Panus tigrinus as a potential biomass source for Reactive Blue decolorization: isotherm and kinetic study

Background: Textile and dye industries pose a serious threat to the environment. Conventional methods used for dye treatment are generally not always effective and environmentally friendly. This drove attention of scores of researchers to investigate alternative methods for the biodegradation of dyes using fungal strains. In this work, white-rot fungus (Panus tigrinus) was used as a biosorbent for the decolorization of Reactive Blue 19. The process parameters that were varied were initial concentration (50­150 mg/L), contact time (30­90 min), and pH (2­6). In addition, to gain important data for the evaluation of a sorption process, the equilibrium and kinetics of the process were determined. Results: White-rot fungus showed great potential in decolorizing Azo dyes. The strain showed the maximum decolorization of 83.18% at pH 2, a contact time of 90 min, and an initial concentration of 50 mg/L. The Langmuir isotherm described the uptake of the Reactive Blue 19 dye better than the Freundlich isotherm. Analysis of the kinetic data showed that the dye uptake process followed the pseudo second-order rate expression. Conclusion: The biosorption process provided vital information on the process parameters required to obtain the optimum level of dye removal. The isotherm study indicated the homogeneous distribution of active sites on the biomass surface, and the kinetic study suggested that chemisorption is the rate-limiting step that controlled the biosorption process. According to the obtained results, P. tigrinus biomass can be used effectively to decolorize textile dyes and tackle the pollution problems in the environment.

Fontes de obtenção de medicamentos para tratamento de hipertensão arterial no Brasil: análise da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde, 2013 / Sources for obtaining drugs for hypertension in Brazil: results from the National Health Survey, 2013

RESUMO: Objetivo: Analisar as diferenças sociodemográficas dos indivíduos adultos hipertensos, em relação às fontes de obtenção de medicamentos para tratar hipertensão arterial no Brasil. Métodos: Análise secundária dos dados oriundos da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde, 2013; os desfechos considerados nas análises foram representados pelas fontes de obtenção de medicamentos para tratar a hipertensão arterial. Resultados: Foram entrevistados 10.017 indivíduos. A grande maioria dos hipertensos em uso de medicamentos (74,0%) utiliza uma fonte única de obtenção de medicamentos 7,3% (IC95% 6,4 - 8,4) referiu obter todos os medicamentos por meio dos planos de saúde privados; 22,7% (IC95% 21,0 - 24,4) em farmácias do sistema público de saúde; 21,8% (IC95% 20,2 - 23,4) no Programa Farmácia Popular do Brasil; e 29,5% (IC95% 27,7 - 31,4) exclusivamente pelas farmácias comerciais. A obtenção no sistema público de saúde como fonte única diminuiu com o avanço da idade, apresentou-se menor nas pessoas de cor da pele branca, diminuiu fortemente com o aumento da escolaridade e evidenciou-se menor entre os residentes na região Norte do país; no Programa Farmácia Popular do Brasil, a fonte única de obtenção também foi menor para as pessoas com maior escolaridade. A obtenção nas farmácias comerciais esteve associada positivamente com um perfil do sexo masculino, de maior escolaridade, de idade mais elevada, tendo declarado cor da pele branca. A ocorrência de mais de uma fonte de obtenção mostrou-se associada positivamente ao aumento da idade e inversamente ao aumento da escolaridade. Conclusões: Os resultados possibilitaram identificar diferentes estratégias para obtenção de medicamentos usados no tratamento da hipertensão, de modo a explicar como são obtidos os medicamentos no país e qual o impacto das políticas públicas nesse setor.

ABSTRACT: Objective: To analyze the sociodemographic differences among adults with hypertension regarding the sources for obtaining drugs for hypertension treatment in Brazil. Methods: This is a secondary analysis of data from the National Health Survey 2013; the outcomes considered for the analysis were the sources for obtaining drugs for treating high blood pressure. Results: The great majority (74%) of patients with hypertension taking drugs use a single source for obtaining them, 7.3% (95%CI 6.4 - 8.4) reported getting all the drugs through private health plans, 22.7% (95%CI 21.0 - 24.4) by pharmacies of the public health system, 21.8% (95%CI 20.2 - 23.4) by the Popular Pharmacy Program, and about one-third (29.5%; 95%CI 27.7 - 31.4) exclusively by commercial pharmacies. Having the public health system as the single source for obtaining the drugs was found to decrease with age, was lower in white people, decreased strongly with increase in education, and was lower for residents in the North region. Exclusive obtainment through the Popular Pharmacy Program was lower for people with higher education. Obtainment in commercial pharmacies was positively associated with being male, with higher education level, being older, and having white skin color. Obtainment using more than one source was positively associated with increasing age and inversely associated with higher education levels. Conclusions: The results allowed the identification of a trajectory of patients in obtaining drugs for the treatment of hypertension, aiming at explaining how the drugs are obtained and the impact of public policies in this sector in the country.

Obtención de Antraquinona contenida en el exudado de Aloe Vera (L.) Burm. f. (Zábila) / Anthraquinone obtention from Aloe Vera (L.) Burm. f. Exudate

La investigación tuvo como propósito obtener la antraquinona contenida en el exudado de Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. (zábila) mediante el método de cristalización y su identificación mediante la técnica de espectrofotometría de radiación infrarroja. La muestra la conformaron 18 plantas de zábila, recolectadas al oeste de la ciudad Santa Ana de Coro, estado Falcón. Se utilizaron tres métodos para la obtención de antraquinona a partir del exudado de zábila. En el método A, la antraquinona se obtuvo por descenso de la temperatura; en el método B, las muestras fueron liofilizadas y luego se disminuyó la temperatura; y en el método C, la antraquinona se obtuvo mediante un modificador de matriz. Con el método A se obtuvo un rendimiento de antraquinona de 7,65 ± 4,62% p/p; con el método B 5,74 ± 3,25 % p/p y con el método C 25,93 ± 1,49% p/p. El mayor rendimiento de antraquinona se obtuvo con el método de precipitación mediante modificador de matriz.

The purpose of this wok was obtain the anthraquinone from Aloe vera exudate applying method by crystallization and identifies it through spectrophotometric infrared and ultraviolet- visible techniques. The sample were 18 plants of Aloe vera, recollected at west of Coro city, Falcón state. It was used 3 methods to obtain anthraquinone from Aloe vera exudate. In the method A, anthraquinone was obtained by temperature descend; in the method B, the samples were lyophilized and temperature descends; and in the method C, anthraquinone was obtained by matrix modifier. With the method A it was obtained 7,65 ± 4,62% w/w of anthraquinone; with method B 5,74 ± 3,25 % w/w and with the method C 25,93 ± 1,49% w/w. The method with the best efficiency to obtain anthraquinone was the method C.

Revisión bibliográfica sobre la composición química y actividades farmacológicas del género Vismia (Guttiferae) / A review on the chemical composition and pharmacological activities of Vismia genus (Guttiferae)

Vismia genus is an important source of natural medicinal products, thus, information collected in this review is an attempt to cover the most recent developments in the ethnopharmacology, pharmacology and phytochemistry of this genus. Anthraquinones and other quinonoid derivates, terpenoids and volatile constituents have been reported as the major constituents isolated from different Vismia species. On the other hand, pharmacological studies carried out to date have revealed the variety of anti-plasmodium, antioxidant, antimicrobial and antifungical properties of extracts and pure isolated compounds of the different species tested. The information summarized in this paper intends to serve as a reference tool to practitioners in the fields of etnopharmacology and chemistry of natural products.

El género Vismia es una fuente importante de productos naturales medicinales, es por esto que la información reunida en la presente revisión cubre los estudios más recientes en la etnofarmacología, farmacología y fitoquímica de este género. Antraquinonas y otros derivados quinoides, terpenos y constituyentes volátiles han sido reportados como los compuestos mayormente aislados de las diferentes especies de Vismia. Por otro lado, los estudios farmacológicos realizados hasta los momentos muestran las diversas propiedades antiplasmodicas, antioxidantes, antimicrobianas y antifúngicas que presentan tanto los extractos como los compuestos puros aislados de las diferentes especies ensayadas. La información resumida en este documento intenta servir de material de apoyo para investigadores en los campos de la etnofarmacologia y la química de productos naturales.

Anthraquinones from the bark of Senna macranthera

2-acetyl physcion (2-acetyl-1,8-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-3-methyl-9,10-anthraquinone, 2), a rare anthraquinone, was isolated from Senna macranthera var. nervosa (Vogel) H.S. Irwin & Barneby (Fabaceae). The chemical structure was elucidated and all ¹H and 13C NMR chemical shifts were assigned by NMR one- (¹HNMR, {¹H}-13CNMR, and APT-13CNMR) and two (COSY, NOESY, HMQC and HMBC) dimensional of this natural compound. Furthermore, the minor anthraquinones chrysophanol (3), chrysophanol-8-methyl ether (4) and physcion (5) were characterized by GC-MS analysis. The occurrence of the anthraquinones 3-5 confirms that S. macranthera is a typical representative of the genus Senna.

2-acetil-fisciona (2-acetil-1, 8-di-hidróxi-6-metóxi-3-metil-9, 10-antraquinona, 2), uma antraquinona rara, foi isolada de Senna acranthera var. nervosa (Vogel) H.S. Irwin & Barneby (Fabaceae). estrutura química foi elucidada e todos os deslocamentos químicos de RMN ¹H e 13C foram atribuídos através de RMN uni- (RMN¹H, {¹H}-RMN-13C e APT-RMN13C) e bi- (COSY, NOESY, HMQC e HMBC) dimensional deste composto natural. Adicionalmente, as antraquinonas minoritárias crisofanol (3), crisofanol-8-metil éter (4) e fisciona (5) foram caraterizadas pela análise de CG-EM. A ocorrência das antraquinonas 3-5 confirma que S. macranthera é uma típica representante do gênero Senna.

Phytochemical and antioxidant studies of Laurera benguelensis growing in Thailand

The aim of this study was to investigate metabolites of the lichen Laurera benguelensis. A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method has been developed for the characterization of xanthones and anthraquinones in extracts of this lichen. Lichexanthone, secalonic acid D, norlichexanthon, parietin, emodin, teloschistin and citreorosein were detected in the lichen samples, which were collected from two places in Thailand. Components of the lichen were identifed by relative retention time and spectral data. This is the frst time that a detailed phytochemical analysis of the lichen L. benguelensis was reported and this paper has chemotaxonomic signifcance because very little has been published on the secondary metabolites present in Laurera species. Some of the metabolites were detected for the frst time in the family Trypetheliaceae. The results of preliminary testing of benzene extract and its chloroform and methanol fractions showed that all samples showed a weak radical scavenging activity. The chloroform extract showed the highest antioxidant activity.