Prospección química y microbiológica del bosque de galería del Río Uruguay / Chemical and microbiological prospecting woodland along the Uruguay River / Prospecção química e microbiológica do bosque de galeria do Rio Uruguai

La bioprospección es la búsqueda de información a partir de especies biológicas para su uso posterior en procesos de producción en diversos sectores. Ejemplos de esa información es la contenida en el material genético de todos los seres vivos, en los compuestos químicos que producen, en sus interacciones o en el conocimiento de las personas que de una manera u otra han estudiado a esos seres vivos. En este trabajo se presentan los resultados de la prospección botánica, química y microbiológica del bosque de galería del río Uruguay en la zona del rio Queguay, ecosistema con gran biodiversidad (comprende unas 200 especies) y de características poco comunes en el país dado su carácter subtropical. Se estudiaron 75 extractos provenientes de 31 especies pertenecientes a quince familias cubriendo de esa forma una gran biodiversidad.

Bioprospecting is the search for information from biological species for later use in production processes in various sectors. Examples of this information is contained in the genetic material of all living beings in the chemicals they produce, in their interactions or the knowledge of people who in one way or another, have studied these living beings. This paper presents the results of botanical, chemical and microbiological study of the gallery forest of the Uruguay River in the area of the Queguay river. This ecosystem presents great biodiversity (comprising about 200 species) and unusual features in the country given its subtropical character. We studied 75 extracts from 31 species belonging to fifteen families covering therefore a large biodiversity.

A bioprospecção é a bisca de informações a partir de espécies biológicas para seu uso posterior em processos de produção em diversos setores. Exemplos dessa informação está contida no material genético de todos os seres vivos, nas substâncias químicas que produzem, nas suas interações ou n o conhecimento das pessoas que, de uma maneira ou de outra, estudam os seres vivos. Neste trabalho é apresentado os resultados da prospecção botânica, química e microbiológica do bosque de galeria do Rio Uruguai na zona do Rio Queguay, ecosistema com grande biodiversidade, com cerca de duzentas espécies, e de características pouco comum no país dado seu caráter subtropical. Foram estudados 75 extratos provenientes de 31 espécies pertencentes a quinze famílias, cobrindo, assim, uma grande biodiversidade.

Initial antimicrobial activity studies of plants of the riverside forests of the southern Uruguay River / Estudos antimicrobianos preliminares de plantas da floresta ribeirinha do sul do rio Uruguai

Development of new antimicrobial compounds against different microorganisms is becoming critically important, as infectious diseases are still one of the leading causes of death in the world. Plants can be a useful source of these lead compounds. In this study, 66 extracts of 25 plants of the riverside forest of southern Uruguay River were studied for antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria inocua, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans. Fifty-three of these extracts showed some kind of antimicrobial activity. Six of these (Eugenia mansoni, Eugenia repanda, Myrcianthes cisplatensis, Paullinia ellegans, Petunia sp and Ruprechtia laxiflora) presented activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis with MIC values as low as 50 μg/mL.

As doenças infecciosas ainda são uma das principais causas de morte no mundo, sendo de significativa importância o desenvolvimento de novos compostos antimicrobianos contra diferentes microrganismos. As plantas podem ser uma boa fonte para direcionar a busca destes compostos. Neste estudo, 66 extratos de 25 plantas da floresta ribeirinha do sul do Rio Uruguai foram estudados para a atividade antimicrobiana contra o Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria inocua, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Aspergillus niger e Candida albicans. Cinqüenta e três destes extratos apresentaram algum tipo de atividade antimicrobiana. Seis (Eugenia mansoni, Eugenia repanda, Myrcianthes cisplatensis, Paullinia ellegans, Petunia sp e Ruprechtia laxiflora) apresentaram atividade contra o Mycobacterium tuberculosis com CIM de 50 μg/mL.

Biodegradation of agroindustrial wastes by Pleurotus spp for its use as ruminant feed

The increasing expansion of agro-industrial activity has led to the accumulation of a large quantity of lignocellulosic residues all over the world. In particular, large quantities of rice straw (300.000 t) and citric bagasse (50.000 t) are annually produced in Uruguay. In this work we present the study of the bioconversion of these substrates with the edible mushroom Pleurotus spp so as to increase nutritional values and digestibility for its use as animal feed. The SSF process was optimized and the products after different periods of mushroom growth were evaluated. The microbial counts (cfu/g) for the inoculated substrates 44 days after incubation were 15 x 10(4), < 10 and < 10 for aerobic microorganisms, coliforms and E. coli, respectively. After 14 days of SSF the percentage of dry matter, ADF and NDF decreased, and the content of protein increased. These results show that vegetal cell-wall components were degraded during the period of mushroom incubation. PCR - RFLP analysis of the ITS region was used to characterize the Pleurotus species produced in Uruguay and discriminate between DNAs of Pleurotus ostreatus 814 and other fungi from the different substrates.