Agro-industrial By-Products from Amazonian Fruits: Use for Obtaining Bioproducts

Fruit processing contributes significantly to the agricultural exportation of the Amazonian; however, it generates large amounts of solid waste, despite its high content of bioactive compounds and nutritional properties, and they are discarded in the environment. Therefore, in order to add economic value and potential reuse of agro-industrial by-products from cocoa, cupuassu, pracaxi, and tucumã, we investigated the chemical characteristics of the seed by-product resulting from the industrial extraction of these oils. The investigation of the nutritional and chemical composition of by-product was submitted to green extraction, besides other qualitative and quantitative techniques for the characterization of the main bioactive compounds. The extracts obtained from these by-products had a significant total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity. HPLC analysis identified and quantified some flavonoids present in these by-products (gallic, caffeic and protocatechuic acid, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, epicatechin, catechin, and quercetin). The oil from these species is widely used in the treatment of skin scarring and inflammation and is also used by the cosmetic industry. These results show that these by-products have a great potential for use, since they still have bioactive substances in their composition, which could alternatively be used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, or food industries

Pre-formulation and formulation studies of Heliotropium indicum (L.) DC - Boraginaceae

Heliotropium indicum L. (Boraginaceae) is a shrub, reaches up to 70 cm high. It is known as “fedegoso” in the north and northeast of Brazil. Because of the biological potential of this species, this work aims to determine the quality parameters of the vegetable drug to the final product and evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the leaves of H. indicum L. The purpose of obtaining a phytotherapic formulation semisolid, we used the parameters of quality control physical, chemical and physicalchemical described in the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia and others literature. The vegetable drug was classified as coarse powder, showed values of loss on drying and total ash of 12.88% and 17.14%, respectively. The thermogravimetric analysis of the powder and the extract showed that both had good physical stability up to 180 °C. The spectra in the region IR showed an increase in the intensity of the absorption bands of the extract, which may relates to the extraction of chemical constituents of the cellular matrix. The prospecting chemical extract confirmed the presence of classes of secondary metabolites already reported in literature. The chloroform fraction suggests the presence of alkaloids by precipitation test with Dragendorff reagent. The TLC and HPLC showed a possible presence of the same substance in the alkaloidal and hexane fractions. The crude extract inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus with halos of 12.5 mm ± 0.707 and 10.5 ± 0.707 mm for concentrations of 500 and 250 mg / mL, respectively. The physical mixtures of the extract with adjuvant pharmaceutical used to develop the phytotherapic formulation showed no physical incompatibility and no significant changes in the absorption profile of the compounds analyzed. The phytotherapic formulation semi-solid has a good stability after the preparation, after the submission of the gel by centripetal force and after the action of heat stress.CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível SuperiorHeliotropium indicum L. (Boraginaceae) é um subarbusto que atinge até 70 cm de altura, é amplamente distribuído geograficamente. A espécie é conhecida como fedegoso na região norte e nordeste. Diante do potencial biológico desta espécie este trabalho objetiva determinar parâmetros de qualidade da droga vegetal até o produto final e avaliar a atividade antimicrobiana de suas folhas, com finalidade de se obter uma formulação fitoterápica semi-sólida. Para isso utilizou-se parâmetros de controle de qualidade físico, químico e físico-químico descritos na Farmacopéia Brasileira e literatura pertinente. A droga vegetal foi classificada como pó grosso, apresentou valores médios de perda por dessecação e cinzas totais de 12,88% e 17,14%, respectivamente. A análise termogravimétrica do pó e do extrato liofilizado mostrou que ambos apresentaram boa estabilidade térmica até 180°C. Os espectros na região do IV mostraram um aumento na intensidade das bandas de absorção do extrato liofilizado, que pode está relacionado à extração dos constituintes químicos da matriz celular. A prospecção química do extrato confirmou a presença de classes de metabólitos secundários já relatados em literatura. A fração clorofórmica sugere a presença de alcalóides pelo teste de precipitação com reagente de Dragendorff. A CCD e a CLAE mostraram uma possível presença de uma mesma substância nas frações alcaloídicas e hexânicas. O extrato bruto de H. indicum L. inibiu o crescimento de Staphylococcus aureus apresentando halos de 12,5 mm±0,707 e 10,5 mm±0,707 para as concentrações de 500 mg/mL e 250 mg/mL, respectivamente. As misturas físicas do extrato com os adjuvantes farmacêuticos, utilizados no desenvolvimento da formulação fitoterápica, não apresentaram incompatibilidade física e não houve modificações significativas no perfil de absorção entre os compostos analisados. A formulação fitoterápica semi-sólida manteve-se estável após sua preparação, após a submissão do gel a força centrípeta e após ação do estresse térmico

Bioactive compounds and value-added applications of cupuassu (Theobroma grandiflorum Schum.) agroindustrial by-product

Abstract Cupuassu is a fruitful species from the Amazon basin with great economical potential, due to the multiple uses of its pulp and seeds in the food and cosmetic industries. This fruit generates large amounts of solid waste, which, despite of its high content of bioactive compounds, is discarded in the environment. Therefore, with the aim of reusing these wastes and adding economic value, we investigated the nutritional potential of the seed by-product resulting from industrial cupuassu oil extraction. The by-product was submitted to green extraction, and its contents of bioactive compounds were quantified by HPLC. The extract had a total polyphenol content (16.9 ± 1.8 mg/gDM) and an antioxidant activity, ABTS + (151.0 ± 5.5 mg/100 g) and DPPH. (85.4 ± 1.7 mmol/L). HPLC analysis of the extract identified epicatechin and glycosylated quercetin as the major flavonoids. This by-product shows great potential for being used as a source of the ingredients of high nutritional value, especially dietary fiber and polyphenols

Antioxidant Activity of an Industrial Cupuassu Seed By-product: Molecular Modeling of Phenolic Compounds

To better understand the biological properties of cupuassu seed residue resulting from fruit industrial processing, its antioxidant activity was determined by both the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2\u2032-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assays. Molecular modeling was used to correlate the antiradical power of eleven known cupuassu phenolic compounds with their structures. The extract antioxidant activity by both methods was very high compared with those of similar residues. The properties of the highest occupied and lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals indicate that the most energetically stable compounds possess the highest antioxidant activity. This was confirmed through the molecular electrostatic potential map by the nucleophilic surfaces on the oxygen atoms of carbonyl and hydroxyl groups

Quality control of Amazonian cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) by-products and microencapsulated extract by thermal analysis

Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) and its by-products are widely used by the pharmaceutical, cosmetics and food industries because they contain secondary metabolites with high levels of antioxidants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the thermal profile of cocoa by-products extract and its microparticles, obtained by spray drying to preserve its biological activity. The thermal analyses showed that the events of greater mass loss occurred in the temperature range of 407\u2013455 \ub0C (oil), 370\u2013429 \ub0C (cocoa waste), 175\u2013302 \ub0C (cocoa extract), 299\u2013314 \ub0C (microparticles) and 239\u2013329 \ub0C (microencapsulated extract). Through differential scanning calorimetry analysis, it was possible to detect a positive effect on microencapsulation of the extract, an increase in the stability of the active principles and similar bands both for the spectra of the extract and microparticles. The extract obtained, despite being derived from the solid residue (waste), showed high values of polyphenols content and antioxidant activity. These results suggest that the spray drying technology employed for encapsulation of the active principles was also effective for their preservation

EFEITOS DO TRATAMENTO COM ACUPUNTURA NA QUALIDADE DE VIDA EM PACIENTES COM DEPRESSÃO

<p><strong>Objetivo: </strong>Avaliar a efetividade da acupuntura na qualidade de vida em pacientes com transtorno depressivo atendidos em um Centro de Atenção Psicossocial. <strong>Métodos: </strong>Estudo quase experimental com abordagem quanti-qualitativa, sem grupo controle, com 17 participantes. Foi realizado no Centro de Atenção Psicossocial III, localizado no município de Castanhal, pertencente à região metropolitana de Belém, no estado do Pará. A coleta de dados utilizou questionário sociodemográfico, ficha de acupuntura, questionário da Qualidade Vida SF-12. Foram realizadas 9 sessões com uso máximo de 20 agulhas em cada atendimento. Os dados obtidos foram analisados por estatística descritiva com auxílio do software SPSS. <strong>Resultados:</strong> Os resultados evidenciaram melhora dos sinais e sintomas associados à depressão. Houve melhora significativa na maioria dos domínios da qualidade de vida (p=0,05). O domínio Estado Geral de Saúde apresentou os melhores valores de mediana e desvio padrão 4.06 ±1.09 para 1,86 ± 0,83, <i>p</i>=0,001. <strong>Conclusão: </strong>Concluiu-se que a intervenção com a técnica de acupuntura sistêmica apresentou resultados efetivos na QVRS em pacientes com depressão.</p&gt

Microencapsulation of Theobroma cacao L. waste extract: optimization using response surface methodology

The cocoa extract (Theobroma cacao L.) has a significant amount of polyphenols (TP) with potent antioxidant activity (AA). This study aims to optimise microencapsulation of the extract of cocoa waste using chitosan and maltodextrin. Microencapsulation tests were performed according to a Box\u2013Behnken factorial design, and the results were evaluated by response surface methodology with temperature, maltodextrin concentration (MD) and extract flowrate (EF) as independent variables, and the fraction of encapsulated TP, TP encapsulation yield, AA, yield of drying and solubility index as responses. The optimum conditions were: inlet temperature of 170\u2009\ub0C, MD of 5% and EF of 2.5\u2009mL/min. HPLC analysis identified epicatechin as the major component of both the extract and microparticles. TP release was faster at pH 3.5 than in water. These results as a whole suggest that microencapsulation was successful and the final product can be used as a nutrient source for aquatic animal feed.HighlightsMicroencapsulation is optimised according to a factorial design of the Box\u2013Behnken type.Epicatechin is the major component of both the extract and microcapsules.The release of polyphenols from microcapsules is faster at pH 3.5 than in water

Optimization of spray drying conditions to microencapsulate cupuassu (Theobroma grandiflorum) seed by-product extract

Cupuassu (Theobroma grandiflorum Schum.) is a popular Amazonian fruit because of its intense aroma and nutritional value, whose lipid fraction is alternatively used in cosmetics. To preserve active principles and ensure their controlled release, extract was microencapsulated by spray drying. Influence of spray-drying conditions on microencapsulation of cupuassu seed by-product extract was investigated according to a 33-Box Behnken factorial design, selecting inlet temperature, maltodextrin concentration and feed flowrate as independent variables, and total polyphenol and flavonoid contents, antiradical power, yields of drying and microencapsulation as responses. Fitting the results by second-order equations and modelling by Response Surface Methodology allowed predicting optimum conditions. Epicatechin and glycosylated quercetin were the major microencapsulated flavonoids. Microparticles showed satisfactory antiradical power and stability at 5 \ub0C or under simulated gastrointestinal conditions, thus they may be used to formulate new foods or pharmaceuticals