The genus Drimys presents the widest geographical distribution of the Winteraceae family, which comprises seven genera and about 120 species. In Brazil, the genus is found from Bahia to Rio Grande do Sul and occur in two species, Drimys angustifolia Miers, and D. brasiliensis Miers, Winteraceae, popularly known as "casca-de-anta", characterized by the presence of flavonoids and essential oils. It is used in folk medicine as an antiscorbutic, stimulant, antispasmodic, anti-diarrheal, antipyretic, antibacterial, and against asthma and bronchitis, besides having insecticidal properties. In addition to the known biological activities, it is very important to explore new applications in the treatment of physiological disorders or diseases caused by parasites. Based on this information, in this study we propose to evaluate volatile oils of the species D. brasiliensis and D. angustifolia, as an antioxidant, using the model of the DPPH radical as an antiviral against human herpes virus type 1 (HSV-1) and acute toxicity in vivo. The two species were not able to reduce the DPPH radical and showed interesting antiviral activity, significantly reducing the virus titers in vitro assays. Regarding the in vivo toxicity in female Wistar rats, treatment with the two species showed interesting signs in animals such as salivation, ptosis, tremor, decreased motor activity. In addition the oils of D. brasiliensis to other signs, some animals showed increased urination and diarrhea.

A contaminação aquática provinda de indústrias de processamento de caulim e de esgotos municipais tratados e não tratados, foi avaliada nos ribeirões Ubá e Vermelho, respectivamente, em Ubá e Vermelho Novo, em Minas Gerais. Com esta finalidade, amostras de água, material em suspensão e vegetais foram coletadas e analisadas. As análises envolveram a determinação da concentração de metais, nitrito, nitrato, cloreto, fosfato, demanda química de oxigênio e demanda bioquímica de oxigênio. O material em suspensão apresentou altas concentrações (em mg kg-1) de Zn (2.400) e Fe (14.900), enquanto que a vegetação coletada nas proximidades dos ribeirões mostrou-se contaminada com Al (7.120). As concentrações de nitrito, nitrato e cloreto nas águas dos ribeirões apresentaram-se abaixo dos valores máximos estabelecidos pela Legislação Brasileira. Os valores de fosfato e demanda bioquímica de oxigênio excederam em 7 e 3 vezes, respectivamente, as concentrações máximas para águas superficiais de qualidade satisfatória.

The aquatic contamination from kaolin processing plants, as well as from untreated or inadequately treated municipal sewage, was evaluated in the Ubá Stream and Vermelho Stream, at the Minas Gerais State, Brazil. With this purpose, samples of water, suspended material and vegetation were collected and analysed. The analyses involved the determination of the concentration of metals, nitrite, nitrate, chloride, phosphate, chemical oxygen demand and biochemical oxygen demand. The suspended material showed high concentrations (in mg kg-1) of Zn (2,400) and Fe (14,900), while the vegetation collected closed to the streams was heavily contaminated with Al (7,120). The concentrations of nitrite, nitrate and chloride in stream water were lower than the maximum values established by the Brazilian Environmental Standards. The phosphate and biochemical oxygen demand values exceeded 7 and 3 times respectively, the maximum concentrations for superficial water of satisfactory quality.

Amostras de vermicomposto (material húmico) foram submetidas à caracterização por espectroscopia de infravermelho, difractometria de raios-X, termogravimetria, microscopia eletrônica, entre outras; adicionalmente, foi determinada a capacidade de troca catiônica (CTC). Empregou-se planejamento fatorial para estudar os mecanismos de interação da espécie Cd2+ com os sítios adsortivos do vermicomposto e, posteriormente, foi avaliada a máxima capacidade adsortiva de cádmio empregando isoterma de Langmuir. A caracterização revelou que o vermicomposto exibe CTC tão elevada quanto 72,9 meq por 100 g, grande área superficial (substância porosa), grupos quelantes e máxima capacidade adsortiva para Cd (38,6 mg g-1) em pH 5,0. Esta potencialidade foi explorada em análises de amostras sintéticas e reais (água mineral) apresentando concentrações de cádmio próximas a 5 mig L-1 e requerendo etapas de pré-concentração. Um fator de enriquecimento de 100 foi obtido.

Vermicompost (humic material) samples were submitted to characterization by infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, thermogravimetric analysis, electron microscopy etc. In addition, its cation exchange capacity (CEC) was determined. Factorial experiments were designed in order to elucidate the interaction mechanisms between Cd2+ and the adsorptive sites of vermicompost. The maximum adsorptive capacity for cadmium was evaluated by a Langmuir isotherm. The characterization revealed that vermicompost exhibits high CEC values (ca. 72.9 meq per 100 g), high surface area (porous material), chelating groups and a maximum adsorptive capacity for Cd (38.6 mg g-1) at pH 5.0. This potential application was exploited in the analysis of synthetic and real (mineral water) samples with Cd concentrations of ca 5 mug L-1, requiring a preconcentration step. An enrichment factor of 100 was attained.