Biomarkers as a tool to monitor environmental impact on Aquatic Ecosystems / Biomarcadores como ferramenta para monitorar o impacto ambiental nos Ecossistemas Aquáticos

The assessment of aquatic contaminants through biomarkers is an efficient approach in studies of environmental risk and impact since it detects the effects of living beings exposed to the polluted environment early. In this sense, this study aims to demonstrate the use of metallothionein, acetylcholinesterase, micronuclei, comet assay, and cytochrome P450 biomarkers, correlating them to the xenobiotic process in the aquatic environment and how they signal changes in this environment. This is a bibliographic review, which was carried out searches in the VHL databases: Lilacs, Medline, and Google Scholar, from 2006 to 2020. Metallothioneins is a biomarker that assesses the process of detoxification and homeostasis of metal ions. Acetylcholinesterase is used to assess the neurotoxic effects caused by xenobiotics. Exposure to genotoxic compounds is verified by the micronucleus tests and comet assay, being this an evaluation at the cellular level, where the first analyzes nuclear abnormalities or deformation in the morphology of the nucleus, and the other verifies breaks in the DNA structure. Cytochrome P450 plays a central role in oxidative metabolism and detoxification of natural and xenobiotic substances present in pesticides and fertilizers. It is known that aquatic contamination is a threat to the conservation and management of these ecosystems, making it necessary to use specific and sensitive biomarkers that are capable of detecting the damage early. Therefore, biomarkers correspond to an effective tool for this purpose, as it enables the production of reliable data, favoring the implementation of adequate measures for the prevention, either-or recovery of aquatic ecosystems

Atividades antioxidante e inibitória da acetil colinesterase do extrato das folhas de Hymenaea rubriflora / Antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhbition activity from Hymenaea rubriflora Ducke (Fabaceae) leaf extract

Hymenaea rubriflora is an endemic and edible plant from tropical weather, especially present in Brazilian flora and have been reported as medicinal plant in ethnobotanical studies. There has been less previous evidence regarding its biological application, therefore, to overcome this problem the present work aimed to evaluate whether the metabolites of Hymenaea rubriflora host antioxidant and anti- acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. To investigate these activities a whole range of different approaches as phytochemical screening, lipidic peroxidation, DPPH scavenging and total antioxidant capacity, and acetylcholinesterase inhibition assay were used. The analysis found evidence for the presence of different secondary metabolites, among them: phenolic compounds (at 286.02 ± 1.75 GAE/mg.DW concentration), flavonoids ( at 23.19 ± 2.38 QE/mg.DW concentration), known as natural antioxidants and highlighted its effectiveness as AChE inhibitor, being able to inhibit AChE activity in 96% on 10 mg/mL. In this study we provide insights of H. rubriflora extract as an alternative antioxidant and AchE inhibitor agent, relevant to the context of neurological disorders and cognitive processes.

Analysis of Exogenous Poisoning by Pesticide in the State of Bahia-Brazil during the Period from 2007 to 2017

Brazil is one of the main exporters of agricultural products and is one of the largest consumers of pesticides in the world. Bahia stands out in irrigated agriculture, with growth at the national and international level exports. The aim of this study is to describe and analyze the spatial distribution, and the epidemiological profile of the population with confirmed cases of pesticides intoxication in the state of Bahia-Brazil, from 2007 to 2017. It is an ecological and retrospective study of a series, with secondary data collected at the Department of Informatics of the System Of Health (DATASUS), on notifications and confirmed cases of pesticide poisoning in the state in 2007 to 2017. In Bahia, about 1,632 notifications of exogenous pesticide poisoning in the investigated period, confirming about 1137 cases. The main age group affected by these intoxications were related to 20-39 years of age. The results of this study show the increase in the number of notified and confirmed cases in Bahia during years from 2007 to 2017, thus suggesting the carrying out of research on the subject in this and other Brazilian states, in order to monitor and evaluate the causes of these pesticide poisoning, and improve health promotion

Impacts of Agricultural Toxicity on Non-Target Organisms in Aquatic Ecosystem

The present review addresses the impacts of pesticides used in crops on non-target organisms in aquatic ecosystems. In recent decades, these ecosystems have received large amounts of these compounds, which are released by urban communities, rural and industrial properties. Pesticides reach the aquatic environment through different routes (leaching, irrigation, drainage, and surface runoff) and can easily reach non-target organisms, such as fish, mollusks, as well as other benthic organisms. Usually, these animals tend to undergo bioaccumulation. Exposure to these pesticides can cause numerous physiological changes by direct influence on certain cellular structures, such as on the lysosomal membrane, which can be degraded. Also, they can even react with nucleic acids resulting in several genetic injuries, thus causing adverse reactions to the body. There is a need for more incentives for the adoption of sustainable agroecological practices, as well as a ban on active ingredients harmful to the environment, in addition to strict inspection by competent environmental agencies

ATLANTIC EPIPHYTES: a data set of vascular and non-vascular epiphyte plants and lichens from the Atlantic Forest

Epiphytes are hyper-diverse and one of the frequently undervalued life forms in plant surveys and biodiversity inventories. Epiphytes of the Atlantic Forest, one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world, have high endemism and radiated recently in the Pliocene. We aimed to (1) compile an extensive Atlantic Forest data set on vascular, non-vascular plants (including hemiepiphytes), and lichen epiphyte species occurrence and abundance; (2) describe the epiphyte distribution in the Atlantic Forest, in order to indicate future sampling efforts. Our work presents the first epiphyte data set with information on abundance and occurrence of epiphyte phorophyte species. All data compiled here come from three main sources provided by the authors: published sources (comprising peer-reviewed articles, books, and theses), unpublished data, and herbarium data. We compiled a data set composed of 2,095 species, from 89,270 holo/hemiepiphyte records, in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, recorded from 1824 to early 2018. Most of the records were from qualitative data (occurrence only, 88%), well distributed throughout the Atlantic Forest. For quantitative records, the most common sampling method was individual trees (71%), followed by plot sampling (19%), and transect sampling (10%). Angiosperms (81%) were the most frequently registered group, and Bromeliaceae and Orchidaceae were the families with the greatest number of records (27,272 and 21,945, respectively). Ferns and Lycophytes presented fewer records than Angiosperms, and Polypodiaceae were the most recorded family, and more concentrated in the Southern and Southeastern regions. Data on non-vascular plants and lichens were scarce, with a few disjunct records concentrated in the Northeastern region of the Atlantic Forest. For all non-vascular plant records, Lejeuneaceae, a family of liverworts, was the most recorded family. We hope that our effort to organize scattered epiphyte data help advance the knowledge of epiphyte ecology, as well as our understanding of macroecological and biogeographical patterns in the Atlantic Forest. No copyright restrictions are associated with the data set. Please cite this Ecology Data Paper if the data are used in publication and teaching events. © 2019 The Authors. Ecology © 2019 The Ecological Society of Americ

Caracterização da acetilcolinesterase cerebral do tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) e efeito de pesticidas organofosforados e carbamatos sobre sua atividade

Organofosforados e carbamatos são as principais classes de pesticidas no mercado mundial. Sua rápida degradação e baixa estabilidade no meio ambiente fizeram com que substituíssem rapidamente outras classes importantes. Todavia, sua alta toxicidade em relação aos mamíferos e outros organismos não-alvo aliada às grandes quantidades utilizadas constituem uma ameaça à saúde humana e ambiental. O modo de ação de ambas as classes baseia-se na inibição de enzimas colinesterases. Metodologias vêm sendo desenvolvidas utilizando colinesterases de organismos aquáticos para detectar a presença de pesticidas em amostras ambientais, uma vez que seus habitats são constantemente contaminados por esses compostos. Neste trabalho, a acetilcolinesterase presente no extrato bruto (AChE; EC 3.1.1.7) de cérebro de tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) foi exposta a concentrações de 0,001 a 10 ppm de um pesticida comercial, cujo princípio ativo é o organofosforado diclorvós. Os resultados demonstraram inibição de aproximadamente 18% da atividade enzimática referente à concentração de 0,01 ppm (0,0452 μmol/L) do princípio ativo. Em seguida, a enzima foi caracterizada e exposta a cinco pesticidas organofosforados e dois carbamatos: diclorvós, diazinon, clorpirifós, temefós, TEPP, carbaril e carbofuran, respectivamente. Foram determinados parâmetros físico-químicos e cinéticos como pH ótimo (7,0 a 8,0), temperatura ótima (40 a 45ºC) e estabilidade térmica (60% da atividade retida até 50ºC). As concentrações dos pesticidas foram de 0,001 a 10 ppm. A concentração de 0,001 ppm causou decréscimo na atividade enzimática em 34,4% (dichlorvos), 17,1% (clorpirifós) e 16,3% (carbofuran). A CI50 estimada para cada composto foi 0,0451 μmol/L (diclorvós), 7,583 μmol/L (clorpirifós), 3,734 μmol/L (TEPP), 33,86 μmol/L (carbaril), 0,9202 μmol/L (carbofuran). Esses resultados contribuem para a determinação de condições ótimas experimentais e sugerem a utilização da acetilcolinesterase de tambaqui no monitoramento ambiental de alguns desses pesticida

Acetilcolinesterase cerebral e eritrocitária como biomarcadores in vitro da exposição a pesticidas organofosforados e carbamatos

Organofosforados e carbamatos são as principais classes de inseticidas no mercado mundial. Sua rápida degradação e baixa estabilidade no meio ambiente fizeram com que substituíssem rapidamente outras classes importantes. Todavia, sua alta toxicidade em relação aos organismos não-alvo aliada às grandes quantidades utilizadas constituem uma ameaça à saúde humana e ambiental. O modo de ação de ambas as classes baseia-se na inibição de enzimas colinesterases. No presente trabalho, a acetilcolinesterase presente no cérebro de cinco espécies de peixes, Colossoma macropomum (tambaqui), Arapaima gigas (pirarucu), Rachycentron canadum (beijupirá), Oreochromis niloticus (tilápia do Nilo) e Cichla ocellaris (tucunaré) foi caracterizada fisico-quimica e cineticamente e foi exposta a pesticidas organofosforados, carbamatos e a íons. A acetilcolinesterase eritrocitária humana também foi exposta a esses pesticidas a fim de verificar a viabilidade de seu uso na detecção de pesticidas em agricultores residentes em localidades distantes dos laboratórios de análises. Os resultados demonstraram a possibilidade de estimação de parâmetros de eficiência catalítica (Kcat, Kcat/km, Energia de ativação e acréscimo na velocidade de reação) a partir do extrato bruto. Além disso, foi observada alta sensibilidade dos extratos enzimáticos de peixes aos pesticidas, principalmente ao diclorvós, carbofuran e tetraetil pirofosfato (TEPP). Também foi verificada a influência causada por alguns íons sobre a atividade dessas enzimas uma vez que eles são frequentemente encontrados em amostras ambientais. Nos ensaios com a enzima eritrocitária humana, constatou-se que a mesma, nas condições de ensaio propostas, foi sensível a concentrações dos pesticidas abaixo dos limites recomendados pela legislação nacional e internacional. Tais resultados contribuem para a determinação de condições ótimas experimentais e sugerem a utilização da acetilcolinesterase dessas fontes como biomarcador in vitro no monitoramento ambiental e da exposição ocupacional de alguns desses pesticida