ABSTRACT
Brazilian legislation establishes a labeling limit for products that contain more than 1% material from genetically modified organisms (GMOs). We assessed the sensitivity of the lateral flow strip test in detection of the GMO corn varieties Bt11 and MON810 and the specificity and sensitivity of PCR techniques for their detection. For the strip test, the GMO seeds were mixed with conventional seeds at levels of 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8% for Bt11, and 0.4, 0.8 and 1.6% for MON810. Three different methodologies were assessed and whole seeds, their endosperm and embryonic axis were used. For the PCR technique, the GMO seeds of each of the two varieties were mixed with conventional seeds at levels of 20, 10, 5, 2, 1, and 0.5%. The seeds were ground and the DNA extracted. For detection of the GMO material, specific primers were used for MON810 and Bt11 and maize zein as an endogenous control. The sensitivity of the strip test varied for both maize varieties and methodologies. The test was positive for Bt11 only at 0.8%, in contrast with the detection limit of 0.4% indicated by the manufacturer. In the multiplex PCR, the primers proved to be specific for the different varieties. These varieties were detected in samples with one GMO seed in 100. Thus, this technique proved to be efficient in detecting contaminations equal to or greater than 1%.
Subject(s)
Limit of Detection , Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods , Zea mays/genetics , Brazil , Genes, Plant/genetics , Plants, Genetically Modified , Zein/geneticsABSTRACT
A carqueja-amarga [Baccharis trimera (Asteraceae)] é uma espécie originária do centro-sul da América do Sul. Análises qualitativas e quantitativas foram realizadas utilizando-se a técnica de CG-MS, para avaliar o efeito de diferentes formas de beneficiamento pós-colheita de drogas vegetais constituídas de partes aéreas de carqueja na composição química do óleo essencial, bem como verificar variações na composição quando conservado a -6ºC, durante 8 meses. O armazenamento da droga pulverizada reduziu significativamente o teor de óleo essencial, o que não aconteceu na droga fragmentada. Os teores dos constituintes majoritários espatulenol e ledol não foram influenciados pelo tratamento pós-colheita, embora tenham apresentado variações distintas redução nas concentrações de ledol e aumento nos teores de espatulenol. Verificou-se que as drogas fragmentadas podem ser armazenadas por até 12 meses e pulverizadas no momento da extração, não conferindo redução no teor de óleo essencial, nem dos constituintes químicos. O armazenamento a -6ºC por até oito meses, provocou variações quantitativas em alguns constituintes minoritários, tais como a-guaieno, b-selineno, germacreno B e espatulenol.
"Carqueja-amarga" [Baccharis trimera (Asteraceae)] is a species from the central south of South America. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed using the technique gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry to evaluate the effect of different post-harvest processing forms of drugs constituted of parts of "carqueja" on the chemical composition of its essential oil. The variation in the chemical composition of the essential oil stored at -6ºC for up to eight months was also evaluated. Storage of powdered drug significantly reduced the essential oil content, which was not observed for fragmented drug. The concentration of the major constituents of "carqueja" essential oil, spathulenol and ledol, was not affected by the post-harvest treatment, although they presented distinct variations, with ledol concentrations reducing and spathulenol concentrations increasing. We found that fragmented drugs can be stored for up to 12 months and powdered at the moment of extraction, without reducing the concentration of the essential oil or its chemical constituents. Storage at -6ºC for eight months caused quantitative variations in some minor constituents of the essential oil such as a-guaiene, b-selinene, germacrene B and espathulenol.
