Production of Omegas-6 and 9 from the Hydrolysis of Açaí and Buriti Oils by Lipase Immobilized on a Hydrophobic Support.

This paper describes a bioprocess to obtain omegas-6 and 9 from the hydrolysis of Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Martius) and Buriti (Mauritia flexuosa) oils by lipases immobilized on octyl-sepharose. For this, oils and butters were initially selected as the carbon source which resulted in higher production of lipases in Beauveria bassiana and Fusarium oxysporum cultures. The carbon source that provided secretion of lipase by B. bassiana was Açaí oil, and for F. oxysporum, Bacuri butter. Lipases obtained under these conditions were immobilized on octyl-sepharose, and both, the derivatives and the crude extracts were biochemically characterized. It was observed that the immobilization promoted an increase of stability in B. bassiana and F. oxysporum lipase activities at the given temperatures and pH. In addition, the immobilization promoted hyperactivation of B. bassiana and F. oxysporum lipase activities being 23.5 and 11.0 higher than free enzyme, respectively. The hydrolysis of Açaí and Buriti oils by the derivatives was done in a biphasic (organic/aqueous) system, and the products were quantified in RP-HPLC. The results showed the potential of these immobilized lipases to obtain omegas-6 and 9 from Brazilian natural oils. This work may improve the enzymatic methodologies for obtaining foods and drugs enriched with fatty acids.

Bioprospection of Eugenia brasiliensis, a Brazilian native fruit, as a source of anti-inflammatory and antibiofilm compounds.

The anti-inflammatory and antibiofilm activities as well as toxicity and chemical profile of Eugenia brasiliensis pulp extract (EBE), were evaluated. EBE chemical profile and phenolic content were determined by LC-MS/MS. EBE was tested for its in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity, including TNF-α release, NF-кB activation, neutrophil migration and paw edema. The MIC/MBC and antibiofilm activities were tested against methicillin sensitive and resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomona aeruginosa, Streptococcus mutans, and Lactobacillus acidophilus. EBE acute toxicity was evaluated in Galleria mellonella and RAW 264.7 macrophage. EBE total phenolic content was 389.88 ±â€¯3.48 mg GAE/g with identified polyphenols. EBE decreased TNF-α release in vivo and in vitro, NF-кB activation, neutrophil influx into peritoneal cavity, and it showed maximal inhibition of paw edema after 2 h. MIC of EBE ranged from 62.5-500 µg/mL while MBC values were >500 µg/mL, with a decrease in L. acidophilus biofilm formation. EBE showed negligible toxicity in larvae and macrophage cells. Our findings open new perspectives concerning EBE application as source of anti-inflammatory and antibiofilm molecules as a functional food, pharmaceutical lead or agribusiness commodity.

Unexplored endemic fruit species from Brazil: Antibiofilm properties, insights into mode of action, and systemic toxicity of four Eugenia spp.

Brazilian endemic fruit species have aroused attention due to their highly valuable, yet unexplored, agro-industrial, food and therapeutic potential. Herein, we describe the antifungal activity of four Eugenia spp. against Candida albicans biofilms, and further demonstrate insights into their potential mode(s) of action and toxicity in vitro and in vivo. Extracts from different parts (seeds, pulps, leaves) of E. leitonii (EL), E. brasiliensis (EB), E. myrcianthes (EM) and E. involucrata (EI) were obtained (S23°23',W45°39') and chemically characterized by GC/MS. The active extracts were tested against C. albicans biofilm viability and architecture, as well as mode of action, and toxicology using RAW 264.7 macrophages and Galleria mellonella larvae. The MIC values ranged from 15.62 to >2000 µg/mL. The most active extracts were EL (seed, 15.62 µg/mL) and EB (leaf and seeds, 31.25 and 15.62 µg/mL, respectively). Treatment with these extracts at 10xMIC reduced biofilm viability by 54-55% (P < 0.0001) as compared to 42% by nystatin. At 10xMIC, all extracts caused damages to biofilm architecture and integrity, and fewer hyphae remained attached to treated biofilms. None of them was found to interfere with cell wall biosynthesis or complexation with ergosterol. The extracts had low toxicity against macrophages in vitro (P > 0.05) and G. mellonella larvae, with mean in vivo LD50 of 1500 mg/kg (EL, seeds); 2500 mg/kg (EB, seeds); and 1250 mg/kg (EB, leaf). The phenolic compounds epicatechin and gallic acid were the major constituents in the extracts. Our findings may open avenues for the application of these yet unexplored native fruits in the food and pharmaceutical industry.

Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Unexplored Brazilian Native Fruits.

Brazilian native fruits are unmatched in their variety, but a poorly explored resource for the development of food and pharmaceutical products. The aim of this study was to evaluate the phenolic composition as well as the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of the extracts of leaves, seeds, and pulp of four Brazilian native fruits (Eugenia leitonii, Eugenia involucrata, Eugenia brasiliensis, and Eugenia myrcianthes). GC-MS analyses of the ethanolic extracts showed the presence of epicatechin and gallic acid as the major compounds in these fruits. Antioxidant activity was measured using synthetic DPPH free-radical scavenging, ß-carotene bleaching assay, and reactive oxygen species (ROO·, O2·-, and HOCl). The fruit extracts also exhibited antioxidant effect against biologically relevant radicals such as peroxyl, superoxide, and hypochlorous acid. In general, the pulps were the fruit fractions that exhibited the lowest antioxidant activities, whereas the leaves showed the highest ones. The anti-inflammatory activity was assessed in an in vivo model using the carrageenan-induced neutrophil migration assay, which evaluates the inflammatory response in the acute phase. The pulp, seeds, and leaves of these fruits reduced the neutrophil influx by 40% to 64%. Based on these results, we suggest that the anti-inflammatory activity of these native fruits is related to the modulation of neutrophil migration, through the inhibition of cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules, as well as to the antioxidant action of their ethanolic extracts in scavenging the free-radicals released by neutrophils. Therefore, these native fruits can be useful to produce food additives and functional foods.