Acid decomposition of yerba mate (ilex paraguariensis) using a reflux system for the evaluation of Al, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Pb and Zn contents by atomic spectrometric techniques

In the first part of this paper, two acid decomposition procedures for the determination of Al, Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn and Zn contents in yerba mate samples by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES) were compared. Using a reflux system, the samples were treated with a mixture of HNO3 and H2O2 for 3 hours at 220 °C in the digester block. The results from five commercial yerba mate samples were compared with the results obtained from microwave digestion. Good agreement between the procedures at a 95% confidence level was obtained with relative standard deviation (RSD) values lower than 10.0%. The accuracy was evaluated using addition and recovery experiments (80.5 to 112.8%). In the second part, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Na, Pb and Zn concentrations were evaluated in the yerba mate infusion. The results showed that elements such as Na, K, Mg and Zn are easily transferred to the hot water used for the infusion. For Pb and Cd, the concentrations found in the analyzed samples were lower than the values established by Brazilian legislation274685693CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DO RIO GRANDE DO SUL - FAPERGSSem informação552197/2011-4Sem informaçã

Photoinactivation of bacterial and fungal planktonic/biofilm forms using the combination of a porphyrinic formulation with potassium iodide

Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is a promising approach against multidrug-resistant microorganisms. In this work, we accessed the photodynamic efficiency of an affordable formulation composed of five cationic porphyrins (FORM) and its combined effect with potassium iodide (KI) on a large spectrum of microorganisms. For this purpose, the aPDT assays were conducted with FORM alone and FORM + KI on planktonic and biofilm forms of Gram(+) (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram(−) (Escherichia coli) bacteria and of the yeast Candida albicans. The results obtained indicate that FORM, at low concentrations (0.5–5.0 μM), had an efficient photodynamic action on the planktonic forms of E. coli, S. aureus, and C. albicans. Moreover, the combination of FORM with KI improved the photodynamic action of this PS, promoting microbial inactivation with lower PS concentrations and treatment time. The combination of FORM + KI was also extremely efficient in the destruction of bacterial and fungal biofilms. This outstanding effect may be due to the action of longer-lived iodine reactive species produced by the reaction of KI with the ROS generated by FORM during the aPDT treatment.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Dammarane Triterpenoids from Carnauba, Copernicia prunifera (Miller) H. E. Moore (Arecaceae), Wax

Phytochemical investigation from carnauba (Copernicia prunifera) wax led to the identification of sixteen dammarane-type triterpenes, including thirteen new characterized as: (24R*)-methyldammara-20,25-dien-3 alpha-ol and a mixture of alkyl (24R*)-methyldammar-25-en- 20-ol-3 beta-carboxylates, together with three previously described triterpenes: carnaubadiol, (24R*)-methyldammara-20,25-dien-3 beta-ol and (24R*)-24-methyldammara-20,25-dien-3-one. Moreover, four fatty alcohols (eicosanol, docosanol, tetracosanol and hexacosanol) as well as four sterols (cholesterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, and sitosterol) were also obtained. These compounds were isolated using classical chromatographic methods and their structures were determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods.Univ Fed Piaui, Dept Quim, BR-64049550 Teresina, PI, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Inst Ciencias Ambientais Quim & Farmaceut, BR-09972270 Diadema, SP, BrazilUniv Fed ABC, Ctr Ciencias Nat & Humanas, BR-09210180 Santo Andre, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Inst Ciencias Ambientais Quim & Farmaceut, BR-09972270 Diadema, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Distribution of monocytes subpopulations in the peripheral blood from patients with Behcet's disease-Impact of disease status and colchicine use

The innate immune response has a predominant role in Behcet's disease (BD) pathogenesis, but few studies have assessed monocytes in BD. This study aims to evaluate the profile of monocytes subsets in the peripheral blood of BD patients and healthy controls (HC). Monocytes subsets were identified as classical (CD14(+)CD16(-)), intermediate (CD14(+)CD16(dim)), and non-classical (CD14(dim)CD16(high)) subsets. Patients with BD presented a lower number of total monocytes (p = 0.020) and a lower number (p < 0.0001) of circulating classical monocytes than HC. In contrast, the number of intermediate monocytes was higher in BD patients than HC (p < 0.0001). In BD patients, no associations were observed with the severity of clinical manifestations or therapy. Colchicine was associated with a higher number of non-classical monocytes (p = 0.035). In conclusion, BD patients present an altered distribution of monocytes subsets with a reduction of classical and an increase of intermediate subsets