Abstract Pediculosis mainly affects school-age children worldwide. The aim of this study was to identify and analyze the knowledge of the parents and guardians of children in elementary schools in Niterói, Brazil, regarding pediculosis. Questionnaires were applied to 237 guardians of children at five 1-5 grade municipal schools. The responses were analyzed and correlated with positivity to louse infestation, detected by scalp aspiration. 73.8% of the respondents reported that their child had already been infested with lice. 32.9% presented correct responses about transmission. Incorrect responses were attributed to the air/wind, blood type and the fact that lice jump and fly. 40.1% of the respondents erroneously correlated control over the parasitosis with hygiene. A majority of the participants (58.6%) responded that pediculosis is harmful to health, while a small proportion (20.7%) considered it to be a disease. The prevalence of pediculosis was 19.8% among schoolchildren. Female sex, pruritus on the head and indifference regarding infestation were shown to be risk factors for pediculosis. The lack of perception of pediculosis as a disease may lead to naturalization of this parasitosis. Incorrect responses may add difficulty to implementation of preventive and curative approaches, which highlights the importance of dissemination of correct information about pediculosis.

Resumen Se planteó la hipótesis de que es posible que el inóculo de diferentes especies de rumiantes con capacidades digestivas diferentes que se alimentan de un determinado forraje puede mostrar diferentes utilizaciones de alimento en comparación con otras especies de rumiantes. Se evaluaron cinco gramíneas Brachiaria: B. decumbens cv. Basilisk, B. decumbens acceso D70, B. humidicola cv. Tupi, B. humidicola cv. Común, y B. ruziziensis acceso R124, en dos edades de rebrote (21 y 42 d). Se analizó la producción, el contenido bromatológico, la digestibilidad de materia seca in vitro (DMSiv) y la digestibilidad de la fibra detergente neutro in vitro (DFDNiv) utilizando inóculos bovinos u ovinos. El experimento utilizó un diseño factorial de 5 × 2 × 2 y encontró efectos significativos para la variedad de gramínea y la edad de rebrote. Además, se encontraron interacciones significativas de gramínea × edad en la materia seca, la proteína cruda, la fibra detergente neutro y la fibra detergente ácido de la muestra total y lamina de la hoja. Hubo un efecto significativo de la variedad de gramínea y la edad de la gramínea en la masa del forraje, la relación lámina de la hoja/tallo, lámina de la hoja, tallo, material senescente y crecimiento. En los ensayos de la digestibilidad in vitro, el origen del inóculo mostró un efecto significativo en algunas variedades. Debido a las diferencias en los ensayos in vitro, se recomendó el uso de inóculos específicos de las especies para las evaluaciones de alimentos según el animal al que se destina. Asimismo, B. decumbens cv. Basilisk presentó la mejor digestibilidad in vitro (DMSiv y DFDNiv) en inóculo bovino, mientras que B. humidicola cv. Tupi tuvo mejor digestibilidad in vitro (DMSiv y DFDNiv) en inóculo ovino.

Abstract It was hypothesized that it is possible that inoculum from different ruminant species with different digestive abilities feeding from a certain forage may show different feed utilizations comparing to other ruminant species. Five Brachiaria grasses were evaluated: B. decumbens cv. Basilisk, B. decumbens access D70, B. humidicola cv. Tupi, B. humidicola cv. Common, and B. ruziziensis access R124, at two regrowth ages (21 and 42 d). Production, bromatological content, in vitro dry matter digestibility (ivDMD) and in vitro neutral detergent fiber digestibility (ivNDFD) were analyzed using bovine or ovine inoculums. The experiment used a 5 × 2 × 2 factorial design and found significant effects for grass variety and regrowth age. In addition, significant interactions from grass × age on dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber of total sample and leaf blade were found. There were significant effect of grass variety and grass age on forage mass, leaf blade/stem ratio, leaf blade, stem, senescent material and growth. In vitro digestibility assays of inoculum source showed significant effect in some varieties. Due to differences in in vitro assays, it was recommended the use of species-specific inoculums for feed evaluations according to the animal it is intended for. Also, B. decumbens cv. Basilisk presented the best in vitro digestibility (ivDMD and ivNDFD) in bovine inoculum, whereas B. humidicola cv. Tupi had better in vitro digestibility (ivDMD and ivNDFD) in ovine inoculum.

RESUMEN Bixa orellana L. es una planta nativa de Brasil, pero también está presente en otros países tropicales como Perú, Colombia, Ecuador, México, Indonesia, India y África Oriental. Es conocida popularmente como Urucum en Brasil. Esta revisión expone el potencial de los compuestos bioactivos derivados de B. orellana para tratar enfermedades debido a sus propiedades antimicrobianas y antioxidantes. Esta planta también está relacionada como un agente antiinflamatorio para el tratamiento de enfermedades pulmonares e incluso como gotas para los ojos para el enrojecimiento. Sus hojas se utilizan para el tratamiento de la mordedura de serpiente, diarrea, gonorrea, hepatitis, gastritis, diuréticos, antipiréticos y para enfermedades de la piel. Ese conocimiento popular ha fomentado la identificación de compuestos bioactivos en esa planta. Los compuestos β-criptoxantina, geranilgeraniol, luteína, procianidina B2, procianidina B3, isómero elagitanino y ácido elágico desoxihexosa inhibieron microorganismos patógenos como bacterias, hongos, protozoos y virus. En ese sentido, B. orellana es una fuente prometedora de compuestos que podrían aplicarse en la terapia antimicrobiana. Este trabajo de revisión puede ayudar a comprender e incentivar nuevas investigaciones para los descubrimientos de antimicrobianos que utilizan diferentes compuestos de B. orellana.

SUMMARY Bixa orellana L. is a native plant from Brazil, but it is also present in other tropical countries such as Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Indonesia, India and East Africa. It is popularly known as Urucum in Brazil. This review shows the potential of bioactive compounds derived from B. orellana to treat infectious diseases due their antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. This plant is also related as an antiinflammatory agent for treatment of pulmonary diseases, or even as eye drops for redness. Its leaves are used for treatment of snakebite, diarrhea, gonorrhea, hepatitis, gastritis, diuretic, antipyretic, and for skin disease. This popular knowledge has encouraged the identification of bioactive compounds in this plant. Compounds as β-cryptoxanthin, geranylgeraniol, lutein, procyanidin B2, procyanidin B3, ellagi tannin isomer and ellagic acid deoxyhexose have been described. These compounds inhibited pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, protozoan and viruses. In addition, some compounds with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities were also described. In this sense, B. orellana is a promising source of compounds that could be applied in antimicrobial therapy. This review work may help in the understanding and incentive of new research for antimicrobial discoveries using different B. orellana compounds.

RESUMO Objetivou-se com este trabalho identificar a resposta antioxidante de variedades de cana-de-açúcar sob condições adversas. Mudas de seis genótipos, procedentes da micropropagação, foram submetidas à avaliação da ação isolada e combinada do estresse hídrico e salino. A pesquisa foi realizada em maio de 2012, em casa de vegetação instalada na Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE). O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado, com tratamentos dispostos em esquema fatorial 6 x 4 (seis variedades e quatro condições de cultivo) com quatro repetições. Avaliou-se a peroxidação lipídica, o teor de peróxido de hidrogênio (H2O2), o teor relativo de água (TRA) e ação do sistema de defesa antioxidativo mediante a atividade das enzimas superóxido dismutase (SOD), ascorbato peroxidase (APX) e catalase (CAT). As variedades de cana-de-açúcar exibiram maior peroxidação lipídica e/ou maior concentração de peróxido de hidrogênio quando submetidas ao estresse combinado. As enzimas apresentaram respostas diferenciadas de acordo com a variedade de cana-de-açúcar e a intensidade de estresse nos tratamentos isolados, no entanto, podem ter sido inativadas perante o estresse combinado, o que indica que a resposta do estresse combinado é diferente da soma das respostas dos fatores abióticos aplicados isoladamente. Os elevados teores de malondialdeído (MDA) associados ao baixo TRA podem ser indicadores efetivos de sensibilidade a estresse múltiplo em variedades de cana-de-açúcar. As variedades RB99395 e RB867515 apresentaram-se mais eficientes quanto a resposta ao estresse ambiental e a manutenção de conteúdo hídrico celular nos estresses isolados.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to identify the antioxidant responses of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) varieties subjected to water and saline stress. Sugarcane seedlings of six different varieties obtained through micropropagation were subjected to either water or saline stress, or a combination of water + saline stress. The study was carried out in May 2012, in a greenhouse at the Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE). The experimental design was randomized, with treatments arranged in a 6 × 4 factorial scheme (six varieties and four treatments), and four replicates. Lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentrations, and relative water content (RWC) were evaluated. Furthermore, we evaluated the plants’ antioxidative defense systems by measuring the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and catalase (CAT). The sugarcane varieties had higher lipid peroxidation and/or higher H2O2 concentrations when subjected to the combined water + saline stress. The antioxidant enzymes responded to the water and saline stress treatments differently depending on the sugarcane variety. However, under combined saline + water stress conditions, the enzymes may have become inactivated, which indicates that the response to the combined water + saline stress was different from the sum of the responses to only water stress or only saline stress. High concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) associated with low RWC may be an effective indicator of multiple stress sensitivity in sugarcane varieties. The RB99395 and RB867515 sugarcane varieties responded more efficiently to environmental stress, and maintained their cell water content when subjected to either water or saline stress.

Carvacrol (CV) and carvacryl acetate (CVA) are bioactive compounds that have anthelmintic action and the nanoencapsulation may be an alternative to potentialize their efficacy. The aim of this work was to nanoencapsulate CV and CVA using chitosan/gums and evaluate cytotoxicity and the anthelmintic activity. A 24 factorial experimental design was performed to determine the influence of gum type (arabic or chichá), amount of surfactant and the number of layers in the nanoencapsulation degree. CVA and CV presented encapsulation efficiency (EE) optimum values of 90 and 20% (experiments 8 and 9), respectively. The monolayer and bilayer formulations presented maximum size of 479 and 811 nm, respectively. Nanoencapsulated CVA (nCVA) with bilayer coating and higher surfactant levels showed good thermal stability and no toxicity. In vitro kinetics for nCVA with chitosan/chichá gum showed slower release profiles than nCVA with chitosan/gum arabic, with 50% release after 30 and 20 h, respectively. CVA and nCVA at a concentration of 150 µg mL−1 reduced the motility of H. contortus adult nematodes by 100 and 91.7%, respectively. In summary, nCVA chitosan/chichá gum showed high encapsulation efficiency, favorable release rate and anthelmintic activity against H. contortus.

In order to provide an effective and environmentally correct alternative for oil extraction, subcritical n-propane was used under different temperature and pressure conditions to obtain Brazil nut oil. The composition of the oil was determined and compared to the oils obtained by conventional methods. The result of the extraction yield obtained using subcritical fluid extraction (SFE) at 60 ºC, 6 MPa and granulometry < 1.40 mm (63.13%) presented minor differences to the yield obtained by Soxhlet extraction (SE) (68.44%) and Bligh and Dyer extraction (BD) (59.54%). The composition in fatty acids was similar regardless of the method of extraction used. Oxidized triacylglycerols (TAGs) were found in the oils extracted by SE and BD while they were not detected in the oils extracted by SFE. The quantity of bioactive compounds was higher in the oils obtained by SFE. Thus, the SFE using n-propane preserves the nutritional characteristics and lipophilic components of the oil, besides improving the availability of bioactive compounds from an effective “green extraction” without the use of toxic solvents.

RESUMO Varronia leucocephala é uma planta utilizada pela população para fins terapêuticos. Um dos maiores problemas para produção de mudas dessa espécie é o baixo percentual de enraizamento. Objetivou-se estabelecer um protocolo de enraizamento de estacas de V. leucocephala utilizando fitorreguladores e microelementos associados com fungos micorrízicos arbusculares. Sendo a concentração de 1500 mg L-1 do ácido indolbutírico (AIB) a que proporcionou maior percentual de enraizamento, propôs-se associar os microelementos zinco (Zn) e boro (B) com maiores concentrações de AIB. Na presença do Zn, observou-se incremento na percentagem de enraizamento; no entanto, não foi o ideal para aumentar a percentagem de propagação. Testou-se a associação de fungos micorrízicos arbusculares junto à concentração de 1500 mg L-1 de AIB para avaliar o percentual de enraizamento e brotação de parte aérea; biomassa seca de raiz e parte aérea; número de folhas; altura; colonização e dependência micorrízica; densidade de esporos e nutrientes da parte aérea e da raiz. A utilização de zinco juntamente a doses mais elevadas de AIB (1500 mg L-1) e associada com fungo micorrízico arbusculares (Gigaspora albida) tornaram-se eficientes para a propagação vegetativa de V. leucocephala.

ABSTRACT The plant Varronia leucocephala is widely used in Brazil for its therapeutic properties. However, a major problem for the seedlings is the low percentage of root formation. The objective of this study was to establish a rooting protocol for V. leucocephala cuttings, using phytoregulators and microelements associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The auxin indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) concentration of 1500 mg L-1 showed the best rooting percentage, and it is proposed associating the microelements zinc and boron with the highest IBA doses. Although an increase in the rooting percentage was observed in the presence of zinc, it was not the most suitable for improving the percentage of propagation. Consequently, association of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi with 1500 mg L-1 IBA plus zinc was selected to evaluate the rooting percentage and sprouting of the aerial part, dry biomass of roots and aerial part, number of leaves, height, mycorrhizal colonization and dependency, spore density, and nutrients of branches and roots. These results show that using zinc with the highest doses of IBA (1500 mg L-1) in plants inoculated with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (Gigaspora albida) was the most effective at promoting the vegetative propagation of V. leucocephala.

Abstract Aiming to investigate new therapeutic agents with fewer side effects, the number of studies about natural products has increased. Phenolic compounds comprise a well-studied class of abundant plant-derived compounds, whose anti-inflammatory activity has been described. Isoflavones are phenolic compounds that occur mainly in the Leguminosae family, and can be found in many species, such as Trifolium riograndense Burkart, Leguminosae (clover). In this study an HPLC method was used to determine and quantify four isoflavones (genistein, daidzein, formononetin, and biochanin A) in hydrolyzed leaf, flower, stolon, and root extracts of T. riograndense. In vivo anti-inflammatory activity was investigated using the rat paw edema method and in vitro chemotaxis model with a dry extract from the leaves, which had the highest amount of isoflavones. The major isoflavone found in all parts of the plant was formononetin. The chemotaxis assay revealed that the different concentrations (0.2–50 µg/ml) of the dry extract significantly inhibited neutrophil migration in a concentration-dependent manner (more than 90%). In the rat paw edema test, oral administration of clover extract 100 mg/kg was able to significantly inhibit the edema formation induced by carrageenan. In conclusion, chemical analyses showed that Trifolium riograndense is a plant rich in isoflavones and a new interesting option as isoflavone source. The results of the biological tests taken together show that the extract of T. riograndense has anti-inflammatory effect in rodents.

This study evaluated the Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) oil composition in terms of fatty acids (FA), sterols, acylglycerols and oxidative stability obtained via subcritical n-propane fluid extraction (SubFE-propane), in different temperatures and pressure conditions, as compared to Bligh & Dyer (BD), Soxhlet (SE) and Folch (FLS) extractions. Total lipid varied from 23.25 to 30.21% and the best yield was obtained by both SubFE-propane extraction at 45 ºC and 12 MPa (A). α-Linolenic acid (18:3n-3) was the most abundant FA and SubFE-propane extraction provided the best results for the sum of n-3 and PUFA. All oil samples were similar in regard to triacylglycerols (TAG) profiles as measured via direct electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) analysis. The total amounts of stigmasterol, β-tocopherol and tocopherol total were highest in the Chia oil obtained by BD, campesterol and sitosterol by SE and γ-tocopherol by SubFE-propane extraction. The SubFE-propane oil also presented the best (2 to 5 times) oxidation stability. SubFE-propane was the most efficient extraction method for Chia oil, providing the highest extraction yields, purity, oxidation stability and diverse profile of sterols.

Red clover is one of the most utilized forage in agriculture and contains many of the isoflavones known for their human health benefits. The objectives of this study were: i) to quantify, using HPLC analysis, isoflavones in 77 accessions from the USDA core collection and a Brazilian line; ii) to verify possible relationships depending on their origin, improvement status or maturity type and; iii) to verify the seasonal variation. The isoflavone mean contents were 29.27 µg g-1 of dry material for daidzein, 163.69 µg g-1 for genistein, 11353.29 µg g-1 for formononetin and 6568.8 µg g-1 for biochanin A. Clustering was mainly influenced by the total amount of isoflavones and partially due to maturity type, improvement status and geographic origin. The seasonal evaluation demonstrated an increase of concentration during winter, and decrease during spring. These results highlighted accessions that can be used to develop new varieties with low or high isoflavones concentration.

Red clover Trifolium pratense L., Fabaceae, contains four isoflavones, mainly formononetin and biochanin A, and in smaller concentrations, daidzein and genistein. These compounds have gained a lot interest due to its human health benefits, such as estrogenic and progestogenic activities, antioxidant, anti-cancer and others. The objective of this study was to determine in vivo and in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of red clover dry extract. The in vitro anti-inflammatory activity was assayed by the technique using the Boyden chamber method, evaluating the leukocyte migration inhibition (chemotaxis). The in vivo anti-inflammatory activity was tested by a carrageenan-induced rat paw edema test. The results of anti-inflammatory in vitro test showed that there was a significant inhibition of leukocyte migration at the concentrations of 100, 50, 25, 10 and 5 µg/mL of red clover dry extract, these doses resulted in 94.73, 95.39, 94.73, 84.68 and 78.75% of inhibition for each dose, respectively. The anti-inflammatory in vivo test resulted in a significant activity in both tested doses (100 and 50 mg/kg of red clover dry extract) and at each tested time. The average percentage of edema inhibition was 63.37%. The findings of this study suggested that red clover extract might be suitable for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

A habilidade da técnica de espectrometria de massas com infusão direta e ionização por eletronebulização (IES-EM), nos modos de íons positivos e negativos, foi avaliada na diferenciação de cafés Arábica verdes e torrados e com diferentes estágios de amadurecimento (verde, maduro e passado), processo pós-colheita (seco, úmido e semi-úmido) e cafés classificados por prova de xícara. No modo negativo, a análise dos cafés verdes mostrou que os íons correspondentes aos ácidos graxos e ácidos clorogênicos desprotonados são os mais importantes para a discriminação da maturidade. No modo positivo, a maturidade é diferenciada através de íons correspondentes a cafeína, ácidos clorogênicos protonados e adutos de K+ de ácidos graxos. Na diferenciação da pós-colheita, em ambos os modos de ionização, são mais importantes os íons correspondentes aos ácidos graxos, ácidos clorogênicos, açúcares e ácidos carboxílicos formados da fermentação. Cafés Arábica torrados também são discriminados com eficiência. No modo negativo, são importantes os íons correspondentes aos ácidos clorogênicos e ácidos orgânicos de cadeia curta, derivados de açúcares. No modo positivo, a discriminação é realizada por íons de baixa m/z tais como piridina e alquil piridinas protonadas, formadas através da degradação da trigonelina. Ambos os IES(+)-EM e IES(-)-EM são capazes de discriminar diferentes cafés Arábica torrados classificados por prova de xícara e os íons que permitem esta diferenciação são os mesmos descritos para a maturidade e processos pós-colheita.

Direct infusion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in both the negative ESI(-)-MS and positive ESI(+)-MS ion modes are investigated to differentiate green and roasted Arabica coffees with different stages of ripeness (green, ripe and overripe), post-harvesting process (dry, wet and semi-wet) and coffees with different cup qualities. In the ESI(-)-MS of green coffees, ions from deprotonated fatty acids and chlorogenic acids are the most important for ripeness discrimination. In the ESI(+)-MS, maturity is differentiated by ions from protonated caffeine, chlorogenic acids and K+ adducts of fatty acids. To differentiate between post-harvesting process in both ionization modes, ions from fatty acids, chlorogenic acids, sugars and carboxylic acids generated in the fermentation process are the most representative. Roasted Arabica coffees are also well discriminated: in the ESI(-)-MS, ions from chlorogenic acids and short-chain organic acids derived from sugars are important. In the ESI(+)-MS, discrimination are mainly performed by low m/z ions such as protonated pyridine and alkylpiridines formed via trigonelline degradation. Both ESI(+)-MS and ESI(-)-MS are able to differentiate cup quality for Arabica roasted coffees and the ions used to perform discrimination are the same ones described in ripeness and post-harvesting processes.