Spouted bed as an efficient processing for probiotic orange juice drying.

This study evaluated the influence of spouted bed drying temperature and maltodextrin dextrose equivalent on the probiotic microbial survival during drying and storage period and on physicochemical properties of fermented probiotic orange juice in powder. Probiotic orange juice was spouted bed dried at 60, 70, 80 and 90°C using maltodextrin with a different dextrose equivalent (10, 20, 30 and 39). After drying, the microbial was higher when lower drying temperatures were applied. During the storage, the highest drying temperatures (80 and 90°C) negatively affected the microorganism survival. On the other hand, at the lowest drying temperature (60°C), the product presented higher Aw, what negatively affected the microbial survival during storage. The temperature of 70°C was the best to preserve the microbial viability during storage. Physicochemical parameters were improved when temperature increased and dextrose equivalent decreased.

Free radical scavenging activity of ethanol leaves extracts of Anacardiaceae / Atividade de sequestramento de radical livre dos extratos etanólicos das folhas de Anacardiaceae

Free radicals are responsible for causing many chronic and degenerative diseases. Antioxidants are substances capable of scavenging free radicals and preventing cell damage. In this context, antioxidant activity of alcoholic extracts from leaves of Anacardium occidentale and Myracrodruon urundeuva was evaluated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl DPPH and 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethyl-benzothiazolin6-sulfonic acid) ABTS methods. Phenolic content and phytochemical analysis were performed for each species. Results showed that both species exhibited free radical scavenging activity. These results are directly related to high phenolic content found in the extracts. M. urundeuva showed antioxidant activity similar to butylhydroxytoluene (BHT) and could be considered a promising plant source of natural antioxidant.

Os radicais livres são responsáveis por causar muitas doenças crônicas e degenerativas. Os antioxidantes são substâncias capazes de eliminar radicais livres e impedi-los de causar danos celulares. Neste contexto, a atividade antioxidante dos extratos alcoólicos das folhas de Anacardium occidentale e Myracrodruon urundeuva foi avaliada pelos métodos de 2,2- difenil-1-picrilhidrazil (DPPH) e 2,2'-azinobis-(3-etil-benzothiazolin-6-sulfónico ácido) (ABTS). O conteúdo fenólico e análise fitoquímica dos extratos também foram avaliados. As duas espécies exibiram atividade sequestradora de radicais livres. Estes resultados estão relacionados com alto teor de compostos fenólicos encontrados nos extratos. M. urundeuva mostrou atividade antioxidante semelhante ao butilhidroxitolueno (BHT), se tornando uma fonte promissora de antioxidante natural.

Ultrasound processing to enhance drying of cashew apple bagasse puree: Influence on antioxidant properties and in vitro bioaccessibility of bioactive compounds.

The present study has evaluated the effects of power ultrasound pre-treatment on air-drying and bioactive compounds of cashew apple bagasse. The sonication induced the disruption of cashew bagasse parenchyma, which resulted in lower resistance to water diffusion, less hysteresis, and increased rehydration rate. The processing did not affect the lignocellulose fibers or the sclerenchyma cells. For sonicated samples, water activity reached values below 0.4, after 2h of drying, which is appropriate to prevent bacterial and fungi growth. The sorption isotherms of cashew apple bagasse presented sigmoid-shape for all samples and followed the type II according to BET classification. Sonicated cashew apple bagasse showed higher antioxidant activity, higher total phenolic compounds (TPC) and higher vitamin C content when compared to the non-sonicated sample. The increase in TPC and vitamin C contributed to the product antioxidant activity. A slight reduction on Vitamin C bioaccessibility was observed, but the TPC bioaccessibility has increased. Sonication reduced the quality loss of conventional drying treatments improving the quality of the dried product.

Powder lemon juice containing oligosaccharides obtained by dextransucrase acceptor reaction synthesis and dehydrated in sprouted bed.

Oligosaccharides can be synthesized using the sugars present in the fruit juices through the dextransucrase acceptor reaction. In the present work, the effect of reducing sugar and sucrose concentration on oligosaccharide formation in lemon juice was evaluated through response surface methodology. The oligosaccharide formation in lemon juice was favored at high concentrations of sucrose (75 g/L) and reducing sugar (75 g/L). At this synthesis conditions, an oligosaccharide concentration of 94.81 g/L was obtained with a conversion of 63.21% of the initial sugars into the target product. Oligosaccharides with degree of polymerization up to 11 were obtained. The lemon juice was dehydrated in spouted bed using maltodextrin as drying adjuvant. The powder obtained at 60°C with 20 % maltodextrin presented low moisture (2.24 %), low water activity (Aw = 0.18) and the lowest reconstitution time (~46 s). The results showed that lemon juice is suitable for oligosaccharides enzyme synthesis and can be dehydrated in spouted bed.

Antiviral and Antioxidant Activities of Sulfated Galactomannans from Plants of Caatinga Biome.

Dengue represents a serious social and economic public health problem; then trying to contribute to improve its control, the objective of this research was to develop phytoterapics for dengue treatment using natural resources from Caatinga biome. Galactomannans isolated from Adenanthera pavonina L., Caesalpinia ferrea Mart., and Dimorphandra gardneriana Tull were chemically sulfated in order to evaluate the antioxidant, and antiviral activities and the role in the inhibition of virus DENV-2 in Vero cells. A positive correlation between the degree of sulfation, antioxidant and antiviral activities was observed. The sulfated galactomannans showed binding to the virus surface, indicating that they interact with DENV-2. The sulfated galactomannans from C. ferrea showed 96% inhibition of replication of DENV-2 followed by D. gardneriana (94%) and A. pavonina (77%) at 25 µg/mL and all sulfated galactomannans also showed antioxidant activity. This work is the first report of the antioxidant and antiviral effects of sulfated galactomannans against DENV-2. The results are very promising and suggest that these sulfated galactomannans from plants of Caatinga biome act in the early step of viral infection. Thus, sulfated galactomannans may act as an entry inhibitor of DENV-2.

Chemical composition, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of two Spondias species from Northeastern Brazil.

CONTEXT: The leaves of Spondias tuberosa Arr. Cam. (Anacardiaceae) and Spondias mombin L. have been traditionally used for medicinal purposes. Some studies reveal their antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antiviral properties. OBJECTIVE: Determine the chemical composition, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities of Spondias species to justify its ethnopharmacological use. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Spondias species extracts were prepared with methanol:water 80:20 and analyzed by silica gel column chromatography and reversed phase liquid chromatography (HPLC). The antioxidant activity was evaluated by scavenging the radicals 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) and 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS•+) and measuring antimicrobial activity (agar well diffusion method, minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentrations). RESULTS: The HPLC analysis of Spondias extracts demonstrated the occurrence of high yield of flavonoids. Found in S. mombin were quercetin (2.36 ± 0.01 mg/g) and ellagic acid (41.56 ± 0.01 mg/g) and in S. tuberosa species rutin (53.38 ± 1.71 mg/g), quercetin (24.46 ± 0.87 mg/g), and ellagic acid (169.76 ± 0.17 mg/g). The antibacterial activity of the extracts against the various bacteria strains varied from 8.8 to 20.1 mm. MIC values from 62.5 to 125 µg/mL were satisfactory when compared with other plant products. Medium DPPH scavenging activity IC50 for Spondias extracts varied from 0.042 to 0.558 mg/mL and for ABTS from 0.089 to 0.465 mg/mL. DPPH scavenging activity for constituent ellagic acid IC50 = 0.042 mg/mL and for quercetin IC50 = 0.081 mg/mL. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The chemical study of Spondias leaf extracts showed the occurrence of quercetin, rutin and ellagic acid, substances with relevant antioxidant and antimicrobial activities.

Resistance of Klebsiella Pneumoniae clinical isolates: linkage of outer membrane proteins (omps) with production esbls

Three isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae, collected from the University Hospital in Fortaleza, Brazil, were analyzed to determine their resistance to multiple antibiotics. The results of this study showed that the resistance of the clinically isolated bacteria is associated with the production of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESLBs) and loss of outer membrane proteins.

Resistance of Klebsiella Pneumoniae clinical isolates: linkage of outer membrane proteins (omps) with production esbls.

Three isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae, collected from the University Hospital in Fortaleza, Brazil, were analyzed to determine their resistance to multiple antibiotics. The results of this study showed that the resistance of the clinically isolated bacteria is associated with the production of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESLBs) and loss of outer membrane proteins.

Gastroprotective effect of barbatusin and 3-beta-hydroxy-3-deoxibarbatusin, quinonoid diterpenes isolated from Plectranthus grandis, in ethanol-induced gastric lesions in mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Validate the popular use of Plectranthus grandis in gastric disorders through the active components. AIMS: Isolation of barbatusin (BB) and 3beta-hydroxy-3-deoxibarbatusin (BBOH), diterpenes from Plectranthus grandis, and evaluation of their gastroprotective effect and possible mechanisms of action. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Isolation and chemical characterization of diterpenes from Plectranthus grandis by chromatographic and spectroscopic methods and evaluation of gastroprotective action of the diterpenes through ethanol-induced gastric injury in mice model. It was evaluated the effect of capsazepine, indomethacin and the role of nitric oxide and K(ATP-) channels on the gastroprotective effect of BBOH and BB. Additionally it was measured the concentrations of gastric mucus, non-proteic-sulfhydryl groups and total thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances. RESULTS: Orally administered BBOH and BB at doses of 5 and 10mg/kg, markedly reduced the gastric lesions by 59 and 96%, and 32 and 76%, respectively, with superior results as compared to N-acetylcysteine (150 mg/kg, i.p.), reference compound that caused 85% lesion suppression. Although BBOH presented a higher gastroprotection than BB they act by similar mechanisms in relation to N-acetylcysteine, and prevent the depletion of gastric mucus, gastric mucosal non-proteic-sulfhydryl groups as well as the increase in thiobarbituric acid-reactive species. Moreover, the gastroprotective effect of BB was effectively blocked in mice pretreated with TRPV1 antagonist capsazepine, by the non-selective cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin, or by the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME but not by K(+)(ATP) channel inhibitor glibenclamide. In contrast, the gastroprotective effect of BBOH was blocked only by indomethacin and glibenclamide pretreatments. CONCLUSION: The protective role for BBOH and BB affording gastroprotection against gastric damage induced by ethanol indicates that these compounds contribute for the activity of Plectranthus species. The different modes of action are probably related to differences in their chemical structure.

Toxemia gravídica na adolescência / Pregnancy toxemia in adolescence

Este estudo teve como objetivo identificar a ocorrência de complicações da gravidez em adolescentes internadas na Maternidade Escola Assis Chateaubriand (Universidade Federal do Ceará) em 2007. Um estudo descritivo, retrospectivo, de caráter documental. A amostra foi constituída de 54 prontuários de adolescentes com diagnóstico de doença hipertensiva específica da gestação (DHEG). Na análise, considerou-se a adolescência como o período entre 10 e 19 anos, estratificado nas faixas de 10 a 15 adolescente precoce e 16 a 19 adolescente tardia. Os resultados mostraram que 67 porcento das adolescentes precoces desenvolveram pré-eclampsia, 8,3 porcento eclampsia e 25 porcento síndrome de HELLP. Nas adolescentes tardias, 90,5 porcento desenvolveram pré-eclampsia, 9,5 porcento eclampsia e nenhum caso de síndrome de HELLP. A Toxemia gravídica foi mais acentuada no 3º trimestre de gestação em ambos os grupos de adolescentes e o parto mais realizado foi o cesáreo. Em relação à variável escolaridade, 51 tinham ensino fundamental. Concluiu-se que a toxemia gravídica na adolescência está associado com as formas graves de pré-eclampsia, eclampsia e síndrome de HELLP. O estudo ilustra o cerne de um problema social em evolução.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the occurrence of pregnancy toxemia in the adolescents interned at the School Maternity Hospital Assis Chateaubriand in Fortaleza-CE in 2007. The sample consisted of 54 promptuaries of adolescents diagnosis with DHEG. For the analysis, adolescence was considered the life period between 10 to 19 years of age, stratified in the age groups of early adolescence (from 10 to 15 years) and late adolescence (from 16 to 19). Results showed that 67 porcent of the early adolescents developed preeclampsia, 8,3porcent eclampsia and 25 porcent HELLP syndrome. In the late adolescents, 90,5 porcent developed preeclampsia, 9,5 porcent eclampsia and there was no case of HELLP syndrome. The pregnancy toxemia occurred predominantly in the 3rd trimester in both groups. In 21 of the adolescents, the pregnancy process was interrupted before 37 weeks, 31 among 37 and 41 weeks, and 2 after 42 weeks. As to schooling, 51 had elementary education. It is assumed that pregnancy toxemia in adolescents is associated with severe forms of preeclampsia, eclampsia and HELLP syndrome. The study illustrates the essence of a social problem in the process of evolution.

Plantas medicinais usadas pelos índios Tapebas do Ceará / Ethno-medicinal plants of Tapeba Indians from the State of Ceará - Brazil

Este trabalho apresenta um levantamento das plantas medicinais utilizadas pelos índios Tapebas do Ceará, na tentativa de resgatar a cultura descaracterizada ao longo dos anos. Os parâmetros considerados foram a freqüência de uso das plantas e suas indicações populares para determinadas doenças, baseando-se em entrevistas realizadas nas comunidades localizadas no município de Caucaia, situado a 16 Km de Fortaleza, capital do Ceará, em que foram mencionadas 63 plantas. Amostras das plantas foram coletadas e depositadas no Herbário Prisco Bezerra da Universidade Estadual do Ceará, onde foram identificadas. As plantas mais citadas foram agrupadas de acordo com seus dados químico, farmacológico e/ou toxicológico encontrados na literatura científica. A pesquisa mostra que a comunidade indígena dos Tapebas faz uso de muitas espécies vegetais sem dados químico e farmacológico registrados, bem como de outras que já foram alvo de pesquisa científica, mas que necessitam ainda de estudos complementares para garantir segurança para um uso geral e preparação de fitoterápicos.

This work presents a survey of the medicinal plants used by Tapebas Indians from the state of Ceará - Brazil, trying to rescue their culture which is vanishing through the years. Several interviews were performed at the indian's community located at municipality of Caucaia, 16 Km away from Fortaleza, Capital city of the state of Ceará. A total of 63 plants were cited. The interviews were based on the frequency that the plants are used and their respective uses. Samples of the plants were collected and classified by botanists of the Prisco Bezerra Herbarium of the Universidade Federal do Ceará. A literature survey was carried out with all known plants to obtain chemical, pharmacological and toxicological informations. The results show that the Tapebas use plants with no reported chemical and pharmacological informations and other plants which were already studied but need yet more studies to assure complete safety for a general use and production of phytoterapics.