Polyphenols isolated from pomegranate juice (Punica granatum L.): Evaluation of physical-chemical properties by FTIR and quantification of total polyphenols and anthocyanins content / Isolamento de polifenóis do suco da romã (Punica granatum L.): Avaliação das propriedades físico-química por FTIR e quantificação do teor total de polifenóis e antocianinas

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a polyphenols source, such as anthocyanins, punicalagin, ellagitannins and tannins. Polyphenols are antioxidant compounds present in foods as cereals, fruits (peels, seeds and juice), vegetables, wine, and among others. Polyphenols are responsible to protect cells and to limit the risks of degenerative and tumoral diseases, as well as, to prevent cardiovascular diseases, neuronal diseases, and present important anti-inflammatory effects. The purpose of this study was to isolate polyphenols from pomegranate juice using solvents without heating. The solvents used were ultrapure water, ethanol, ethanol 70% and methanol. The samples were characterized by FTIR to evaluate the physical-chemical properties, the total polyphenols content was quantified by Folin-Ciocalteau method, using gallic acid as standard equivalent, and the total anthocyanins content was quantified by pH-differential method, using anthocyanins (cyanidin-3-glucoside) as standard equivalent. FTIR spectra showed the main characteristic groups of polyphenols, as hydroxyl group and stretching vibration of benzene rings. And the characteristic groups of solvents were CH2 ou CH3, hydroxyl, carboxyl e carbonyl group. For the quantification of total polyphenols and anthocyanins content, the best results were found to the pomegranate juice: ultrapure water samples. According to the data obtained it was possible to conclude, who the process employed was effective to isolate the polyphenols from pomegranate juice and the use of different types of solvent influenced in the achievement of these results. 

Polyphenols isolated from pomegranate juice (Punica granatum L.): Evaluation of physical-chemical properties by FTIR and quantification of total polyphenols and anthocyanins contente / Isolamento de polifenóis do suco da romã (Punica granatum L.): Avaliação das propriedades físico-química por FTIR e quantificação do teor total de polifenóis e antocianinas

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a polyphenols source, such as anthocyanins, punicalagin, ellagitannins and tannins. Polyphenols are antioxidant compounds present in foods as cereals, fruits (peels, seeds and juice), vegetables, wine, and among others. Polyphenols are responsible to protect cells and to limit the risks of degenerative and tumoral diseases, as well as, to prevent cardiovascular diseases, neuronal diseases, and present important anti-inflammatory effects. The purpose of this study was to isolate polyphenols from pomegranate juice using solvents without heating. The solvents used were ultrapure water, ethanol, ethanol 70% and methanol. The samples were characterized by FTIR to evaluate the physical-chemical properties, the total polyphenols content was quantified by Folin-Ciocalteau method, using gallic acid as standard equivalent, and the total anthocyanins content was quantified by pH-differential method, using anthocyanins (cyanidin-3-glucoside) as standard equivalent. FTIR spectra showed the main characteristic groups of polyphenols, as hydroxyl group and stretching vibration of benzene rings. And the characteristic groups of solvents were CH2 ou CH3, hydroxyl, carboxyl e carbonyl group. For the quantification of total polyphenols and anthocyanins content, the best results were found to the pomegranate juice: ultrapure water samples. According to the data obtained it was possible to conclude, who the process employed was effective to isolate the polyphenols from pomegranate juice and the use of different types of solvent influenced in the achievement of these results. 

Structural comparison, physicochemical properties, and in vitro release profile of curcumin-loaded lyotropic liquid crystalline nanoparticle: Influence of hydrotrope as interface stabilizers

Lyotropic liquid crystal (LLC) is a nano-biomimetic lipid-based system, which has thermodynamic property that is peculiar to it, and suitable for its structural ordering, which facilitates more intimate contact with the tissues. The LLC as a carrier of curcumin has been much studied, however, this is the first time that hydrotrope method approach has been used in the lamellar system precursor of the LLC nanoparticles (LLC-NPs). Curcumin was used due to its pharmacological properties. However, bioavailability is limited by poor water solubility, high chemical instability and metabolic susceptibility. The aim of this study was developed and lipid-based LLC systems prepared by the hydrotrope method were evaluated. Unlike most studies, sodium lauryl sulphate and Poloxamer 407® were used as hydrotropes and the stability, dissolution rate, and physicochemical properties of LLC-NPs were evaluated. The analysis of results showed that hydrotropes increase the stability of LLC-NPs and modify the curcumin release profile. The structural ordering of the lamellar mesophase and LLC-NPs was revealed by microscopy of polarized light and laser confocal scanning microscopy, the results showed a structure with the maltese cross. The LLC-NPs arising from lamellar mesophase with hydrotropes into water-lipid matrices hosted curcumin in the hilum of the maltese cross, and controlled release of curcumin.This study had financial support from CAPES/PROSUP-Brazil. We thank Kerry (Brazil) for supplying the raw material (Myverol® 18- 92K). We thank Prof. Dr. Fabio Leite responsible for the Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics/Postgraduate Program in Biotechnology and Environmental Monitoring located at the Federal University of São Carlos in Sorocaba/SP-Brazil and Prof. Dr. Moema de Alencar Hausen by analysis of structural characterization by laser confocal scanning microscopy. We thank Laboratory of Biomaterials, Pontificial University Catholic (PUC/SP-Brazil) and Prof. Dr. Daniel Komatsu by analysis of structural characterization by polarized light microscopyinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Brazilian Flora 2020: Leveraging the power of a collaborative scientific network

International audienceThe shortage of reliable primary taxonomic data limits the description of biological taxa and the understanding of biodiversity patterns and processes, complicating biogeographical, ecological, and evolutionary studies. This deficit creates a significant taxonomic impediment to biodiversity research and conservation planning. The taxonomic impediment and the biodiversity crisis are widely recognized, highlighting the urgent need for reliable taxonomic data. Over the past decade, numerous countries worldwide have devoted considerable effort to Target 1 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), which called for the preparation of a working list of all known plant species by 2010 and an online world Flora by 2020. Brazil is a megadiverse country, home to more of the world's known plant species than any other country. Despite that, Flora Brasiliensis, concluded in 1906, was the last comprehensive treatment of the Brazilian flora. The lack of accurate estimates of the number of species of algae, fungi, and plants occurring in Brazil contributes to the prevailing taxonomic impediment and delays progress towards the GSPC targets. Over the past 12 years, a legion of taxonomists motivated to meet Target 1 of the GSPC, worked together to gather and integrate knowledge on the algal, plant, and fungal diversity of Brazil. Overall, a team of about 980 taxonomists joined efforts in a highly collaborative project that used cybertaxonomy to prepare an updated Flora of Brazil, showing the power of scientific collaboration to reach ambitious goals. This paper presents an overview of the Brazilian Flora 2020 and provides taxonomic and spatial updates on the algae, fungi, and plants found in one of the world's most biodiverse countries. We further identify collection gaps and summarize future goals that extend beyond 2020. Our results show that Brazil is home to 46,975 native species of algae, fungi, and plants, of which 19,669 are endemic to the country. The data compiled to date suggests that the Atlantic Rainforest might be the most diverse Brazilian domain for all plant groups except gymnosperms, which are most diverse in the Amazon. However, scientific knowledge of Brazilian diversity is still unequally distributed, with the Atlantic Rainforest and the Cerrado being the most intensively sampled and studied biomes in the country. In times of “scientific reductionism”, with botanical and mycological sciences suffering pervasive depreciation in recent decades, the first online Flora of Brazil 2020 significantly enhanced the quality and quantity of taxonomic data available for algae, fungi, and plants from Brazil. This project also made all the information freely available online, providing a firm foundation for future research and for the management, conservation, and sustainable use of the Brazilian funga and flora