Chelating effect of carvacrol and the oregano essential oil

Essential oils are natural products obtained from parts of plants by means of steam distillation. They are also made by expression of citrus fruit pericarp [1]. Because they are a complex mixture of chemical components, they exert innumerable biological activities, such as antimicrobial, antiparasitic, antitumor, antioxidant, among others. Because of the public demand for products of natural origin in different segments of society, essential oils have gained space, mainly in the food industries, where natural preservatives are sought that can replace or be associated with the synthetic additives used. One of the desirable properties of preservatives is their ability to interact with metal ions, such as iron, by exerting a chelating effect to inhibit lipid oxidation reactions catalyzed by these ions [2]. The objective of the present work was to evaluate the chelating effect of oregano essential oil and its major constituent, carvacrol, by cyclic voltammetry. The essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation over a period of 2 hours using a modified Clevenger apparatus and characterized by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometric and flame ionization detectors. For the determination of the chelating effect, an electrochemical cell containing 0.05 mol L-1 of anhydrous Na2SO4 was used as the supporting electrolyte, and FeSO4.5H2O 0.00150 mol L-1 was the source of ferrous ions. Three electrodes were employed: Ag/AgCl (saturated in KCl) electrode was the reference, a platinum wire was the auxiliary, and glassy carbon was the working electrode. The determination of the chelating effect was performed by calculating the variation of the height of the ferrous oxidation peak with the increase in the concentrations of carvacrol and the essential oil. The essential oil from oregano contained terpinen-4-ol, carvacrol, trans-sabinene hydrate and γ-terpinene as the principal constituents. A reduction in the ferrous anodic current of 99.5 and 89% after the addition of 500 μg mL-1 of carvacrol and oregano oil, respectively, was observed, thus indicating the occurrence of a chelating effect of oregano essential oil and its constituent carvacrol

AVALIAÇÃO DOS PADRÕES DE IDENTIDADE E DE QUALIDADE DE AGUARDENTES DE FRUTAS

A produção de aguardentes de frutas pode ser dividida em diferentes etapas, similares à produção da cachaça. As características marcantes nestas aguardentes são o sabor e o aroma típicos de cada fruta. Durante o processo de fabricação destas bebidas, ocorrem diversas reações químicas que proporcionam a incorporação de grande variedade de compostos a essa, sendo responsáveis junto a todo o processo pela qualidade da bebida. Dentre estes compostos, citam-se os fenólicos, que atuam como antioxidantes, combatendo os radicais livres, evitando diferentes doenças, sendo benéficos para saúde. Na produção de aguardente, alguns contaminantes podem ser formados. Entre estes se cita o carbamato de etila (CE), que vem sendo amplamente estudado devido aos seus efeitos tóxicos e carcinogênico. Este trabalho teve como objetivos avaliar a qualidade físico-química e determinar a composição fenólica total, a atividade antioxidante e a concentração de CE de três aguardentes de frutas. Constatou-se que os parâmetros físico-químicos analisados e o CE estavam dentro dos limites estabelecidos pelo Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (MAPA), e que cada bebida analisada apresentava teores de compostos fenólicos baixos em relação aos teores encontrados para as frutas quando comparados com dados da literatura.AbstractThe production of fruit spirits can be divided into different stages, similar to that of the production of cachaça. The striking features of these spirits is the taste and the aroma typical of each fruit. Various chemical reactions occur during the process of manufacture of beverages that provide for the incorporation od a wide variety of compounds. These compounds are responsible for the quality of the beverage, together with the production process. These compounds include the phenolic substances, which act as antioxidants by eliminating free radicals, prevent different diseases, and are beneficial to health. Some contaminants can be formed In the production of spirits, including ethyl carbamate (CE), which has been widely studied for its toxic and carcinogenic effects. This study aimed to evaluate the physical- chemical quality and determine the total phenol content, the antioxidant activity and the concentration of CE in three fruit spirits. The physical-chemical parameters and the EC concentrations were within the limits established by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA). Each drink analyzed contained low levels of phenolic compounds in relation to the levels found in the fruits when compared with literature data

CORRELAÇÃO ENTRE EXTRATO SECO TOTAL, COMPOSIÇÃO FENÓLICA TOTAL E INTENSIDADE DE COR DE CACHAÇAS ENVELHECIDAS EM TONÉIS DE CARVALHO (QUERCUS SP) E AMBURANA (AMBURANA CEARENSIS) EM UM PERÍODO DE 12 MESES

O envelhecimento é a última etapa do processo de produção de cachaça, não sendo obrigatória sua realização. É uma etapa importante na fabricação da cachaça, que possibilita ao produtor agregar valor em sua bebida. Durante o processo de envelhecimento, ocorrem tanto a extração de componentes da madeira pela cachaça, contribuindo para o desenvolvimento de uma cor diferenciada, como também o contato com o oxigênio atmosférico que entra pelos poros da madeira, favorecendo reações de oxidação dos componentes presentes na cachaça, conferindo à bebida características sensoriais extremamente distintas. Assim, os objetivos deste trabalho foram determinar e quantificar extrato seco total, composição fenólica total e intensidade de cor de cachaças envelhecidas em tonéis de carvalho e amburana em um período de 12 meses e averiguar possível correlação linear destes parâmetros analisados. De acordo com os resultados de extrato seco, composição fenólica total e intensidade de cor, constatou-se uma correlação linear positiva satisfatória entre eles em ambas as madeiras. As variações ocorridas no aumento de um dos parâmetros acarretam um aumento em outro ao longo do envelhecimento da bebida.AbstractAging is the last stage of cachaça production process, not being required its achievement. It is an important step in the cachaça manufacture that allows the producers to add value in their product. During the aging process, occurs wood components extraction by the cachaça, which contributes to the development of a different color, as well allows contact with atmospheric oxygen which enters by wood pores, promoting the cachaça components oxidation and conferring to the beverage extremely differentiated sensory characteristics. This work aimed to determine and quantify total solids, phenolic composition and color intensity of cachaça aged in oak and amburana barrels in a 12 month period and also investigate a possible linear correlation of these analyzed parameters. According to the results of total solids, phenolic composition and color intensity, a satisfactory positive linear correlation was found among them in both woods. The variations in the increase of a parameter lead to the increase of another parameter during the beverage aging period

Effect of the essential oil from Cantinoa carpinifolia (Benth.) Harley & J.F.B.Pastore on efflux of potassium ions from Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus strains

Essential oils are secondary metabolites synthesized from glucose via two basic precursors, terpenes and phenylpropanoids. These compounds present diverse biological activities that reflect the very role they play in plants [1]. One of the most important properties is the antibacterial activity, although there are still few studies regarding the mechanism of action. Cantinoa carpinifolia (Benth.) Harley & J.F.B.Pastore, popularly known as rosman, is a plant species belonging to the Lamiaceae family and whose use in popular medicine is described in the treatment of diseases such as colds, flu, and rheumatism [2]. The objectives of the present work were to extract the essential oil from C. carpinifolia and to evaluate its effect on the efflux of potassium ions from strains of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The essential oil was extracted by the hydrodistillation technique using a modified Clevenger apparatus. The effect of the essential oil on the potassium efflux of bacterial strains was determined by flame photometry [3]. The concentrations tested were 6.25 μL mL-1 and 0.39 μL mL-1 for E. coli and S. aureus, respectively. The cell membrane is a barrier between the external and internal environments of the cell, being permeable to the passage of electrolytes that are important for various cellular functions, such as K+ ions. The leakage of these ions indicates that an increase in permeability or rupture of the cell membrane occurred, affecting the functioning of bacterial cell metabolism and causing lysis. There was no significant variation between the five evaluated times (0, 60, 135, 197 and 267 min) for either of the bacteria nor did the concentration of potassium ions differ statistically when the treatments containing the essential oil and the control (bacterial culture) were compared. These results suggest that the essential oil from C. carpinifolia did not influence the cell membrane permeabilities of E. coli and S. aureus to potassium ions because there was no increase in the concentration of this ion at the evaluated times

Consumo de fibras e água e sua associação com padrão fecal de idosas com síndrome metabólica / Fiber and water intake and their association with fecal pattern in elderly women with metabolic syndrome

O objetivo deste trabalho éavaliar a associação entre o padrão de evacuação fecal e o consumo de fibra e água em idosas com síndrome metabólica de acordo com os parâmetros da Federação Internacional de Diabetes (2006). Trata-se de um estudo descritivoem que 203 participantes (60-84 anos) foram submetidas à anamnese nutricional com dados sobre consistência das fezes, frequência de evacuação fecal; realização de exames bioquímicos, clínicos, antropométricos e recordatório alimentar de 24 horas paraanalisar a ingestão de fibra e água.Foi observado apropriado consumo de fibra e inadequado de água. Não houve associação entre consumo de fibra e padrão de evacuação fecal (p=0,321) e houve significância entre ingestão hídrica e padrão de evacuação fecal (p=0,017). Dessa forma, observou-se queidosas com síndrome metabólica tendem a uma baixa ingestão de água, colaborando para um ritmo intestinal lento, ainda que estejam com ideal consumo de fibra na dieta

Direct antiviral therapy for treatment of hepatitis C: A real-world study from Brazil

Introduction and objectives: Direct antiviral agents (DAAs) including sofosbuvir (SOF), daclatasvir (DCV), simeprevir (SIM) and ombitasvir, paritaprevir and dasabuvir were introduced 2015 in Brazil for treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The aims of this study were to assess effectiveness and safety of HCV treatment with DAA in real-life world in a highly admixed population from Brazil. Materials and methods: All Brazilian reference centers for HCV treatment were invited to take part in a web-based registry, prospectively conducted by the Brazilian Society of Hepatology, to assess outcomes of HCV treatment in Brazil with DAAs. Data to be collected included demographics, disease severity and comorbidities, genotype (GT), viral load, DAA regimens, treatment side effects and sustained virological response (SVR). Results: 3939 patients (60% males, mean age 58 ± 10 years) throughout the country were evaluated. Most had advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis, GT1 and were treated with SOF/DCV or SOF/SIM. Overall SVR rates were higher than 95%. Subjects with decompensated cirrhosis, GT2 and GT3 have lower SVR rates of 85%, 90% and 91%, respectively. Cirrhosis and decompensated cirrhosis in GT1 and male sex and decompensated cirrhosis in GT3 were significantly associated with no SVR. Adverse events (AD) and serious AD occurred in 18% and 5% of those subjects, respectively, but less than 1% of patients required treatment discontinuation. Conclusion: SOF-based DAA regimens are effective and safe in the heterogeneous highly admixed Brazilian population and could remain an option for HCV treatment at least in low-income countries

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES: a data set on carnivore distribution in the Neotropics

Mammalian carnivores are considered a key group in maintaining ecological health and can indicate potential ecological integrity in landscapes where they occur. Carnivores also hold high conservation value and their habitat requirements can guide management and conservation plans. The order Carnivora has 84 species from 8 families in the Neotropical region: Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Otariidae; Phocidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae. Herein, we include published and unpublished data on native terrestrial Neotropical carnivores (Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae). NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES is a publicly available data set that includes 99,605 data entries from 35,511 unique georeferenced coordinates. Detection/non-detection and quantitative data were obtained from 1818 to 2018 by researchers, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private consultants. Data were collected using several methods including camera trapping, museum collections, roadkill, line transect, and opportunistic records. Literature (peer-reviewed and grey literature) from Portuguese, Spanish and English were incorporated in this compilation. Most of the data set consists of detection data entries (n = 79,343; 79.7%) but also includes non-detection data (n = 20,262; 20.3%). Of those, 43.3% also include count data (n = 43,151). The information available in NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES will contribute to macroecological, ecological, and conservation questions in multiple spatio-temporal perspectives. As carnivores play key roles in trophic interactions, a better understanding of their distribution and habitat requirements are essential to establish conservation management plans and safeguard the future ecological health of Neotropical ecosystems. Our data paper, combined with other large-scale data sets, has great potential to clarify species distribution and related ecological processes within the Neotropics. There are no copyright restrictions and no restriction for using data from this data paper, as long as the data paper is cited as the source of the information used. We also request that users inform us of how they intend to use the data