Bee products prevent agrichemical-induced oxidative damage in fish.

In southern South America and other parts of the world, aquaculture is an activity that complements agriculture. Small amounts of agrichemicals can reach aquaculture ponds, which results in numerous problems caused by oxidative stress in non-target organisms. Substances that can prevent or reverse agrichemical-induced oxidative damage may be used to combat these effects. This study includes four experiments. In each experiment, 96 mixed-sex, 6-month-old Rhamdia quelen (118±15 g) were distributed into eight experimental groups: a control group that was not exposed to contaminated water, three groups that were exposed to various concentrations of bee products, three groups that were exposed to various concentrations of bee products plus tebuconazole (TEB; Folicur 200 CE™) and a group that was exposed to 0.88 mg L(-1) of TEB alone (corresponding to 16.6% of the 96-h LC50). We show that waterborne bee products, including royal jelly (RJ), honey (H), bee pollen (BP) and propolis (P), reversed the oxidative damage caused by exposure to TEB. These effects were likely caused by the high polyphenol contents of these bee-derived compounds. The most likely mechanism of action for the protective effects of bee products against tissue oxidation and the resultant damage is that the enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) are increased.

Antioxidant activity of bee products added to water in tebuconazole-exposed fish

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the potential of honey, propolis, and bee pollen for the reversal of lipid peroxidation induced by tebuconazole (TEB) in South American catfish (Rhamdia quelen), in which the concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), the activity of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and the concentrations of non-enzymatic antioxidants, reduced glutathione (GSH), ascorbic acid, and non-protein thiols were assessed. Honey (0.125 g L-1) and bee pollen (0.05 g L-1) added to the water reverse the production of TBARS induced by TEB, while propolis demonstrated a pro-oxidant effect, inducing an increase in TBARS production. The data presented herein suggest that the addition of water to honey and bee pollen potentially protects against the oxidative stress caused by agrichemicals.

Um experimento foi conduzido objetivando avaliar o potencial do mel, da própolis e do pólen apícola na reversão da peroxidação lipídica causada pelo fungicida tebuconazole (TEB) na espécie de peixe tropical Rhamdia quelen, avaliando a concentração das substâncias reativas ao ácido tiobarbitúrico (TBARS), a atividade da enzima glutationa-S-transferase (GST) e das concentrações dos antioxidantes glutationa reduzida (GSH), ácido ascórbico e dos tiois não proteicos. O mel adicionado à água na concentração de 0,125g L-1 e o pólen apícola na concentração de 0.05 g L-1reverteram a geração das TBARS causada pela exposição ao TEB, enquanto a própolis demonstrou efeito pró-oxidante, induzindo um aumento na geração das TBARS. Os dados apresentados neste trabalho sugerem o potencial do mel e do pólen apícola adicionados à água como substâncias protetoras contra o estresse oxidativo causado por agroquímicos.

Perfil socioeconômico dos feirantes e consumidores da Feira do Produtor de Passo Fundo, RS / Socioeconomic profile of farmers and consumers of the Passo Fundo farmer’s market, Rio Grande de Sul state, Brazil

A Feira do Produtor de Passo Fundo, embora seja um evento institucionalizado há 22 anos, ainda não havia sido objeto de estudo formalizado quanto à caracterização social e econômica de quem nela vende e compra. O objetivo deste trabalho foi traçar o perfil socioeconômico dos feirantes e consumidores da Feira do Produtor de Passo Fundo, RS. Os dados foram obtidos por meio da aplicação de questionário junto a 58 feirantes e 471 consumidores. Os questionários abrangeram questões referentes aos aspectos socioeconômicos dos entrevistados e produtos ofertados/comprados na feira, como hortaliças, frutas, grãos, produtos de origem animal e produtos artesanais. Verificou-se que a faixa etária dos consumidores concentra-se entre 35 a 65 anos. Os feirantes apresentam idade média entre 40 e 55 anos. Um terço dos feirantes possuem núcleo familiar composto por até três pessoas. O nível de escolaridade mais comum neste grupo é o fundamental. Aproximadamente 80 por cento dos entrevistados relataram ganho mensal de até R$1.000,00. Os consumidores são, em sua maioria, indivíduos das classes B2, C e D, dos quais 60 por cento declararam renda mensal entre R$500,00 e R$2.000,00. O valor médio de consumo foi de R$25,94 feira-1. Os homens gastaram, em média, R$26,34 e as mulheres R$25,48 feira-1. As hortaliças e as frutas constituem mais da metade (59 por cento) dos itens comprados na Feira em análise.

Though the Passo Fundo farmer's market has been in existed for over 22 years, the social and economic status of farmers and consumers attended has not been documented yet. Consequently, this study sought to provide the first detailed socioeconomic profile of farmers and consumers that participate in the market. Questionnaires were administered to 58 farmers that hold permanent stalls at the market and another to 471 consumers. The questionnaires had queries regarding the socioeconomic aspects of farmers and consumers, and products offered/purchased at the market, such as, vegetables, fruits, grains, products of animal origin, and handicrafts. While most consumers ranged from 35 to 65 years of age, farmers tended to be between 40 and 55 years old. One-third of farmers had a familiar nucleus composed of up to three people and most had completed elementary school. Nearly 80 percent of farmers reported a monthly income of under 1,000 Brazilian Reais (R$), or roughly $620 US. Typical consumers of the Passo Fundo Farmer's market are of the middle to lower (B2, C and D) social classes. Roughly 60 percent of them declared monthly incomes between 500 and 2000 R$ ($310-1240 US). The average consumption was R$ 25.94 farmer-1 ($16.11 US), with men's mean purchases (R$26.34 farmer-1, $16.41 US) being slightly greater than for women (R$25.48 farmer-1, $15.83 US). Vegetables and fruits made up 59 percent of the items purchased by consumers.