Oilseed production and sustainable development in northern Brazil: impact on farm income and food security

Biofuel production has been a greatly discussed topic in Brazil. In 2004, these debates lead the country to develop new policies and to implement a national program for biodiesel use and production (PNPB) with the intent to increase the share of renewable energy and foster regional development. In this context, the present study aimed to assess the impact of small-scale oilseed production on income generation, as well as on food production. For this purpose, a cross sectional study was conducted with family farmers in the state of Tocantins, in a transition area between the Savannah and the Amazon rain forest. Ranges of socio-economic indicators were collected among smallholders who cultivate Jatropha curcas and Ricinus communis. The preliminary results point towards a negative relationship between oilseed activity and local food production, harming the local food security. In addition, the farm income generated by the oilseed activity is lower than conventional crops, such as maize and cassava, for instance. This research is unprecedented in the region and the results can be extremely valuable in supporting regional and national policies on clean energy; helping Brazil to achieve the regional sustainable development

The Brazilian Popular Restaurant Program as an integrated action for food security and health promotion: a user´s profile-oriented approach

The Brazilian Popular Restaurant Program is a food security and nutrition action. O Program targets those who are considered the most vulnerable people, especially regarding socioeconomics and health conditions. The research aimed at assessing the Brazilian Popular Restaurant Program as an integrated action for food security and health based on a user´s profile-oriented approach. A cross-section survey was conducted in 2007 in Palmas-TO, Northern Brazil. Socioeconomic variables, food consumption and health conditions of the popular restaurants’ users were evaluated by questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements (height and weight) were also collected by trained researchers. A total of 600 users of the two units of the Popular Restaurant Programme in Palmas TO, Brazil, participated voluntarily to the study. Socioeconomic data describes that not all users fulfill the financial requirements to benefit from the program. A food pattern of users comprises a low fruit and vegetables consumption. Health and nutritional data indicates a relevant number of the users with monotonous diet and low physical activity level. The results point out that the Program needs to be improved specifically regarding development of health promotion towards the prevention of non-communicable diseases

A Disposição a pagar (DAP) por serviços de alimentação: uma estimativa para os Restaurantes Populares de Palmas/ TO

O presente artigo mostra a utilização do Método de Valoração Contingente a fim de se estimar a máxima disposição a pagar (DAP) dos usuários do Programa Solidário de RestaurantesPopulares de Palmas/TO por melhorias nos serviços de alimentação. O valor da DAP para Unidade de Alimentação e Nutrição (UAN) do Centro foi estimado em R$118.384,00, por mês, no agregado, ou R$ 2,95 por mês, por usuário e para a UAN de Taquaralto foi de R$30.132,00, por mês, no agregado,ou R$0,75 por mês, por usuário. O coeficiente elasticidade-renda, no ponto médio, para a UAN – Centro foi estimado em 0,27. Já o coeficiente elasticidade-renda, no ponto médio, para a UAN – Taquaralto foi de 0,35, ou seja, um incremento de 10% na renda dos usuários desta UAN, aumentará em 3,5% (ceteris paribus), mostrando que os coeficientes, em ambas as UANs, podem ser considerado inelásticos. Espera-se que a estimativa dos valores de DAP possam servir de subsídio para os órgãos responsáveis pela Gestão do Programa, a fim de orientarem futuras políticas para o seu aperfeiçoamento,levando em consideração aspectos sociais, econômicos, de saúde e nutrição

Bacaba (Oenocarpus bacaba) phenolic extract induces apoptosis in the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line via the mitochondria-dependent pathway

Bacaba (Oenocarpus bacaba Mart.) is an indigenous palm fruit from Amazon region rich in polyphenolics. MCF-7 breast cancer cells were incubated with different concentrations of bacaba phenolic extract and its effect on cell viability was assessed. Extracts from bacaba showed antiproliferative capacities. Further experiments showed that bacaba phenolic extracts induced apoptosis in MCF-7 breast cancer cells through the mitochondrial pathway. Caspases-6, -8 and -9 were activated when compared to the untreated control in a dose dependent manner (p < 0.05). Within these, caspase-9 showed the highest activation. Since MCF-7 cells do not express caspase-3 and based on additional investigations on PARP (poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase) – cleavage using a caspase-9 inhibitor, the experiments suggest that caspase-9 plays an important role in the observed apoptotic effect. Our results emphasize the potential healthy properties of traditional fruits from the Brazilian biodiversity with high antioxidant activities

Bacaba phenolic extract attenuates adipogenesis by down-regulating PPARγ and C/EBPα in 3T3-L1 cells

Bacaba (Oenocarpus bacaba Mart.) is a native Brazilian palm fruit with a high amount of polyphenolics, reported to have an apoptotic effect on cancer cells [1]. Here, we examined the effect of Bacaba phenolic extract (BPE) on adipogenesis using 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Proliferating and differentiating adipocytes were incubated with BPE at 6, 12, and 24 μg of gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/ml. BPE reduced accumulation of intracellular lipids and protein expression of adipogenic markers including PPARγ, C/EBPα, FABP4, IR-β, and adiponectin in a dose-dependent manner during differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells into adipocytes. Furthermore, lipid accumulation decreased with BPE (24 μg of GAE/ml) during the early stage of mitotic clonal expansion (Days 0–2). In contrast, the inhibition of protein expression of adipogenic markers needed a longer duration (Days 0–4, 0–7, 2–7) of BPE incubation. These results suggest that BPE inhibits adipogenisis in vitro via targeting transcriptional factors during the early and middle stages of differentiation

Propriedades físicas e químicas do mel de Apis mellifera L

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo verificar as propriedades físicas e químicas do mel da região Sul do Estado do Tocantins a partir de 24 amostras provenientes de 13 associações de apicultores. As análises realizadas foram pH, acidez, índice de refração, umidade, peso específico, cinzas, hidroximetilfurfural (Prova qualitativa), índice de formol, reação de Lund e açúcares redutores. Todas as análises foram realizadas em triplicata, o tratamento estatístico compreendeu média, desvio padrão e os resultados foram submetidos à análise fatorial e análise de agrupamento. As amostras apresentaram índice de reprovação de 50% aos padrões estabelecidos pela legislação. A grande variação nos resultados entre as amostras podem ser devido a diferentes origens florais dos méis e a sua inadequação à legislação pode ter origem na exposição do produto a condições de temperatura e umidade inadequadas, nas etapas de manejo, processamento ou armazenamento do mel

PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OfTHREE NATIVE FRUITS FROM BRAZILIAN SAVANNAH (CERRADO)

Chemical and Physical analysis, Antioxidant activity (AA) and Total Phenolic Content (TPC) were evaluated on three Typical Savannah fruits: Buriti (Mauricia flexuosa), Cagaita (Eugenia dysenterica) and Murici (Byrsonima crassifólia H.B. K (L) Kunth). The nutritional composition found was in accordance to those available in the literature and the fruits can be considered as vitamin C food source. Buriti had the highest values ofantioxidant activity (IC50 value=17.31±5.34mg/mL). Cagaita and Murici had similar antioxidant activities with IC50 values of5.5±0.30mg/mL and 6.56±0.22mg/ mL, respectively (p<0.05). Results show the potential of Brazilian Savannah fruits to be used as foods either in diets or by the food industry. Further studies are needed to investigate better the antioxidant activities and bioactive compounds in Brazilian Savannah fruits

Different cooking styles enhance antioxidant properties and carotenoids of biofortified pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duch) genotypes

Abstract Biofortification is an important technique where the nutritional quality of food crops is enriched through the increase of nutrient content. Provitamin A deficiency is still a public health concern mainly in developing countries. Since beta-carotene is a vitamin A precursor, the increase of this compound in foods through biofortification is a manner to reach people under hidden hunger condition. This work aimed to evaluate the effect of different cooking styles on carotenoids content and antioxidant activity of two different genotypes of biofortified Cucurbita moschata. In the present study, biofortified pumpkins submitted to different cooking conditions were assessed for antioxidant activity by ABTS, DPPH, β-carotene/linoleic acid systems and have polyphenols and carotenoids content compared. The cooking style affected the antioxidant activity. Pumpkins from genotype 1 showed high levels of carotenoids, α-carotene and all-E-β-carotene compared to samples from genotype 2. There was an increase of all carotenoids in both cooked pumpkins, and steam cooking showed the highest retention percentages. Steam cooking presented a higher percentage of carotenoid retention. Pumpkin consumption in developing countries, especially in the Northeast Brazil may be promoted to combat vitamin A deficiency