Antimicrobial potential of pyroligneous extracts - a systematic review and technological prospecting

Abstract Pyroligneous extract is applied in diverse areas as an antioxidant, an antimicrobial, and an anti-inflammatory agent. The discovery of new cost-effective antimicrobial agents of natural origin remains a challenge for the scientific community. This study aimed to conduct a systematic review and a technological forecasting of the existent evidence regarding the use of pyroligneous extract as a potential antimicrobial agent. Studies were identified through an investigation of various electronic databases: PubMed, SciFinder, Web of Science, Scopus, Scielo, Google scholar, and ProQuest. Patents were searched through INPI, Google patents, Espacenet, Patents online, USPTO, and WIPO. The literature on antimicrobial activity of pyroligneous extract are limited given the short duration of studies and variability in study design, use of pyroligneous preparations, and reports on results. However, evidence suggests the potential of pyroligneous extract as a natural antimicrobial agent. The most studied activity was the role of PE as a food preservative. However, pyroligneous extracts are also effective against pathogenic bacteria in the oral microflora and treatment of candidal infections. Further research is needed using standardized preparations of pyroligneous extracts to determine their long-term effectiveness and ability as antimicrobial agents.

Bioactive endophytic fungi isolated from Caesalpinia echinata Lam. (Brazilwood) and identification of beauvericin as a trypanocidal metabolite from Fusarium sp.

Aiming to identify new sources of bioactive secondary metabolites, we isolated 82 endophytic fungi from stems and barks of the native Brazilian tree Caesalpinia echinata Lam. (Fabaceae). We tested their ethyl acetate extracts in several in vitro assays. The organic extracts from three isolates showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli [minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) 32-64 μg/mL]. One isolate inhibited the growth of Salmonella typhimurium (MIC 64 μg/mL) and two isolates inhibited the growth of Klebsiella oxytoca (MIC 64 μg/mL), Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis (MIC 64-128 μg/mL). Fourteen extracts at a concentration of 20 μg/mL showed antitumour activities against human breast cancer and human renal cancer cells, while two isolates showed anti-tumour activities against human melanoma cancer cells. Six extracts were able to reduce the proliferation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, indicating some degree of selective toxicity. Four isolates were able to inhibit Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis and one isolate inhibited Trypanosoma cruzi by at least 40% at 20 μg/mL. The trypanocidal extract obtained from Fusarium sp. [KF611679] culture was subjected to bioguided fractionation, which revealed beauvericin as the compound responsible for the observed toxicity of Fusarium sp. to T. cruzi. This depsipeptide showed a half maximal inhibitory concentration of 1.9 μg/mL (2.43 μM) in a T. cruzi cellular culture assay.

Sandfly (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) species diversity in an urban area of the municipality of Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico

Monitoring phlebotomine sandflies in urban areas is key for epidemiological studies in susceptible populations. This paper describes sandfly fauna that were present in an urban area of the municipality of Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico, and were captured with Shannon and CDC light traps. During February and March of 2014, 1,442 sandflies were captured, specifically Lutzomyia cruciata (Coquillet) (98.8%), Lutzomyia cayennensis cayennensis (Floch and Abonnenc) (0.8%), Lutzomyia chiapanensis (Dampf) (0.3%) and Lutzomyia atulapai (De León) (0.1%). Lu. cruciata was the most abundant and the most frequently trapped species. This is the first record of its remarkable ability to adapt to urban green areas. The three other species trapped represent new records of geographic distribution for the study region. These results indicate the need to establish measures for reducing both human contact with this vector and the risk of possible sites of infection.

Inhibitory activity of Syzygium aromaticum and Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf. essential oils against Listeria monocytogenes inoculated in bovine ground meat

This research evaluated the antimicrobial effect of the clove (Syzygium aromaticum) and lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf.) essential oils (EOs) against Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 19117 growth added to bovine ground meat stored under refrigeration (5 ± 2 °C) for three days. The EOs, extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), were tested in vitro using an agar well diffusion methodology for determination of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). The MIC concentrations for both essential oils on culture tested of L. monocytogenes were 1.56%. The EOs concentrations applied in contaminated ground beef were 1.56, 3.125 and 6.25% (w/v) based on MIC levels and possible activity reductions by food constituents. The bacteria populations were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) after one day of storage in ground meat samples treated with clove and lemongrass EOs at concentrations of 1.56%. There were no significant counts of L. monocytogenes in samples at the other concentrations of the two oils applied after the second day of storage. The sensory acceptability evaluation of the bovine ground meat samples treated with EOs showed that the addition at concentrations higher than 1.56% promote undesirable alterations of taste, odor and characteristic color. The application of EOs at low concentrations in food products can be used in combination with other preservation methods, such as refrigeration, to control pathogens and spoilage bacteria during shelf-life; which goes according to current market trends, where consumers are requesting natural products.

[Determination of fumaric acid in jelly using reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography [RP-HPLC]]

We can precisely determine the preservative Fumaric Acid in Jelly by using a reversed-phased HPLC method, that allows good separation after it is extracted by mean of dissolution. The separation was performed on C18 column within 10 min, by isocratic elution using water adjusted to pH 2.10-2.15 with perchloric acid, and detection was by UV absorption at a wavelength of 210 nm. Analytical characteristics of the separation such as limit of detection, limit of quantification, linear range and precision were evaluated. The developed method was applied for the determination Fumaric Acid in Jelly

Desenvolvimento de recheio para bombons utilizando frutas tropicais: Manga / Development of filling for chocolate using tropical fruit: Mango

O mercado de exportaçäo da manga '' in natura '' é crescente e sua aceitaçäo no exterior é muito boa, principalmente nos Estados Unidos e na Europa Ocidental devido ao seu fino sabor e aroma, sua coloraçäo atrativa e seu valor nutritivo. Os recheios foram formulados de acordo com os seguintes tipos: gelatinosos, doces de corte, à base de '' fondant '' e fruta seca. Recheios tipo doce de corte foram formulados variando-se as concentraçöes de pectina e pH. Recheios tipo gelatinosos foram formulados utilizando-se diferentes goms (carragena, pectina HM e pectina LM). As formulaçöes obtidas foram analisadas física e quimicamente pelos testes de atividade de água, sólidos solúveis e consistência. Também foram feitas observaçöes dos produtos durante armazenamento com relaçäo à contraçäo e ressecameto dos recheios e avaliaçöes sensoriais. Os melhores resultados para o recheio tipo gelatinoso foram obtidos utilizando-se a pectina cítrica HM tipo 8105 (0,5 por cento) e pectina cítrica LM 8001 (1,0 por cento)(denominaçöes do fabricante Braspectina SA) e para o doce de corte considerou-se a formulaçäo com 0,8 por cento de pectina HM como melhor

Conservación y estabilidad de la tortilla de maíz a temperatura ambiente / Preservation and stability of corn turtledove at room temperature

Se estudiaron cuatro conservadores químicos para estabilizar tortilla de maíz a temperatura ambiente (25ºC); propionato de sodio, combinación de sorbato de potasio-metilparabén y metilparabén-peróxido de hidrógeno. Se realizó un estudio de almacenamiento y estabilidad con el conservador que arrojó mejores resultados, para lo cual se seleccionaron dos materiales de empaques: Papel y Polietileno de Alta Densidad. La calidad de la tortilla durante su almacenamiento fue evaluada en función de la humedad, análisis microbiológico (recuento de mesófilos, hongos y levaduras) y evaluación sensorial. Los resultados se analizaron por medio de un análisis de covarianza y contraste de pendientes entre empaques, adoptando un nivel de significancia de p<0.05. El deterioro de la calidad organoléptica de la tortilla sin conservador, se asoció con una elevada cuenta de bacterias gram negativas, hongos y levaduras responsables de los olores ofensivos en 24 horas o menos. De los conservadores estudiados, la mezcla de metilparabén-peroxido de hidrógeno fue el único conservador que tuvo un efecto significativo, tanto sobre las bacterias como sobre los hongos y levaduras, retardando el deterioro microbiano. además, no se detectaron residuos de peróxido de hidrógeno en el producto después de dos días de almacenamiento. Los resultados de estudios de almacenamiento y estabilidad utilizando esta mezcla, reafirman la inconveniencia del uso de papel para prevenir cambios de textura y humedad en la tortilla aún cuando se almacena por períodos cortos. Además, el uso de metilparabén y peróxido de hidrógeno puede permitir conservar la tortilla de maíz en condiciones aceptables para el consumidor hasta por un período de seis días a temperatura ambiente, lo cual podría influir significativamente en las prácticas actuales de comercialización.

Conservadores em alimentos e fatores que afetam sua eficiência no controle de microrganismos / Food conservatives and the factors affecting their efficiency in microorganisms control

Os principais conservadores, com uso permitido no Brasil ou recomendados nível de Codex Alimentarius, säo revistos em suas características básicas e maneira de atuaçäo. Enfase maior é dada ao espectro de atividade antimicrobiana e mecanismo da açäo inibitória ou letal sobre a célula microbiana. Além disso, säo discutidos os efeitos do pH, natureza da microbiota contaminante, intensidade de contaminaçäo e concentraçäo de uso, como principais fatores que interferem na atividade do conservador