Bioactive potential and antimicrobial activity of two pomegranate cv peel and seed extracts

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruit is widely recognized for its high biological activity and benefits to human health. Nevertheless, pomegranate juice extraction generates considerable amounts of peel and seed by-products, because only half of the fruit represents the edible part. Although the juice itself possesses powerful biological capacities, such as antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, the by-products also possess equivalent or superior biological activities. On the other hand, the recovery and valorisation of these wastes will lead to the reduction of their environmental impact that is in line with the desirable models of a circular economy. The present study aimed to access the antimicrobial activity of pomegranate peel and seed freeze- dried ethanolic extracts against different strains of pathogenic/contaminant and beneficial microorganisms. Two pomegranate cultivars (Wonderful and Acco) from Alentejo region (Portugal), were used as the vegetable material. Extractions were made using mixtures of EtOH:H2O (25:75, 50:50 and 75:25 v/v) from dried and ground vegetable material. After extraction, the characterization of the ethanolic extracts obtained from peels and seeds was performed in terms of total phenolic compounds, total flavonoids, antioxidant activity and acetylcholinesterase inhibition activity. Phenolic and flavonoid compounds were expressed as mg GAEq/mg of extract and mg CATEq/mg of extract, respectively. IC50 was used to express the results of antioxidant activity and acetylcholinesterase inhibition activity. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts that revealed the best bioactive potential, was accessed by the disc diffusion assay, the minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MIC and MBC). Peels of both varieties revealed the highest bioactive characteristics, with higher levels of antioxidant activity, phenolics and flavonoids. The solvent EtOH:H2O 75:25 allowed obtaining extracts with the best correlation between extraction yield and antioxidant activity. All the pomegranate peel extracts showed selective antimicrobial activity against the tested microorganisms and differences in MIC and MBC. Further studies including cell toxicity assays are recommended, if the extracts are intended for food applications.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Interactions between glycerol, PEG-200 and (NH4)2 SO4 in the stability of heterologous cutinase

Cutinases (EC 3.1.1.74)are versatile enzymes that have hydrolytic activity on various esters [1]. The spacial structure and the catalytic site of the enzymes can be protected by chemical additives to promove the stability of the activity [2, 3]. The goal of this work was to improve the stability of a recombinant cutinase produced by Escherichia coli

Antioxidant and neuroprotective effects of Hyptis suaveolens,Hyptis pectinata and Hyptis marrubioides in Caenorhabditiselegans

The increasing trend for the use of natural products as sources of pharmacologically active molecules has changed attitudes in the population. Given the existing demand, a credible scientific analysis and validation of the effect of these natural products is necessary. The genus Hyptis Jacq. (Lamiaceae) has about 300 species with wide distribution, among which Hyptis suaveolens, Hyptis pectinata and Hyptis marrubioides (HS, HP, HM, respectively) are used in folk medicine and are commercialized in street markets for treatment of several diseases. This study aims to evaluate the neuroprotective activity, as well as to elucidate some of the cellular mechanisms involved in the pharmacological action of HS/HP/HM plant extracts using Caenorhabditis elegans, as an animal model. For this purpose, we used a C. elegans model of Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), expressing a human mutant ATXN-3 and a C. elegans model of frontotemporal dementia with parkinsonism-17 (FTDP-17), expressing a mutant form of tau protein, and tested ethanolic leaf extracts from HS, HP, and HM. Our data showed that chronic treatment with 1 mg/ mL of HS/HP/HM extracts had a beneficial impact in these diseases since it significantly ameliorated the locomotor defects exhibited by C. elegans. Moreover, with C. elegans model of MJD, the chronic treatment with the Hyptis extracts also increased the animals survival. We observed, in both models, a significant protection against jugloneinduced oxidative damage (by more than 50%), after chronic treatment with these extracts. Using C. elegans reporter strains we also observed a higher induction of gst-4, in HS/HP/HM extract-treated animals upon exposure to oxidative damage. Our findings support an antioxidant and neuroprotective activity of HS, HP e HM, suggesting the activating specific antioxidant enzymes like gst-4.This work was supported by national funds from FCT—Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, under the projects PTDC/AGR-ALI/105169/2008, PEst-OE/AGR/UI4033/2014, and INTERACT—ISAC project, no. NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000017, cofinanced by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through NORTE 2020 (North Regional Operational Program 2014/2020).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Knowledge about dentoalveolar trauma protocol in teachers of educational entities in the Metropolitan region

Introducción:El traumatismo dentoalveolar es una lesión frecuente en la infancia y un problema de salud pública. Un resultado favorable dependerá del conocimiento previo sobre su manejo.Objetivo: Describir el nivel de conocimientos sobre traumatismos dentoalveolar en docentes de establecimientos educacionales de la Región Metropolitana, durante el año 2020.Métodos:Estudio transversal en una muestra de 384 docentes de establecimientos educacionales en la Región Metropolitana, elegidos de forma aleatoria. Se midió el conocimiento sobre manejo de traumatismo dentoalveolar mediante cuestionario de tres dimensiones. La primera registra datos personales y experiencias previas en traumatismo dentoalveolar; la segunda mide conocimiento general, lugar de atención, manejo del tiempo, acondicionamiento, transporte y tipos de dentición. El puntaje clasifica en buen nivel (16 – 20), regular (8 a15.9), deficiente (0 – 7.9). La tercera dimensión valora la actitud frente al trauma de avulsión y fractura dentaria mediante dos casos hipotéticos y cuatro enunciados. Se describió nivel de conocimientos en tablas y gráficos. Estudio aprobado por Comité de Ética Científico.Resultados:La muestra estudiada fue mayoritariamente de mujeres (89,3%), edad media 37.1± 9.8 años, principalmente de educación preescolar, 11.6 ± 8.8 años experiencia laboral. El nivel de conocimiento fue deficiente en 56.8 %, sin diferencias por sexo, edad, experiencia laboral y lugar de trabajo. Un tercio califica con actitud adecuada frente al trauma de avulsión dentaria, valor que aumenta al enfrentar una fractura dentaria, 67.7 %.Conclusión:Este estudio muestra un conocimiento deficiente sobre traumatismo dentoalveolar en docentes, lo que puede condicionar un mal pronóstico del diente. Introduction:Dentoalveolar trauma is a frequent lesion in childhood and a public health problem. A favorable result will depend of the previous knowledge about its management.Objective: To describe the level of knowledge about dentoalveolar trauma in teachers of educational entities in the Metropolitan region, that include the provinces of Chacabuco, Cordillera, Maipo, Melipilla, Santiago and Talagante, during 2020. Methods:A cross-sectional study was carried out in a sample of 384 teachers from educational entities in the Metropolitan region, selected at random. Knowledge About management dentoalveolar trauma was measured by a questionnaire of three dimensions. The first dimension registers personal information and previous experiences in dentoalveolar trauma; the second one measures the general knowledge, assistance place, management of time, conditioning, transport and dentition type. The score classifies in good level (16 – 20), fair (8 a 15.9), deficient (0 – 7.9). The third dimension assesses the behavior to face avulsion trauma and dental fracture by two hypothetical cases and four enunciates. The level of knowledge was described in tables and graphs. This study was approved by the Scientific Ethics Committee.Results:In the sample, most of the women for a 89.3%, were middle aged, 37.1± 8.8 years old, mainly of preschooler education, 11.6 ± 8.8 years of job experience. The level of knowledge was deficient in a 56.8 %, without differences in sex, age, job experience and place of work. The third part classifies with adequate behavior facing the dental avulsion trauma, value which increases when facing a dental fracture for a 67.7 %. Conclusion:This study shows a deficient knowledge about dentoalveolar trauma in teachers, this situation can condition a bad prognosis of the teeth.

Rhizopus arrhizus ucp1295 como fonte econômica para produção de biopolímeros funcionais quitina e quitosana utilizando substratos renováveis / Rhizopus arrhizus ucp1295 as economic source for production of functional biopolymers chitin and chitosan using renewable substrates

Neste trabalho foi investigada a produção de quitina e quitosana por Rhizopus arrhizus UCP 1295 isolado do solo da Caatinga do Estado de Pernambuco, Brasil, utilizando o efluente industrial de doces e milhocina como substratos de baixo custo, considerando a versatilidade de aplicação das biomoléculas. O micro-organismo foi cultivado em diferentes concentrações dos substratos efluente da indústria de doces e milhocina (CSL) em diferentes valores de pH, de acordo com um planejamento fatorial completo 23. Após 96 h de fermentação, a biomassa produzida foi liofilizada e submetida ao tratamento com álcali- ácido-. Os polissacarídeos extraídos foram caracterizados por espectroscopia por transformada de Fourier (FTIR) na região do infravermelho. A maior produção de biomassa (14,11 g/L) foi obtida na condição 6 (8% de efluente industrial de doces, 5% de milhocina e pH 5), enquanto os maiores rendimentos de quitina (169,3 mg/g) e quitosana (239,1 mg/g) foram obtidos em meio contendo 4% de efluente da indústria de doces, sem milhocina, nas condições 3 (pH 7) e 1 (pH 5), respectivamente. A quitina apresentou grau de acetilação de 71,4% e a quitosana de 86,0%, de desacetilação, respectivamente. Além disso, foi demonstrado que o efluente industrial de balas e milhocina são substratos renováveis e alternativos na formulação de novos meios de produção de quitina e quitosana. A versatilidade das biomoléculas deve-se as suas propriedades bioquímicas únicas, como biocompatibilidade, biodegradabilidade, não toxicidade, capacidade de formar filmes e aplicações industriais promissoras

Serum cytokine responses over the entire clinical-immunological spectrum of human leishmania (l.) infantum chagasi infection

The clinical-immunological spectrum of human Leishmania (L.) infantum chagasi infection in Amazonian Brazil was recently reviewed based on clinical, DTH, and IFAT (IgG) evaluations that identified five profiles: three asymptomatic (asymptomatic infection, AIsubclinical resistant infection, SRIand indeterminate initial infection, III) and two symptomatic (symptomatic infection, SIAmerican visceral leishmaniasis, AVLand subclinical oligosymptomatic infection, SOI). TNF-alpha, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 serum cytokines were analyzed using multiplexed Cytometric Bead Array in 161 samples from endemic areas in the Brazilian Amazon: SI [AVL] (21 cases), III (49), SRI (19), SOI (12), AI (36), and a control group [CG] (24). The highest IL-6 serumlevels were observed in the SI profile (AVL)higher IL-10 serum levels were observed in SI than in SOI or CG and in AI and III than in SOIhigher TNF-alpha serum levels were seen in SI than in CG. Positive correlations were found between IL-6 and IL-10 serum levels in the SI and III profiles and between IL-6 and TNF-alpha and between IL-4 and TNF-alpha in the III profile. These results provide strong evidence for associating IL-6 and IL-10 with the immunopathogenesis of AVL and help clarify the role of these cytokines in the infection spectrum.Instituto Evandro Chagas (Secretaria de Vigilancia em Saude, Ministerio da Saude, Brazil)Nucleo de Medicina Tropical (Universidade Federal do Para, Brazil)Laboratorio de Investigacao Medica (LIM)-50 (Hospital de Clinicas (HC)-Faculdade de Medicina (FM)-Universidade de Sao Paulo (USP), Brazil)Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) [2006/56319-1]Parasitology Department, Evandro Chagas Institute, Surveillance Secretary of Health, Ministry of Health, Ananindeua, PA, BrazilAlbert Einstein Israelite Hospital, São Paulo, SP, BrazilDivision of Immunology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, BrazilPathology Department, Medical School of São Paulo University, São Paulo, SP, BrazilTropical Medicine Nucleus, Federal University of Pará, Belém, PA, BrazilDivision of Immunology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, BrazilFAPESP: 2006/56319-1Web of Scienc

Serum Cytokine Responses over the Entire Clinical-Immunological Spectrum of Human Leishmania (L.) infantum chagasi

The clinical-immunological spectrum of human Leishmania (L.) infantum chagasi infection in Amazonian Brazil was recently reviewed based on clinical, DTH, and IFAT (IgG) evaluations that identified five profiles: three asymptomatic (asymptomatic infection, AI; subclinical resistant infection, SRI; and indeterminate initial infection, III) and two symptomatic (symptomatic infection, SI; American visceral leishmaniasis, AVL; and subclinical oligosymptomatic infection, SOI). TNF-α, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 serum cytokines were analyzed using multiplexed Cytometric Bead Array in 161 samples from endemic areas in the Brazilian Amazon: SI [AVL] (21 cases), III (49), SRI (19), SOI (12), AI (36), and a control group [CG] (24). The highest IL-6 serum levels were observed in the SI profile (AVL); higher IL-10 serum levels were observed in SI than in SOI or CG and in AI and III than in SOI; higher TNF-α serum levels were seen in SI than in CG. Positive correlations were found between IL-6 and IL-10 serum levels in the SI and III profiles and between IL-6 and TNF-α and between IL-4 and TNF-α in the III profile. These results provide strong evidence for associating IL-6 and IL-10 with the immunopathogenesis of AVL and help clarify the role of these cytokines in the infection spectrum

Synthesis and evaluation of the antitumor potential of new aminated or methoxylated di(hetero)arylthioethers in the thieno[3,2-b]pyridine series

Synthesis and evaluation of the antitumor potential of new aminated or methoxylated di(hetero)arylthioethers in the thieno[3,2-b]pyridine séries. In 1st Symposium on Medicinal Chemistry. Braga Several thienopyridines have already been described as inhibitors of cell proliferation using human tumor cells[1,2], highlighting the interest of studying their antitumorpotential. ln this work, we present the synthesis of di(hetero)arylthioethers 1a-fby SNAr of the 7-chloro thieno[3,2- b]pyridine with amino or methoxy thiophenols in good to high yields, like presented in the scheme.Foundation for the Science and Technology (FCT- Portugal) for financial support through the NMR Portuguese network (Bruker 400 Avance 111-Univ Minho). To FCT and FEDERCOMPETE/ QREN/EU for financial support through the research unities PEst-C/QUI/UI686/2011 and PEst-OE/AGR/UI0690/20 11 , the research project PTDC/QUI-QUI/111 060/2009 and the postOoctoral grant attributed to R.C.C. (SFRH/BPD/68344/2010) also financed by POPH and FSE

Nutritive Value and Bioactivities of a Halophyte Edible Plant: Crithmum maritimum L. (Sea Fennel)

Research funded by FEDER/COMPETE and Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) via grants UIDB/00313/2020 and UIDP/00313/2020 to CQC, LA/P/0045/2020 to ALiCE, UIDB/50020/2020 and UIDP/50020/2020 to LSRE-LCM, and UIDB/MAR/04292/2020 to MARE, and to the Integrated Programme of SR&TD “Smart Valorization of Endogenous Marine Biological Resources Under a Changing Climate” (Centro-01-0145-FEDER-000018) and to Rede Nacional de Ressonância Magnética Nuclear (RNRMN, UC-NMR).Crithmum maritimum L. (sea fennel), an edible xerophyte of coastal habitats, is considered an emerging cash crop for biosaline agriculture due to its salt-tolerance ability and potential applications in the agri-food sector. Here, the nutritional value and bioactive properties of sea fennel are described. Sea fennel leaves, flowers, and schizocarps are composed of carbohydrates (>65%) followed by ash, proteins, and lipids. Sea fennel’s salty, succulent leaves are a source of omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially linoleic acid. Extracts obtained from flowers and fruits/schizocarps are rich in antioxidants and polyphenols and show antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermis, Candida albicans, and Candida parapsilosis. Plant material is particularly rich in sodium (Na) but also in other nutritionally relevant minerals, such as calcium (Ca), chlorine (Cl), potassium (K), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S), beyond presenting a potential prebiotic effect on Lactobacillus bulgaricus and being nontoxic to human intestinal epithelial Caco-2 model cells, up to 1.0% (w/v). Hence, the rational use of sea fennel can bring nutrients, aroma, and flavor to culinary dishes while balancing microbiomes and contributing to expanding the shelf life of food products.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Crithmum maritimum L. (Sea Fennel)

Funding Information: Research funded by FEDER/COMPETE and Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) via grants UIDB/00313/2020 and UIDP/00313/2020 to CQC, LA/P/0045/2020 to ALiCE, UIDB/50020/2020 and UIDP/50020/2020 to LSRE-LCM, and UIDB/MAR/04292/2020 to MARE, and to the Integrated Programme of SR&TD “Smart Valorization of Endogenous Marine Biological Resources Under a Changing Climate” (Centro-01-0145-FEDER-000018) and to Rede Nacional de Ressonância Magnética Nuclear (RNRMN, UC-NMR). Publisher Copyright: © 2024 by the authors.Crithmum maritimum L. (sea fennel), an edible xerophyte of coastal habitats, is considered an emerging cash crop for biosaline agriculture due to its salt-tolerance ability and potential applications in the agri-food sector. Here, the nutritional value and bioactive properties of sea fennel are described. Sea fennel leaves, flowers, and schizocarps are composed of carbohydrates (>65%) followed by ash, proteins, and lipids. Sea fennel’s salty, succulent leaves are a source of omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially linoleic acid. Extracts obtained from flowers and fruits/schizocarps are rich in antioxidants and polyphenols and show antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermis, Candida albicans, and Candida parapsilosis. Plant material is particularly rich in sodium (Na) but also in other nutritionally relevant minerals, such as calcium (Ca), chlorine (Cl), potassium (K), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S), beyond presenting a potential prebiotic effect on Lactobacillus bulgaricus and being nontoxic to human intestinal epithelial Caco-2 model cells, up to 1.0% (w/v). Hence, the rational use of sea fennel can bring nutrients, aroma, and flavor to culinary dishes while balancing microbiomes and contributing to expanding the shelf life of food products.publishersversionpublishe