ABSTRACT
This study recorded the physicochemical properties of the marula fruits, the biometry and breaking the dormancy in the marula seeds. Using 200 ripe fruits, the physicochemical characterization was done. From a random sample of 400 seeds, an assessment of the biometrics was performed, and the weight, length, width and thickness of the fruits and seeds were evaluated. Two experiments were conducted to study dormancy breaking using pre-germination treatments, which included immersing the marula seeds five times (0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes) in concentrated sulfuric acid (96%) and water, at 65 ºC temperature. The control was time zero, using plain distilled water, with 25 seeds per treatment and four replications. The marula fruits revealed average values of 21.65 ± 3.44 g, 35.5 ± 2.38 and 34.8 ± 2.73, respectively, for weight, diameter and length. The soluble solids (SS), Hydrogenonic Potential (pH), titratable acidity (AT) and ratio (AT/SS) were 14.74 ± 1.0º Brix, 3.93 ± 0.49 pH, 0.63 ± 0.22 and 27.07 ± 12.10, respectively. For the weight of one thousand seeds, the average value was 3.576 ± 188.4 g. The mean values for the dimensions of the width, length and diameter of the seeds were 22.9 ± 2.11; 23.7 ± 2.04; and 14.9 ± 2.09 mm, respectively. The physiological quality of these seeds was enhanced by immersing the seeds from freshly picked fruits in sulfuric acid for a maximum of 30 minutes and storing them for six months.
Objetivou-se com este trabalho estudar as características físico-químicas de frutos, biometria e superação da dormência de sementes de marula. Para a caracterização físico-química foram utilizados 200 frutos maduros. Realizou-se a biometria utilizando uma amostra aleatória de 400 sementes e foram avaliados: peso, comprimento, largura e espessura de frutos e sementes. Para o estudo da superação de dormência foram realizados dois experimentos com os tratamentos pré-germinativos constituídos pela imersão das sementes em ácido sulfúrico concentrado (96%) e água a temperatura de 65 ºC por cinco tempos (0, 15, 30, 45 e 60 minutos), sendo o tempo zero a testemunha, onde utilizou-se apenas água destilada, com quatro repetições de 25 sementes por tratamento. Os frutos de marula apresentaram valores médios de 21,65 ± 3,44 g, 35,5±2,38 e 34,8±2,73 mm de peso, diâmetro e comprimento, respectivamente e sólidos solúveis (SS), Potencial Hidrogeniônico ( pH), acidez titulável (AT) e ratio (AT/SS) foram de 14,74 ± 1,0 ºBrix, 3,93 ± 0,49 pH, 0,63 ± 0,22 e 27,07 ± 12,10 respectivamente. As sementes apresentaram valores médios de 3.576 ± 188,4 g para o peso de mil sementes. Para as dimensões, largura, comprimento e diâmetro de sementes, apresentaram valores médios de 22,9 ± 2,11; 23,7 ± 2,04; e 14,9 ± 2,09 mm respectivamente. A imersão das sementes procedentes de frutos recém colhidos em ácido sulfúrico por até 30 minutos e o armazenamento por seismeses promove incrementos na sua qualidade fisiológica.
Subject(s)
Seeds , Anacardiaceae , Plant DormancyABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Available studies have shown the involvement of nitric oxide (NO) in the processes that lead to neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD). Also, the use of inhibitors of the inducible isoform of NO-synthase (iNOS) promotes neuroprotection and attenuates dopamine (DA) loss in experimental models of Parkinsonism. In addition, NO also appears to be involved in cardiovascular changes in 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced Parkinsonism. The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of iNOS inhibition on cardiovascular and autonomic function in animals that were subjected to Parkinsonism by the administration of 6-OHDA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The animals underwent stereotaxic surgery for bilateral microinfusion of the neurotoxin 6-OHDA (6 mg/mL in 0.2% ascorbic acid in sterile saline solution) or vehicle solution for the Sham group. From the day of stereotaxis until the day of femoral artery catheterization, the animals were treated with the iNOS inhibitor, S-methylisothiourea (SMT; 10 mg/kg; i. p.) or saline solution (0.9%; i. p.) for 7 days. The animals were divided into four groups: Sham-Saline, Sham-SMT, 6-OHDA-Saline, and 6-OHDA-SMT. Subsequent analyses were performed on these four groups. After 6 days, they underwent catheterization of the femoral artery, and 24 h later, mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded. Another group of animals (the 6-OHDA and Sham groups) was assessed for aortic vascular reactivity after 7 days of bilateral infusion of 6-OHDA or vehicle, in which cumulative concentration-effect curves (CCEC) were made for phenylephrine (Phenyl), acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside (NPS). Also, CCEC in the presence of Nw-nitro-arginine-methyl-ester (l-NAME) (10-5 M), SMT (10-6 M), and indomethacin (10-5 M) blockers were made. RESULTS: The effectiveness of the 6-OHDA lesion was confirmed with the reduction of DA in 6-OHDA animals. However, treatment with SMT could not reverse the loss of DA. Concerning the baseline parameters, SBP and MAP values were lower in 6-OHDA animals compared to their Sham control, with no effect of treatment with SMT. In the analysis of SBP variability, a decrease in variance, the VLFabs component, and the LFabs component were observed in the 6-OHDA groups when compared to their controls, regardless of treatment with SMT. It was also observed that intravenous injections of SMT resulted in an increase in BP and a decrease in HR. However, the response was not different between the Sham and 6-OHDA groups. In vascular function, there was a hyporeactivity to Phenyl in the 6-OHDA group, and when investigating the mechanisms of this hyporeactivity, it was seen that the Rmax to Phenyl increased with incubation with SMT, indicating that iNOS could be involved in the vascular hyporeactivity of animals with Parkinsonism. CONCLUSION: Thus, the set of results presented in this study suggests that part of the cardiovascular dysfunction in animals subjected to 6-OHDA Parkinsonism may be peripheral and involve the participation of endothelial iNOS.