Propriedades nutricionais e medicinais de frutos e pedúnculos de Prunus avium L. (Cerejeira)

Prunus avium L. (cereja doce) é um dos frutos de clima temperado mais popular, sendo altamente apreciado pelos consumidores e extensamente estudado pela comunidade científica. Ao contrário dos frutos que têm sido amplamente estudados, nada se sabe sobre a composição química e propriedades bioativas dos pedúnculos de P. avium, apesar do uso na medicina tradicional de infusões e decocções preparadas a partir dessas partes. Portanto, o objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar frutos e pedúnculos de cereja doce quanto à sua composição nutricional, fitoquímicos individuais e propriedades bioativas. Foram estabelecidos os perfis cromatográficos em açúcares, ácidos orgânicos, ácidos gordos, tocoferóis e compostos fenólicos. Todas as preparações (extratos metanol/água 80:20 v/v, infusões e decocções) obtidas utilizando pedúnculos revelaram maior potencial antioxidante do que o extrato metanol/água obtido a partir dos frutos, o que certamente está relacionado com a maior concentração de compostos fenólicos (ácidos fenólicos e flavonoides) encontrada nos pedúnculos, em comparação com os frutos. O extrato metanol/água obtido a partir dos frutos foi o único a revelar potencial antitumoral, com especificidade para a linha celular humana HCT-15 (carcinoma do cólon) (GI50~74 g/mL). Este resultado pode estar relacionado com a presença de antocianinas, que só foram encontradas nos frutos e não nos pedúnculos. Nenhuma das preparações testadas mostrou hepatotoxicidade contra células normais. No geral, o presente estudo apresenta resultados inovadores em relação à caracterização química e propriedades bioativas de pedúnculos de cereja doce, e confirmou as características nutricionais e antioxidantes dos seus frutos.Prunus avium L. (sweet cherry) is one of the most popular climate fruits, being highly appreciated by consumers and studied by the scientific community. In opposition to the widely studied fruits and despite the traditional medicinal use of infusions and decoctions prepared from P. avium stems, nothing is known about their chemical composition and bioactive properties. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterise sweet cherry fruits and stems regarding nutritional composition, individual phytochemicals and bioactive properties. The chromatographic profiles in sugars, organic acids, fatty acids, tocopherols and phenolic compounds were established. All the preparations (methanol/water 80:20 v/v extracts, infusions and decoctions) obtained using stems revealed higher antioxidant potential than the tested methanol/water extract from fruits, which is certainly related with the higher phenolic compounds (phenolic acids and flavonoids) concentration found in stems, in comparison with fruits. The fruits methanol/water extract was the only one showing antitumor potential, revealing selectivity against HCT-15 (colon carcinoma) (GI50~74 g/mL). This could be related with the presence of anthocyanins that were only found in fruits and not in stems. None of the tested preparations have shown hepatotoxicity against normal primary cells. Overall, the present study reports innovative results regarding chemical characterization and bioactive properties of sweet cherry stems, and confirmed the nutritional and antioxidant characteristics of their fruits

Ethnomycological prospect of wild edible and medicinal mushrooms from Central and Southern Africa

In diferente regions of Africa, the people´s diet depends partially on edible products from wild animals, plants, or mushrooms, motivated not only by the high cost of living but also by the profusion of such products in local environment (Soro et al., 2019). In addition to being appreciated for their high nutritional value, rich in proteins, carbohydrates, elements (phosphorous, potassium, calcium, copper, magnesium, iron, zinc), vitamins, and lower fat amounts, thesse non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are the basis of various dietary, ethnic, cultural, religious, and medicinal considerations, depending on ethnic groups. Despite the rich biodiversity of the African continent, this remains largely unexplored resulting in a poor food contribution to the often malnourished populations (Yongabi et al., 2004). Thus, the aim of this review is to gather information on the wild mushroom species used in Central and Southern Africa and their main uses, with a focus on food and medicinal species.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Chemical characterization and bioactive properties of Prunus avium L.: The widely studied fruits and the unexplored stems

The aim of this study was to characterize sweet cherry regarding nutritional composition of the fruits, and individual phytochemicals and bioactive properties of fruits and stems. The chromatographic profiles in sugars, organic acids, fatty acids, tocopherols and phenolic compounds were established. All the preparations (extracts, infusions and decoctions) obtained using stems revealed higher antioxidant potential than the fruits extract, which is certainly related with its higher phenolic compounds (phenolic acids and flavonoids) concentration. The fruits extract was the only one showing antitumor potential, revealing selectivity against HCT-15 (colon carcinoma) (GI50~74 μg/mL). This could be related with anthocyanins that were only found in fruits and not in stems. None of the preparations have shown hepatotoxicity against normal primary cells. Overall, this study reports innovative results regarding chemical and bioactive properties of sweet cherry stems, and confirmed the nutritional and antioxidant characteristics of their fruits.The authors are grateful to Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support to the research centre CIMO (strategic project PEst OE/AGR/UI0690/2011) and L. Barros researcher contract under “Programa Compromisso com Ciência – 2008”

Ethnomycological prospect of wild edible and medicinal mushrooms from Central and Southern Africa

In diferente regions of Africa, the people´s diet depends partially on edible products from wild animals, plants, or mushrooms, motivated not only by the high cost of living but also by the profusion of such products in local environment (Soro et al., 2019). In addition to being appreciated for their high nutritional value, rich in proteins, carbohydrates, elements (phosphorous, potassium, calcium, copper, magnesium, iron, zinc), vitamins, and lower fat amounts, thesse nontimber forest products (NTFPs) are the basis of various dietary, ethnic, cultural, religious, and medicinal considerations, depending on ethnic groups. Despite the rich biodiversity of the African continent, this remains largely unexplored resulting in a poor food contribution to the often malnourished populations (Yongabi et al., 2004). Thus, the aim of this review is to gather information on the wild mushroom species used in Central and Southern Africa and theirmain uses, with a focus on food and medicinal species.To the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support by national funds FCT/MCTES to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020), Claudete Bastos PhD grant (SFRH/BD/151519/2021), Â. Liberal PhD grant (2021.04585.BD), LEAF , cE3c (UIDB/00329/2020).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A EXPLORAÇÃO SEXUAL DE CRIANÇAS E ADOLESCENTES NO TURISMO BRASILEIRO

O turismo sexual organizado é um problema atual a ser enfrentado por toda a sociedade. O turismo não é causa da exploração sexual, mas os exploradores aproveitam-se das facilidades oferecidas pelo “trade” turístico, que muitas vezes ajuda, criando uma demanda ao promover a imagem exótica de um lugar. Diante do exposto, esta pesquisa tem por objetivo apontar e analisar os fatores que levam à exploração sexual no turismo, quais os principais instrumentos de proteção tidos por necessários e como estão na prática sendo aplicados para resguardar os direitos humanos das crianças e adolescentes. Possui relevância tanto acadêmica, pois trata de uma questão não muito aprofundada nesse meio, como social, onde o aprofundamento sobre o tema também é fundamental, tendo em vista este problema existir e incomodar a toda sociedade, porque atinge, principalmente, seres humanos indefesos, crianças e adolescentes, que estão sendo explorados por turistas estrangeiros e nacionais, onde o tráfico de drogas, o tráfico de pessoas e a rede de prostituição estão presentes

Ethnomycological prospect of wild edible and medicinal mushrooms from Central and Southern Africa—A review

Abstract In several regions of Africa, the daily diet is partly dependent on the edible products from wild animals, plants, and mushrooms, driven by their availability, wide distribution in the local environment, and the low incomes of the general population. The documentation of ethnomycological information is particularly important to validate or correct the identification of specimens and the preservation of these natural resources with cultivation potential, thus improving their consumption and utilization for medicinal purposes. The number of wild edible mushroom species consumed varies between different regions of Africa, with around 300 species being documented in the literature. However, despite its rich biodiversity, the African continent is still underexploited, which is reflected in poor food contribution to populations that are often in need. Here, the safe use of mushrooms is guided by the insufficiency of studies that validate their nutritional and medicinal properties, since they are key factors in the suppression of protein deficiency in the everyday diet of the populations and a source of bioactive compounds useful for the formulation of added‐value functional products. Thus, it becomes essential to investigate African mushrooms, not only from the identification point of view, but also in terms of nutritional, chemical, and bioactive characterization, hence deepen the knowledge about this valuable natural resource. Bearing these in mind, the main objective of this study is to systematize the knowledge available in scientific publications and specialized websites, thus gathering information about the valuable profits that come from using these widely appreciated natural products