml/min and detection in 210 nm. Diverse validation parameters were successfully evaluated. The samples of Bauhinia variegata L., B. variegata var. candida Voigt, Fabaceae, Cecropia palmata Willd. and C. obtusa Trécul, Urticaceae, collected in 2012, 2013 and 2014 from Amazon were treated with two different solvents (ethyl acetate and chloroform) and analyzed by the proposed method. Stigmasterol, lupeol, β-sitosterol, β-amirin and α-amirin were found in all the studied plants. Highlighting the presence of oleanolic acid, maslinic acid in C. obtusa and C. palmata extracts, erythrodiol only in C. palmata, stigmasteol in B. variegata and α-amirin in B. variegata var. candida. Overall, ethyl acetate showed better performance as the extractor solvent than chloroform. Moreover, it could be used for the quality control of medicinal plants and to assess potential marker compounds.

Vitis vinifera L. cv Pinot noir pomace and lees as potential sources of bioactive compounds.

Food and agricultural industries generate substantial quantities of phenolic-rich by-products that could be valuable natural sources of antioxidants. The aim of this study was to identify and quantify the phenolic compounds and radical scavenging activities of two by-products (pomace and lees) from Vitis vinifera L. cv Pinot noir. We found a different distribution of phenolic classes (flavanols, flavonols, phenolic acids and stilbenes) and singular scavenging activity against free radicals (hydroxyl, superoxide and peroxyl radicals). The major class of phenolics in pomace was flavanols and in lees was flavonols, with catechin (117.9 ± 2.5 µg g(-1)) and quercetin (42.4 ± 1.2 µg g(-1)) being the most abundant individual compounds. We also found high potential on scavenging activity against superoxide radicals in pomace (80% of scavenging activity) and radical peroxyl (67% scavenging activity). These results show the possibility of using Pinot noir by-products as promising additives or as a source for the development of new products in different segments of the food and cosmetic industries.

Avaliação do conhecimento etnofarmacológico da população de Teixeiras - MG, Brasil / Evaluation of ethnopharmacological knowledge among the population of Teixeiras, Brazil

O objetivo dessa pesquisa foi verificar o conhecimento que os moradores da cidade de Teixeiras - MG possuem a respeito das plantas medicinais, bem como, avaliar a utilização das mesmas nos cuidados com a saúde, além de caracterizar os meios de obtenção e formas de uso dessas plantas. O levantamento de dados ocorreu fundamentado em um questionário semiestruturado, aplicado entre julho e agosto de 2009, a 60 moradores da cidade de Teixeiras. Dentre os entrevistados 88,3% afirmaram utilizar as plantas medicinais na cura dos seus males, sendo que, o principal motivo para utilização das plantas foi a crença de que elas não fazem mal a saúde (50%). A parte da planta mais utilizada nas preparações caseiras foi a folha (56%), a forma de preparo mais utilizada foi a decocção (49%); e quanto ao local de obtenção das plantas medicinais, 73% cultivam no próprio quintal de casa. Com relação à finalidade das preparações caseiras observou-se maior emprego dessas no combate à gripe, problemas gastrointestinais, nervosismo, dores em geral e processos inflamatórios e infecciosos. Conclui-se que o uso tradicional de plantas medicinais no município de Teixeiras-MG, principalmente para as doenças recorrentes, ainda é bastante frequente.

The aims of the present study were to investigate knowledge on the part of residents of the city of Teixeiras (state of Minas Gerais, Brazil) regarding medicinal plants, evaluate healthcare uses and characterize both means of production and forms of use. For such, a survey was carried out with the aid of a semi-structured questionnaire administered to 60 residents of Teixeiras in July and August 2009. A total of 88.3% of the interviewees reported using medicinal plants to cure ills and 50% reported that the main reason for using the plants was the belief that they are not harmful to one’s health. The leaf was the part of the plant most often employed in home remedies (56%); decoction was the most common form of preparation (49%) and 73% of the respondents cultivated medicinal plants in their own backyards. Regarding the purpose of homemade preparations, the most frequent uses were for fighting the flu, gastrointestinal disorders, nervousness, pain, inflammation and infectious processes. The findings demonstrate the frequent traditional use of medicinal plants in the city of Teixeiras, especially for recurrent illnesses.

Antifungal activity of extracts from Piper aduncum leaves prepared by different solvents and extraction techniques against dermatophytes Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton interdigitale

The effects of different solvents and extraction techniques upon the phytochemical profile and anti-Trichophyton activity of extracts from Piper aduncum leaves were evaluated. Extract done by maceration method with ethanol has higher content of sesquiterpenes and antifungal activity. This extract may be useful as an alternative treatment for dermatophytosis.

Parâmetros climáticos e variação de compostos fenólicos em cevada / Climatic parameters and variation of phenolic compounds in barley

Objetivou-se quantificar os compostos fenólicos em extrato hidroetanólico de grãos das cultivares de cevada ('BRS Lagoa' e 'MN 743') em dois anos consecutivos de cultivo (2005 e 2006), avaliando a influência dos fatores climáticos nesse conteúdo. Os compostos fenólicos totais foram quantificados pelo método de Folin-Ciocalteau e os teores de rutina e ácidos cafeico e ferúlico por CLAE em fase reversa. O conteúdo de compostos fenólicos totais variou de 0,97 a 1,59 mg AG g-1 de cevada e os fatores climáticos durante o período de plantio e colheita influenciaram no conteúdo. Foram identificados e quantificados nessas cultivares rutina, ácido cafeico e ácido ferúlico. A avaliação dos fatores climáticos no conteúdo de compostos fenólicos em cevada é de grande interesse, visando a sua importância nutricional e recomendação de cultivares com conteúdos expressivos de compostos bioativos.

This study aimed to quantify the phenolic compounds in hydroethanolic extract of cultivar seeds ('BRS Lagoa' and 'MN 743') in two consecutive years of cultivation (2005 and 2006) evaluating the influence of climatic factors in such content. The total phenolic compounds were quantified by Folin-Ciocalteau's method and the levels of rutin and caffeic and ferulic acids by HPLC in the reversed-phase. The concentration of total phenolic compounds ranged from 0.97 to 1.59 mg GA g-1 of barley and the climatic factors during the planting and harvesting influenced the barley content. Caffeic, rutin and ferulic acid were identified and quantified in these cultivars. Assessment of climatic factors on the content of phenolic compounds in barley is of great interest aiming for their nutritional importance and recommendations of cultivars with significant content of bioactive compounds.

Estudo espectrométrico de diferentes estágios fenológicos da Brassica oleracea var. capitata / Spectrometric study at different phenologic stages of the cabbage (Brassica oleraceae var. capitata)

O repolho (Brassica oleracea var. capitata), planta do gênero Brassica, vem sendo utilizado na medicina popular brasileira principalmente no tratamento da cicatrização. Neste trabalho, foi desenvolvido um estudo espectrométrico na região do ultravioleta-visível aliado a uma prospecção fitoquímica para diferentes estágios fenológicos da Brassica sp. O perfil espectrométrico das concentrações globais relativas dos constituintes da planta, com relação ao seu crescimento vegetativo, foi traçado para extratos em água, etanol e diclorometano. A hidrólise dos extratos aquosos foi também avaliada. Os resultados da prospecção fitoquímica mostraram a presença positiva de compostos fenólicos, flavonóides, triterpenos e esteróides para os extratos etanólicos e aquosos nos estágios vegetativos IV e V. Analisando o perfil espectral e a redução da concentração global relativa para cada solvente e estágio fenológico, foram obtidas reduções (estágio IV até o VII) na ordem de 87 por cento, 73 por cento e 55 por cento, respectivamente para estratos obtidos com água, etanol e diclorometano em relação ao estágio IV. As concentrações dos constituintes ativos são inversamente proporcionais ao estágio de crescimento vegetativo do repolho, servindo como uma ferramenta útil no controle de qualidade de fitoterápicos.

The cabbage (Brassica oleraceae var. capitata), plant of the genus Brassica, has been used by the Brazilian folk medicine mainly in the treatment of healing. In this work, a spectrometric study at ultraviolet-visible range allied to a phytochemical screening on different phenologic stages of Brassica sp. was developed. Aiming at obtaining a spectrometric profile of the global concentrations of the constituents in relation to the vegetative growth, ethanol, aqueous and dichloromethane extracts were studied. Hydrolysis of aqueous extracts was also performed. The results of the phytochemical prospection show a positive presence of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, triterpenes, steroids for the ethanol and aqueous extracts at stages IV and V. Analyzing the spectral profile and the reduction of the relative global concentration for each solvent and phenologic stage, reductions were obtained (stage IV until stage VII) in the order of 87 percent, 73 percent and 55 percent for aqueous, ethanol and dichloromethane extracts, respectively and in relation to stage IV. Therefore, the constituents concentrations were inversely proportional to the vegetative growth and can be used as useful tool to determinate the quality control of the herbal medicines.