Prolina livre em alecrim-pimenta sob estresse hídrico antes da colheita / Free proline in Lippia sidoides Cham. under water stress before harvest

O estresse hídrico é considerado um dos fatores limitantes para o desenvolvimento das plantas, com isso, os vegetais desenvolvem mecanismos para tolerar a deficiência hídrica do solo. Entre esses mecanismos, está o acúmulo de prolina livre nos tecidos, tendo como função a regulação osmótica dos tecidos. A influência do estresse hídrico em plantas medicinais ainda é pouco estudado, principalmente em plantas nativas, como é o caso do alecrim-pimenta Lippia sidoides Cham. Assim, o trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a prolina livre e o teor de flavonoides totais na referida espécie sob condições de estresse hídrico antes da colheita. O trabalho foi realizado no Instituto de Ciências Agrárias da UFMG, Campus Montes Claros, delineamento em blocos casualizados, com 5 tratamentos e 4 repetições, sendo eles 8, 6, 4, 2 e 0 dias de supressão da irrigação antes da colheita. Os teores encontrados de prolina variaram entre 0,2489 a 3,2421 ìM.g-1 de matéria seca e de flavonoides entre 0,0139 a 0,008 g.g-1. Os resultados observados indicam que a planta diminui seu teor de flavonoides e aumenta o teor de prolina com o aumento do período de estresse.

Water stress is considered a limiting factor for plant growth, thus, the plants develop mechanisms to tolerate the soil water deficit. Among these mechanisms is the accumulation of free proline in tissues, with the poke the osmotic regulation of tissues. The influence of water stress in medicinal plants is still poorly studied, mainly on native plants such as rosemary-pepper Lippia sidoides Cham. Thus, the study aimed to evaluate the free proline and total flavonoid content in that species under conditions of water stress before harvest. The study was conducted at the Institute of Agricultural Sciences, UFMG, Campus Montes Claros, randomized block design with 5 treatments and 4 replicates, and they 8, 6, 4, 2 and 0 days of withholding irrigation before harvest. The content of proline ranged from 0.2489 to 3.2421 ìM.g-1 of dry matter and flavonoids from 0.0139 to 0.008 gg-1. The results indicate that the plant reduces its content of flavonoids and proline content increases with increasing stress time.

Influência do cultivo em consórcio na produção de fitomassa e óleo essencial de manjericão (Ocimum basilicum L. ) e hortelã (Mentha x villosa Huds. ) / Influence of intercropping on phytomass and essential oil production in basil (Ocimum basilicum L. ) and mint (Mentha x villosa Huds. )

As plantas medicinais produzem seus princípios ativos de acordo com os estímulos do ambiente, por isso a presença de outras plantas pode comprometer a produção dos metabólicos secundários. Assim, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito do cultivo consorciado sobre a produção de fitomassa e o teor de óleo essencial de manjericão (Ocimum basilicum L.) e hortelã (Mentha x villosa Huds.). O experimento foi conduzido na área experimental do Núcleo de Ciências Agrárias da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Campus Regional de Montes Claros- MG. O delineamento utilizado foi o de blocos casualizados, com doze repetições, compreendendo seis tratamentos: manjericão + cenoura, manjericão + alface, manjericão solteiro, hortelã + cenoura, hortelã + alface e hortelã solteira. A produção de fitomassa e óleo essencial da hortelã não foram influenciados pelos tratamentos. Para o manjericão, apenas a massa fresca variou significativamente com os tratamentos.

Medicinal plants produce their active principles according to environmental stimuli; thus, the presence of other plants may affect the synthesis of secondary compounds. The present work aimed to evaluate the effect of intercropping on phytomass and essential oil production in basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) and mint (Mentha x villosa Huds.). The study was carried out in the experimental field of the Center for Agriculture, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Montes Claros Campus, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, with twelve replicates and six treatments: basil + carrot, basil + lettuce, sole crop of basil, mint + carrot, mint + lettuce, and sole crop of mint. Phytomass and essential oil production in mint were not affected by the treatments. As regards basil, only fresh matter significantly varied with treatments.

Malaria parasitemia and childhood diarrhea in a peri-urban area of Guinea-Bissau.

To examine the association between diarrhea in early childhood and malaria parasitemia, we conducted a nested case-control study in Guinea-Bissau of 297 children with diarrhea and a similar number of children without diarrhea matched for age, season, and residential area. There were no associations between diarrhea and parasite rate, parasite density, or clinical malaria. However, anti-malarials were easily available and frequently used, which was reflected by a 0.7% prevalence of children with a parasite density > 100/200 leukocytes. Thus, the findings do not preclude that diarrhea may be a sign of clinical malaria or high-parasite density in endemic areas with lower use of antimalarials.

High mortality despite good care-seeking behaviour: a community study of childhood deaths in Guinea-Bissau.

The care-seeking behaviour of mothers of 125 children deceased aged 1-30 months was investigated by verbal autopsy in an urban area of Guinea-Bissau. A total of 93% of the children were seen at a health centre or hospital during the 2 weeks before death. In a previous survey covering the period 1987-90 we found that 78% of the children who died had presented for consultation (8); despite this increase in care seeking, infant mortality had not decreased. Comparison of elapsed time from disease onset to first consultation between children who died and matched surviving controls indicated that the interval was shorter for children who died than for those who survived (odds ratio (OR) = 0.7; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.5-0.99). Of the 125 terminally ill children, 56 were hospitalized. A total of 20 children died on the way to hospital or while waiting in the outpatient clinic. Lack of hospital beds resulted in 15 mothers being refused hospitalization for their child. Of hospitalized children, 42% were discharged as improved or recovered during the 30 days preceding death. These results reveal a need for improved hospital admission criteria, improved recognition of the symptoms of serious illness, better discharge criteria, and the implementation of quality assurance systems for health services.

PIP: The care-seeking behavior of mothers of 125 children who died at age 1-30 months in the Bandim 1 and Bandim 2 suburbs of Bissau was investigated by verbal autopsy. 93% of the children were seen at a health center or hospital during the 2 weeks before death. Comparison of the elapsed time from disease onset to first consultation between children who died and matched surviving controls found that the interval was shorter for children who died than for those who survived. 56 of the 125 terminally ill children were hospitalized, while 20 children died on the way to the hospital or while waiting in the outpatient clinic. A lack of hospital beds resulted in 15 mothers being refused hospitalization for their child. 42% of hospitalized children were discharged as improved or recovered during the 30 days preceding death. These findings point to the need to improve hospital admission criteria, the recognition of the symptoms of serious illness, and discharge criteria, as well as the implementation of quality assurance systems for health services.