Hypoglycemic effect of Coffea arabica leaf extracts and major bioactive constituents.

The present study focused on investigating the antioxidant, antiglycation activity, digestive enzymes inhibition, bioaccessibility and hypoglycemic effect of C. arabica leaves extracts. The extracts deactivated the O2•-, ROO•, H2O2, HOCl reactive oxygen species. Coffee leaves showed strong inhibition of α-glucosidase (IC50 = 40.30 µg mL-1) greater than the isolated metabolites and acarbose. There was also inhibition of pancreatic lipase (IC50 = 56.43 µg mL-1) in addition to a hypoglycemic effect in zebrafish similar to acarbose and metformin. With the exception of rutin, all biocompounds were detected at all stages of in vitro digestion. Finally, these results suggest that C. arabica leaf extracts possess antidiabetic and anti-obesity properties that can be attributed to the main metabolites and the synergistic action between them.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Structural and ultrastructural characteristics of interrenal gland and chromaffin cell of matrinxã, Brycon cephalus Gunther 1869 (Teleostei-Characidae).

This work presents the structure and ultrastructure of the interrenal gland and chromaffin cells, as well as the morphology of the head kidney of Brycon cephalus. The head kidney is composed of fused bilateral lobes located anterior to the swim bladder and ventrolateral to the spinal column. The parenchyma revealed lympho-haematopoietic tissue, melano-macrophage centres, interrenal gland and chromaffin cells. The interrenal gland consisted of cords or strands of cells grouped around the posterior cardinal vein and their branches. Chromaffin cells are found in small groups, closely associated with the interrenal gland and/or under the endothelium of the posterior cardinal vein. So far, the ultrastructural analysis has revealed only one interrenal cell type which contained abundant smooth endoplasmic reticulum and numerous mitochondria with tubulo-vesicular cristae, characteristic of steroid-producing cells. Two types of chromaffin cells were observed. The first type was characterized by the presence of vesicles with round, strongly electron-dense granules, which were eccentrically located. Such cells were interpreted as noradrenaline cells. Meanwhile, cells which contained smaller vesicles and electron-lucent granules, with a small halo separating the granule from the vesicular limiting membrane, were identified as adrenaline cells.

Anthracene derivatives from Auxemma oncocalyx.

Three anthracene derivatives, auxenone, oncocalyxonol and auxemim, were isolated from Auxemma ontocalyx. The structures of these compounds as 1,4,8-trihydroxy-2-methoxy-5-methyl-9,10-anthraquinone, rel-9alpha,11alpha-epoxy-1,4,8alpha,11alpha-tetrahydroxy-2-methoxy-8a beta-methyl-5,6,7,8,8a,9, 10,10a beta-octahydro-10-anthracenone and rel-8alpha,11beta-epoxy-2,11-dimethoxy-8a beta-methyl-5,6,7,8,8a,9-hexahydro-1,4-anthracenedione were determined by analysis of spectral data (1D and 2D NMR, IR, HREIMS and UV).

The gallbladder of the Capivara Hydrochoerus hydrochoeris (Mammalia: Rodentia).

The authors studied morphological and histochemically the mucopolysaccharides and proteins in the gallbladder tubular glands and epithelial cells of the capivara Hydrochoerus hydrochoeris. Based on the results the authors concluded: 1. the gallbladder single columnar epithelium consists of secretory, migrating, and goblet cells; 2. in the lamina propria are single coiled tubular glands; 3. goblet and tubular gland cells show neutral and sulphated mucopolysaccharides and sialic acid; 4. columnar cells show neutral mucopolysaccharides and protein radicals; 5. migrating cells show only protein radicals.

Rhythm of development in the oocyte of the tilapia Oreochromis niloticus L. (Pisces: Cichlidae); a morphometric and histochemical study.

The ovary of the tilapia Oreochromis niloticus was studied morphologically and morphometrically; the zonas granulosa and radiata, the ooplasm and the yolk globules were studied histochemically. The ovary is of typical teleostean type consisting of a wall and developing oocytes. The development of oocytes has been divided into 10 cytological stages. Histochemically the zona radiata and yolk globules contain glycoprotein (neutral mucopolysaccharides and protein radicals alpha-amino groups, cystine, cystein, tyrosin, tryptophane, and arginine. The zona granulosa and ooplasm contain neutral and carboxylate acid mucopolysaccharides and protein radicals alpha-amino group, cystein, cystine, tyrosin, arginine, and tryptophane.