Molecular and chemical characterization of vetiver, Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.) Roberty, germplasm.

Due to the economic interests in vetiver, Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.) Roberty, molecular and chemical studies are essential to generate information for its sustainable exploitation. The aim of this study was to undertake a molecular and chemical characterization of vetiver accessions of the active germplasm bank of the Universidade Federal de Sergipe. The molecular characteristics of the accessions were studied using amplified fragment length polymorphism markers, with a total of 14 primer combinations that generated 442 loci, allowing us to observe that these accessions have similar genomes. The vetiver accessions were divided into three distinct groups, where accession UFS-VET005 was the most differentiated and accession UFS-VET004 had the lowest essential oil content (0.70%). The content of the chemical constituents of the essential oils was observed to vary, with a predominance of khusimol, which ranged from 18.97 to 25.02%. It was possible to divide the vetiver accessions into two groups based on chemical composition, and these groups do not correlate with the molecular grouping. Therefore, it is necessary to perform molecular and chemical analyses to characterize vetiver accessions.

Effects of an aglycone-rich biotransformed soybean extract in human endothelial cells.

Estrogen replacement therapy is not thought to be a safe treatment for prevention of cardiovascular disease in menopausal women; isoflavones are a possible alternative. Estrogen produces beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system by enhancing production of nitric oxide, a vasoprotective and antiatherosclerotic agent. Estrogen-like compounds such as isoflavones are also suggested for increasing nitric oxide production. Isoflavones are present mainly in soy foods as glucosides, but soy isoflavone aglycones, the biologically active estrogen-like compounds, are absorbed faster and in higher amounts than their glucoside derivatives and show higher biological activity, implying that they may be more effective in preventing chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease. We evaluated an extract of soybeans fermented by Aspergillus awamori on which polyphenol glucosides were biotransformed to aglycone forms on production of nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2 and endothelin-1 in vitro in human endothelial cells, comparing it with a non-fermented extract. Bioconverted soybean extracts enhanced endothelin-1, nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 production, while the unfermented extract only enhanced endothelin-1 production. Thus, only the aglycone-rich forms of soybean extracts were able to increase nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 production, demonstrating that, in endothelial cells in vitro, they may be usable as therapeutic agents against the development of atherosclerosis.

Produção de mudas de dois genótipos de alecrim-de-tabuleiro (Lippia gracilis Schauer) em função de fertilizante mineral, calcário, substratos e recipientes / Seedling production of two "alecrim-de-tabuleiro" (Lippia gracilis Schauer) genotypes under mineral fertilizer, limestone, substrates and containers

Lippia gracilis Schauer popularmente conhecida como alecrim-de-tabuleiro possui moderada atividade antibacteriana, antimicrobiana e antiséptica. Objetivando avaliar o efeito de doses de fertilizante mineral, calcário, substratos e recipientes na produção de mudas de dois genótipos de alecrim-de-tabuleiro realizou-se experimentos com estacas de dois genótipos de L. gracilis. No experimento 1, foram utilizadas estacas apicais distribuídas em bandejas de poliestireno expandido de 128 células com o substrato pó-de-coco + areia (1:1), três repetições e oito estacas por repetição. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 4x2x2, sendo quatro doses do fertilizante (6-24-12+micronutrientes) (1, 2, 3 e 4 g L-1), duas doses de calcário (0 e 1 g L-1) e dois genótipos (LGRA106 e LGRA201). Aos 35 após plantio, foram avaliadas a sobrevivência ( por cento), enraizamento ( por cento), comprimento de raiz (cm) e massa seca de raiz (mg). No experimento 2, foram utilizadas três repetições com oito estacas por repetição. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso, em esquema de parcelas subdivididas onde foram testados nas parcelas dois recipientes (bandeja de poliestireno expandido de 128 alvéolos e tubetes de 110 cm³, na sub parcela foram testadas as combinações de quatro substratos (PC - pó de coco; PCA (1:1) - pó de coco + areia (1:1); PCA (2:1) - pó de coco + areia (2:1) e PCA (3:1) - pó de coco + areia (3:1) e dois genótipos (LGRA106 e LGRA201). Aos 35 dias após o plantio foram analisadas as mesmas variáveis do experimento 1, além de altura de parte aérea (cm) e massa seca de parte aérea (mg). A utilização de 1 g L-1 do fertilizante na ausência de calcário foi efetivo para sobrevivência de plantas e enraizamento de estacas de alecrim-de-tabuleiro. Com base nesses experimentos, concluiu-se que o genótipo LGRA106 é superior ao LGRA201 nas variáveis analisadas e recomenda-se a bandeja de poliestireno expandido para produção de mudas de L. gracilis via estaquia.

Commonly known as "alecrim-de-tabuleiro", Lippia gracilis Schauer (Verbenaceae) has moderate antibacterial, antimicrobial and antiseptic activity. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of doses of mineral fertilizer, limestone, substrates and containers on seedling production of two "alecrim-de-tabuleiro" genotypes, using cuttings. In experiment 1, apical cuttings were distributed on expanded polystyrene trays of 128 cells containing coir + sand (1:1), using three replicates of eight cuttings each. Experimental design was in randomized blocks, in a 4x2x2 factorial arrangement, i.e. four doses of fertilizer (6-24-12 + micronutrients) (1, 2, 3 and 4 g L-1), two doses of limestone (0 and 1 g L-1) and two genotypes (LGRA106 and LGRA201). At 35 days after planting, we evaluated survival ( percent), rooting ( percent), root length (cm) and root dry matter (mg). In experiment 2, three replicates of eight cuttings each were used. Experimental design was in randomized blocks, in a split-plot scheme. In the plots, we tested two containers (expanded polystyrene tray of 128 cells and 110 cm³ tubets). In the subplots, we tested four substrate combinations [coir, coir + sand (1:1), coir + sand (2:1) and coir + sand (3:1)] and two genotypes (LGRA106 and LGRA201). At 35 days after planting, the same variables of experiment 1 were evaluated, besides shoot length (cm) and shoot dry matter (mg). The use of 1 g L-1 fertilizer without limestone was effective for plant survival and cutting rooting. Based on these experiments, the genotype LGRA106 is superior to LGRA201 as to the evaluated variables and the expanded polystyrene tray is recommended for the production of L. gracilis seedlings through cuttings.

Comparison of fatty acid profile in plasma phospholipids in women from Granada (southern Spain) and Malmö (southern Sweden).

We conducted a first pilot study on healthy women living in two countries with different dietary habits, Granada in the south of Spain and Malmö in the south of Sweden, in order to compare their levels of plasma phospholipid fatty acids, and to examine the relationship between the differences in food consumption. This study is part of a pilot study which is nested in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition, a multi-centre prospective cohort study on diet, plasma concentrations of antioxidants and fatty acids, and markers of oxidative stress. Thirty-nine women in Granada and thirty-eight women in Malmö, aged 45-50 years (all pre-menopausal) were selected among the female participants in the cohorts from these two countries. Individual measurements of the women's habitual diet were obtained by a food frequency questionnaire. 24-hour diet recalls were used for the standardised measurement of diet at group level. Plasma phospholipid fatty acid composition was determined by capillary gas chromatography. We found a different fatty acid profile in plasma between the two populations, with higher mean levels of palmitic acid (16:0), palmitoleic acid (16:1) (n-7), oleic acid (18:1), alpha-linolenic acid (18:3) (n-3) and eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5) (n-3), and lower mean levels of stearic acid (18:0) in Malmö compared to Granada. Women in Malmö consumed more meat, alcoholic beverages and sugar, and less fish and shellfish than women in Granada. We conclude that the fatty acid composition in plasma phospholipids is different between women from the two European centres. For polyunsaturated fatty acids, differences were observed for (n-3) fatty acids. In relation to these differences, we observed that specific food intakes, particularly meat and fish, varied between the two centres.

Plasma carotenoids in relation to food consumption in Granada (southern Spain) and Malmö (southern Sweden).

We conducted a cross-sectional pilot study on healthy pre-menopausal women (aged 45-50 years) living in Granada, in the south of Spain (n = 39) and Malmö, in the south of Sweden (n = 38) in order to compare their plasma carotenoid levels and to investigate the relationship between the differences in food consumption. Plasma concentrations of six carotenoids were measured using high performance liquid chromatography, habitual diet (at individual level) was estimated by food frequency questionnaires and 24-hour diet recalls were used for standardised measurement of diet at group-level. We found that women in Granada consumed more fruit and vegetables than women in Malmö. Plasma concentrations of beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, zeaxanthin, total carotenoids and alpha-tocopherol were higher in Granada than in Malmö, although plasma concentrations of alpha-carotene and retinol were higher in Malmö. Both within and between study centres, consumption of fruit and vegetables correlated positively with plasma concentrations of different carotenoids. The study showed that differences in consumption of fruit and vegetables between the two European centres were reflected in plasma carotenoid concentrations.