Physicochemical characterization, microbiological quality and safety, and pharmacological potential of Hancornia speciosa Gomes

Hancornia speciosa Gomes is a fruit tree, commonly known as the mangaba tree, which is widespread throughout Brazil. The leaves of this plant are used in traditional medicine for medicinal purposes. Thus, the objective of this study was to perform a physicochemical characterization, identify the lipophilic antioxidants and fatty acids, and determine the microbiological quality and safety of H. speciosa leaves. In addition, the antioxidant, antimutagenic, and inhibitory activities of the ethanolic extract of H. speciosa leaves (EEHS) against enzymes related to neurodegenerative diseases, inflammation, obesity, and diabetes were investigated. Furthermore, this study aimed at assessing the in vivo effects of the EEHS on the glycemia of normoglycemic and diabetic Wistar rats. Physicochemical characterization was performed by colorimetry and gas-liquid chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID). The total number of colonies of aerobic mesophiles, molds, and yeasts was determined. The total coliforms and Escherichia coli were counted using the SimPlates kit, and sulphite-reducing Clostridium spores were quantified using the sulphite-polymyxin-sulfadiazine agar method. Salmonella spp. were detected using the 1-2 Test. The antioxidant activity of the EEHS was measured by its inhibition of 2,2′-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride- (AAPH-) induced oxidative hemolysis of human erythrocytes. The antimutagenic activity was determined using the Ames test. The acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, tyrosinase, hyaluronidase, lipase, α-amylase, and α-glycosidase enzyme-inhibiting activities were assessed and compared with commercial controls. The in vivo effects of the EEHS were assessed using the oral glucose tolerance test in normoglycemic Wistar rats and measuring the blood glucose levels in diabetic rats. The results demonstrated physical-chemical parameters of microbiological quality and safety in the leaves of H. speciosa, as well as antioxidant and antimutagenic activities and inhibition of enzymes related to neurodegenerative diseases, inflammation, obesity, and diabetes. In in vivo assays, it was shown that the normoglycemic rats challenged with glucose overload show significantly decreased blood glucose levels when treated with the EEHS. Taken together, the results ensure the microbiological quality and safety as well as showing the contents of carotenoids and polyunsaturated fatty acids of H. speciosa leaves. Additionally, the antioxidant, antimutagenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-Alzheimer’s disease, anti-Parkinson’s disease, antiobesity, and antihyperglycemic activities of the EEHS were demonstrated.This work was supported by grants from Fundação de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento do Ensino, Ciência e Tecnologia do Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul (FUNDECT), Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados (UFGD), and PRODER (24.073–A, Portugal).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Quality and microbiological safety and antifungal activity of Hancornia Speciosa Gomes (Apocynaceae).

The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality and microbiological safety and antifungal activity of the ethanolic extract of the leaves of Hancomia Gomes (EEHS), a Brazilian fruit tree popularly known mangabeira .info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Chemical composition, antioxidante and antimicrobial activity of the leaves of Hancornia Speciosa Gomes (Apocynaceae)

Hancomia species Gomes in a Brazilian tree which fruit is popularly know as mangaba. In this study we aimed (I) to characterize the chemical composition and energy content and to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the ethanol {EEHS) and methanol (EMHS} extracts from H species leaves.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Conservation of wild mushrooms through electron beam irradiation

The high perishability is a characteristic of the mushrooms consumed in fresh. Therefore, it is mandatory the application of effective conservation technologies to preserve and protect their chemical composition and nutritional value. Drying processes are widely used, but do not avoid the development of bacteria and fungi which have the ability to survive for long periods of time in dry foods, causing the loss of some nutrients and leading to food browning and oxidation of lipids and vitamins [1]. Irradiation appears as an alternative to food preservation assuring and maintaining its quality [2]. In this work, the effects of electron beam irradiation and storage time on nutritional and chemical parameters of wild samples of Macrolepiota procera (Scop.) Singer, previously submitted to a drying process (oven at 30 ºC), were assessed. The wild mushroom samples were collected in Trás-os-Montes; electron beam irradiation (doses 0.5, 1 and 6 kGy) was carried out in the INCT- Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology in Warsaw, Poland and the analyses were performed over the storage period (0, 6 and 12 months). The results were compared with a control (non-irradiated samples). The nutritional value was determined according to the official procedures of food analysis, while the profiles of fatty acids, tocopherols, mono and oligosaccharides were obtained by chromatographic techniques [1]. The irradiation showed a better capacity to maintain the nutritional and chemical profile, in comparison with the storage time. Effectively, the storage time had a significant effect in all parameters, but fatty acids undergone significant changes both with irradiation doses and storage time. Electron beam irradiation can be considered a suitable technique for conservation of mushrooms for long periods of time, attenuating the changes caused by the drying treatment.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) and FEDER under Programme PT2020 for financial support to CIMO (UID/AGR/00690/2013), A. Fernandes (SFRH/BPD/114753/2016) and J.C.M. Barreira contract.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Perfil sociodemográfico e epidemiológico de pacientes com AIDS residentes na região de saúde que compreende o município de Alagoinhas – BA, no período de 2007-2017

Objetivo: Este estudo teve como objetivo traçar o perfil sociodemográfico e epidemiológico de pacientes com AIDS residentes microrregião de região de saúde que compreende o município de Alagoinhas – BA, no período de 2007-2017. Metodologia: Trata-se de um estudo epidemiológico descritivo, exploratório de fonte secundária de dados. As variáveis investigadas foram: gênero, faixa etária, grau de escolaridade, município de residência, cor, categoria de exposição e evolução do caso. Resultados: Durante o período 2007 - 2017, constatou-se 459 casos registrados no SINAN de AIDS em adultos na Região de Saúde do município. Assim verificou-se em adulto uma tendência de crescimento no número de casos na microrregião de Alagoinhas, acentuado no ano de 2014 (95 casos), e com considerável aumento constatado no ano de 2017 (90 casos), evidenciou-se que 227 pacientes pertenciam ao sexo masculino e 232 pertenciam ao sexo feminino, havendo predomínio de casos, todavia, na faixa etária entre 20 a 34 anos. Houve a prevalência foi em adultos, faixa etária de 20-34 e 35-49, e dentre estes, o número de casos foi maior em indivíduos que têm relação heterossexual, seguido de indivíduos que têm relação homossexual, houve alto número de casos em indivíduos que possuem relações sexuais só com homens, totalizando 258, seguido de só com mulheres (135). Conclusão: O presente estudo permitiu compreender que os indivíduos adultos vivendo com HIV/AIDS, no período de 2007 a 2017, seguem a tendência nacional, contudo a melhoria do acesso aos serviços, qualidade da atenção, proporciona uma maior qualidade de vida aos pacientes

Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Cytotoxic Activities of Propolis from the Stingless Bee Tetragonisca fiebrigi (Jataí)

Propolis from stingless bees Tetragonisca fiebrigi found in Brazil is used in folk medicine by their nutritional and therapeutic properties. However, there are no scientific records evidencing such properties. The present study was designed to investigate the chemical composition and the biological properties of propolis from T. fiebrigi. For this, the chemical composition of the ethanol extract of propolis (EEP) was determined by GC-MS and presented phenolic compounds, alcohol, and terpenes as its major class compounds. The antimicrobial activity was accessed in gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and in fungi, isolated from different biological fluids and reference strains. The EEP was active against all microorganisms and showed antioxidant activity by scavenging free radicals, inhibiting hemolysis and lipid peroxidation in human erythrocytes incubated with an oxidizing agent. The anti-inflammatory potential of the EEP was confirmed by inhibition of the hyaluronidase enzyme. The cytotoxic activity was concentration-dependent against K562 cells, with a predominance of death by necrosis. Taken together, these results show that propolis from T. fiebrigi has important therapeutic activities, which suggest its potential application in the pharmaceutical industry, as well as in health foods, beverages, and nutritional supplements

Antimicrobial Activity of Propolis from the Brazilian Stingless Bees <i>Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides</i> and <i>Scaptotrigona depilis</i> (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponini)

Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides and Scaptotrigona depilis are species of stingless bees capable of producing propolis, which has considerable bioprospecting potential. In this context, the objective of this study was to determine the chemical compositions and evaluate the antimicrobial activity of propolis produced by M. q. anthidioides and S. depilis. The ethanolic extracts of propolis of M. q. anthidioides (EEP-M) and S. depilis (EEP-S) were prepared, and their chemical constituents were characterized by HPLC-ESI-MS. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated against bacteria and fungi, isolated from reference strains and hospital origin resistant to the action of antibiotics. From EEP-M, phenolic compounds were annotated, including gallic acid, ellagic acid, and flavonoids, as well as diterpenes and triterpenes. EEP-S showed mainly triterpene in its chemical composition. Both extracts inhibited the growth of medically relevant bacteria and fungi, including hospital-acquired and antimicrobial-resistant. In general, EEP-S showed better antimicrobial activity compared to EEP-M. The MIC of EEP-S against vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis was 3.50 mg/mL, while the MIC of EEP-M was 5.33 ± 0.16 mg/mL. In conclusion, this study shows that propolis produced by M. q. anthidioides and S. depilis has the potential to be used for the prevention or treatment of microbial infections