Avaliação farmacognóstica e microbiológica da droga vegetal camomila (Chamomilla recutita L. ) comercializada como alimento em Cascavel - Paraná / Pharmacognostic and microbiological evaluation of the medicinal plant chamomile (Chamomilla recutita L. ) commercialized as food in Cascavel Municipality, Paraná State, Brazil

As plantas medicinais, dentre elas a camomila, têm sido muito utilizadas na forma de droga vegetal pela população em geral, como importantes alternativas alimentícias e terapêuticas. Considerando que a fiscalização sanitária destes produtos é precária, este quadro torna-se preocupante, visto que, um produto em condições inadequadas para consumo pode acarretar vários riscos ao consumidor. Diante disso, este trabalho teve por objetivo realizar avaliação farmacognóstica e microbiológica em quinze amostras de chá de camomila comercializadas na cidade de Cascavel, Paraná. A metodologia adotada para a realização dos testes foi a preconizada pela Farmacopéia Brasileira (1988, 1996, 1998). O estudo de autenticidade revelou que todas as amostras eram constituídas por Chamomilla recutita L., porém na maioria das amostras os capítulos florais apresentavam-se excessivamente destruídos. Seis amostras apresentaram teor de materiais estranhos acima de 5 por cento. Quanto ao doseamento de óleo essencial, todas as amostras foram insatisfatórias, visto que, apresentaram apenas traços de óleos essenciais, ou seja, valores abaixo de 0,4 por cento, sendo este valor o mínimo exigido pela Farmacopéia. Com relação às análises de bolores e leveduras foi verificado que quatro amostras apresentaram valores acima do limite de 10(4) UFC mL-1, conforme preconizado pela Organização Mundial de Saúde. A partir dos dados obtidos concluiu-se que a camomila comercializada na cidade de Cascavel - Paraná apresenta problemas com relação à qualidade, sendo necessário definir medidas adequadas de controle higiênico sanitário ao longo da cadeia de produção, para garantir a qualidade e segurança destes produtos.

Medicinal plants, including chamomile, have been largely used by the general population as important food and therapeutic alternatives. Considering that the sanitary control of such products is precarious, this situation becomes worrisome since a product presenting unsuitable conditions for consumption can lead to several risks to the consumer. Thus, the present study aimed to perform a pharmacognostic and microbiological evaluation of fifteen samples of chamomile tea commercialized in Cascavel Municipality, Paraná State, Brazil. The adopted methodology for the tests was that recommended by the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia (1988, 1996, 1998). The authenticity study indicated that all samples were constituted of Chamomilla recutita L.; however, most samples had excessively destroyed flower capitula. Six samples had levels of strange materials above 5 percent. As regards essential oil evaluation, all samples were unsatisfactory, since they only had essential oil traces, i.e. values under 0.4 percent, which is the lowest value accepted by the Pharmacopoeia. As regards mold and yeast analyses, four samples had values above the limit of 10(4) UFC mL-1, according to that recommended by the World Health Organization. The obtained data suggest that the chamomile commercialized in Cascavel Municipality has problems regarding quality; thus, establishing suitable procedures for sanitary hygienic control in its production chain is needed to assure the quality and the safety of such products.

Effects of vitamin A supplementation during pregnancy and early lactation on body weight of South African HIV-infected women.

Effects of vitamin A supplementation during pregnancy and early lactation on maternal weight among HIV-1-seropositive South African women were examined. Three hundred twelve HIV-seropositive pregnant women between 28 and 32 weeks gestation were studied as part of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial at the King Edward VIII Hospital in Durban, South Africa. Patients were randomized to receive placebo or 5,000 IU of retinyl palmitate and 30 mg of beta-carotene daily during pregnancy. At delivery, patients received placebo or 200,000 IU of retinyl palmitate. The main outcome measures were prenatal and postnatal maternal weight and weight loss at three months after delivery as measured in body mass index (BMI). Supplementation of vitamin A was not associated with improvements in prepartum weight gain but was significantly associated with improved weight retention three to six months after delivery (p = 0.02). The benefit of vitamin A supplementation appeared to be confined to subgroups with baseline CD4+ count < 200 cells/microL and serum retinol 0-20 micrograms/dL. Similar trends were observed in maintenance of postpartum BMI. However, no statistically significant associations were observed. Although there was no benefit of vitamin A supplementation on prepartum weight gain, a benefit on maintenance of postnatal weight was observed. The benefit was highest among those who were vitamin A-deficient or whose CD4+ count was < 200 cells/microL presupplementation. In populations for whom antiretroviral therapy is not readily available or accessible, the finding that vitamin A may improve postpartum weight lends some hope to a relatively inexpensive treatment which could be used for helping ameliorate some weight loss which is common during HIV infection.