Antiproliferative, antileishmanial and antimicrobial studies on Cnidoscolus quercifolius Pohl (Euphorbiaceae).

Cnidoscolus quercifolius is an Euphorbiaceae endemic to the northeast region of Brazil, which is used in folk medicine as anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antibiotic. An ethanolic extract was prepared with the leaves from C. quercifolius, and also partitioned and chromatographed leading to the isolation of cyanoglucoside linamarin (1), cinnamic acid (2), as well as a mixture of steroids and terpenoids (3-6). Structural elucidation of the compounds was done by IR, MS and NMR analysis. For the cyanoglucoside (1) were also evaluated its antimicrobial and antileishmanial viabilities by plaque microdilution and MTT test, respectively. Both tests showed from moderate to zero activity against the organisms evaluated. In addition, the antiproliferative activity of compounds 1 and 5-6 were tested against tumor cells, which did not show statistically significant growth inhibition 50% (GI50). The obtained results suggested that further pharmacological studies should prove the folk medicinal uses.

Preclinical and clinical research on the toxic and neurological effects of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) consumption.

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a tropical plant that is used as fresh food, processed food, or raw material for the preparation of flours with high nutritional value. However, cassava contains cyanogenic glycosides, such as linamarin and lotaustralin, that can trigger severe toxic effects and some neurological disorders, including motor impairment, cognitive deterioration, and symptoms that characterize tropical ataxic neuropathy and spastic epidemic paraparesis (Konzo). These alterations that are associated with the consumption of cassava or its derivatives have been reported in both humans and experimental animals. The present review discusses and integrates preclinical and clinical evidence that indicates the toxic and neurological effects of cassava and its derivatives by affecting metabolic processes and the central nervous system. An exhaustive review of the literature was performed using specialized databases that focused on the toxic and neurological effects of the consumption of cassava and its derivatives. We sought to provide structured information that will contribute to understanding the undesirable effects of some foods and preventing health problems in vulnerable populations who consume these vegetables. Cassava contains cyanogenic glycosides that contribute to the development of neurological disorders when they are ingested inappropriately or for prolonged periods of time. Such high consumption can affect neurochemical and neurophysiological processes in particular brain structures and affect peripheral metabolic processes that impact wellness. Although some vegetables have high nutritional value and ameliorate food deficits in vulnerable populations, they can also predispose individuals to the development of neurological diseases.

New paths of cyanogenesis from enzymatic-promoted cleavage of ß-cyanoglucosides are suggested by a mixed DFT/QTAIM approach.

Cyanogenesis is an enzyme-promoted cleavage of ß-cyanoglucosides; the release of hydrogen cyanide is believed to produce food poisoning by consumption of certain crops as Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz). The production of hydrogen cyanide by some disruption of the plant wall is related to the content of two ß-cyanoglucosides (linamarin and lotaustralin) which are stored within the tuber. Some features about the mechanistic bases of these transformations have been published; nevertheless, there are still questions about the exact mechanism, such as the feasibility of a difference in the kinetics of cyanogenesis between both cyanoglucosides. In this work, we have performed a theoretical analysis using DFT and QTAIM theoretical frameworks to propose a feasible mechanism of the observed first step of the enzyme-catalyzed rupture of these glucosides; our results led us to explain the observed difference between linamarin and lotaustralin. Meanwhile, DFT studies suggest that there are no differences between local reactivity indexes of both glucosides; QTAIM topological analysis suggests two important intramolecular interactions which we found to fix the glucoside in such a way that suggests the linamarin as a more reactive system towards a nucleophilic attack, thus explaining the readiness to liberate hydrogen cyanide.

The protective effect of two commercial formats of Ginkgo biloba on motor alterations induced by cassava juice (Manihot esculenta Crantz) in Wistar rats. / Efecto protector de 2 presentaciones comerciales de Ginkgo biloba sobre las alteraciones motoras inducidas por el jugo de yuca (Manihot esculenta Crantz) en la rata Wistar.

INTRODUCTION: This study evaluated the protective effects of 2 commercial formats of Ginkgo biloba on motor alterations induced by cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) juice consumption in male Wistar rats. METHODS: The effects were evaluated with the open field and swim tests at 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days of treatment, one hour after administering the product. RESULTS: Compared to controls, open field crossings increased after day 21 of cassava juice consumption, and lateral swimming in the swim test was reported after day 7. CONCLUSION: Ginkgo biloba extracts prevented motor alterations associated with cassava juice consumption, probably due to the flavonoid content in both formats of Ginkgo biloba.

Neurotoxic effect of linamarin in rats associated with cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) consumption.

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a plant widely used for food consumption in different processed products in rural areas of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Cassava is a good source of carbohydrates and micronutrients. However, if it is not adequately processed or the consumer has nutritional deficiencies, then its cyanogenic glycoside (i.e., linamarin and lotaustralin) content makes it potentially neurotoxic. In the present study, the neurotoxic effects of different concentrations of linamarin (0.075, 0.15, 0.22, and 0.30 mg/kg) contained in cassava juice were evaluated in the open field and swim tests to identify locomotor alterations in adult male Wistar rats. The linamarin concentration in cassava juice was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography, and the juice was administered intraesophageally for 28 days. The results suggested that the consumption of linamarin in cassava juice increased the number of crossings and rearings in the open field test and caused behavioral deficiency, reflected by lateral swimming, in the swim test on days 21 and 28 of treatment. These alterations are possibly related to neuronal damage caused by linamarin in cassava juice in structures of the central nervous system involved in motor processing.

Fatores anti-nutricionais para ruminantes / Antinutritional factors for ruminants

A presença de fatores antinutricionais nos alimentos é reflexo da guerra química que existe entre os vegetais superiores e os animais herbívoros. Evolutivamente, diversas substâncias do metabolismo secundário das plantas vem sendo utilizadas como defesa contra herbivoria. Compostos polifenólicos, cianogênese einibidores enzimáticos concorrem para promover desequilíbrios orgânicos nos animas e impedir o consumo de partes vegetativas das plantas. Todavia, estratégias são utilizadas pelos animais, tanto em nível celular como comportamental, para impedir a intoxicação ou atenuar seus efeitos nefastos. Os efeitos interativos entre os microrganismos ruminais e as substâncias antinutricionais permitem a ingestão de uma variedade de espécies vegetais e torna os ruminantes resistentes a concentrações relativamente elevadas de alguns fatores antinutricionais. No entanto, devido as propriedades físicas, químicas e biológicas do rúmen, algumas substâncias antinutricionais tem seus efeitos potencializados.

The presence of anti-nutritional factors in food is a reflection of the chemical warfare that exists between higher plants and herbivorous animals. Several substances of secondary metabolism of plants has been used as a defense against herbivores. Polyphenolic compounds, TPD and enzyme inhibitors contribute to promote organic imbalances in animals and prevent the use of vegetative parts of plants. However, strategies are used by animals, both at the cellular and behavioral, to prevent intoxication or reduce its negative effects. The interactive effects between the rumen microorganisms and anti-nutritional substances allow the intake of a variety of plant species and ruminants becomes resistant to relatively high concentrations of some anti-nutritional factors. However, due to the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the rumen, some anti-nutritional substances is enhancing the effects.

Quantificação de cianeto total nas etapas de processamento das farinhas de mandioca dos grupos seca e d'água / Total cyanide quantification in processing stages of cassava flour from dry and water groups

O objetivo deste trabalho foi quantificar a concentração de cianeto total durante as etapas de produção da farinha de mandioca dos grupos seca e d'água. Em relação à farinha seca, a concentração de cianeto total na raiz de mandioca diminuiu de 160±11,8 mg HCN/kg para 149±12,3 mg HCN/kg após a trituração, 68±2,5 mg HCN/kg após a prensagem e chegando a 5±0,2 mg HCN/kg no produto final, após o processo de torração. Na produção da farinha d'água, a raiz de mandioca apresentava teor de cianeto total de 321±21,6 mg HCN/kg e durante o processo de fermentação da raiz, o teor de cianeto total nas primeiras 24 horas de fermentação era de 297±2,7 mg HCN/kg chegando a 64±2,3 mg HCN/kg após 96 horas em repouso no tanque. Após trituração e prensagem da massa fermentada, os valores diminuíram para 50±0,6 e 36±0,4 mg HCN/kg, respectivamente, obtendo-se no produto final a concentração de 9±0,1 mg HCN/kg, sendo evidenciado a eficiência do processo de destoxificação em ambos os processamentos.

The aim of this work was to quantify the total cyanide concentration during the production stages of cassava flour from dry and water groups. In relation to dry flour, the total cyanide concentration in the cassava root reduced from 160±11.8 mg HCN/kg to 149±12.3 mg HCN/kg after grinding, 68±2.5mg HCN/kg after pressing and 5±0.2 mg HCN/kg was obtained in the final product after the roasting process. For the water flour production, the cassava root showed 321±21.6 mg HCN/kg total cyanide content, and during the fermentation process, the total cyanide content for the first 24-hour fermentation was from 297±2.7 mg HCN/kg reaching 64±2.3 mg HCN/kg after resting in a pool for 96 hours. After grinding and pressing the fermented roots, the values lowered to 50±0.6 and 36±0.4 mg HCN/kg, respectively. A concentration of 9±0.1 mg HCN/kg was obtained in the final product, evidencing the detoxification process efficiency in both processings.

Fatores anti-nutricionais para ruminantes / Antinutritional factors for ruminants

A presença de fatores antinutricionais nos alimentos é reflexo da guerra química que existe entre os vegetais superiores e os animais herbívoros. Evolutivamente, diversas substâncias do metabolismo secundário das plantas vem sendo utilizadas como defesa contra herbivoria. Compostos polifenólicos, cianogênese e inibidores enzimáticos concorrem para promover desequilíbrios orgânicos nos animas e impedir o consumo de partes vegetativas das plantas. Todavia, estratégias são utilizadas pelos animais, tanto em nível celular como comportamental, para impedir a intoxicação ou atenuar seus efeitos nefastos. Os efeitos interativos entre os microrganismos ruminais e as substâncias antinutricionais permitem a ingestão de uma variedade de espécies vegetais e torna os ruminantes resistentes a concentrações relativamente elevadas de alguns fatores antinutricionais. No entanto, devido as propriedades físicas, químicas e biológicas do rúmen, algumas substâncias antinutricionais tem seus efeitos potencializados.(AU)

The presence of anti-nutritional factors in food is a reflection of the chemical warfare that exists between higher plants and herbivorous animals. Several substances of secondary metabolism of plants has been used as a defense against herbivores. Polyphenolic compounds, TPD and enzyme inhibitors contribute to promote organic imbalances in animals and prevent the use of vegetative parts of plants. However, strategies are used by animals, both at the cellular and behavioral, to prevent intoxication or reduce its negative effects. The interactive effects between the rumen microorganisms and anti-nutritional substances allow the intake of a variety of plant species and ruminants becomes resistant to relatively high concentrations of some anti-nutritional factors. However, due to the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the rumen, some anti-nutritional substances is enhancing the effects.(AU)

Quantificação de cianeto total nas etapas de processamento das farinhas de mandioca dos grupos seca e d'água

The aim of this work was to quantify the total cyanide concentration during the production stages of cassava flour from dry and water groups. In relation to dry flour, the total cyanide concentration in the cassava root reduced from 160±11.8 mg HCN/kg to 149±12.3 mg HCN/kg after grinding, 68±2.5mg HCN/kg after pressing and 5±0.2 mg HCN/kg was obtained in the final product after the roasting process. For the water flour production, the cassava root showed 321±21.6 mg HCN/kg total cyanide content, and during the fermentation process, the total cyanide content for the first 24-hour fermentation was from 297±2.7 mg HCN/kg reaching 64±2.3 mg HCN/kg after resting in a pool for 96 hours. After grinding and pressing the fermented roots, the values lowered to 50±0.6 and 36±0.4 mg HCN/kg, respectively. A concentration of 9±0.1 mg HCN/kg was obtained in the final product, evidencing the detoxification process efficiency in both processings.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi quantificar a concentração de cianeto total durante as etapas de produção da farinha de mandioca dos grupos seca e d'água. Em relação à farinha seca, a concentração de cianeto total na raiz de mandioca diminuiu de 160±11,8 mg HCN/kg para 149±12,3 mg HCN/kg após a trituração, 68±2,5 mg HCN/kg após a prensagem e chegando a 5±0,2 mg HCN/kg no produto final, após o processo de torração. Na produção da farinha d'água, a raiz de mandioca apresentava teor de cianeto total de 321±21,6 mg HCN/kg e durante o processo de fermentação da raiz, o teor de cianeto total nas primeiras 24 horas de fermentação era de 297±2,7 mg HCN/kg chegando a 64±2,3 mg HCN/kg após 96 horas em repouso no tanque. Após trituração e prensagem da massa fermentada, os valores diminuíram para 50±0,6 e 36±0,4 mg HCN/kg, respectivamente, obtendo-se no produto final a concentração de 9±0,1 mg HCN/kg, sendo evidenciado a eficiência do processo de destoxificação em ambos os processamentos.