Abstract: This study aimed to analyze oxidative stress and the activity of antioxidant enzymes in the salivary glands of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats with ad libitum consumption of chamomile tea in substitution of water for 21 days. Rats were divided in two control groups (untreated control and treated control) and two diabetic groups (untreated diabetic and treated diabetic). Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) activities, total antioxidant status (TAS), and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations were determined. The chemical composition of the chamomile essential oil revealed 39 compounds, accounting for 93.5% of the total oils. The polyphenolic profile of the tea showed the presence of apigenin, luteolin, umbelliferone, and esculetin. SOD, GPx, CAT, and TAS levels were lower in the parotid (PA) diabetic glands, but treatment increased their concentration in both the submandibular (SM) and PA diabetic salivary glands. Increased MDA levels were observed in the PA diabetic glands, which were decreased by the consumption of chamomile tea with a reduction in hyperglycemia compared to that in untreated diabetic rats. However, the SM diabetic glands showed no difference in the MDA content. The consumption of chamomile tea prevented oxidative stress in the PA glands of diabetic rats, exhibiting hypoglycemic and antioxidant effects. Thus, chamomile tea could be a potential candidate for preventing oral complications in diabetes mellitus.

It is important to study the stability of plant extracts used as active ingredients in phytotherapic medicine, as degradation of the active principles directly affects the efficacy and safety of these products. Therefore, a stability study of the hydroalcoholic extract of the species: Mikania glomerata and Mikania laevigata was conducted in order to determine the speed of degradation and shelf life of these extracts, which are incorporated in cough syrup in Brazil. Leaves of both species were dried in an oven or by lyophilization (freeze-dried). Hydroalcoholic extracts underwent both accelerated stability study of six months and long-term stability study for 12 months. Samples were stored at different temperatures and every three months were analysed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) to monitor their chemical profile, quantifying coumarin and chlorogenic acid. For all conditions of the study, a reduction of the content of the chemical marker of this species, coumarin, greater than 5% was observed, so a shelf life of two years cannot be assigned to the hydroalcoholic extracts of these species as observed in commercial extracts.

RESUMO: O trabalho avaliou a atividade antiviral in vitro de própolis e espécies de Baccharis sobre três herpes vírus animais (bovino, equino e suíno). As própolis foram produzidas por duas espécies de abelhas. Pela Apis melifera (abelha africanizada) foram obtidas duas própolis, vermelha e verde, e uma terceira foi obtida pela abelha nativa Tetragonisca angustula (abelha jataí). Os extratos de Baccharis foram obtidos de 4 espécies diferentes: B. oblongifolia, B. burchellii, B. dracunculifolia e B. uncinella. A concentração máxima não tóxica dos extratos foi determinada pela ausência de alterações morfológicas nas células, e essas concentrações então utilizadas nos testes antivirais. A atividade antiviral foi avaliada pela redução do efeito citopático e calculada a partir da diferença entre o título viral do tratado pelo controle e feita a análise estatística. A própolis vermelha foi ativa contra os três herpes vírus, e a própolis verde apresentou inibição contra os herpes vírus equino e suíno, enquanto a própolis da abelha jataí não apresentou atividade antiviral. A maioria dos extratos dos indivíduos masculinos e femininos de todas as espécies de Baccharis apresentou atividade antiviral contra os herpes vírus bovino e suíno. Apenas o extrato do indivíduo feminino de B. oblongifolia foi inibidor contra o herpes vírus equino.

ABSTRACT: This study evaluated the in vitro antiviral activity of propolis and Baccharis sp. extracts on three animal herpesviruses (bovine, equine and swine). The propolis samples were produced by two species of bees. There was red and green propolis, which came from africanized Apis melifera, and a third type obtained from a native bee species, Tetragonisca angustula (jatai). The Baccharis extracts were obtained from four different species: B. oblongifolia, B. burchellii, B. dracunculifolia and B. uncinella. The maximum non-toxic concentration of the extracts was determined when no visible morphological changes were observed on the cells. These non-toxic concentrations were used in the antiviral tests. Antiviral activity was evaluated using a reduction assay of the cytopathic effect, which calculated the difference between treated and control virus titer by statistical analysis. Red propolis was active against the three herpesviruses and green propolis showed inhibition against the equine and swine herpesviruses. Conversely, jataí propolis showed no antiviral activity. Most extracts coming from male and female individuals of all of the Baccharis species showed antiviral activity against bovine and swine herpesviruses. Only the extract of the female specimen of B. oblongifolia was an inhibitor against equine herpesvirus.

A caracterização de amostras de vinho, sem pré-tratamento ou separação cromatográfica, por espectrometria de massas com ionização por eletrospray e infusão direta, em um processo denominado de fingerprinting, foi aplicado a várias amostras de vinho produzidas com uvas das variedades Pinot noir, Merlot e Cabernet Sauvignon, provenientes do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Os fingerprints por ESI-MS das amostras detectaram mudanças que ocorreram durante o processo de envelhecimento para as três variedades de uvas. Análise de componentes principais (PCA) dos fingerprints em modo negativo foi usada para agrupar as amostras, salientar as principais modificações em composição e indicar os íons marcadores para cada grupo.

The characterization of wine samples by direct insertion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), without pre-treatment or chromatographic separation, in a process denominated fingerprinting, has been applied to several samples of wine produced with grapes of the Pinot noir, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon varieties from the state o Rio Grande do Sul, in Brazil. The ESI-MS fingerprints of the samples detected changes which occurred during the aging process in the three grape varieties. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of the negative ion mode fingerprints was used to group the samples, pinpoint the main changes in their composition, and indicate marker ions for each group of samples.

Propolis is mostly used as hydroalcoholic extract. Recently there has been a growing number of patents dealing with new solvents for preparing propolis extracts. This study aimed to prepare edible oil propolis extracts and compare their chemical composition and biological activity with ethanolic propolis extracts. ESI-MS and spectrophotometric methods were used for qualitative and quantitative analyses, respectively. Antibacterial activity was evaluated by diffusion in agar. Cytotoxicity was tested by MTT assay using tumor cell lines. The oil is able to extract bioactive compounds from propolis. Further studies are needed to improve extraction efficiency and to characterize the active components.

Lithraea molleoides(Vell.) (Anacardiaceae) é uma árvore encontrada no Brasil, Paraguai, Bolívia, Uruguai, Argentina e Chile. É popularmente usada na forma de extrato alcoólico, decocção e infusão para o tratamento de tosse, bronquite, artrite, doenças do sistema digestivo, como diurético, tranqüilizante, hemostático e tônico. O objetivo do presente estudo foi a extração do óleo essencial dos frutos maduros, folhas e outras partes aéreas da planta e o rendimento do mesmo; a identificação e quantificação dos principais componentes e a determinação da atividade antimicrobiana. O rendimento do óleo essencial dos frutos maduros foi de 1%, entretanto, não foi encontrado óleo essencial nas partes aéreas da planta. A análise do óleo essencial por cromatografia gasosa com espectrometria de massa, mostrou a presença de limoneno (89,89%), alfa-pineno (3,48%), beta-pineno (2,63%), alfa-terpineol (1.27%), mirceno (0,64%), sabineno (0,54%), 4-terpineol (0,28%), canfeno (0,22%) e delta-3-careno (0,13%). O óleo essencial foi ativo contra algumas bactérias Gram positivas e leveduras testadas e não apresentou atividade contra bactérias Gram negativas.

Lithraea molleoides (Vell.) (Anacardiaceae) is a tree found in Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Uruguay, Argentina and Chile. It is popularly used in the form of alcoholic extracts, decoctions and infusions for the treatment of cough, bronchitis, arthritis, diseases of the digestive system and as diuretic, tranquilizer, haemostatic and tonic agent. The objectives of this study were the extraction of the essential oil of the mature fruit, leaves and aerial parts of the plant and quantification of the yield thereof; the identification and quantification of the principal components of the essential oil and the determination of its antimicrobial activity against bacteria and yeast. The essential oil yield of the mature fruits was 1.0% but essential oil was not detected in leaves and flowery branches. The gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) analysis of the essential oil of the mature fruits detected the presence of limonene (89.89%), alpha-pinene (3.48%), beta-pinene (2.63%), alpha-terpineol (1.27%), myrcene (0.64%), sabinene hydrate (0.54%), 4-terpineol (0.28%), camphene (0.22%) and delta-3-carene (0.13%). The essential oil was active against just a few of the Gram-positive bacteria and yeast tested and did not present antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria.