ANTIOXIDANT AND EFFECTS OF PROCESSING USING BIXIN POTASSIUM SALT AS A NITRITE REPLACEMENT IN RESTRUCTURED MEAT PRODUCTS

This study aimed to evaluate bixin potassium salt as a replacement for sodium nitrite (NaNO2) in restructured meat products. Bixin was obtained from the chloroform extract of annatto seeds using a Soxhlet apparatus. Restructured meat samples were prepared using raw retail cuts of beef (vastus lateralis), stored at −16º C, and evaluated during storage at 60 days. The efficacy of bixin potassium salt as a NaNO2 replacement in restructured meat was evaluated by measuring residual concentrations of TBARS, color (L*, a*, and b* components), a sensory preference test, and microbiological parameters. Bixin potassium salt proved to be a viable alternative to nitrites for preserving the color and inhibiting the oxidative degradation of restructured meat. The outcomes showed that the effect of bixin potassium salt on microbiological stabilization was quite variable, depending on the bacterial species considered

Phytochemical and Antinociceptive, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antioxidant Studies of Smilax larvata

The tea of aerial parts of Smilax larvata Griseb. (Smilacaceae) has been ethnopharmacologically used in Southern Brazil due to its anti-inflammatory action. In this study, ethanolic and organic extracts from aerial parts of S. larvata were phytochemically and pharmacologically characterized. The phytochemical analysis of EtOAc extract of S. larvata revealed the presence of three flavonoids, drabanemoroside, kaempferol 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→2)-α-L-rhamnopyranoside, and kaempferol, the first two being isolated for the first time in this genus, two phenolic compounds p-hydroxybenzoic acid and p-coumaric acid, and alkaloids. In vitro assays demonstrated a potential antioxidant property of SLG. The treatment with SLG induced a significant reduction of the formalin-evoked flinches in rats, an effect reversed by opioid antagonist naloxone. Treatment with SLG also induced a significant increase in the hot plate latency and a decrease of intestinal motility by 45%. No effect was observed over nociceptive responses induced by a TRPA1 agonist mustard oil or over acetic acid-induced writhing in mice. Together, our data suggested that SLG has an in vivo antinociceptive effect, which seems to be associated with the opioid system activation. These findings support previous claims of medical use of Smilax larvata in the treatment of pain conditions

Antimicrobial activity of Alternanthera brasiliana Kuntze (Amaranthaceae): a biomonitored study

In an attempt to identify new antimicrobial compounds with potential to be used as a bactericidal/ fungicidal agent, a biomonitored study of extracts of Alternanthera brasiliana, which is used in Brazilian folk medicine as bactericidal, analgesic and anti-inflammatory, was developed. Different techniques of evaluation have been used in the partitioned extracts of the antimicrobial activity associated with chromatographic methodologies. The work led to the isolation of two substances in the ethyl acetate extract, identified as quercetin and sitosterol glycoside and the antibacterial evaluation of these substances demonstrated that the flavonoid presented antibacterial action against S. aureus. Further studies intend to identify new substances with antibacterial activity in extracts of A. brasiliana.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

PAMPA Permeability, Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition and Antioxidant Activity of Pyranoisoflavones from Polygala molluginifolia

A phytochemical investigation of Polygala molluginifolia (root, stem, leaves and flowers) resulted in the isolation of four pyranoisoflavones, of which isoflavone 1 was previously unknown in the literature. Isoflavones 2-4: , although they are known synthetic compounds, are described in this work as new natural products. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their antioxidant effects and potential for inhibiting the acetylcholinesterase enzyme. Isoflavones 1 and 4 inhibited acetylcholinesterase, displaying IC50 values of 68 µmol L-1 and 84 µmol L-1, respectively. In the DPPH assay, the same compounds and rutin 5 exhibited EC50 values of 61 µmol L-1, 55 µmol L-1 and 16 µmol L-1, respectively. Moreover, the permeability of compounds 1-4: was evaluated using parallel artificial membrane permeability assay (PAMPA) with isoflavones 3 (9.25 × 10-6 cm s-1) and 4 (3.48 × 10-6 cm s-1) exhibiting the highest permeabilities

Phytochemical and Antinociceptive, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antioxidant Studies of Smilax larvata (Smilacaceae)

The tea of aerial parts of Smilax larvata Griseb. (Smilacaceae) has been ethnopharmacologically used in Southern Brazil due to its anti-inflammatory action. In this study, ethanolic and organic extracts from aerial parts of S. larvata were phytochemically and pharmacologically characterized. The phytochemical analysis of EtOAc extract of S. larvata revealed the presence of three flavonoids, drabanemoroside, kaempferol 3-O--L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→2)--L-rhamnopyranoside, and kaempferol, the first two being isolated for the first time in this genus, two phenolic compounds p-hydroxybenzoic acid and p-coumaric acid, and alkaloids. In vitro assays demonstrated a potential antioxidant property of SLG. The treatment with SLG induced a significant reduction of the formalin-evoked flinches in rats, an effect reversed by opioid antagonist naloxone. Treatment with SLG also induced a significant increase in the hot plate latency and a decrease of intestinal motility by 45%. No effect was observed over nociceptive responses induced by a TRPA1 agonist mustard oil or over acetic acid-induced writhing in mice. Together, our data suggested that SLG has an in vivo antinociceptive effect, which seems to be associated with the opioid system activation. These findings support previous claims of medical use of Smilax larvata in the treatment of pain conditions