Schinopsis brasiliensis is an endangered tree species found in the Caatinga biome. It presents a characteristic slow development and difficult propagation, although it has been traditionally exploited in the region. Application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and phosphorus (P) fertilization may be beneficial to S. brasiliensis development at the seedling stage, which at the same time may help species conservation and the recovery of degraded areas in the Caatinga biome. We assessed the response of S. brasiliensis to AMF inoculation (Claroideoglomus etunicatum and Acaulospora longula) and P fertilization (0, 12, 24, and 48 mg dm−3 addition of P2O5). S. brasiliensis responded positively to both AMF inoculation and P fertilization. At low P concentrations, the inoculated plants showed higher leaf area and enhanced vegetative development, nutrient content and biomass production compared with non-inoculated plants. Conversely, increasing levels of P fertilization decreased the level of mycorrhizal colonization, plant responsiveness to inoculation, and spore production in C. etunicatum. Thus, P concentrations were able to influence the response of S. brasiliensis to mycorrhization and responsiveness to increased mycorrhization with the decrease in P availability. These results showed that mycorrhizal symbiosis plays an essential role in the development of S. brasiliensis.

The present work evaluates the action of three different doses of Monascus dyes (24, 48 and 60 mg/Kg) on the metabolism of albumin, urea, creatinine and uric acid in male and female rabbits. New Zealand rabbits from the Department of Cuniculture of Universidade Federal de Viçosa (Brazil), were used. They were ca. 55 days old at the time of the experiment and they were divided by sex, into four groups of five animals each, receiving the Monascus dye in 24, 48 and 60 mg/Kg doses. Control group only received a ration. Daily, the animals received the Monascus dye in the different doses, during 28 days. Blood was collected twice, being the first collection at time zero and the second one at the end of the experiment. Blood was obtained from retro-orbital venous plexus and further centrifuged at 3,500 x gr. during 15 minutes. Albumin, creatinine, urea and uric acid were quantified by using multiparametric biochemical analysis from bioMérieux (Alizé). The results showed that different doses of Monascus dye did not change the levels of albumin. Creatinine did not show too much variation and did not promote toxicity effects on rabbits, male or females. The same phenomenon was observed for urea and uric acid. Our results showed that, in the doses used, Monascus dye was innocuous for these animal's kidney and liver.

El presente trabajo tiene como objeto verificar la acción de tres dosis del colorante Monascus sobre el metabolismo de la albúmina, urea, creatinina y ácido úrico en conejos de ambos sexos. Se usaron conejos de la raza Nueva Zelanda, obtenidos del Departamento de Cunicultura de la Universidad Federal de Viçosa (Brasil) de unos 55 días de edad y que pesaban cerca de 1700 g al momento del experimento. Los animales fueron divididos por sexo constituyéndose cuatro grupos de cinco animales cada uno, que recibieron el colorante Monascus en las dosis de 24, 48 y 60 mg/kg. El grupo control recibió solamente ración alimenticia. Los animales recibieron, diariamente, durante 28 días, las cápsulas que contenían el colorante Monascus en las respectivas dosis. Se recogieron muestras de sangre en dos oportunidades: tiempo cero, cuando se pesaron los animales después del periodo de adaptación de siete días y al tiempo final después del día 28. El dosaje de albúmina, creatinina, urea y ácido úrico fue realizado en el equipo multiparamétrico de análisis bioquímico de bioMérieux (Alizé). Las diferentes dosis del colorante no provocaron cambios en los niveles de albúmina. Las variaciones en los niveles de creatinina fueron relativamente bajas, y no promovieron efectos de toxicidad en los conejos de ambos sexos. Lo mismo se observó con relación a urea y ácido úrico. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que el colorante Monascus, en las dosis utilizadas, es inocuo para el hígado y riñón de esos animales.