Percepção ambiental de feirantes que realizam atividades econômicas com a produção de óleo residual de cozinha / Environmental perception of fairgrounds that perform economic activities with the production of kitchen waste oil

A relação entre indivíduo e meio ambiente condiz com sua percepção das questões ambientais. Um sujeito que desconhece os impactos que suas ações podem causar ao meio ambiente tende a praticar comportamentos considerados inadequados para a manutenção dos recursos ambientais. Estudos que visam verificar a percepção ambiental são importantes para mapear relações específicas entre o indivíduo e o meio ambiente e orientar ações de intervenção com base no que foi observado. Nesse sentido, o objetivo dessa pesquisa foi verificar qual a relação da percepção ambiental dos trabalhadores que realizam atividades econômicas de cocção e venda de frango com práticas de gerenciamento dos resíduos sólidos gerados, como o óleo residual produzido nas máquinas de assar frango. Os dados são oriundos de pesquisa de cunho exploratório realizada na Feira João Costa, em Breves-PA, através de entrevista semiestruturada aplicada a cinco feirantes envolvidos com a geração de óleo residual em máquinas de frango. Os resultados indicam que a maioria dos feirantes possuem percepção limitada do meio ambiente e os problemas ambientais, o que pode ser reflexo da consciência ambiental pouco aguçada sobre as possibilidades (necessidade) de reciclagem ou reaproveitamento dos resíduos gerados na atividade econômica desenvolvida na feira. Apenas o óleo residual de cozinha, gerado durante o processo de cocção nas máquinas de assar, é reaproveitado ou reciclado pela maioria. Diante disso, nota-se a necessidade de desenvolver ações de educação ambiental com estes feirantes considerando, entre outros fatores, suas insatisfações, anseios, julgamento e condutas para a conservação ambiental

Chitosan microparticles loaded with essential oils inhibit duo-biofilms of Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans

Oral candidiasis is a common fungal infection that affects the oral mucosa, and happens when Candida albicans interacts with bacteria in the oral microbiota, such as Streptococcus mutans, causing severe early childhood caries. C. albicans and S. mutans mixed biofilms are challenging to treat with conventional antimicrobial therapies, thus, new anti-infective drugs are required. Objective: This study aimed to test a drug delivery system based on chitosan microparticles loaded with geranium and lemongrass essential oils to inhibit C. albicans and S. mutans mixed biofilms. Methodology: Chitosan microparticles loaded with essential oils (CM-EOs) were obtained by spray-drying. Susceptibility of planktonic were performed according CLSI at 4 to 2,048 µg/mL. Mixed biofilms were incubated at 37ºC for 48 h and exposed to CM-EOs at 256 to 4,096 µg/mL. The antimicrobial effect was evaluated using the MTT assay, with biofilm architectural changes analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. RAW 264.7 cell was used to evaluate compound cytotoxicity. Results: CM-EOs had better planktonic activity against C. albicans than S. mutans. All samples reduced the metabolic activity of mixed C. albicans and S. mutans biofilms, with encapsulated oils showing better activity than raw chitosan or oils. The microparticles reduced the biofilm on the slides. The essential oils showed cytotoxic effects against RAW 264.7 cells, but encapsulation into chitosan microparticles decreased their toxicity. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that chitosan loaded with essential oils may provide an alternative method for treating diseases caused by C. albicans and S. mutans mixed biofilm, such as dental caries

Chitosan microparticles loaded with essential oils inhibit duo-biofilms of Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans

Abstract Oral candidiasis is a common fungal infection that affects the oral mucosa, and happens when Candida albicans interacts with bacteria in the oral microbiota, such as Streptococcus mutans, causing severe early childhood caries. C. albicans and S. mutans mixed biofilms are challenging to treat with conventional antimicrobial therapies, thus, new anti-infective drugs are required. Objective This study aimed to test a drug delivery system based on chitosan microparticles loaded with geranium and lemongrass essential oils to inhibit C. albicans and S. mutans mixed biofilms. Methodology Chitosan microparticles loaded with essential oils (CM-EOs) were obtained by spray-drying. Susceptibility of planktonic were performed according CLSI at 4 to 2,048 µg/mL. Mixed biofilms were incubated at 37ºC for 48 h and exposed to CM-EOs at 256 to 4,096 µg/mL. The antimicrobial effect was evaluated using the MTT assay, with biofilm architectural changes analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. RAW 264.7 cell was used to evaluate compound cytotoxicity. Results CM-EOs had better planktonic activity against C. albicans than S. mutans. All samples reduced the metabolic activity of mixed C. albicans and S. mutans biofilms, with encapsulated oils showing better activity than raw chitosan or oils. The microparticles reduced the biofilm on the slides. The essential oils showed cytotoxic effects against RAW 264.7 cells, but encapsulation into chitosan microparticles decreased their toxicity. Conclusion This study demonstrates that chitosan loaded with essential oils may provide an alternative method for treating diseases caused by C. albicans and S. mutans mixed biofilm, such as dental caries

Structural analysis of Dioclea lasiocatpa lectin : a C6 cells apoptosis-inducing protein

Lectins are multidomain proteins that specifically recognize various carbohydrates. The structural characterization of these molecules is crucial in understanding their function and activity in systems and organisms. Most cancer cells exhibit changes in glycosylation patterns, and lectins may be able to recognize these changes. In this work, Dioclea lasiocarpa seed lectin (DLL) was structurally characterized. The lectin presented a high degree of similarity with other lectins isolated from legumes, presenting a jelly roll motif and a metal-binding site stabilizing the carbohydrate-recognition domain. DLL demonstrated differential interactions with carbohydrates, depending on type of glycosidic linkage present in ligands. As observed by the reduction of cell viability in C6 cells, DLL showed strong antiglioma activity by mechanisms involving activation of caspase 3