Response surface and DFT protocols for improvement of the adsorption process of lignocellulosic-based biomass for the removal of basic dyes.

Jatobá-do-cerrado fruit shells, archetypical of lignocellulosic-based biomass, were used as an adsorbent to remove crystal violet (CV) and methylene blue (MB) from water. The adsorbent was characterized using various techniques, and kinetic studies showed dye adsorption followed second-order kinetics. An experimental design investigated the effects of pH and temperature on removal efficiency, with a quadratic model fitting the data best. The results suggest pH influences MB's adsorption capacity more than temperature and at 25 °C and pH 8, MB had a desirability value of 0.89, with 95 % removal efficiency. For CV, temperature had a greater influence, with a desirability value of 0.874 at 25 °C and pH 10, and 95 % removal efficiency. Adsorption isotherm studies revealed maximum adsorption capacities of 123.0 mg·g-1 and 113.0 mg·g-1 for CV and MB, respectively. Experimental thermodynamic parameters indicated an endothermic and spontaneous process which it was supported by quantum chemistry calculations. The protocols developed confirmed the potential for adsorbing CV and MB dyes in water, achieving over 73.1 and 74.4 mg g-1 dyes removal.

Efficiency of water treatment with crushed shell of jatobá-do-cerrado (Hymenaea stigonocarpa) fruit to adsorb Cu(II) and Ni(II) ions: experimental and quantum chemical assessment of the complexation process.

The shell surrounding fruits of the jatobá-do-cerrado tree, in its natural state, was modified by the addition of HNO3 and NaOH and used as an adsorbent in the removal of Cu(II) and Ni(II) from aqueous solutions. The untreated (JIN) and chemically modified (JCT) fruit shell samples were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray diffraction. Their efficiency as adsorbents in the removal of Cu(II) and Ni(II) ions from aqueous solutions was studied under different conditions of pH (2-9) and it was observed that the optimal pH for Cu (II) adsorption was 5.5 and for Ni (II) it was 6.0. The adsorption isotherms were obtained at different temperatures (298, 308, 318 K) and the qmax values ranged from 33.96 to 41.00 mg g-1. The adsorbents presented higher selectivity toward Cu ions (II). The thermodynamic analysis results suggest that the adsorption process studied is of a physical nature. Supported by quantum mechanical calculations, the interaction sites of the ion-cellulose and ion-lignin complexes were identified, evidencing the central role of water molecules in stabilization of the complexes. The experimental and theorical results indicate that JIN and JCT have good potential for the adsorption of Cu(II) and Ni(II) ions and are thus promising materials for the removal of other metal ions in aqueous systems.

Identification and action of phenolic compounds of Jatobá-do-cerrado (Hymenaea stignocarpa Mart.) on α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities and flour effect on glycemic response and nutritional quality of breads.

This study investigated the phenolic profile of jatobá-do-cerrado (Hymenaea stignocarpa Mart.) extracts submitted to in vitro digestion, the inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities; and the effect of jatobá-do-cerrado flour addition on the nutritional quality, glycemic index (GI) and acceptability of breads. The phenolic composition was determined by UPLC-MS. Bread formulations were developed adding the jatobá-do-cerrado flour at 10, 20 and 30% (w/w) to replace wheat flour. Phenolic compounds of biological relevance such as caffeic acid, kaempferol, quercetin-3-rutinoside and quercetin-3-rhamnoside were present in jatobá-do-cerrado. The phenolic extracts after in vitro digestion significantly inhibited the α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities. Breads with 20% jatobá-do-cerrado flour addition promoted significant reduction (22%) in GI from 70 (control) to 54.3, while 30% addition presented GI of 57.4 and 10% addition a GI of 62.5. The replacement of refined wheat flour by jatobá-do-cerrado flour reduced glycemic response of breads in a non-dose dependent manner. The dietary fibers and the phenolic compounds of jatobá-do-cerrado exerted a synergetic modulation of glucose metabolism by inhibiting sugar metabolic enzymes and glucose absorption. Thus, jatobá-do-cerrado can be included in the diet of healthy individuals and chronic diseases patients, such as diabetics, as an alternative to improve glycemic control.

Diversity of fungi in seeds of hymenaea stignocarpa and hymenaea courbaril before and after fungicide treatments / Incidência de fungos no tratamento de sementes de hymenaea stignocarpa e hymenaea courbaril

The recovery of degraded areas led to an increase of native forest seedlings production. Jatobado- cerrado (Hymenaea stignocarpa Mart.) and jatoba-da-mata (Hymenaea courbaril L.), native species of the Brazilian Cerrado, are widely used for the recovery of this biome. Although forest species present a diversity of pathogens disseminated by seeds, few studies have been published and no study was found for jatoba. Because the seed is one of the main forms of pathogen dissemination, the aim of our work was to evaluate the natural incidence of fungi in seed lots of jatoba-do-cerrado and jatoba-da-mata and the performance of different fungicides for seed treatment recommendation. The experiment was carried out at the Genetics and Biotechnology Laboratory of the University Center of Patos de Minas. Two chemical treatments were submitted in the seeds and then divided into seven replicates of 15 seeds for each species. The first treatment was with the active principle thiophanate-methyl and fluazine, commercial name Certeza®, in the dose of 145 mL of the product in 100 kg of seeds. The second treatment was with fludioxonil, commercial name Maxim® XL, in the dose of 100 mL of the product in 100 kg of seeds. There was a third treatment corresponded to the control (without seed treatment). The visual analyzes were performed after eight days on each seed with a magnifier to verify the presence of developing fungal colonies. The growth fungi fructifications were observed using a stereomicroscope. The found fungi species were: Aspergillus sp., Fusarium sp., Mucor sp., Penicillium sp., Pestalotiopsis sp., Phomopsis sp., Rhizoctonia sp., Rhizopus sp. and Trichoderma sp. It occurred interaction between seed treatment and species for Aspergillus sp., Fusarium sp., Mucor sp., Phomopsis sp., Rhizoctonia sp. and Trichoderma sp. For Penicillium sp., Pestalotiopsis sp. and Rhizopus sp., only the isolated factors were significant. Jatoba-do-cerrado seeds had a higher incidence than jatoba-da-mata seeds in all the found fungi. Certeza® and Maxim® XL have potential in seed treatment for the species. The fungicide Certeza® was more efficient to control the pathogenic fungi in seed treatment.

A recuperação de áreas degradas levou ao aumento da produção de mudas de espécies florestais nativas. Jatobá-do-cerrado (Hymenaea stignocarpa Mart.) e jatobá-da-mata (Hymenaea courbaril L.), espécies nativas do Cerrado brasileiro, são amplamente utilizadas na recuperação deste bioma. Apesar da diversidade de fungos encontrada em sementes de espécies florestais, poucos são os estudos publicados, e não nenhum relato para o jatobá. Por a semente ser um dos principais meios de disseminação de patógenos, o objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a incidência natural de fungos em lotes de semente de jatobá-do-cerrado e jatobá-da-mata, e a performance de diferentes fungicidas para a recomendação do tratamento de sementes. O experimento foi realizado no Laboratório de Genética e Biotecnologia do Centro Universitário de Patos de Minas. Dois tratamentos químicos foram realizados nas sementes, que então foram divididas em sete repetições com 15 sementes cada. O primeiro tratamento foi realizado com o princípio ativo tiofanato-metílico e fluazinam, nome comercial Certeza®, na dose de 145 mL do produto para 100 kg de sementes. O segundo tratamento foi realizado com fludioxonil, nome comercial Maxim® XL, na dose de 100 mL do produto para 100 kg de sementes. O terceiro tratamento correspondeu a testemunha (sem tratamento de sementes). Após oito dias, a análise visual foi realizada com o auxílio de uma lupa para verificar a presença de colônias de fungos. As frutificações dos fungos foram observadas com o auxílio de um microscópio óptico. Após as avaliações, os seguintes fungos foram encontrados: Aspergillus sp., Fusarium sp., Mucor sp., Penicillium sp., Pestalotiopsis sp., Phomopsis sp., Rhizoctonia sp., Rhizopus sp. e Trichoderma sp. Ocorreu interação entre o tratamento de sementes e as espécies para Aspergillus sp., Fusarium sp., Mucor sp., Phomopsis sp., Rhizoctonia sp. e Trichoderma sp. Para Penicillium sp., Pestalotiopsis sp. e Rhizopus sp., apenas os fatores isolados foram significativos. Sementes de jatobá-do-cerrado possuíram maior incidência do que as sementes de jatobá-damata para todos os fungos encontrados. Certeza® e Maxim® XL possuem potencial para o tratamento de sementes de jatobá. O fungicida Certeza® foi mais eficiente para o controle de fungos patogênicos no tratamento de sementes.

Antimitotic and antimutagenic action of the Hymenaea stigonocarpa bark on dividing cells / Ação antimitótica e antimutagênica do ritidoma de Hymenaea stigonocarpa Mart ex Hayne na divisão celular

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the action of Hymenaea stigonocarpa bark hydroalcoholic extract against a mutagenic compound using A. cepa meristematic root cells as a test system. The treatment groups were: Negative Control (NC) – distilled water; Positive Control (PC) – paracetamol at a concentration of 0.008 mg/mL, Jatoba Control (JC) – aqueous fraction jatobá-do-cerrado at 0.5 or 1.0 or 1.5 mg/mL, and Simultaneous Treatment (ST) - jatobá-do-cerrado aqueous fraction at a concentration of 0.5 or 1.0 or 1.5 mg/mL associated with paracetamol solution at a concentration of 0.008 mg/mL. All groups were analyzed at 24 and 48 h. Five onion bulbs (five replications) were used for each treatment group. The root tips were fixed in Carnoy and slides prepared by the crush technique. Cells were analyzed throughout the cell cycle, totaling 5,000 for each treatment group at each exposure time. Mitotic indices were subjected to statistical analysis using the chi-square test (p<0.05). From the results it was found that the ST group, at the three concentrations, significantly potentiated the antiproliferative effect of the test system cells when compared to PC, NC and TJ at the three concentrations. Furthermore, the three ST concentrations significantly reduced the number of cell aberrations when compared to the number of aberrant cells obtained for the PC, demonstrating antimutagenic action on the A. cepa test system cells.

Resumo O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a ação do extrato hidroalcólico do ritidoma de Hymenaea stigonocarpa frente a um composto mutagênico, utilizando como sistema teste as células meristemáticas de raízes de A. cepa. Os grupos tratamentos avaliados foram: Controle Negativo (CN) – água destilada; Controle Positivo (CP) – paracetamol na concentração de 0,008 mg/mL, Controle Jatobá (CJ) – fração aquosa de jatobá-do-cerrado na concentração de 0,5 ou 1,0 ou 1,5 mg/mL, e Tratamento Simultâneo (TS) – fração aquosa de jatobá-do-cerrado na concentração de 0,5 ou 1,0 ou 1,5 mg/mL associada a solução de paracetamol na concentração de 0,008 mg/mL. Todos os grupos foram analisados nos tempos de 24 e 48 h. Para cada grupo tratamento cinco bulbos de cebolas (cinco repetições) foram utilizados. As radículas foram fixadas em Carnoy e as lâminas preparadas pela técnica de esmagamento. Analisaram-se células em todo ciclo celular, totalizando 5.000 para cada grupo tratamento em cada tempo de exposição. Os índices mitóticos obtidos foram submetidos à análise estatística do Qui-quadrado (p<0,05). A partir dos resultados verificou-se que o grupo TS, nas três concentrações, potencializou o efeito antiproliferativo significativo as células do sistema teste quando comparado ao CP, CN e TJ nas três concentrações. Ainda, o TS nas três concentrações reduziu de forma significativa o número de aberrações celulares quando comparado com o número de células aberrantes obtidas para o CP, demonstrando ação antimutagênica as células do sistema teste A. cepa.