Abstract The aim of this work was to determine the total phenolic content and evaluate the antioxidant, antibacterial, photoprotective and cytotoxic properties of corn silk ethanol extract prepared from corn silk that was air-dried at room temperature. Corn silk ethanol extract has a high content of phenolic compounds. The concentrations of ethanol extract required to produce 50% of maximal effect (EC50) in DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays were 489.0 and 166.1 µg/mL respectively, indicating low activity when compared to the positive control. The ethanolic extract of corn silk showed antibacterial activity, mainly on Gram-positive bacteria. The in vitro sun protection factor (SPF) of the ethanolic extract of corn silk incorporated into sunscreen UVA-UVB 5% gel with Pemulen TR-1® was evaluated for the first time. A relative increase in SPF efficacy was observed for the extract when the sunscreen was incorporated. The ethanolic extract of corn silk and the gel were considered non-cytotoxic. The corn silk ethanolic extract was characterized using ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS). Eleven compounds including flavonoids, coumaric acid derivatives, terpenoid, hydroxycinnamic acid derivative and quinic acid derivative were suggested based on their accurate mass and MS/MS spectra.

ABSTRACT The excessive sun exposure, coupled with lack of sun protection represents one of the biggest risks to the occurrence of skin cancer and photoaging. Recent strategies for photoprotection have included the incorporation of natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds, into sunscreens, and the oral administration of natural antioxidant extracts. In this work, we use Brazilian red propolis extract because its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The aim of this work was to evaluate the sun protection factor and antioxidant activity of different hydroalcoholic extracts of red propolis (70% and 75%) prepared from lyophilized red propolis at room and high temperatures. The sun protection factor in vitro was determined by a spectrophotometric method developed by Mansur. The hydroalcoholic extracts of red propolis incorporated with Filter UVA-UVB 5% Gel Permulem TR-1 presented absorption in the UVB region. Also, the in vitro capacity of the hydroalcoholic extracts of red propolis to increase photoprotective activity of Filter UVA-UVB 5% Gel was evaluated. The hydroalcoholic extracts of red propolis incorporated presented higher values of sun protection factor and showed synergism in the photoprotective activity of Filter UVA-UVB 5% Gel Permulem TR-1. The antioxidant activity and sun protection factor are correlated with total phenolics content of the extracts and the hydroalcoholic extract of red propolis 75% at room temperature was choosen. The formulation developed with Filter UVA-UVB 5% Gel Permulem TR-1 with this hydroalcoholic extract of red propolis showed safe to be applied on the skin according HET-CAM test. Suggests indication of hydroalcoholic extract of red propolis (75% – room temperature) associated to photoprotective formulations for use in photoprotective products.

N tecnologia light steel framing, por ser importada dos Estados Unidos, requer algumas adaptações nos projetos para adequar seu desempenho térmico no Brasil. Neste trabalho avalia-se o desempenho térmico de uma edificação unifamiliar projetada em light steel framing, considerando-se algumas estratégias de ventilação natural e a influência da inércia térmica do solo em Belo Horizonte, MG. Na determinação do comportamento térmico do modelo utiliza-se o programa computacional EnergyPlus, seguindo as seguintes etapas: caracterização da edificação, das condições típicas de exposição ao clima, do perfil de ocupação, das exigências humanas, configuração do sistema de fechamento e avaliação das condições de conforto térmico nos ambientes em concordância com as normas específicas. Observou-se que a estratégia de ventilação natural, quando adequadamente utilizada, em função das condições climáticas locais, proporciona uma melhora significativa no desempenho térmico da edificação. Da mesma forma, em função da topografia do terreno e da característica do projeto, observou-se que a influência da inércia térmica do solo somente se torna positiva quando associada às estratégias de ventilação natural e de sombreamento.

The light steel framing technology requires some design adaptations in order to have an adequte thermal performance in Brazil, since it was imported from the USA, In this study, the thermal performance of a light steel frame single-family house, in Belo Horizonte, state of Minas Gerais, was evaluated considering some natural ventilation strategies and the influence of soil inertia. To determine the model's thermal behaviour, the EnergyPlus simulation program was used. The following stages were carried out: characterization of the structure, its typical exposure to the weather; occupants' profile and their demands; configuration of closing system; and the evaluation of the building's thermal comfort conditions and to what extent they meet existing standards. The conclusion was made that a suitably ventilation system could significantly improve the building's thermal performance, if the local climatic conditions are duly taken into account. Likewise, depending on the land plot topography and the design characteristics, the influence of the soil thermal inertia, when associated to suitable ventilation and shading strategies, could be helpful to improve the design thermal performance.