Plant-based essential oils in the treatment of microbial infections

There is a growing demand for bioactive compounds from the great diversity of native plants, which have biological activities that are important for their application in the development of drugs and in the biomedical field. Among these bioactive compounds, essential oils have received great interest from researchers because they have numerous important biological properties for application in the pharmaceutical area, with an emphasis on antimicrobial activity. Due to the great biodiversity, the native Brazilian flora consists of thousands of species rich in these volatile compounds with self-added value. Therefore, this chapter will give an overview of the essential oils and their main compounds obtained from species of native Brazilian flora in terms of their antimicrobial activity, which can be useful in the future as new sources of bioactive compounds for developing innovative drugs in the treatment of microbial diseases.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Chia seed mucilage (Salvia hispanica L.): An emerging biopolymer for industrial application

Biopolymers are widely distributed in nature and have a wide variety of biological properties and applications. Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) is an herbaceous plant that belongs to the Lamiaceae family, which when in contact with water exude the fraction of soluble fiber in the form of mucilage. In view of the above, this study aims to provide an overview of the characteristics and applications of chia mucilage that make it a biopolymer of industrial interest. The data collection was carried out in the databases: SciELO (Scientific Electronic Library Online), Science Direct, MDPI, Wiley Online Library, Springer and Periodical capes using the following descriptors: “Chia Seed Mucilage”, “Technological Properties”, “Biological Activities”, and “Applications” in alone and in association. After the critical analysis of the selected articles, it was possible to conclude that the chia mucilage has numerous and unique physical-chemical, chemical and technological properties. Applications in the food field are among the most used in view of the industrial perspective. However, the infinite potential that this biomaterial has for the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries is undeniable

Mucilagem de sementes de chia (Salvia hispanica L.): um biopolímero emergente para aplicação industrial

Biopolymers are widely distributed in nature and have a wide variety of biological properties and applications. Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) is an herbaceous plant that belongs to the Lamiaceae family, which when in contact with water exude the fraction of soluble fiber in the form of mucilage. In view of the above, this study aims to provide an overview of the characteristics and applications of chia mucilage that make it a biopolymer of industrial interest. The data collection was carried out in the databases: SciELO (Scientific Electronic Library Online), Science Direct, MDPI, Wiley Online Library, Springer and Periodical capes using the following descriptors: “Chia Seed Mucilage”, “Technological Properties”, “Biological Activities”, and “Applications” in alone and in association. After the critical analysis of the selected articles, it was possible to conclude that the chia mucilage has numerous and unique physical-chemical, chemical and technological properties. Applications in the food field are among the most used in view of the industrial perspective. However, the infinite potential that this biomaterial has for the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries is undeniable.Os biopolímeros são amplamente distribuídos na natureza e possuem uma ampla variedade de propriedades biológicas e aplicações. A chia (Salvia hispanica L.) é uma planta herbácea pertencente à família Lamiaceae, que quando em contato com a água exala a fração de fibra solúvel na forma de mucilagem. Diante do exposto, este estudo tem como objetivo fornecer um panorama sobre as características e aplicações da mucilagem da chia que a tornam um biopolímero de interesse industrial. A coleta de dados foi realizada nas bases de dados: SciELO (Scientific Electronic Library Online), Science Direct, MDPI, Wiley Online Library, Springer e Periodical capes utilizando os seguintes descritores: “Chia Seed Mucilage”, “Technological Properties”, “Biological Activities ”, e “Aplicações” isoladamente e em associação. Após a análise crítica dos artigos selecionados, foi possível concluir que a mucilagem da chia possui inúmeras e únicas propriedades físico-químicas, químicas e tecnológicas. As aplicações na área de alimentos estão entre as mais utilizadas do ponto de vista industrial. No entanto, é inegável o potencial infinito que este biomaterial tem para as indústrias farmacêutica e agrícola.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Avaliação da rotulagem de suplementos vitamínicos e/ou minerais

As vitaminas e os minerais são elementos essenciais ao funcionamento do organismo humano. Para garantir a quantidade adequada desses nutrientes, muitos indivíduos utilizam suplementos vitamínicos e/ou minerais, os quais devem apresentar no mínimo 25% e no máximo 100% da Ingestão Diária Recomendada (IDR). Considerando a importância comercial da venda de suplementos pelos estabelecimentos e a relevância desses produtos para a saúde humana, este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a conformidade da rotulagem de suplementos vitamínicos, minerais e vitamínicos/minerais dispostos à venda em 10 farmácias comerciais, em Teresina-PI, em julho de 2016. A pesquisa de campo consistiu em um estudo quantitativo observacional dos dados contidos nos rótulos de todos os produtos contendo vitaminas e/ou minerais, de acordo com o preconizado pela legislação vigente. Foram coletadas informações de 208 produtos, incluindo medicamentos, contudo, somente os suplementos foram avaliados de acordo com os itens requeridos pela Portaria nº 32/1988. Observou-se que, de 154 suplementos analisados, apenas 49% obedeceram a todos os aspectos da rotulagem preconizada pela legislação. Entre os erros mais comuns, destacam-se a designação incorreta do produto (67,90%) e falhas nas advertências obrigatórias (35,90%). A falta de informações básicas de rotulagem dificulta a escolha adequada do suplemento pelos consumidores e enfatiza a necessidade da presença de um profissional de saúde que possa auxiliar a população na seleção de um produto confiável, além da possibilidade de indicação racional para a utilização desse tipo de produto

Biopolymer from water kefir as a potential clean-label ingredient for health applications: evaluation of new properties

The present work aimed to characterize the exopolysaccharide obtained from water kefir grains (EPSwk), a symbiotic association of probiotic microorganisms. New findings of the technological, mechanical, and biological properties of the sample were studied. The EPSwk polymer presented an Mw of 6.35 x 10(5) Da. The biopolymer also showed microcrystalline structure and characteristic thermal stability with maximum thermal degradation at 250 degrees C. The analysis of the monosaccharides of the EPSwk by gas chromatography demonstrated that the material is composed of glucose units (98 mol%). Additionally, EPSwk exhibited excellent emulsifying properties, film-forming ability, a low photodegradation rate (3.8%), and good mucoadhesive properties (adhesion Fmax of 1.065 N). EPSwk presented cytocompatibility and antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The results of this study expand the potential application of the exopolysaccharide from water kefir as a potential clean-label raw material for pharmaceutical, biomedical, and cosmetic applications.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio