ABSTRACT Objective :To determine the content of anthocyanins and vitamin C, as well as the antioxidant activity of the ethanol extracts of the fruits from seven Morus alba L. varieties. Materials and Methods :The content of anthocyanins and vitamin C was determined in seven varieties of Morus alba L. fruits, cultivated at the Pastures and Forages Research Station Indio Hatuey, as well as the antioxidant activity of the ethanol of these varieties through the phosphomolybdate radical capture essays and determination of total phenols. For the data processing a variance analysis was used. Correlations were made among the variables total antioxidant capacity, total phenols, content of anthocyanins and vitamin C, taking into consideration Pearson’s correlation coefficient and two significance levels of 0,01 and 0,05. Results :The content of anthocyanins, expressed as equivalent of cyanidin-3-glucoside, was between 40,74 and 96,07 mg/100 g, and vitamin C between 16,73 and 28,40 mg of ascorbic acid/100 mL of juice. All the extracts showed antioxidant activity. The total antioxidant capacity varied between 175,96 and 229,48 mmol of ascorbic acid/g of extract and the content of total phenols, between 291,52 and 897,17 mg of gallic acid/100 g of extract. Conclusions :The M. alba fruits showed high contents of anthocyanins and vitamin C. The variety Yu-62 showed the highest concentrations of these compounds. The ethanol extracts showed high antioxidant activity, which is correlated to the high content of total phenols, anthocyanins and vitamin C present in the fruits.

RESUMEN Objetivo : Determinar el contenido de antocianinas y de vitamina C, así como la actividad antioxidante de los extractos etanólicos de los frutos de siete variedades de Morus alba L. Materiales y Métodos : Se determinó el contenido de antocianinas y vitamina C a siete variedades de frutos de Morus alba L., cultivadas en la Estación Experimental de Pastos y Forrajes Indio Hatuey, así como la actividad antioxidante de los extractos etanólicos de estas variedades mediante los ensayos de captura del radical fosfomolibdato y la determinación del contenido de fenoles totales. Para el procesamiento de los datos se utilizó un análisis de varianza. Se realizaron correlaciones entre las variables capacidad antioxidante total, fenoles totales, contenido de antocianinas y vitamina C, teniendo en cuenta el coeficiente de correlación de Pearson y dos niveles de significación de 0,01 y 0,05. Resultados : El contenido de antocianinas, expresado como equivalente de cianidina-3-glucósido, estuvo entre 40,74 y 96,07 mg/100 g, y la vitamina C entre 16,73 y 28,40 mg de ácido ascórbico/100 mL de jugo. Todos los extractos mostraron actividad antioxidante. La capacidad antioxidante total varió entre 175,96 y 229,48 mmol de ácido ascórbico/g de extracto y el contenido de fenoles totales, entre 291,52 y 897,17 mg de ácido gálico/100 g de extracto. Conclusiones : Los frutos de M. alba presentaron elevados contenidos de antocianinas y vitamina C. La variedad Yu-62 mostró las mayores concentraciones de estos compuestos. Los extractos etanólicos dejaron ver elevada actividad antioxidante, lo que está correlacionado con el alto contenido de fenoles totales, antocianinas y vitamina C presentes en los frutos.

Studies evaluated the effects of hexanic extracts from the fruits and flowers of Clusia fluminensis and the main component of the flower extract, a purified benzophenone (clusianone), against Aedes aegypti. The treatment of larvae with the crude fruit or flower extracts from C. fluminensis did not affect the survival of Ae. aegypti (50 mg/L), however, the flower extracts significantly delayed development of Ae. aegypti. In contrast, the clusianone (50 mg/L) isolate from the flower extract, representing 54.85% of this sample composition, showed a highly significant inhibition of survival, killing 93.3% of the larvae and completely blocking development of Ae. aegypti. The results showed, for the first time, high activity of clusianone against Ae. aegypti that both killed and inhibited mosquito development. Therefore, clusianone has potential for development as a biopesticide for controlling insect vectors of tropical diseases. Future work will elucidate the mode of action of clusianone isolated from C. fluminensis.

OBJETIVO: Analisar o desempenho motor global em habilidades motoras axiais e apendiculares de lactentes que frequentavam, em tempo integral, duas Escolas Municipais de Educação Infantil. MÉTODOS: Estudo longitudinal do qual participaram 30 lactentes avaliados aos 12 e 17 meses de vida com a escala motora das Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-III, que possibilita a análise do desempenho motor global, apendicular e axial e a discrepância entre eles. Utilizaram-se o teste de Wilcoxon e o Coeficiente de Correlação de Spearman. RESULTADOS: A maioria dos participantes apresentou desempenho motor global dentro dos limites de normalidade, porém abaixo da média de referência aos 12 e 17 meses, com 30% classificados como suspeitos de atraso em pelo menos uma das avaliações. O desempenho motor axial foi inferior ao apendicular aos 12 e aos 17 meses, com grande discrepância entre eles especialmente na 2ª avaliação. Observou-se marcada variabilidade individual nas habilidades motoras apendiculares, com fraca correlação linear no desempenho entre a 1ª e a 2ª avaliações nesse domínio. Nas habilidades axiais e no desempenho motor global, encontrou-se menor variabilidade individual, com correlações moderadas e positivas entre a 1ª e a 2ª avaliações. Identificaram-se quatro lactentes com suspeita de atraso no desenvolvimento motor em ambas as avaliações. CONCLUSÕES: O estudo aponta necessidade de maior atenção ao desenvolvimento motor durante os primeiros 17 meses de crianças que frequentam creches, com especial vigilância à motricidade axial (considerando que ela é parte integrante do desenvolvimento global da criança) e às crianças com desempenho suspeito de atraso em duas avaliações consecutivas.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the global motor performance and the gross and fine motor skills of infants attending two public child care centers full-time. METHODS: This was a longitudinal study that included 30 infants assessed at 12 and 17 months of age with the Motor Scale of the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (Bayley-III). This scale allows the analysis of global motor performance, fine and gross motor performance, and the discrepancy between them. The Wilcoxon test and Spearman's correlation coefficient were used. RESULTS: Most of the participants showed global motor performance within the normal range, but below the reference mean at 12 and 17 months, with 30% classified as having "suspected delays" in at least one of the assessments. Gross motor development was poorer than fine motor development at 12 and at 17 months of age, with great discrepancy between these two subtests in the second assessment. A clear individual variability was observed in fine motor skills, with weak linear correlation between the first and the second assessment of this subtest. A lower individual variability was found in the gross motor skills and global motor performance with positive moderate correlation between assessments. Considering both performance measurements obtained at 12 and 17 months of age, four infants were identified as having a "possible delay in motor development". CONCLUSIONS: The study showed the need for closer attention to the motor development of children who attend day care centers during the first 17 months of life, with special attention to gross motor skills (which are considered an integral part of the child's overall development) and to children with suspected delays in two consecutive assessments.

Thlaspi caerulescens é espécie hiperacumuladora de metais como Cd2+, Ni2+ e Zn2+, considerada como uma plantamodelo para estudar a acumulação e tolerância a metais pesados. No entanto, a baixa produção de sementes em nossas condições climáticas tornam necessária a determinação de condições que possam maximizar a germinação e o vigor de suas sementes. Para identificar as melhores condições para a germinação, sementes de T. caerulescens foram colocadas na presença (15 mmol.m-2.s-1, 8 h luz/16 h escuro) ou ausência de luz nas temperaturas de 10, 15, 20 e 25 ºC, em papel germitest previamente umedecido com solução de ácido giberélico (GA3) a 0,05% ou água destilada. Foram avaliados a porcentagem de germinação (%G) e o índice de velocidade de germinação (IVG). Maior porcentagem de germinação (66%) foi observada nos tratamentos com GA3 e temperaturas de 15 e 20 ºC, na presença de luz. Maiores valores do IVG foram obtidos com a utilização de GA3 nas temperaturas de 15 e 20 ºC, tanto na presença quanto na ausência de luz. Maiores germinação e IVG de T. caerulescens foram observados com uso de GA3 na presença de luz nas temperaturas de 15 e 20 ºC.

Thlaspi caerulescens is a natural zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd) and nickel (Ni) hyperaccumulator, a model species to study heavy metal hyperaccumulation and tolerance. However, the quick loss of viability under storage and the low production of seeds under non temperate climates justify the need to identify conditions to maximize germination and seed vigor. In order to characterize better conditions for germination, seeds of T. caerulescens were incubated under a photoperiod of 8h light/16h dark (15 mmol.m-2.s-1) or in darkness, at temperatures of 10, 15, 20 and 25ºC. The assays were performed with germination paper wetted with 0,05% giberelic acid or distillated water. Percentage of germination (G%), and germination speed index (GSI) were evaluated. The highest percentage of germination (66%) was recorded for the treatments with GA at the temperatures of 15 and 20ºC. The highest GSI was recorded for the treatments with GA at 15º and 20ºC, independent of the light effect. The highest germination and germination speed index for T. caerulescens were obtained with the GA3 treatment, under light, and temperatures between 15 and 20ºC.