Integrative analysis based on HPLC-DAD-MS/MS and NMR of Bertholletia excelsa Bark Biomass Residues: Determination of ellagic acid derivatives

Bertholletia excelsa Bonpl. (Lecythidaceae) is a South American tree worldwide known for providing the Brazil nuts. In the Amazon Region, B. excelsa is found in monocultures, integrating agroforestries and providing raw materials for food and timber industries. Through the application of an integrative analysis based on high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detector and tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-MS/MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques, the present study showed that B. excelsa bark biomass residues contain large quantities of ellagic acid (EA) and its derivatives. Qualitatively, five compounds were characterized for the first time in this species. Quantitations were carried out to determine the total amount of these compounds in outer and inner bark tissues. A total of 4.96 and 44.09 g of EA derivatives per kg of dry residues was determined for the outer and inner barks, respectively. Among the EA derivatives, eschweilenol C, ellagic acid and valoneic acid dilactone were the main compounds. These results pointed B. excelsa barks as a valuable biomass residue with potential to be source of health-promoting compounds. Therefore, a potential raw material as source of valuable bioactive phenolic compounds is described herein. © 2019 Sociedade Brasileira de Química

Body condition score, weight variation and reproductive performance of beef cows in rangelands from the Pantanal region

Objetivou-se avaliar a influência do escore de condição corporal (ECC) sobre a eficiência reprodutiva de vacas de cria nos períodos pré e pós-parto e a probabilidade de parição, usando o escore de condição corporal e a variação ponderal no período crítico do ciclo reprodutivo. Utilizaram-se 248 vacas multíparas mantidas em pastagens nativas distribuídas em quatro estratégias de suplementação: mistura mineral (controle); suplemento farelado; suplemento líquido; suplemento líquido para vacas e bezerros. As avaliações de peso e ECC, na escala de 1 a 9, foram realizadas no período crítico: em agosto (período pré-parto, 60-90 dias antes da parição) e em janeiro (período pós-parto e reprodutivo) durante quatro anos consecutivos. Para a análise dos anos consecutivos de reprodução, criou-se um escore de reprodução, ou seja, somou-se o número de parições de cada vaca durante os quatro anos pecuários avaliados. O escore de condição corporal nos períodos pré e pós-parto e a idade da vaca influenciaram o escore de reprodução. Portanto, para avaliação da probabilidade de parição, foram utilizadas todas as vacas, classificadas em paridas e vazias. Utilizando equações de estimação generalizadas (EEG), foi modelada a probabilidade de as matrizes serem classificadas como paridas considerando variáveis exploratórias ao longo do tempo. Para se obter probabilidade de parição superior a 80%, as vacas devem possuir escore de aproximadamente 5,5 no período pré-parto. Aproximadamente 60% das vacas paridas mantiveram ou ganharam peso no período crítico do ano, o que levou a maior probabilidade de reconcepção, similar ao observado para as vacas vazias, porém com probabilidade menor de parição. O período pré-parto é o melhor para estimar a probabilidade de parição das vacas por meio da avaliação do escore corporal. A seleção de vacas adaptadas às condições bioclimáticas do Pantanal aumenta a probabilidade de produção de um bezerro por vaca por ano. _________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of body condition score (BCS) on reproductive performance of beef cows before and after calving and to evaluate the calving probability using body condition score and weight variation during critical periods of the cow reproductive cycle. From 2001 to 2005, the body condition score was recorded in 248 multiparous cows raised in native pastures, submitted to different supplementation treatments (mineral mixture only - control; dry supplement; liquid supplement and liquid supplement for cow and calves). Weighing and body condition evaluation were made on a 1-9 point scale in August (prepartum period, 60-90 days before parturition) and January (postpartum and reproductive period). A reproduction score was created in function of the body scores in four consecutive years. Except for the treatment, the other factors (body condition score in the prepartum and postpartum periods and cow age) influenced the reproduction score. Thus, the calving probabilities were estimated for all cows. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to evaluate the calving probability in function of the exploratory variables over time. Calving probability higher than 80% was obtained when cows scored 5,5 before calving. In relation to weight, the results showed that about 60% of calving cows maintained or gained weight in the postpartum period, leading to increase in the rebreeding probability. Similar situation occurred with single cows; however, the calving probability was lower. These results indicate that the calving probability using BCS is better estimated before calving. Furthermore, it indicates the presence of cows more adapted to the Pantanal climatic and feeding conditions than others

Overview on biodiversity, chemistry, and biotechnological potential of microorganisms from the Brazilian Amazon

Brazil is one of the most biodiverse countries on the planet and a part expressive of that biodiversity are situated in the vast Amazon region. The biodiversity of the Amazon is distributed in different environments represented by upland forest, savanna, igapó forest, and floodplains. Microorganisms occur abundantly, considering that all the natural vegetal coverage of soil is full of microorganisms colonizing hosts and other microhabitats as water and animals. Owing to the fact that microorganisms from the Amazon are little known, in this chapter, we intend to present the current status of research on microorganisms in the Amazon, mainly reviewing results of researches that have been carried out in the state of Amazon within the principal institutions. The microbiota associated with plants from Amazon is an economically promising source of bioactives. In the state of Amazon, there is an important microorganism culture collection, which is preserved in education and research institutes. The biodiversity of microorganisms living in water habitats of Amazonian rivers has been assessed via independent culturable methods and with the help of molecular tools as well as the microbiota from rhizosphere. Data from previously reported studies related to biological control assays conducted with natural products from endophytic fungi, as well as results of research processes addressing water and soil bioremediation, are discussed. Finally, a variety of microbial metabolites uncovered by studies carried out by few regional groups, exploring metabolites produced by bacteria and fungi from plants and other Amazonian sources, are presented. Considering that the vast diversity of a few species of fungi already described were from tropical countries, the exploration of the Amazon microbiological diversity is of prime importance. © 2017, Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved

Polycarpol in Unonopsis, Bocageopsis and Onychopetalum Amazonian species : chemosystematical implications and antimicrobial evaluation

Polycarpol, a recurrent lanostane-type triterpene in Annonaceae family, was confirmed by thin layer chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis in the aerial parts (twigs and trunk barks) of Unonopsis duckei R.E. Fr., U. floribunda Diels, U. rufescens (Baill.) R.E. Fr., U. stipitata Diels, Onychopetalum amazonicum R.E. Fr. and Bocageopsis pleiosperma Maas. Its chemotaxonomic significance was discussed for these three genera, as well for the Annonaceae family. In addition, the antimicrobial activity against several strains of microorganisms was evaluated for the first time for this compound, being observed significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538), Staphylococcus epidermidis (ATCC 1228) and Escherichia coli (ATCC 10538 and ATCC 10799) with minimal inhibitory concentration values between 25 and 50 μg ml−12511115CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DO AMAZONAS - FAPEAMNão temNão temNão temNão te

Polycarpol in Unonopsis, Bocageopsis and Onychopetalum Amazonian species: chemosystematical implications and antimicrobial evaluation

Polycarpol, a recurrent lanostane-type triterpene in Annonaceae family, was confirmed by thin layer chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis in the aerial parts (twigs and trunk barks) of Unonopsis duckei R.E. Fr., U. floribunda Diels, U. rufescens(Baill.) R.E. Fr., U. stipitata Diels, Onychopetalum amazonicum R.E. Fr. and Bocageopsis pleiospermaMaas. Its chemotaxonomic significance was discussed for these three genera, as well for the Annonaceae family. In addition, the antimicrobial activity against several strains of microorganisms was evaluated for the first time for this compound, being observed significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538), Staphylococcus epidermidis (ATCC 1228) and Escherichia coli (ATCC 10538 and ATCC 10799) with minimal inhibitory concentration values between 25 and 50 μg ml−1

Chemical composition and antimicrobial evaluation of the essential oils of <i>Bocageopsis pleiosperma</i> Maas

<div><p>Essential oils from the leaves, twigs and barks of <i>Bocageopsis pleiosperma</i> Maas were obtained by using hydrodistillation and analysed by using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Several compounds (51) were detected and identified, being β-bisabolene the main component in all aerial parts of the plant, with higher concentration in the leaves (55.77%), followed by barks (38.53%) and twigs (34.37%). In order to increase the biological knowledge about the essential oil of <i>Bocageopsis</i> species, antimicrobial activities were evaluated against the microorganisms <i>Escherichia coli</i>, <i>Staphylococcus epidermidis</i>, <i>Enterobacter aerogenes</i>, <i>Candida tropicalis</i>, <i>Candida dubliniensis</i>, <i>Candida glabrata</i> and <i>Candida albicans</i>. The essential oil obtained from the barks exhibited a moderate effect against <i>S. epidermidis</i> ATCC 1228 (MIC = 250 μg/mL), while the other oils did not exhibit antimicrobial activity. These results represent the first report about the chemical composition of <i>B. pleiosperma</i> and the first antimicrobial evaluation with a <i>Bocageopsis</i> species.</p></div