Phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity of Pediastrum boryanum (Chlorococcales) biomass.

Bioactive compounds, synthesized by photosynthetic microorganisms, have drawn the attention of the pharmaceutical field. This study aimed at evaluating synthesis and in vitro antioxidant capacity of phenolic compounds produced by a microalgae species P. boryanum, which was grown in six different culture media (standard BG11, modified BG11/MBG11, standard WC, modified WC, WC*2 and basal). The highest concentrations of biomass (1.75 ± 0.01 g.L-1) and phenolic content (3.18 ± 0.00 mg.g-1) were obtained when P. boryanum was grown in MBG11 and phenolic acids were identified: gallic, protocatechuic, chlorogenic, hydroxybenzoic and vanillic ones. All extracts exhibited scavenger activity in the ABTS assay and inhibited peroxidase. However, phenolic compounds from P. boryanum grown in BG11 and MBG11 had the most potent scavenger activity in the DPPH assay. In sum, P. boryanum can be a new source of free phenolic compounds with potential antioxidant activity when grown in MBG11, since it yields high amounts of biomass and phenolic compounds.

Self-medication in university students from the city of Rio Grande, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Self-medication is the use of medication without prescription, orientation, or supervision of a physician or dentist. Self-medication might become a serious health problem. The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence and factors associated with self-medication among first and last-year students enrolled in healthcare and non-healthcare programs. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Of 830 students in the sample, 95% answered the questionnaire - 789 students enrolled in 10 undergraduate programs. Mean age was 22 ± 6.17 years. The students answered a questionnaire covering socio-economic and demographic variables, use of medication, and medication knowledge. Information was collected on the conditions treated with medication, the medications used, and attitude towards self-medication. RESULTS: Of 789 students, 86.4% self-medicated (88.5% of 446 healthcare students). There were no significant differences in self-medication between healthcare and non-healthcare students, nor between first and last-year students. Bivariate and multivariate analyses showed a significant association between self-medication and having children (p = 0.01), having a home pharmacy (p < 0.001) and adequate medication knowledge (p = 0.01). The most frequently used active ingredients were acetaminophen (paracetamol), dipyrone, aspirin, phytotherapic compounds, and tea. Illicit drug use was significantly associated with self-medication in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: The fact that being a healthcare student was associated with higher medication knowledge, but not with less self-medication, suggests that medication knowledge might contribute to increase self-medication. This should be taken into account when designing educational interventions relating to self-medication.