Análise da cadeia produtiva do capim limão: estudo de caso / Proposals and recommendations for qualification of the production chain of lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus ) (DC. ) Stapf (Poaceae)

RESUMO: Apresentam-se 26 propostas e recomendações aos agentes econômicos da cadeia produtiva do capim-limão, considerando resultados de diferentes estudos sobre o cultivo e a comercialização desta espécie no Estado do Paraná, Brasil. As propostas e recomendações estão categorizadas de acordo aos distintos problemas identificados, com ênfase no cultivo e processamento, posto que estas atividades foram evidenciadas como as mais problemáticas e limitadoras da oferta de produto adequado ao comércio e ao consumo. Objetivou-se contribuir para a melhor qualificação desta cadeia produtiva gerando benefícios, tanto aos distintos atores nela envolvidos, como também promovendo as bases para garantir a segurança alimentar do consumidor.

Twenty-six proposals and recommendations for the economic agents of the production chain of lemon grass are presented, considering the results of different studies related to the cultivation and commercialization of this specbies in the Paraná State, Brazil. These proposals and recommendations were categorized according to the different problems identified, with an emphasis on the cultivation and processing, since these were evidenced as the most problematic and limiting factors in relation to the offer of an adequate product for both trade and consumption. We aim to contribute to the improvement of the production chain of lemon grass, generating benefits to the different players involved in this chain as well as promoting bases to ensure food safety to consumers.

Cadmium in Jamaican bush teas / El cadmio en las tisanas Jamaicanas

Samples of Jamaican plants used as bush teas were collected from households in high soil-cadmium (Cd) areas of central Jamaica and analysed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry for total cadmium and for cadmium extractable with a hot water brew as prepared for human consumption to determine their contribution to dietary cadmium exposure. The concentrations ranged from < 0.03 to 6.85 µg/g for total Cd, between 1 and 15% of which was extracted with a hot water brew. One cup (200 ml) of the teas examined was found to contain < 0.04-1.18 µg of Cd and would contribute 0.1 - 0.3 µg of Cd to a person's dietary intake. This is significantly below the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) of 7 µg Cd/kg body weight established by theWorld Health Organization (WHO). While this suggests that bush tea consumption does not contribute significantly to the PTWI, some of the teas examined exceed the WHO recommendation of less than 0.3 mg/kg Cd for medicinal plants.

Muestras de plantas jamaicanas utilizadas en las tisanas o tés herbales, fueron recogidas de los hogares en zonas de Jamaica central, donde el suelo presenta un alto contenido de cadmio (Cd). Las muestras fueron analizadas mediante espectrofotometría de absorción atómica con horno de grafito para investigar el contenido total de cadmio así como el cadmio extraíble con una infusión de agua caliente, al preparar infusiones para el consumo humano, y determinar su contribución a la exposición al cadmio dietético. Las concentraciones fluctuaron de < 0.03 a 6.85 µg/g para el Cd total, extrayéndose entre el 1 y el 15% de este con una infusión de agua caliente. Una taza (200 ml) de las tisanas examinadas contenía < 0,04 - 1.18 µg de Cd, lo cual contribuiría 0.1 - 0.3 µg de Cd al consumo dietético de una persona. Esta cantidad se halla significativamente por debajo de la "Ingesta semanal tolerable provisional" (PTWI por sus siglas en inglés) establecidas en 7 µg Cd/kg peso corporal por la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS). Si bien esto sugiere que el consumo de tisanas no contribuye significativamente al PTWI, algunas de las infusiones examinadas exceden la recomendación de la OMS de menos de 0.3 mg/kg Cd para las plantas medicinales.