RESUMO
We present a proof-of-concept of the application of gold nanotriangles in sequence specific DNA detection, using localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) spectroscopy and dark-field optical microscopy. The sensing platform comprises gold nanotriangles immobilized on a glass chip and oligonucleotides as probes. Probe formation and testing complementary and non-complementary targets followed common chip technology protocols. Gold nanotriangles showed a remarkable sensitivity of 468 nm per RIU and allowed detection of 20-mer targets. When the target sequence was part of a 50-mer synthetic DNA oligonucleotide, LSPR shifts as high as 35 nm were observed. Conversely, when the target was present in PCR products of ca. 350 bp, obtained from clinical samples, LSPR shifts larger than 20 nm were observed. Moreover, LSPR shifts were less than ±1 nm for the respective non-complementary targets. These results with gold nanotriangles as sensors are a notable improvement to the LSPR shifts of less than 5 nm usually obtained for spherical gold nanoparticles of comparable sizes. Optimal conditions for the detection of synthetic and PCR product targets using gold nanotriangles and oligonucleotide probes were achieved with low percentages of intercalating thioalkanes; target hybridization at room temperature, 3 hours of incubation, and 2× SSC buffer stringency conditions.
Assuntos
Técnicas Biossensoriais , DNA de Cadeia Simples/análise , Nanoestruturas/química , Ressonância de Plasmônio de Superfície , Ouro/química , Humanos , Hibridização de Ácido Nucleico , Análise de Sequência com Séries de Oligonucleotídeos , Oligonucleotídeos/química , Oligonucleotídeos/metabolismo , Tamanho da Partícula , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , TemperaturaRESUMO
Surface chemistry plays an important role in gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) stability and biocompatibility, which are crucial for their implementation into the clinical setting. We evaluated short- (30 min) and long-term (28 days) biodistribution and toxicity of ~20 nm citrate- and pentapeptide CALNN-coated AuNPs after a single intravenous injection in rats. The pattern of AuNPs distribution in Cit- and CALNN-AuNPs-injected rats was very similar in the assessed time-points. Both AuNPs were quickly removed from the bloodstream and preferentially accumulated in the liver. At 28 days liver remained the main accumulation site but at significantly lower levels compared to those found at 30 min. Spleen atrophy and hematological findings compatible with mild anemia were observed in CALNN-AuNPs-administered rats. Under our experimental conditions, surface coating had more impact on toxicity rather than on biodistribution of the AuNPs. Improvements in the design of capping peptides need to be done to increase biomedical applicability of peptide-coated AuNPs. FROM THE CLINICAL EDITOR: The biodistribution and toxicity of ~ 20 nm citrate- and pentapeptide CALNN-coated gold nanoparticles was investigated after a single intravenous injection in rats. Rapid clearance and hepatic accumulation was found at 30-minutes, whereas mild anemia and spleen atrophy was seen 28 days post injection. The authors also concluded that the toxicity was related to the capping proteins as opposed to the biodistribution of the particles, providing important suggestion for future design of gold nanoparticles.
Assuntos
Ouro/química , Nanopartículas Metálicas/administração & dosagem , Nanopartículas/metabolismo , Administração Intravenosa , Animais , Masculino , RatosRESUMO
The toxicological profile of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) remains controversial. Significant efforts to develop surface coatings to improve biocompatibility have been carried out. In vivo biodistribution studies have shown that the liver is a target for AuNPs accumulation. Therefore, we investigated the effects induced by ~20 nm spherical AuNPs (0-200 µM Au) with two surface coatings, citrate (Cit) compared with 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (11-MUA), in human liver HepG2 cells. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assays after 24 to 72 h of incubation. DNA damage was assessed by the comet assay, 24 h after incubation with the capped AuNPs. Uptake and subcellular distribution of the tested AuNPs was evaluated by quantifying the gold intracellular content by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), respectively. The obtained results indicate that both differently coated AuNPs did not induce significant cytotoxicity. An inverse concentration-dependent increase in comet tail intensity and tail moment was observed in Cit-AuNPs- but not in MUA-AuNPs-exposed cells. Both AuNPs were internalized in a concentration-dependent manner. However, no differences were found in the extent of the internalization between the two types of NPs. Electron-dense deposits of agglomerates of Cit- and MUA-AuNPs were observed either inside endosomes or in the intercellular spaces. In spite of the absence of cytotoxicity, DNA damage was observed after exposure to the lower concentrations of Cit- but not to MUA-AuNPs. Thus, our data supports the importance of the surface properties to increase the biocompatibility and safety of AuNPs.
Assuntos
Materiais Revestidos Biocompatíveis/toxicidade , Dano ao DNA/efeitos dos fármacos , Ouro/toxicidade , Nanopartículas Metálicas/toxicidade , Sobrevivência Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Ácido Cítrico/química , Materiais Revestidos Biocompatíveis/química , Ensaio Cometa , Ácidos Graxos/química , Instabilidade Genômica , Ouro/química , Células Hep G2 , Humanos , Nanopartículas Metálicas/química , Microscopia Eletrônica de Transmissão , Tamanho da Partícula , Compostos de Sulfidrila/química , Propriedades de Superfície , Sais de Tetrazólio/metabolismo , Tiazóis/metabolismoRESUMO
Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD), or histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis, is a rare, benign, and self-limited disease caused by subacute necrotizing regional lymphadenopathy. The etiology is unknown, although virus and autoimmune mechanisms have been proposed. Patients develop enlarged lymph nodes, fever, and, less frequently, extranodal signs. No specific laboratory test contributes to the diagnosis, and lymph node biopsy is the gold standard to define the diagnosis. The treatment is generally with supportive therapy and usually is spontaneously resolved within six months. In this article, the authors present the case of a 41-year-old female with mild SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) infection 10 weeks before she was admitted to the emergency department (ED) due to cervical lymphadenopathies and fever lasting over three weeks. Physical examination revealed multiple lymphadenopathies on the submandibular and jugular regions, cutaneous rash, and hepatosplenomegaly. Blood tests showed elevated acute phase proteins, thrombocytopenia, and increased transaminases and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Computed tomography (CT) of the neck showed multiple adenopathies at levels I, II, III, and IV according to the Classification for Lymph Nodes from the American Head and Neck Society and American Academy of Otolaryngology on the right side. Excision biopsy was performed and histopathological examination confirmed KFD. A comprehensive analysis performed was unrevealing of an infectious or autoimmune cause and was assumed to be most likely triggered by SARS-CoV-2 infection given the timeframe correlation. KFD diagnosis is challenging and there are few reported cases of association with SARS-CoV-2 in the literature. Although further investigation is still needed to better understand the relation between them, it is important that physicians take SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination into consideration in KFD's differential diagnosis.
RESUMO
Lymphadenopathy (LAP) is a common but nonspecific feature of many diseases, representing a vast spectrum of etiologies such as infectious or inflammatory diseases, malignancies, and drugs. In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), it can be the first manifestation. We present the case of a 20-year-old female with a history of fever, night sweats, anorexia, and asthenia for five months. She also had diffuse generalized LAP. Although malignant etiologies were our major concern, an extensive workup for malignancy and infections was unrevealing. However, an autoimmune workup led to the diagnosis of SLE. This case shows that SLE can present as generalized LAP with constitutional symptoms, and hence it should be considered in the differential diagnosis.
RESUMO
Encapsulation can be used as a strategy to protect and control the release of bioactive extracts. In this work, an extract from Spirulina sp. LEB-18, rich in phenolic compounds, was encapsulated in biopolymeric particles (i.e., composed of alginate) and characterized concerning their thermal behavior using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), size, morphology, swelling index (S), and encapsulation efficiency (EE%); the release profile of the phenolic compounds at different pHs and the particle behavior under in vitro gastrointestinal digestion were also evaluated. It was shown that it is possible to encapsulate the phenolic extract from Spirulina sp. LEB-18 in alginate particles with high encapsulation efficiency (88.97%). It was also observed that the particles are amorphous and that the encapsulated phenolic compounds were released at a pH 7.2 but not at pH 1.5, which means that the alginate particles are able to protect the phenolic compounds from the harsh stomach conditions but lose their integrity under intestinal pH conditions. Regarding bioaccessibility, it was observed that the encapsulated phenolic compounds showed higher bioaccessibility compared to phenolic compounds in free form. This work increases the knowledge about the behavior of alginate particles encapsulating phenolic compounds during in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. It also provides essential information for designing biopolymeric particle formulations encapsulating phenolic compounds for application in pharmaceutical and food products.
RESUMO
Liposomes composed of rice (RL) and soybean (SL) lecithins were produced by reverse phase evaporation and used for the encapsulation of phenolic extracts from Spirulina LEB-18 (S-RL and S-SL for liposomes of rice and soybean lechitin, respectively). Liposomes were characterized in terms of size distribution, polydispersity index, and ζ-potential; the chemical interactions between the phenolic compounds from Spirulina and liposomes were evaluated by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to evaluate their crystallinity pattern. The release behavior of phenolic extracts was evaluated under two different pH conditions. Afterwards, in vitro digestibility of liposomes was evaluated in a dynamic gastrointestinal system. Liposomes exhibited high encapsulation efficiency (88.28% and 97.35% for S-RL and S-SL, respectively) and sizes ranging between 250 and 291â¯nm, showing to be good candidates for the encapsulation of phenolic extracts obtained from microalgae. Results showed that liposomes are stable at low pH values and that they are able to resist to the stomach conditions but they lose their integrity under intestinal conditions. This work increases the knowledge about the effects of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion on liposomes and provides important information for the design of liposome formulations aiming their application in pharmaceutical and food applications.
Assuntos
Fenômenos Químicos , Lipossomos/química , Lipossomos/metabolismo , Fenóis/química , Spirulina/química , Varredura Diferencial de Calorimetria , Trato Gastrointestinal/metabolismo , Técnicas In Vitro , Fenóis/metabolismo , Espectroscopia de Infravermelho com Transformada de Fourier , Spirulina/metabolismo , Difração de Raios XRESUMO
This study evaluated the effect of the solid state cultivation (SSC) time of rice bran by Rhizopus oryzae on γ-oryzanol recovery and its antioxidant properties. Gamma-oryzanol was extracted with organic solvents and its extracts were characterized by GC-FID and HPLC-UV. The antioxidant capacity was assessed by DPPH and ABTS+ assays, ß-carotene/linoleic acid system, and reduction of oxidation in lipid system. The biomass showed the γ-oryzanol recovery increased by 51.5% (20.52mg/g), and 5.7% in polyunsaturated fatty acids. The γ-oryzanol major components changing in their profile. The γ-oryzanol extract from biomass (72h) showed the greatest DPPH inhibition (59.0%), while 90.5% inhibition of oxidation of ß-carotene/linoleic acid system, and 30% reduction of the indicators of oxidation in olive oil was observed in the one cultivated at 96h, these behaviors were confirmed by PCA analyses. SSC provides an increase in the γ-oryzanol recovery followed by improving of the functional properties of rice bran.
Assuntos
Oryza/química , Fenilpropionatos/química , Rhizopus/química , Antioxidantes , OxirreduçãoRESUMO
The authors investigated the vasorelaxant properties of the aqueous (Aq-EF) and acid n-butanolic (acn-BuOH) extractable fractions from Ilex paraguariensis leaves. Perfusion pressure was evaluated using isolated and perfused mesenteric arterial beds (MABs) from rats fed hypercholesterolemic and standard diets. Extract-induced vasorelaxation in the presence and absence of various inhibitors was examined following precontraction of the MABs with methoxamine (30 microM) solution. In hypercholesterolemic-diet rats, relaxation in intact MABs was significantly decreased with ac-n-BuOH-EF bolus (300, 600, 900 microg) in comparison to those in standard-diet rats. After the endothelium was stripped from the MABs, the vascular responses to ac-n-BuOH-EF and 900 microg bolus of Aq-EF were significantly changed. Treatment of the MABs with an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methylester hydrochloride (L-NAME, 10 mM), did not change either ac-n-BuOH-EF- or Aq-EF-induced vasodilation except for the 900 microg bolus of Aq-EF. The guanilate cyclase inhibitor methylene blue (100 microM) did not affect vasodilation for either fraction in the MABs from the hypercholesterolemic-diet rats. The chronic oral administration of I. paraguariensis extract in hypercholesterolemic-diet rats resulted in a significant reduction in serum levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. These results suggest that I. paraguariensis ac-n-BuOH-EF and Aq-EF induce vasodilation in standard-diet rats in a dose-dependent manner and that the hypercholesterolemic diet substantially reduced the effect of ac-n-BuOH-EF on precontracted MABs.
Assuntos
Hipercolesterolemia/prevenção & controle , Ilex paraguariensis , Fitoterapia , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Vasodilatação/efeitos dos fármacos , Análise de Variância , Animais , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Endotélio Vascular/efeitos dos fármacos , Endotélio Vascular/metabolismo , Masculino , Artérias Mesentéricas/efeitos dos fármacos , Ratos , Ratos WistarRESUMO
Successful application of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in biomedicine requires extensive safety assessment for which biokinetic studies are crucial. We evaluated the biodistribution of AuNPs (â¼20 nm) with different surface coatings: citrate, 11-MUA and 3 pentapeptides, CALNN, CALND and CALNS, after i.v. administration to rats (0.6-1 mg Au/kg). Biodistribution was evaluated based on Au tissue content measured by GFAAS. Citrate-AuNPs were rapidly removed from circulation with 60% of the injected dose depositing in the liver. Thirty minutes post-injection, the lungs presented about 6% of the injected dose with levels decreasing to 0.7% at 24 h. Gold levels in the spleen were of 2.6%. After 24 h, liver presented the highest Au level, followed by spleen and blood. A similar biodistribution profile was observed for MUA-coated AuNPs compared to Cit-AuNPs at 24h post-injection, while significantly higher levels of peptide-capped AuNPs were found in the liver (74-86%) accompanied by a corresponding decrease in blood levels. TEM analysis of liver slices showed AuNPs in Kupffer cells and hepatocytes, trapped inside endosomes. Our data demonstrate that AuNPs are rapidly distributed and that the liver is the preferential accumulation organ. Peptide capping significantly increased hepatic uptake, showing the influence of AuNPs functionalization in biodistribution.
Assuntos
Ouro/química , Ouro/farmacocinética , Nanopartículas Metálicas/química , Nanopartículas/química , Animais , Ácido Cítrico/química , Injeções Intravenosas , Masculino , Tamanho da Partícula , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Propriedades de Superfície , Distribuição TecidualRESUMO
The aim of this study was to evaluate fermented rice bran phospholipids, lipids and fatty acid content in a fermentation solid system with Rhizopus oryzae fungus. For this, aliquots were withdrawn every 24h over 120 h. The content of phospholipids was determined by colorimetric method. Esterified fatty acids were separated by gas chromatography, then identified and quantified. The total lipids from fermented rice bran (FB) decreased from 20.4% to 11.2% in the range between 0 h and 120 h of fermentation while phospholipid contents were increased up to 2.4 mg P g(lipid)(-1). In fermented bran, oleic, palmitic and linoleic acids prevailed, with a decrease in saturated fatty acids (20%) and increase in the unsaturated ones (5%). This study showed that rice bran fermentation with R. oryzae can be applied to the production of phospholipids altering the saturated to unsaturated fatty acid ratio.
Assuntos
Ácidos Graxos/metabolismo , Fermentação , Metabolismo dos Lipídeos , Oryza/metabolismo , Fosfolipídeos/metabolismo , Oryza/microbiologiaRESUMO
The aim of this research was to evaluate the nutritional characteristics of Aphanothece microscopica Nägeli microalgae developed in the effluent of parboiled rice. The biomass was biologically evaluated by rat growth, during 10 days for nitrogen balance studies and 28 days for blood analysis. The feeding of Aphanothece biomass diets resulted in a nitrogen balance of 1.42 g/rat/day, an apparent biological value of 73.33%, an apparent digestibility of 82.12%, an apparent net protein utilization of 60.21% and a net protein retention of 2.40. Significant differences between the glycemic indices of rats fed with the Aphanothece and those fed with the control diet were not observed. However, the total cholesterol levels in the plasma of rats fed the test diet proved to be significantly lower. These results suggest the use of A. microscopica Nägeli developed in parboiled rice effluent as a potential source of single-cell protein.
Assuntos
Proteínas de Bactérias/administração & dosagem , Proteínas de Bactérias/metabolismo , Peso Corporal/efeitos dos fármacos , Peso Corporal/fisiologia , Cianobactérias/metabolismo , Resíduos Industriais/prevenção & controle , Oryza/microbiologia , Administração Oral , Animais , Suplementos Nutricionais , Avaliação Nutricional , RatosRESUMO
This study was aimed at evaluating the effects of Spirulina (Arthrospira) as a protein source in the nutritional recovery of rats subjected to protein malnutrition. In order to understand such effects, responses of the developing body, serum biochemical profile, and blood count of animals were analyzed. A total of, 23 Wistar Rattus norvegicus were given a proteic diet (AIN-93G adapted) in malnutrition phase (phase I) for 10 days. After this period, the rats were separated into four groups according to the protein source (recovery phase): Control (C), casein 12%; Spirulina level I (S1), Spirulina 8.8% + casein 5.0%; Spirulina level II (S2), Spirulina 17.6% + casein 0.15%, and Spirulina level III (S3), Spirulina 26.4%. Recovery phase (phase II) lasted 30 days. In both the phases, the consumption and body weight of the rats were monitored daily and weekly, respectively. The S1 treatment showed the highest values of Feed Efficiency Ratio (FER) and Quotient of Protein Efficiency Ratio (QPE) (p<0.05). Significant differences among the treatments were found mainly in the levels of serum lipids, and S2 diet caused an increase in such responses (p<0.05). These results demonstrated that the nutritional recovery of animals was enabled by different concentrations of Spirulina.
RESUMO
The objective of this work was to evaluate the solid-state fermentation with Rhizopus oryzae CCT 7560 of rice bran for the enrichment of proteins and the antioxidant compounds in the fermented biomass. Fermentation was performed in tray bioreactors at 30ºC for 120 h. Protein extraction was done at alkaline pH, followed by precipitation with acetone. Phenolic compounds were extracted with cold methanol. The maximum protein was recovered from after 120 h (26.6%). The content of total phenolic compounds increased during the fermentation and was maximum after 96 h, which inhibited the DPPH radical by 87%. The promising characteristics of the protein and phenolic extracts of the biomass suggested the application in the coating composition for vegetal tissues preservation.
RESUMO
O óleo de pescado constitui importante fonte de ácidos graxos poliinsaturados ômega-3 (PUFA) benéficos à saúde humana. No entanto, há presença de impurezas que afetam suas características. Esse óleo pode ser obtido a partir do processo de ensilagem ácida e pelo processo termomecânico tradicional de produção de farinha. Para o consumo humano, o óleo deve passar pelo processo de refino. No presente trabalho realizou-se o refino dos óleos de resíduos de corvina (Micropogonias furnieri), provenientes dos processos de ensilagem ácida e de tratamento termomecânico, e comparou-se a qualidade final dos óleos refinados. O óleo refinado por meio de ambos processos apresentou características semelhantes. A etapa dewinterização, em ambos os processos, resultou no ganho de ácidos eicosapentaenóico mais docosahexaenóico (EPA+DHA) em torno de 8,5% e redução de ácidos graxos saturados na faixa de 12,5%. Outrossim, os óleos refinados apresentaram teores de ácidos graxos insaturados na faixa de 62%, o que os tornam favoráveis como fonte de ácidos graxos poliinsaturados.
Assuntos
Farinha , Ácidos Graxos , Óleos de PeixeRESUMO
Neste trabalho foi determinado o perfil de ácidos graxos da pele e do músculo de duas espécies marinhas de pescados, Balistes capriscus e Menticirrhus littoralis, usadas pela população da região de Rio Grande no Rio Grande do Sul. Estes pescados foram selecionados pelos efeitos benéficos dos chás de suas peles para tratamento da asma brônquica. Os pescados foram coletados no mercado público e empresas de pescado da cidade e a pele e o músculo destes foram separados para o estudo. As frações lipídicas foram extraídas pelo método de Bligh e Dyer, esterificadas, identificadas e quantificadas por cromatografia gasosa. Os resultados revelaram que os ácidos graxos predominantes nas duas porções (músculo e pele)das espécies foram o ácido dihomo--linolênico (20:3n-6;DHA) e o ácido eicosapentaenóico (20:5n-3;EPA), estes representam juntos 21,3% e 39% nas duas porções do Balistes capriscus e 12,8% e 24,2%no Menticirrhus littoralis. Os ácidos graxos poliinsaturados representam de 54,6 a 67,6% dos lipídios totais em quase todas as porções, exceto na pele do Menticirrhus littoralis em que predominaram os ácidos graxos monoinsaturados. A relação dos ácidos graxos EPA e DHA apresentou valores sempre superiores a 2 no músculo e na pele dos pescados estudados.
Assuntos
Músculos , Peixes , Pele , Ácidos Graxos , Ácidos Graxos Insaturados , Óleos de Peixe , BrasilRESUMO
Foi realizado um levantamento de ocorrência de aflatoxinas B1, B2, G1, G2, ocratoxina A e zearalenona em produtos alimentícios comercializados nas cidades de Rio Grande e Pelotas, RS. As amostras, produtos de arroz (47), milho (39), e trigo (79), foram coletadas em supermercados nos anos de 1996 e 1997. Foi empregado o multimetodo de camada delgada descrito por Soares (1987). A performance deste para cada tipo de método. Os resultados mostraram que 6,7(por cento) das amostras estavam contaminadas por micotoxinas. Os produtos de milho foram os que apresentaram níveis de aflatoxina B1 (32 ug.Kg-1) acima dos limites permitidos pela legislaçäo brasileira. Ocratoxina A foi encontrada em amostras de arroz (48 e 19ug.Kg-1) e trigo (18 e 26 ug.Kg-1. Zearalenona esteve presente em amostras de milho (163 ug.Kg-1) e farinhas de trigo (105 e 97 ug.Kg-1). (AU)
A survey about occurrence of aflatoxins B 1, B2, G 1, G2 ochratoxin A and zearale- none in food products comercialized in the cities Rio Grande (RS) and Pelotas (RS) was conducted. The samples - products of rice (47), com (39) and wheat (79) - were purchased on the supermerkets During 1996 and 1997. Simultaneous method of thin layer chromatograph Described by Soares (1987) was used. The performance for each Studied matrix was evaluated and it was in conform to literature The results Showed that 6,7% 01 samples was contamined with analysed mycotoxins. Com products had aflatoxin B llevels that exceeded Brazilian legislation «32 ug.Kg-I ). Ochratoxin A was foundedin rice products (48 e 19 ug.Kg-I ) and wheat (8 e 26 flg.Kg-l). Zearalenone was presente in com samples (163 flg.Kg-l ) and wheat meals (105 e 97 flg.Kg-l). (AU)
Assuntos
Humanos , Triticum , Zearalenona , Contaminação de Alimentos , Zea mays , Aflatoxinas , Farinha , OcratoxinasRESUMO
Fish oil constitutes an important source of poly-unsaturated -3 fatty acids (PUFA), which are beneficial human health; however, the occurrence of impurities affects oil characteristics. The corvine oil can be obtained from the ensilage acidification process or from thermo treatment process for meal production. For human consumption, the oil should be passed through a refining process. In the present work, refinement of corvine (Micropogonias furnieri) residues was performed by means of acid ensilage and thermo-treatment processes; and also the characteristics of refined oils were compared. Similar characteristics were observed in products from both refinement procedures. The winterization step, in both process, resulted in an increase of EPA+DHA around 8.5%, and a reduction saturated contents in range of 12.5%. Also, the corvine oil refined from both thermo treatment and ensilage processes presented unsaturated fatty acids contents in a range of 62%, which turns to be favorable as a source of unsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA).
O óleo de pescado constitui importante fonte de ácidos graxos poliinsaturados ômega-3 (PUFA) benéficos à saúde humana. No entanto, há presença de impurezas que afetam suas características. Esse óleo pode ser obtido a partir do processo de ensilagem ácida e pelo processo termomecânico tradicional de produção de farinha. Para o consumo humano, o óleo deve passar pelo processo de refino. No presente trabalho realizou-se o refino dos óleos de resíduos de corvina (Micropogonias furnieri), provenientes dos processos de ensilagem ácida e de tratamento termomecânico, e comparou-se a qualidade final dos óleos refinados. O óleo refinado por meio de ambos processos apresentou características semelhantes. A etapa de winterização, em ambos os processos, resultou no ganho de ácidos eicosapentaenóico mais docosahexaenóico (EPA+DHA) em torno de 8,5% e redução de ácidos graxos saturados na faixa de 12,5%. Outrossim, os óleos refinados apresentaram teores de ácidos graxos insaturados na faixa de 62%, o que os tornam favoráveis como fonte de ácidos graxos poliinsaturados.