AVALIAÇÃO SAZONAL DA ATIVIDADE DA FENILALANINA AMÔNIA-LIASE E DOS TEORES DE FENÓIS E TANINOS TOTAIS EM Stryphnodendron adstringens (Mart.) Coville

We performed analyses of the leaves and stem bark of Stryphnodendron adstringens, a Brazilian Cerrado plant, to examine the seasonal patterns of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity and total phenol and tannin contents in 16 adult individuals under field conditions. The measurements of gas exchange parameters, including net photosynthesis, transpiration and stomatal conductance, as well as the photosynthetic photon flux density, leaf temperature, vapor pressure deficit and leaf water potential were also performed. The results were subjected to a principal component analysis. The values obtained for stomatal conductance, net photosynthesis, transpiration, water use efficiency, minimum water potential and photosynthetic photon flux density were higher in the rainy season, while the maximum water potential and vapor pressure deficit in the atmosphere were similar between seasons. The seasonal variations in gas exchange characteristics were influenced by changing weather conditions and were positively correlated with higher air temperatures, rainfall amounts and relative air humidity and negatively correlated with increased insolation. There was no correlation between the maximum leaf water potential and any of the weather variables. Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity was similar in the dry and rainy seasons, and higher levels of total phenols and tannins were observed in the dry and rainy seasons, respectively. Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity and total phenol contents were negatively influenced by temperature and rainfall in the dry season, and the total tannin contents were mainly correlated with higher temperatures and a lower influence of rainfall in the rainy season.Folhas e cascas do caule de Stryphnodendron adstringens, uma espécie do Cerrado brasileiro, foram utilizadas para examinar os padrões sazonais da atividade da fenilalanina amônia-liase e os teores de fenóis e taninos totais em 16 indivíduos adultos, em condições de campo. Avaliações das trocas gasosas, incluindo fotossíntese líquida, transpiração, condutância estomática, densidade de fluxo de fótons fotossinteticamente ativos, temperatura da folha, deficit de pressão de vapor e potencial hídrico foliar foram realizadas. Os resultados foram submetidos à análise de componentes principais. A condutância estomática, fotossíntese líquida, transpiração, eficiência do uso da água, potencial hídrico mínimo e densidade de fluxo de fótons fotossinteticamente ativos foram maiores na estação chuvosa, enquanto que o potencial hídrico máximo e o deficit de pressão de vapor na atmosfera foram semelhantes entre as estações. As variações sazonais nas características de trocas gasosas foram influenciadas por mudanças nas condições climáticas e se correlacionaram positivamente com as maiores temperaturas, precipitação e umidade relativa do ar e negativamente com o aumento da insolação. Não houve correlação entre o potencial hídrico foliar máximo e as demais variáveis climáticas. A atividade da fenilalanina amônia-liase foi semelhante nas estações seca e chuvosa e os maiores teores de fenóis e taninos totais foram observados nas estações seca e chuvosa, respectivamente. A atividade da fenilalanina amônia-liase e os teores de fenóis totais foram influenciados negativamente pela temperatura e precipitação na estação seca, e os teoresde taninos totais foram correlacionados principalmente com temperaturas mais elevadas, com menor influência da precipitação na estação chuvosa

SEASONAL PATTERNS OF PHENYLALANINE AMMONIA-LYASE ACTIVITY AND TOTAL PHENOL AND TANNIN CONTENTS IN Stryphnodendron adstringens (Mart.) Coville

Folhas e cascas do caule de Stryphnodendron adstringens , uma espécie do Cerrado brasileiro, foram utilizadas para examinar os padrões sazonais da atividade da fenilalanina amônia-liase e os teores de fenóis e taninos totais em 16 indivíduos adultos, em condições de campo. Avaliações das trocas gasosas, incluindo fotossíntese líquida, transpiração, condutância estomática, densidade de fluxo de fótons fotossinteticamente ativos, temperatura da folha, deficit de pressão de vapor e potencial hídrico foliar foram realizadas. Os resultados foram submetidos à análise de componentes principais. A condutância estomática, fotossíntese líquida, transpiração, eficiência do uso da água, potencial hídrico mínimo e densidade de fluxo de fótons fotossinteticamente ativos foram maiores na estação chuvosa, enquanto que o potencial hídrico máximo e o deficit de pressão de vapor na atmosfera foram semelhantes entre as estações. As variações sazonais nas características de trocas gasosas foram influenciadas por mudanças nas condições climáticas e se correlacionaram positivamente com as maiores temperaturas, precipitação e umidade relativa do ar e negativamente com o aumento da insolação. Não houve correlação entre o potencial hídrico foliar máximo e as demais variáveis climáticas. A atividade da fenilalanina amônia-liase foi semelhante nas estações seca e chuvosa e os maiores teores de fenóis e taninos totais foram observados nas estações seca e chuvosa, respectivamente. A atividade da fenilalanina amônia-liase e os teores de fenóis totais foram influenciados negativamente pela temperatura e precipitação na estação seca, e os teores de taninos totais foram correlacionados principalmente com temperaturas mais elevadas, com menor influência da precipitação na estação chuvosa

Influence of Harvest Time on the Chemical Profile of <i>Pereskia aculeate</i> Mill. Using Paper Spray Mass Spectrometry

This study evaluated the physicochemical characteristics and the production of bioactive compounds of Pereskia aculeata Mill. at different harvest times. Here, we performed a qualitative evaluation of the chemical profile by paper spray mass spectrometry (PSMS), the phenolic acid and flavonoid profile by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), antioxidant activity, total carotenoids, total phenolic compounds, total flavonoids, total anthocyanins, color characteristics, total soluble solids (TSS), total solids (TS), pH, and total titratable acidity (TTA). The chemical profile was not affected, with the exception of 4,5-dimethyl-2,6-octadiene and azelaic acid, which was only identified in the leaves harvested during the winter. The content of four phenolic acids and three flavonoids were analyzed; out of these, no significant amounts of ellagic acid and quercetin were detected. There was no difference in production of bioactive compounds between seasons, reflecting the antioxidant activity, which also did not differ. Brightness, chroma, and leaf pH were the only physicochemical characteristics that did not vary between seasons

Chemical Physical Characterization and Profile of Fruit Volatile Compounds from Different Accesses of Myrciaria floribunda (H. West Ex Wild.) O. Berg through Polyacrylate Fiber

Among the many species of native fruit of Brazil that have been little explored, there is Myrciaria floribunda (also known as rumberry, cambuizeiro, or guavaberry), a species with significant variability, which has fruits of different colors (orange, red, and purple) when ripe. The physical-chemical characteristics evaluated were fruit weight (FW), seed weight (SW), pulp weight (PW), number of seeds (NS), longitudinal diameter (LD), transverse diameter (TD), format (LD/TD), hydrogen potential (pH), soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity (TA), and ratio (SS/TA); further, the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of nine accesses of rumberry orchards were identified. The averages of the variables FW, SW, PW, NS, LD, TD, shape, and firmness were 0.76 g, 0.22 g, 0.54 g, 1.45, 10.06 mm, 9.90 mm, 1.02, 2.96 N, respectively. LD/TD data showed that the fruits have a slightly rounded shape (LD/TD = 1). The averages for pH, SS, TA, and SS/TA were 3.74, 17.58 Brix, 4.31% citric acid, and 4.31, respectively. The evaluated parameters indicated that the fruits can be consumed both in natura and industrialized, with the red-colored fruits presenting a good balance of SS/TA, standards demanded by the processing industries. Thirty-six VOCs were identified, with emphasis on the sesquiterpenes. Caryophyllene (21.6% to 49.3%) and γ-selinene (11.3% to 16.3%) were the most predominant compounds in rumberry fruits

Chemical Approach to the Optimization of Conditions Using HS-SPME/GC&ndash;MS for Characterization of Volatile Compounds in Eugenia brasiliensis Fruit

Grumixama (Eugenia brasiliensis Lam.) is a native fruit of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, belonging to the Myrtaceae family, which designatesthe most significant number of species with food potential. It stands out due to its phytochemical characteristics because of the presence of polyphenols and volatile organic compounds. Volatile compounds are substances released by foods that give off an aroma and influence flavor. Solid-phase microextraction is a technique that allows for low-cost, fast, and solvent-free extraction, has an affinity for numerous analytes, and is easily coupled to gas chromatography. The objectives of this work were to evaluate the efficiency of different fibers of SPME (solid-phase microextraction) in the extraction of volatile organic compounds from grumixama pulp; optimize a method for extraction time, temperature, and sample weight; and to determine the characteristic volatile profile of this fruit. For the extraction of volatile compounds, three fibers of different polarities were used: polar polyacrylate (PA) fibers, divinylbenzene/carboxyne/polydimethylsiloxane (DVB/CAR/PDMS) semipolar fibers, and polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene (PDMS/DVB). Fourteen volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were identified by DVB/CAR/PDMS, six by PA, and seven by PDMS/DVB through solid-phase microextraction in the headspace mode (SPME-HS). Considering the total number of compounds identified, regardless of the fiber used, and the optimization of the method, Eugenia brasiliensis presented sesquiterpene fractions (85.7%, 83.3%, and 85.7% of total VOCs) higher than the monoterpene fractions (14.3%, 16.7%, and 14.3%) for DVB/CAR/PDMS, PA, and PDMS/DVB, respectively in its composition. In addition, it was possible to verify that the fiber DVB/CAR/PDMS presented a better efficiency due to the larger chromatographic area observed when the grumixama pulp was subjected to conditions of 75 &deg;C, 2.0 g, and an adsorption time of 20 min

An Integrative Approach to the Flavonoid Profile in Some Plants&rsquo; Parts of the Annona Genus

The Annonaceae family is widely distributed in subtropical and tropical regions. Several species of this family are known for their pharmacological and beneficial properties to human health, mainly attributed to flavonoids. The objective of this work was to carry out an integrative review in order to identify the main flavonoids found in some plant parts belonging to the Annona genus: araticum tree (Annona crassiflora Mart.), graviola tree (Annona muricata), atemoya tree (Annona cherimolia Mill &times; Annona squamosa L.), pinha tree (Annona squamosa), bananinha tree (Annona leptopetala), and marolinho tree (Annona coriacea). Only articles published between the years 2016 to 2021 that answered the guiding question were considered, in order to obtain recent data. Then, search strategies were designated for each database used: Science Direct, CAPES Periodicals, and Scielo. Most of the studies retrieved from the databases are related to fruits. The results showed that the number of flavonoids identified varies according to the analytical methodology used to identify and quantify the compounds. Quercetin was the most commonly found compound in all fruits of the Annona genus studied, and epicatechin, rutin, and kaempferol were also found to a lesser extent. The presence of these compounds in Annona makes the fruit promising, with potential applicability in the pharmaceutical and food industry

Evaluation of the Chemical Profile and Antioxidant Capacity of Green, Brown, and Dark Propolis

The chemical composition of propolis varies between different types, due to the specific vegetation found near the hives and the climatic and soil conditions worldwide. Green propolis is exclusive to Brazil, produced by bees, with the resin of the plant Baccharis dracunculifolia. Brown propolis is a specific variety produced mainly in Northeast Brazil from the plant Hyptis divaricata, also known as “maria miraculosa”. Dark propolis is a variety of propolis produced by bees from the resin of the plant known as Jurema Preta (Mimosa hostilis benth). In this study, the aqueous extracts of green, brown, and dark propolis were analyzed for their antioxidant capacity using ABTS, FRAP, and DPPH, and their chemical profiles were determined using paper spray mass spectrometry. Among the three extracts, green propolis had the highest content of total phenolic compounds (2741.71 ± 49.53 mg GAE. 100 g−1), followed by brown propolis (1191.55 ± 36.79 mg GAE. 100 g−1), and dark propolis had the lowest content (901.79 ± 27.80 mg GAE. 100 g−1). The three types of propolis showed high antioxidant capacity, with green showing the highest antioxidant capacity for the three methods used. Using paper spray mass spectrometry, it was possible to suggest the presence of 116 substances, including flavonoids (56), phenylpropanoids (30), terpenes (25), carboxylic acids (1), benzoic acid derivatives (1), fatty acids (1), amino acids (1) and alkaloids (1). The compounds in the green, brown, and dark propolis extracts reinforce the bioactive potential for application in these tree extracts’ food and pharmaceutical products

Physicochemical Characterization and Paper Spray Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Myrciaria Floribunda (H. West ex Willd.) O. Berg Accessions

Myrciaria floribunda, also known as rumberry, is a tree native to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, where its fruits have the potential for commercial use. This study evaluates the antioxidant potential, determines the phytochemical profile, and chemically characterizes the rumberry fruit. Accessions were sampled from the Rumberry Active Germplasm Bank of the Federal University of Alagoas, Brazil. Physical characteristics, chemical characteristics, and phenolic compound content were analyzed. Chemical profile characterization was carried out using PSMS. Accessions had an average weight of 0.86 g. Accession AC137 presented a higher pulp yield (1.12 g). AC132 and AC156 had larger fruits, AC137 showed greater firmness (5.93 N), and AC160 had a higher and total phenolic content ratio (279.01 &plusmn; 11.11). Orange-colored accessions scored higher in evaluated parameters, except for AC160 for phenolic content. Thirty-two compounds were identified on positive ionization mode and 42 compounds on negative ionization mode using PSMS. Flavonoids, followed by the derivatives of benzoic acid, sugars, and phenylpropanoids, were the most prominent. Myricitrin, quercitrin, and catechin stand out as flavonoids that have been reported in previous studies with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, in addition to health and therapeutical benefits, demonstrating the potential of the rumberry fruit

An Integrative Review on the Main Flavonoids Found in Some Species of the Myrtaceae Family: Phytochemical Characterization, Health Benefits and Development of Products

This integrative review aims to identify the main flavonoids present in some species of the Myrtaceae family. Studies published between 2016 and 2022 were selected, specifically those which were fully available and written in Portuguese, English, or Spanish, and which were related to the fruits araçá (Psidium cattleianum), cambuí (Myrciaria floribunda), gabiroba (Campomanesia xanthocarpa), jabuticaba (Plinia cauliflora), and jambolan (Syzygium cumini). Scientific studies were gathered and selected in Google Scholar, Scielo, and Science Direct indexed databases, out of which 14 were about araçá, 7 concerned cambuí, 4 were about gabiroba, 29 were related to jabuticaba, and 33 concerned jambolan, when we observed the pre-established inclusion criteria. Results showed that the anthocyanins, such as cyanidin, petunidin, malvidin, and delphinidin, were the mostly identified class of flavonoids in plants of the Myrtaceae family, mainly relating to the purple/reddish color of the evaluated fruits. Other compounds, such as catechin, epicatechin, quercetin, and rutin were also identified in different constituent fractions, such as leaves, peel, pulp, seeds, and in developed products, such as jams, desserts, wines, teas, and other beverages. It is also worth noting the positive health effects verified in these studies, such as anti-inflammatory qualities for jambolan, antidiabetic qualities for gabiroba, antioxidant qualities for araçá, and cardioprotective actions for jabuticaba, which are related to the presence of these phytochemicals. Therefore, it is possible to point out that flavonoids are important compounds in the chemical constitution of the studied plants of the Myrtaceae family, with promising potential in the development of new products by the food, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries due to their bioactive properties