ABSTRACT
ß-Glucosidases are enzymes present in all living organisms, playing a pivotal role in diverse biological processes. These enzymes cleave ß-glycosidic bonds between carbohydrates, or between a carbohydrate and a non-carbohydrate moiety, which may result in the liberation of volatile aglycones. Released compounds execute diverse physiological roles, while the industry takes advantage of exogenously added ß-glucosidases for aroma enrichment during food and beverage production. ß-Glucosidase enzymatic activity has been reported in human saliva and given the fact that these enzymes are involved in aroma release, we investigated here the correlation between ß-glucosidase activity in human saliva and the occurrence of halitosis. Measurement of salivary enzyme activity of 48 volunteers was performed using p-nitrophenyl-ß-d-glucopyranoside as substrate. Each volunteer was clinically evaluated by a dental surgeon and clinical and laboratorial data were statistically analyzed. Gas-chromatography of saliva headspace allowed the analysis of the direct role of exogenous ß-glucosidase on aromatic /volatile profile of saliva samples. The data demonstrated a positive correlation between halitosis and enzymatic activity, suggesting that the enzyme exerts a direct role in the occurrence of bad breath. Gas-chromatography analysis demonstrated that exogenously added enzyme led to the alteration of volatile organic content, confirming a direct contribution of ß-glucosidase activity on saliva volatile compounds release. Although halitosis is a multifactorial condition, the complete understanding of all governing factors may allow the development of more effective treatment strategies. Such studies may pave the way to the use of ß-glucosidase inhibitors for halitosis clinical management.
ABSTRACT
This study aimed to measure the concentrations of minerals in different regions and pigmentation of horses' hooves, mules and donkeys. A total of 20 Crioulo horses, 20 mules and 20 Pega donkeys were used. They formed two groups: pigmented (dark) or non-pigmented (bright) hooves. All animals were unshod and with adequate foot conformation. Females were non-pregnant and without foal and no animals were in training. Samples were collected from the hooves of all limbs in the regions of wall, sole and frog. The concentrations of calcium, magnesium, copper, iron and zinc were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry; sodium and potassium concentrations were determined by atomic emission spectrophotometry. Among the groups it was observed that the wall, sole and frog of donkeys' hooves presented higher concentrations of sodium and calcium and with the exception of the frog that also obtained higher levels of copper in this species. Mules had lower concentrations of zinc in the wall and the horses had higher concentrations of potassium and zinc in the sole and higher magnesium in the frog and wall. There was no difference (P>0.05) in concentrations regarding the pigmentation of the hooves. The different regions of the hooves in each group presented similar concentrations of minerals and it was regardless of the pigmentation. The mineral concentrations may be related to desirable functional properties of the donkeys' hooves. Pigmented and non-pigmented hooves have similar concentrations of minerals.
O objetivo desse trabalho foi mensurar os teores de minerais nas diferentes regiões e pigmentações dos cascos de equinos, muares e asininos. Utilizaram-se 20 equinos da raça Crioula, 20 muares e 20 asininos da raça Pêga. Formaram-se dois grupos conforme os cascos pigmentados (escuros) e não pigmentados (claros). Todos os animais estavam desferrados e com adequada conformação podal e as fêmeas estavam não gestantes e sem potro ao pé e nenhum animal estava em treinamento. Amostras foram coletadas dos cascos de todos os membros nas regiões de parede, sola e ranilha. As concentrações de cálcio, magnésio, cobre, ferro e zinco foram determinadas por espectrofotometria de absorção atômica e as concentrações de sódio e potássio foram determinadas por espectrofotometria de emissão atômica. Entre os grupos observou-se que a parede, sola e ranilha nos asininos apresentaram maiores valores de sódio e cálcio e, exceto para a ranilha, também obteve-se maiores teores de cobre nesta espécie. Os muares apresentaram menores teores de zinco na parede e, os equinos, maiores teores de potássio e zinco na sola e ranilha e de magnésio na ranilha e parede. Não houve diferença (P>0,05) nos teores dos minerais quanto à pigmentação dos cascos. As diferentes regiões dos cascos em cada grupo apresentaram teores similares de minerais e este independeu da pigmentação. As variações dos teores de minerais entre os grupos podem estar relacionados a propriedades funcionais desejáveis dos cascos dos asininos. Cascos pigmentados e não pigmentados apresentam teores similares dos minerais.
Subject(s)
Animals , Spectrophotometry, Atomic/veterinary , Equidae/anatomy & histology , Hoof and Claw/anatomy & histology , Horses , Minerals/analysis , PodiatryABSTRACT
This study aimed to measure the concentrations of minerals in different regions and pigmentation of horses hooves, mules and donkeys. A total of 20 Crioulo horses, 20 mules and 20 Pega donkeys were used. They formed two groups: pigmented (dark) or non-pigmented (bright) hooves. All animals were unshod and with adequate foot conformation. Females were nonpregnant and without foal and no animals were in training. Samples were collected from the hooves of all limbs in the regions of wall, sole and frog. The concentrations of calcium, magnesium, copper, iron and zinc were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry; sodium and potassium concentrations were determined by atomic emission spectrophotometry. Among the groups it was observed that the wall, sole and frog of donkeys hooves presented higher concentrations of sodium and calcium and with the exception of the frog that also obtained higher levels of copper in this species. Mules had lower concentrations of zinc in the wall and the horses had higher concentrations of potassium and zinc in the sole and higher magnesium in the frog and wall. There was no difference (P>0.05) in concentrations regarding the pigmentation of the hooves. The different regions of the hooves in each group presented similar concentrations of minerals and it was regardless of the pigmentation. The mineral concentrations may be related to desirable functional properties of the donkeys hooves. Pigmented and non-pigmented hooves have similar concentrations of minerals.
O objetivo desse trabalho foi mensurar os teores de minerais nas diferentes regiões e pigmentações dos cascos de equinos, muares e asininos. Utilizaram-se 20 equinos da raça Crioula, 20 muares e 20 asininos da raça Pêga. Formaram-se dois grupos conforme os cascos pigmentados (escuros) e não pigmentados (claros). Todos os animais estavam desferrados e com adequada conformação podal e as fêmeas estavam não gestantes e sem potro ao pé e nenhum animal estava em treinamento. Amostras foram coletadas dos cascos de todos os membros nas regiões de parede, sola e ranilha. As concentrações de cálcio, magnésio, cobre, ferro e zinco foram determinadas por espectrofotometria de absorção atômica e as concentrações de sódio e potássio foram determinadas por espectrofotometria de emissão atômica. Entre os grupos observou-se que a parede, sola e ranilha nos asininos apresentaram maiores valores de sódio e cálcio e, exceto para a ranilha, também obteve-se maiores teores de cobre nesta espécie. Os muares apresentaram menores teores de zinco na parede e, os equinos, maiores teores de potássio e zinco na sola e ranilha e de magnésio na ranilha e parede. Não houve diferença (P>0,05) nos teores dos minerais quanto à pigmentação dos cascos. As diferentes regiões dos cascos em cada grupo apresentaram teores similares de minerais e este independeu da pigmentação. As variações dos teores de minerais entre os grupos podem estar relacionados a propriedades funcionais desejáveis dos cascos dos asininos. Cascos pigmentados e não pigmentados apresentam teores similares dos minerais.
