Chemical composition and anti-diabetic properties of Cytisus multiflorus

Bakground and aims: The interest on plants with potential medicinal properties has been increasing worldwide. In the Iberian Peninsula there are some endemic species known by the population for their pharmacologic activity with valorization potential that have not been yet characterized. The white Spanish broom (Cytisus multiflorus) is described as having anti-diabetic effect [1] and in a preliminary the hypoglycemic and hyper-insulinemic effect of an aqueous extract has been shown [2]. The aim of this work was to fractionate and analyse the composition of the aqueous extract of C. multiflorus flowering parts and evaluate its potential as an anti-diabetic agent. Materials and methods: The aqueous extract was primarily fractionated by SPE using water:methanol (W:Me) eluent (a 10% step-wise gradient W:Me from 100:0 to 0:100) followed by high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). The most relevant fraction were analysed by LC-MS to determine the chemical composition. Total fenol content was determined by a modified Folin-Ciocalteau method and the anti-oxidant activity was evaluated by the DPPH mehod. Finally, the hipoglicemic potential was evaluated in vivo using glucose intolerant rats (GIR). Results: Eleven fractions of the bulk extract were obtained. Seven of these fractions (10, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 e 80% Me) were found to have a relevant compounds, mostly flavonoid compounds, namely, rutin (50, 60 and 70% Me fractions), ferrulic acid (30% Me), referred as having hypoglicemic effect. The fractions obtained with 50 and 70% Me showed the highest content in phenol equivalents and the highest anti-oxidant effect were found in the 50 and 60% Me fractions. The 30 and 60% Me fraction had no effect on the post-prandial glicemia. Conclusions: The 30, 50, 60 and 70% Me fractions, due to their chemical composition and anti-oxidant effects were the most promising to have anti-diabetic effect. However, the 30 and 60% Me were found to be ineffective. The 50% Me fraction showed both a high content of flavonoid compounds and the highest anti-oxidant power which suggest that it may constitute the most promising one. The anti-diabetic properties of this fraction should be investigated. [1] Camejo-Rodrigues J. et al. (2003). J. Ethnopharmacol, 89, 199-209 [2] Célia M. Antunes, Laurinda R. Areias, Inês P. Vieira, Ana C. Costa, M. Teresa Tinoco, & Júlio Cruz-Morais (2009). Rev. Fitoterapia 9 (Supl.1): 91

Investigating natural acidified marine environments

Jornadas "Ciência nos Açores – que futuro?", Ponta Delgada, 7-8 de Junho de 2013.As fontes hidrotermais de superfície constituem laboratórios naturais para investigar ambientes marinhos naturalmente acidificados como modelos para a avaliação dos efeitos da acidificação dos oceanos. Os organismos nestas zonas estão sujeitos às condições acídicas, bem como às variações de temperatura e exposição a produtos químicos, incluindo a libertação de metais pesados. Ambientes extremos podem promover alterações nas comunidades, organismos ou processos fisiológicos. Algumas das estratégias, mecanismos, adaptações ou até mesmo especiação (novas espécies) poderiam mostrar como viver nesses ambientes e ajudar a descobrir organismos suficientemente sensíveis para atuar como sentinelas (bioindicadores) e, eventualmente adaptações biológicas associadas com potencial uso biotecnológico. Algumas espécies, devido à sua estrutura calcária (sensíveis a condições ácidas) requerem uma atenção especial. As fontes hidrotermais de superfície são uma característica peculiar dos Açores. Representam ambientes únicos e constituem patrimônio natural do litoral dos Açores. No presente projeto pretende-se investigar os efeitos da atividade hidrotermal em comunidades subtidais macrobentónicas em São Miguel, com uma abordagem inovadora no estudo dos efeitos da acidificação dos oceanos. A comparação entre locais com atividade hidrotermal e locais sem atividade hidrotermal irá fornecer informações sobre as diferenças na distribuição das espécies. Esta informação será complementada com a investigação sobre as respostas de organismos selecionados aos efeitos de viver sob a influência das fontes hidrotermais.ABSTRACT: Shallow water hydrothermal vents constitute natural laboratories to investigate natural acidified marine environments as models for the evaluation of the effects of ocean acidification. Organisms at those areas are subject to acidic conditions, as well as to temperature variations and exposure to chemicals, including the release of heavy metals. The extreme environment can promote changes on the communities, organisms or physiological processes. Some of the strategies, mechanisms, adaptations or even speciation (new species) could show how to live in these environments and help discovering organisms sufficiently sensitive to act as early sentinels (bioindicators) and possible associated biological adaptations with potential biotechnological use. Some species, due to their calcareous structure (sensitive to acidic conditions) need special attention. Shallow water hydrothermal vents are striking features of the Azores. They represent unique environments and constitute a natural patrimony of the Azorean coastline. In the present project we investigate the effects of hydrothermal activity on subtidal macrobenthic communities in the island of São Miguel, in an innovative approach to study ocean acidification effects. A comparison between sites with hydrothermal activity and sites without hydrothermal activity will provide information on species distribution differences. This information will be complemented with research on the responses of selected organisms to the effects of living under the vents influence

Modificações na concha de lapas em fontes hidrotermais de superfície

Copyright © 2012 APRH.Os organismos calcários são conhecidos por serem sensíveis à água do mar acidificada, e têm sido apontados como potenciais sentinelas para estudos sobre acidificação do oceano. As lapas estão entre os organismos que caracterizam a zona intertidal e nos Açores, podendo também ser encontradas em locais com actividade hidrotermal de superfície, onde a acidez da água do mar na proximidade das fontes hidrotermais é naturalmente mais elevada devido à liberação de CO2. Durante uma visita ocasional para avaliar a ocorrência e abundância de algas no intertidal encontraram-se vários espécimes de Patella candei gomesii (Patellidae) com conchas aberrantes, na proximidade de fontes hidrotermais. Estes indivíduos, colectados sob tais condições exibiam conchas frágeis, quase transparentes, com espessura muito reduzida.ABSTRACT: Calcareous organisms are known to be sensitive to acidified seawater, and they have been reported as potential sentinels for ocean acidification studies. Limpets are among the organisms that characterise intertidal zones, and in the Azores can also be found at sites with shallow water hydrothermal activity, where the acidity of seawater in the vicinity of hydrothermal vents is naturally higher due to CO2 release. During an occasional intertidal survey on the occurrence and abundance of intertidal algae we found limpets with abnormal shells, and specimens of Patella candei gomesii (Patellidae) collected under such conditions exhibited weak and almost transparent shells with reduced shell thickness

Global analysis of the sugarcane microtranscriptome reveals a unique composition of small RNAs associated with axillary bud outgrowth

Axillary bud outgrowth determines shoot architecture and is under the control of endogenous hormones and a fine-tuned gene-expression network, which probably includes small RNAs (sRNAs). Although it is well known that sRNAs act broadly in plant development, our understanding about their roles in vegetative bud outgrowth remains limited. Moreover, the expression profiles of microRNAs (miRNAs) and their targets within axillary buds are largely unknown. Here, we employed sRNA next-generation sequencing as well as computational and gene-expression analysis to identify and quantify sRNAs and their targets in vegetative axillary buds of the biofuel crop sugarcane (Saccharum spp.). Computational analysis allowed the identification of 26 conserved miRNA families and two putative novel miRNAs, as well as a number of trans-acting small interfering RNAs. sRNAs associated with transposable elements and protein-encoding genes were similarly represented in both inactive and developing bud libraries. Conversely, sequencing and quantitative reverse transcription-PCR results revealed that specific miRNAs were differentially expressed in developing buds, and some correlated negatively with the expression of their targets at specific stages of axillary bud development. For instance, the expression patterns of miR159 and its target GAMYB suggested that they may play roles in regulating abscisic acid-signalling pathways during sugarcane bud outgrowth. Our work reveals, for the first time, differences in the composition and expression profiles of diverse sRNAs and targets between inactive and developing vegetative buds that, together with the endogenous balance of specific hormones, may be important in regulating axillary bud outgrowth

Efficacy of phage-antibiotic combination therapy for the control of P. aeruginosa biofilms in vitro

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is regarded a “phenomenon of bacterial resistance”. This gram negative bacterium is responsible for 65% of mortality in the hospitals all over the world and its prevalence can be a consequence of important reasons: intrinsic resistance determined by virulence factors; acquired resistance mechanisms that lead to a low susceptibility to antimicrobial agents; and the ability of P. aeruginosa to grow in any natural and artificial surfaces leading to the development of biofilms. The emergence of new strategies to control P. aeruginosa biofilms is becoming more evident due to their resistance to traditional treatments and bacteriophages have been recognized as an attractive alternative for this problem. Nevertheless, despite the potential of phages as antimicrobial agents, it is well known that bacteria can quickly adapt and create new survival strategies and the emergence of phage-resistant phenotypes is inevitable. Thus, the combination of phage and antibiotic therapies could have potentially more benefits than just using phages and antibiotics alone. This work describes the synergy between different P. aeruginosa phages (phiIBB-PAP21, phiIBB-PAP1, phiIBB-PAC23 and phiIBB-PAA2) and antibiotics (amikacin, ciprofloxacin, piperacillin and tetracycline) against planktonic cultures and biofilms. The efficacy of phages and antibiotics were evaluated by the enumeration of viable cells and the determination of biofilm biomass, or by the measurement of absorbance (OD600nm) in the case of planktonic cultures. In biofilms, the individual use of phage phiIBB-PAP21 and amikacin resulted in a reduction in the number of viable cells of 1.3 and 1.76 log, respectively, while the combination therapy of both resulted in approximately 3.66 log reduction. In the case of phages used together with ciprofloxacin the biofilm eradication was total. A possible explanation for this behaviour lies on the disruption of the biofilm matrix induced by some of the phages which can enhance the antibiotic penetration and availability to the cells. Nevertheless more studies are in progress to disclose this synergistic behaviour

Some elements concentrations of Corallina elongata from São Miguel (Azores) under different environmental conditions.

43rd European Marine Biology Symposium. Ponta Delgada, Açores, 8-12 de Setembro de 2008

Inclusão no Ensino Superior: percepções de professores em uma Universidade Portuguesa

As universidades enfrentam desafios crescentes com a democratização do ensino e o ingresso de alunos com necessidades especiais. Neste trabalho, analisamos as percepções dos professores do ensino superior sobre a inclusão desses alunos nesse nível de ensino. Os participantes são 10 docentes, diretores de curso do 1º ciclo, com uma idade média de 41,5 anos, sendo seis homens e quatro mulheres. Os dados foram recolhidos por meio de entrevista semiestruturada e analisados utilizando-se a abordagem da grounded theory. Os resultados apontam para percepções favoráveis ao processo de inclusão educativa, condicionado por fatores ideológicos e instrumentais, e para uma noção alargada de necessidades educativas especiais, destacando-se a necessidade de recursos tecnológicos e humanos para apoio à inclusão, pelo que tecemos algumas apreciações, que se podem refletir em termos de intervenção ou de estudos futuros.Universities face increasing challenges related to the democratisation of education and the dmission of students with special needs. In this paper, we analyzed the teachers’ perceptions about the inclusion of these students at this level of education. The participants are 10 teachers, 6 males and 4 females, with an average age of 41.5 years old. All teachers are also Degree Directors of 1st training courses. Data collection was carried out using a semi-structured interview and data analysis was done based on grounded theory approach. The results reveal positive perceptions of the inclusive educational process, which is conditioned by ideological and instrumental factors, and a broad concept of special educational needs, highlighting the need for technological and human resources to support inclusion. The concluding section presents some reflections that may have implications for future research and intervention

In vitro fermentation and prebiotic potential of selected extracts from seaweeds and mushrooms

Extracts with prebiotic activity or bioactive compounds from natural sources such as seaweeds or mushrooms, combining a broad spectrum of biological properties, may offer great potential for their use as functional ingredients enabling intestinal microbiota modulation. In this context, selected enzymatic extracts from Sargassum muticum, Osmundea pinnatifida and Pholiota nameko were evaluated in vitro. Faecal fermentations were conducted anaerobically under controlled temperature and pH over 24 h. Enzymatic extracts of Ph. nameko and of O. pinnatifida at 1% (w/v), lead to increases in Bifidobacterium spp. after 6 h of fermentation in comparison to negative control, suggesting a stimulatory effect. No significant changes over 24 h were observed of Lactobacillus spp. In particular, the Ph. nameko extract obtained with Flavourzyme not only stimulated growth and/or activity of Bifidobacterium spp. but also led to a decrease of Clostridium histolyticum group upon 24 h, thus potentially benefiting colonic health. Higher percentages of this extract (2 and 3%) impaired a C. histolyticum reduction confirming this selective action and prebiotic potential. Differences in short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and lactic acid production between the four extracts may indicate a potential relationship between their physico-chemical properties, which differ in composition and structures, and modulation of gut bacterial species