Moringa oleifera extract promotes apoptosis-like death in Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites in vitro.

Toxoplasma gondii is the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, and an important problem of public health. The current treatment for toxoplasmosis is the combination of pyrimethamine and sulphadiazine, which do not act in the chronic phase of toxoplasmosis and have several side-effects. This study evaluated the anti-T. gondii activity and potential mechanism of Moringa oleifera seeds' aqueous extract in vitro. The concentration of M. oleifera extract in HeLa cells was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide cell viability assays. The presence of T. gondii was assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and toluidine blue staining. Pyrimethamine and sulphadiazine were used as drug controls. Modifications in T. gondii morphology and ultrastructure were observed by electron microscopy. In vitro, the M. oleifera extract had no toxic effect on HeLa cells at concentrations below 50 µg mL−1. Moringa oleifera extract inhibits T. gondii invasion and intracellular proliferation with similar results for sulphadiazine + pyrimethamine, and also shows cellular nitric oxide production at a concentration of 30 µg mL−1. Electron microscopy analyses indicated structural and ultrastructural modifications in tachyzoites after treatment. We also observed an increase in reactive oxygen species production and a loss of mitochondrial membrane integrity. Nile Red staining assays demonstrated a lipid accumulation. Annexin V­fluorescein isothiocyanate and propidium iodide staining demonstrated that the main action of M. oleifera extract in T. gondii tachyzoites was compatible with late apoptosis. In conclusion, M. oleifera extract has anti-T. gondii activity in vitro and might be a promising substance for the development of a new anti-T. gondii drug.

Application of graphene nanosheet oxide for atrazine adsorption in aqueous solution: synthesis, material characterization, and comprehension of the adsorption mechanism.

The present study aimed to investigate the application of graphene oxide (GO) as adsorbent material for the removal of atrazine (ATZ). The material produced was characterized to investigate the characteristics and applied as an adsorbent. The material obtained after the synthesis process presented oxygenated functional groups, which contributed to the development of a good adsorbent material. Studies were carried out to verify the influence of adsorbent material mass and initial pH of ATZ solution in adsorption capacity. Kinetic study determined that pseudo-second-order model best describes adsorbate-adsorbent interaction, with equilibrium time of 72 h. The effect of temperature on the material adsorption capacity was also studied. The Langmuir isotherm is the best fit to describe adsorption process GO-ATZ and maximum adsorption capacity obtained was 23.844 ± 0.694 mg g-1, at 318 K. Variations in process energies were determined, being a spontaneous adsorption, endothermic and characteristic of physical and chemical adsorption. Finally, influence of salts in solution on adsorption capacity was studied; the conclusion was that the presence of electrolytes affects the adsorption capacity of the material.

Application of magnetic coagulant based on fractionated protein of Moringa oleifera Lam. seeds for aqueous solutions treatment containing synthetic dyes.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficiency of a new magnetic coagulant, obtained from Moringa oleifera seeds protein functionalized with iron oxide nanoparticles to remove four anionic synthetic dyes with coagulation/flocculation assays followed by magnetic sedimentation. The results showed that the presence of a magnetic field during sedimentation considerably accelerates the separation and increases the dye removal efficiency. Amaranth dye removal increased from 45 to 86% and Sunset Yellow from 15 to 69% with the presence of magnetic field, while Reactive Black 5 and Brilliant Blue reached 94% and 52% removal, respectively. For AM and SY dyes, the best protein concentration is 150 mg L-1, for RB5 dye is 115 mg L-1, and for BB dye is 75 mg L-1. The sedimentation time decreased from 30 to 5 min with magnetic sedimentation. The residual value of AM dye decreased from 10.76 mg L-1 to approximately 2.71 mg L-1, and with SY the residual concentration decreased from approximately 16.79 mg L-1 to 6.36 mg L-1. The removal of BB and RB5 dyes reached an approximate final value of 48.2 mg L-1 (52%) and 1.18 mg L-1 (94%).

Surface water pollution by pharmaceuticals and an alternative of removal by low-cost adsorbents: A review.

Micropollutants, also called emerging contaminants, consist of an extensive group of synthetic and natural substances, including pharmaceuticals, personal care products, steroid hormones, and agrochemicals. Currently, the monitoring of residual pharmaceuticals in the environment has been highlighted due to the fact that many of these substances are found in wastewater treatment plants effluents and surface waters, in concentrations ranging from ng L-1 to µg L-1. Most of these compounds are discharged into the environment continuously through domestic sewage treatment systems. In the present work, it is presented an overview of water pollution by these pollutants, as well as a review of the recent literature about the use of low-cost adsorbents for the removal of the main pharmaceuticals found in surface water, focusing on municipal and agroindustrial wastes as precursors. It was possible to observe several examples of high adsorption capacities of these compounds with such materials, however other aspects must be considered in order to evaluate the real applicability in water and wastewater treatment, such as competition, recyclability and production cost.

Avaliação físico-química e sensorial de biscoitos tipo cookies elaborados com folha demoringa oleifera / Physicochemical and sensory evaluation of cookies produced using moringa leaf

Este trabalho teve como objetivo a produção de biscoitos tipo cookiecom substituição parcial de farinha de trigo pelo pó da folha de Moringaoleifera. Foram preparadas três formulações de biscoito tipo cookiecom substituição de 3,64, 7,27 e 9,09% de farinha de trigo por pó da folha de Moringa oleifera, correspondentes às formulações F1, F2 e F3, respectivamente. Na avaliação sensorial não houve diferença de aceitação ao nível de 5% entre as 3 formulações. Com base nesse resultado optou-se por utilizar a F3 (com maior nível de substituição) para ser comparada à formulação padrão (FP), mediante análises físico-químicas. Análises de cinzas, umidade, atividade de água, pHe acidez titulável total das formulações FP e F3 foram realizadas, obtendo-se valores próximos nas duas formulações. Valores estimados de carboidratos, proteínas, fi bras e gorduras foramcalculados, tendo a F3 apresentado maiores quantidades de fi brase proteínas em relação à FP. Os teores de gordura mantiveramse semelhantes e em relação aos carboidratos verifi cou-se maior quantidade na FP em comparação com a F3. Assim, apesar da folha de Moringa apresentar nutrientes importantes à alimentação, há anecessidade de análises físico-químicas a fi m de se comprovar o enriquecimento dos alimentos elaborados com essa planta.