FRUTA DO CONDE E SAÚDE (Annona squamosa, L.): UMA BREVE REVISÃO

A busca por uma alimentação saudável e que ocasione a promoção da saúde vêm aumentando nos últimos anos, e, neste sentido, as frutas e hortaliças recebem destaque, já que seu consumo está associado com a menor incidência de diversas doenças. Dentre as frutas que possuem estes benefícios está a fruta do conde (Annona squamosa, L.), que é produzida principalmente na região nordeste do Brasil. A mesma é rica em compostos fenólicos, terpenos, e as acetogeninas, ácidos graxos de cadeia muito longa exclusivas da família Annonaceous. Estes compostos são responsáveis por diversas atividades atribuídas à fruta, como atividade antioxidante, antimicrobiana, anticarcinogênica, anti-hipertensiva, antidiabética, imunossupressora, além amenizar os sintomas do hipotireoidismo, comprovando, assim, que o seu consumo é extremamente recomendável e benéfico ao organismo humano

Qualidade de morangos submetidos à radiação UV-C pré-colheita

The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of the use of UV-C radiation at an intensity of 0.53 KJ m-2, during strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) cultivation, on the physicochemical and phytochemical parameters of the fruits. The used experimental design was completely randomized, in a single-factor arrangement with 11, 19, 29, and 39 UV-C applications and without UV-C application. The hue of the fruits was smaller at the end of the study period. pH varied in strawberries that received 39 applications of UV-C, and the soluble solids content differed with 19 applications. Antioxidant activity was lower in fruits with 11, 19, and 29 UV-C applications, whereas vitamin C content was lower only in fruits that received 29 applications. The use of UV-C radiation at an intensity of 0.53 KJ m-2, during strawberry cultivation, affects the physicochemical and phytochemical parameters of the fruits, but does not cause losses in their quality.O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência do uso de radiação UV-C na intensidade de 0,53 KJ m-2, durante o cultivo de morango (Fragaria x ananassa), sobre os parâmetros físico-químicos e fitoquímicos dos frutos. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado, em arranjo unifatorial, com 11, 19, 29 e 39 aplicações de UV-C e sem aplicação de UV-C. A tonalidade dos frutos apresentou menor ângulo ao final do período de estudo. O pH variou em morangos que receberam 39 aplicações de UV-C, e o conteúdo de sólidos solúveis diferiu com 19 aplicações. A atividade antioxidante foi menor nas frutas com 11, 19 e 29 aplicações de UV-C, enquanto o teor de vitamina C foi menor apenas nas frutas que receberam 29 aplicações. O uso de radiação UV-C de 0,53 KJ m-2, durante o cultivo de morango, afeta os parâmetros físico-químicos e fitoquímicos dos frutos, mas não leva à perda de sua qualidade

Types of ultra-processed foods consumed in Brazil: A systematic review / Tipos de alimentos ultra-processados consumidos no Brasil: Uma revisão sistemática

To investigate the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) based on the NOVA food classification, comparing the types of foods consumed between the age groups. A systematic review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. The articles were selected using the descriptors searched for MeSH in the databases: Pubmed / Medline, Lilacs and Scielo. 4,239 articles were selected in the initial research, 45 were included. The contribution of ultra-processed foods to the total amount of energy ranged from 15.0% to 54.7%, being greater in children and adolescents. For babies, this happens before the age of six months, consuming instant noodles, chocolate and stuffed cookies, expanding the variety of UPF foods as they age. For teenagers, the most consumed foods are soft drinks, pizza, gelatin, cakes, cookies, candies and hamburgers, in addition to those consumed in childhood. Among adults and elderly, the most consumed foods were bread, hot dog bread, sweet bread, sugary drinks, treats, cakes, cookies, pizza, snacks and sausages. UPF consumption varies according to the age group in Brazil, being higher among children and adolescents. The introduction occurs at the beginning of infant feeding and the types of UPF expands with increasing age

Elaboration of star fruit jam (Averrhoa carambola) with the addition of chilli pepper (Capsicum frutescens) / Elaboração de doce de frutas estrela (Averrhoa carambola) com adição de pimenta-do-reino (Capsicum frutescens)

Star fruit (Averrhoa carambola) is an exotic food with high productivity that can be cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions. The chili pepper (Capsicum frutescens) produces capsaicinoids that give the sensation of pungency when consumed. Both fruits have high perishability, requiring industrialization alternatives. Thus, the objective is to elaborate and characterize star fruit jam formulations with different pepper contents, in addition to verifying their acceptance by the consumer. Three samples star fruit jam were formulated: standard, medium and hot spicy with variation in the concentration of chilli pepper being 0.0%, 1.0% and 1.6%, respectively. After filling, they were subjected to physicochemical characteristics of moisture, pH, titratable acidity and soluble solids. For the sensory analysis, a nine-point hedonic scale was used to assess flavor, texture, global acceptance, ranging from 1 "I disliked it very much" to 9 "I liked it very much" and another purchase intention scale, ranging from 1 to 5, with 50 tasters not trained. The jams had good physical-chemical characteristics, acidic pH, in addition to sensory acceptance with an approval rate above 75% of the product.

Consumption of ultra-processed foods by Brazilians: A Systematic Review

Systematic revie

Effects of Curcuma longa on the intestinal health of chicks infected with Salmonella Typhimurium

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Curcuma longa on the growth performance, intestinal integrity, and antimicrobial activity of chicks colonized by Salmonella Typhimurium. The study included 672 one-day-old male chicks of the CobbTM lineage, which were divided into eight treatment groups with 14 birds per group and six repetitions, for a total of 48 experimental units per treatment. A randomized 4×2 factorial design scheme (C. longa levels × inoculation by Salmonella Typhimurium) was used. Chicks were orally inoculated with 1.2×104 cfu/mL of Salmonella Typhimurium in 0.5 mL of 0.85% buffered saline solution. Curcuma was added to the feed of chicks at 0, 1, 2, and 3% for 35 days. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance and Tukey’s test. Optimal feed conversion was observed in chicks given feed supplemented with 1% C. longa, regardless of infection, and 1% C. longa prevented intestinal colonization by Salmonella Typhimurium. Supplementation and bacterial infection influenced the histomorphometry and pH of the intestine. Bacterial infection reduced the intestinal pH, whereas C. longa supplementation increased the pH, but only in infected chicks. Thus, supplementation with 1% C. longa favors feed conversion, inhibits intestinal colonization by Salmonella Typhimurium, and does not alter intestinal integrity. In contrast, supplementation with 3% Curcuma longa decreases feed intake, affecting the performance of 35-day-old chick

Effects of Stingless Bee Propolis on Experimental Asthma

Bee products have been used empirically for centuries, especially for the treatment of respiratory diseases. The present study evaluated the effect of treatment with a propolis hydroalcoholic extract (PHE) produced by Scaptotrigona aff. postica stingless bee in a murine asthma model. BALB/c mice were immunized twice with ovalbumin (OVA) subcutaneously. After 14 days, they were intranasally challenged with OVA. Groups P50 and P200 received PHE by gavage at doses of 50 and 200 mg/kg, respectively. The DEXA group was treated with intraperitoneal injection of dexamethasone. The OVA group received only water. The mice were treated daily for two weeks and then they were immunized a second time with intranasal OVA. The treatment with PHE decreased the cell number in the bronchoalveolar fluid (BAL). Histological analysis showed reduced peribronchovascular inflammation after treatment with PHE especially the infiltration of polymorphonuclear cells. In addition, the concentration of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in the serum was decreased. These results were similar to those obtained with dexamethasone. Treatment with S. aff postica propolis reduced the pathology associated with murine asthma due an inhibition of inflammatory cells migration to the alveolar space and the systemic progression of the allergic inflammation

NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES: a data set on carnivore distribution in the Neotropics

Mammalian carnivores are considered a key group in maintaining ecological health and can indicate potential ecological integrity in landscapes where they occur. Carnivores also hold high conservation value and their habitat requirements can guide management and conservation plans. The order Carnivora has 84 species from 8 families in the Neotropical region: Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Otariidae; Phocidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae. Herein, we include published and unpublished data on native terrestrial Neotropical carnivores (Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae). NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES is a publicly available data set that includes 99,605 data entries from 35,511 unique georeferenced coordinates. Detection/non-detection and quantitative data were obtained from 1818 to 2018 by researchers, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private consultants. Data were collected using several methods including camera trapping, museum collections, roadkill, line transect, and opportunistic records. Literature (peer-reviewed and grey literature) from Portuguese, Spanish and English were incorporated in this compilation. Most of the data set consists of detection data entries (n = 79,343; 79.7%) but also includes non-detection data (n = 20,262; 20.3%). Of those, 43.3% also include count data (n = 43,151). The information available in NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES will contribute to macroecological, ecological, and conservation questions in multiple spatio-temporal perspectives. As carnivores play key roles in trophic interactions, a better understanding of their distribution and habitat requirements are essential to establish conservation management plans and safeguard the future ecological health of Neotropical ecosystems. Our data paper, combined with other large-scale data sets, has great potential to clarify species distribution and related ecological processes within the Neotropics. There are no copyright restrictions and no restriction for using data from this data paper, as long as the data paper is cited as the source of the information used. We also request that users inform us of how they intend to use the data

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans—anteaters, sloths, and armadillos—have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, 10 anteaters, and 6 sloths. Our data set includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the southern United States, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to the austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n = 5,941), and Cyclopes sp. have the fewest (n = 240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n = 11,588), and the fewest data are recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n = 33). With regard to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n = 962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n = 12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other data sets of Neotropical Series that will become available very soon (i.e., Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans data set. Please cite this data paper when using its data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using these data