847 research outputs found
TPCS/PBAT blown extruded films added with curcumin as a technological approach for active packaging materials
The development of active packaging is a relevant topic demanding the development of films with diverse
properties to preserve specific foodstuff. The objective of this work was to obtain extruded TPCS/PBAT films
containing curcumin and evaluate it as an active antimicrobial and antioxidant packaging to protect chia oil
from oxidative degradation. Morphology, thermal, mechanical, antimicrobial, and antioxidant evaluation of the
films were conducted to determine whether the presence of curcumin affected the film’s properties. Infrared
Spectroscopy indicated that curcumin addition affected the crosslinking reaction between citric acid and starch,
which explains the changes in hydrophilicity and mechanical strength of the films. The incorporation of curcumin
conferred antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative
(Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli) bacteria, as well as antioxidant activity. Films were tested as chia
oil packaging, being verified that they successfully prevented oil degradation under accelerated stability test
(60 °C for 7 days), demonstrating the feasibility of using TPCS/PBAT biodegradable films containing curcumin to
obtain active packaging materials.Authors thank to CNPq (Chamada Universal– MCTI/CNPq Nº 14/2014, Processo 447768/2014-0), CAPES (Coordenação de Pessoal de
Nível Superior Master's scholarship) and Fundação Araucária
(Programa Universal/Pesquisa Básica e Aplicada 24/2012, protocolo
7334133700514041013) for the finantial support. This work was financially
supported by Associate Laboratory LSRE-LCM (UID/EQU/50020/2019) funded by national funds through FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC),
and Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal). CIMO
(UID/AGR/00690/2019) through FEDER under Program PT2020. To
the national funding by FCT, P.I., through the institutional scientific
employment program-contract for I.P. Fernandes contract.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Nanodispersions of beta-carotene: effects on antioxidant enzymes and cytotoxic properties
Beta-carotene is a carotenoid precursor of vitamin A, known for its biological activities. Due to its high hydrophobicity, nanonization processes, i.e. the transformation into nanoparticles, can improve its water affinity, and therefore the activity in aqueous systems. The objective of this study was to produce beta-carotene nanoparticles by the solid dispersion method and to evaluate their effects on the activity of glutathione-S-transferase and acetylcholinesterase enzymes using Drosophila melanogaster (DM) homogenate, the superoxide dismutase- and catalase-like activities under in vitro conditions, and their cytotoxic properties against tumor and non-tumor cells. The formed nanometric beta-carotene particles resulted in stable colloids, readily dispersed in water, able to modulate acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, and presenting high potential to control the cholinergic system. Beta-carotene nanoparticles, at concentrations much lower than the pure pristine beta-carotene, presented in vitro mimetic activity to superoxide dismutase and altered glutathione-S-transferase activity in DM tissue. The content of hydrogen peroxide was neither affected by the nanoparticles (in aqueous solution) nor by pristine beta-carotene (in DMSO). In the cytotoxic assays, beta-carotene nanoparticles dispersed in water showed activity against four different tumor cell lines. Overall, beta-carotene nanoparticles presented significant bioactivity in aqueous medium surpassing their high hydrophobicity constraint.The authors thank CNPq, CAPES and Fundação Araucária for
the support. The authors are also grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial
support to CIMO (strategic project UID/AGR/00690/2013) and
R. Calhelha contract, and to the project POCI-01-0145-
FEDER-006984 – Associate Laboratory LSRE-LCM funded by
the FEDER through COMPETE2020 – Programa Operacional
Competitividade e Internacionalização (POCI) – and by
national funds through FCT. This work was also funded by the
European Structural and Investment Funds (FEEI) through the
Regional Operational Program North 2020, within the scope of
Project NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-023289: DeCodE and Project
Mobilizador ValorNatural®.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Proteomic characterization and biological activities of the mucus produced by the zoanthid Palythoa caribaeorum (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860)
Abstract Mucus, produced by Palythoa caribaeorum has been popularly reported due to healing, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects. However, biochemical and pharmacological properties of this mucus remains unexplored. Therefore, the present study aimed to study its proteome profile by 2DE electrophoresis and MALDI-TOF. Furthermore, it was evaluated the cytotoxic, antibacterial, and antioxidant activities of the mucus and from its protein extract (PE). Proteomics study identified14 proteins including proteins involved in the process of tissue regeneration and death of tumor cells. The PE exhibited cell viability below 50% in the MCF-7 and S-180 strains. It showed IC50 of 6.9 μg/mL for the J774 lineage, and also, favored the cellular growth of fibroblasts. Furthermore, PE revealed activity against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis (MIC of 250 μg/mL). These findings revealed the mucus produced by Palythoa caribaeorum with biological activities, offering alternative therapies for the treatment of cancer and as a potential antibacterial agent
Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze extract as a source of phenolic compounds in TPS/PBAT active films
There is growing interest in the development of biodegradable packaging materials containing natural antioxidant
extracts. In this sense, the use of extracts obtained from agro-industrial byproducts has proved to
be a sustainable alternative. In this study, Pinhão extract, a byproduct of Pinhão (Araucaria angustifolia
(Bertol.) Kuntze) seed consumption, was characterized by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MSn, demonstrating the presence
of eight phenolic compounds, (+)-catechin and (−)-epicatechin being the most abundant molecules.
TPS/PBAT films containing Pinhão extract were produced by blown extrusion and their properties (tensile
properties, thermal characteristics and microstructure) were evaluated in order to determine the effect of
the presence of extracts. Results suggested that the interaction between the phenolic compounds of the
extract and the polymeric matrix caused the reduction in the crystallinity degree, and an increase in the
starch glass transition temperature. The presence of Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze extract significantly
(p < 0.05) affected the color and opacity of the film. Regarding water vapor permeation, no significant
difference (p > 0.05) was detected. However, the water solubility and the contact angle with water
(polar solvent) and diiodomethane (non-polar solvent) significantly changed due to the extract addition.
Moreover, the Pinhão extract conferred significant antioxidant capacity to the TPS/PBAT films as determined
by DPPH, suggesting that this material can be applied as an active packaging material.The authors thank CNPq (Chamada Universal – MCTI/CNPq
no. 14/2014, Processo 447768/2014-0), CAPES (Master’s
scholarship) and Fundação Araucária (Programa Universal/
Pesquisa Básica e Aplicada 24/2012, protocolo
7334133700514041013) for the financial support and they also
thank Associate Laboratory LSRE-LCM – UID/EQU/50020/2019 –
funded by national funds through FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC) and
FEDER under Programme PT2020 for financial support to
CIMO (UID/AGR/00690/2019) and to the national funding by
FCT, P.I., through the institutional scientific employment
program-contract for L. Barros contracts. The authors are also
grateful to FEDER-Interreg España-Portugal programme for
financial support through the project 0377_Iberphenol_6_E.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Canonical correlation analysis applied to production and reproduction traits of meat type quails
Tratamento térmico de frutos da cajazeira utilizando vapor d'água, visando ao controle de Ceratitis capitata e à qualidade do fruto
Fatores relacionados com a positividade de cães para leishmaniose visceral em área endêmica do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil
Modificações no atendimento de enfermagem hospitalar decorrentes do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS)
Efeitos de dejeto de suínos na forma líquida e de composto orgânico na atividade do metribuzin
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