Biologically-active compounds from Brazilian lichens and their affinity with ether

It can be obtained from lichens biologically-active extracts and pure substances, many of them of phenolic nature. They are usually obtained by using organic solvents, such as diethyl ether. In this paper the usefulness of ether for the obtainment of crude extracts and the subsequent purification of pure substances from Brazilian lichen is reviewed, as well as alternatives to their production through cells or thallus immobilization in bioreactors and their entrapment in inert matrix

New development: Running elections during a pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic posed a profound challenge for the delivery of elections worldwide. Elections are indispensable for democracy, but the high volume of human interactions within the electoral process risked spreading the virus. Electoral officials therefore found themselves planning or managing an election during an emergency situation, often for the first time. This article argues that there are several major organizational ‘elephant traps’ that polities will need to side-step during pandemics in order to safely protect the healthy running of elections. IMPACT: Elections often take place in during emergency situations such as pandemics, floods, earthquakes and hurricanes. In order to secure electoral integrity, this article encourages governments, legislators and electoral management bodies to: build political consensuses, consider the impact on the whole electoral cycle, include a wide range of stakeholders in meetings, invest in sufficient resources, undertake risk assessments and avoid late major changes to electoral law

Bioactive Compounds from Brazilian Lichens and Their Biotechnological Applications

Lichens are the symbiotic organisms formed by one species of fungus associated to one or more species of green algae and/or cyanobacteria. The relationship between these organisms results in a metabolism that culminates in a production of exclusive compounds, named lichen substances, also known as lichen compounds or lichen acids. These products are known to exhibit several biological properties, and can be effective against several diseases. Several species of lichens found in Brazil have been identified and characterized for their bioactives during the last few decades. Studies have shown that these species possess antimicrobial, antineoplastic, anti-inflammatory, anti-leishmanial, and many more such bioactivities. In most cases, the articles mention different mechanisms of action. In complement, biotechnological studies have been carried out to achieve a continuous production of bioactive compounds, for example, the use of small amounts of thallus, collected directly from the environment, bioconservation processes, nanotechnological assays, nano and microencapsulations for a controlled drug liberation, incorporation in polymer matrix for pharmacological uses, etc. The possibility of extensive use of lichen substances encourages for further studies in this field, including the Brazilian species

Proposal to change the conserved type of Ipomoea, nom. cons. (Convolvulaceae)

Ipomoea L. is the largest (650–900 species, depending on the concept adopted) and most iconic genus in Convolvulaceae, a family of c. 1880 species (data from Staples, Convolvulaceae Unlimited, 2012 at: http//convolvulaceae.myspecies.info), including the important crop sweetpotato, Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. (Tabl. Encycl. 1: 465. 1793), and several ornamental species commonly known as “bindweeds” or “morning glories” (Wilkin in Kew Bull. 54: 853–876. 1999; Mabberley, Mabberley's Plant‐book. 2008). The genus has a long history of taxonomic and nomenclatural problems, mainly for the lack of a clear morphological circumscription and overlap with other genera. In his Species plantarum (1753), Linnaeus distinguished two genera, Convolvulus L. and Ipomoea, whose species suffered numerous re‐arrangements, between Ipomoea and Convolvulus, but especially into numerous more recently described genera, which amount today to a total of 60 (Staples in World Checklist of Vascular Plants, v.2.0. 2020, http://wcvp.science.kew.org/ retrieved 2 Apr 2020)