Efeito hipoglicemiante da farinha do fruto de maracujá-do-mato (Passiflora nitida Kunth) em ratos normais e diabéticos

The Amazon region has a vast biodiversity of fruits but is little explored as to its nutritional and economic potential. Among these fruits is "maracuja-do-mato" (Passiflora nitida Kunth), a wild species of edible fruit with exotic flavor and good acceptability for consumption. The aim of the present study was to analyze the nutritional characteristics of P. nitida fruit mesocarp and to evaluate its hypoglycemic potential in normal and diabetic rats. Flour from the fruit mesocarp was prepared and analyzed as to its centesimal composition. Hypoglycemic activity was assessed by means of two experimental models in Wistar rats. The mesocarp showed low concentration of macronutrients and high humidity, ash and fiber content. In the acute experiment, after 15 minutes of sucrose administration, glucose levels were 146 ± 12 mg dL -1 in the control group and 112 ± 2.5 mg dL -1 in the group receiving 1 g kg -1 flour weight. In the chronic experiment, after 21 days, glucose levels reduced from 493 mg dL -1 to 302 mg dL -1 (38.7%) and 195 mg dL -1 (60.4%) in the groups treated with 20 and 40% animal food enriched with the flour, respectively, in relation to the diabetic untreated group. In both experimental models, the mesocarp flour was effective in reducing blood glucose. P. nitida fruit seems to be a potential natural product in the glycemic control of diabetes

Inquérito sobre fungos anemófilos na fronteira Brasil - Colômbia

Foi realizado um inquérito, sobre fungos anemófllos, em três vilarejos situados na fronteira Brasil-Colômbia, zona muito quente e úmida, durante o mês de julho de 1978. Em apenas uma coleta feita, em diferentes pontos, foram cultivadas colônias pertencentes a dezoito gêneros diferentes de fungos anemófllos, com predominância de Mucor (64,3%), Cândida (54,8%), Rhodotorula (38,1%) e Penicillium (38,1%).<br>An inquiry of anemophilous fungi was carried out in small towns located at the Brasilian- Colombian border, a hot and humid zone, during the month of July, 1978. In just one collection, carried out at different sites, colonies were cultivated, and belonged to eighteen different species of anemophilous fungi with predominance of Mucor (64.3%), Candida (54.8%), Rhodotorula (38.1%) and Penicillium (38.1%)