Abstract Malpighia emarginata D.C is an important crop of Brazil and significant source of antioxidant active compounds with notable health effects. The purpose of this work was to study three varieties of acerola (Malpighia emarginata D.C) at green unripe stage of maturity from the São Francisco Valley of Northeast Brazil. The fruits were evaluated for physico-chemical composition, bioactive compounds, through spectrophotometric analysis and liquid chromatography, as well as the profile of macro and micro minerals and antioxidant capacity. The fruits presented satisfactory results in physico-chemical quality parameters. HPLC-DAD phenolic profile analysis identified kaempferol-3-glucoside (32.68 mg/100 g), p-coumaric acid (28.87 mg/100 g) and isorhamnetin (11.41 mg/100 g) as the major compounds, mainly in the variety of Flor Branca (FB). The results obtained from the profiles of sugars and organic acids were similar among the varieties. The minerals were excellent sources of the elements of K, Ca, Mg and Mn. Moreover, FB variety represents higher antioxidant capacity in ABTS·+ (8613.54 μM Trolox/g) and ORAC (2454.42 μM Trolox/g). Thus, the results show the potential to be applied for variety selection and utilization programs based on their specific nutritive characters, contributing to the development of new products.

Quantitative computed tomography was used to determine the radiodensity of bony plates. The CT scans provided information regarding radiodensity of bony plates and allowed to verify the uniformity of bone mineral density in their scope. The proposed methodology should be considered as another tool for determining the resistance of these biomaterials.

Relata-se o caso de um cão da raça Yorkshire, de oito anos de idade, com histórico de tratamento com prednisona na dose de 1mg/kg de peso, a cada 24 horas, por dois anos. A tomografia computadorizada helicoidal revelou hepatomegalia associada à hiperatenuação, com radiodensidade de 82,55 unidades Hounsfield (HU). O baço apresentava radiodensidade média de 57,17HU, sendo observada diferença de radiodensidade de 25,38HU entre os dois órgãos. Por meio do histórico e dos achados da técnica de imagem, foi possível determinar o diagnóstico presuntivo de hepatopatia esteroidal compatível com acúmulo de glicogênio hepático. Concluiu-se que a tomografia computadorizada possibilitou caracterizar a lesão hepática e presumir o diagnóstico de hepatopatia esteroidal

It is reported a case of an eight-year-old Yorkshire Terrier dog, with a history of prolonged use of prednisone in a dosage of 1mg/kg of body weight each 24 hours during two years. The helical computed tomography revealed hepatomegaly associated to a hyperattenuation of the parenchyma, with a radiodensity value of 82.55 Hounsfield units (HU). The spleen presented a mean radiodensity of 57.17HU, and a radiodensity difference of 25.38HU was observed between the two organs. Based on the history and findings of imaging technique, it was determined the presumptive diagnosis of steroidal hepatopathy compatible with accumulation of hepatic glycogen. It was concluded that computed tomography enabled the characterization of hepatic injury and the presumed diagnosis of steroidal hepatopathy

Uma recente reinvestigação das partes aéreas de Wedelia paludosa D.C. é descrita e relata, pela primeira vez, o isolamento do ácido iso-caurenóico desta espécie.

A recent reinvestigation of aerial parts of Wedelia paludosa D.C. is described and reports, for the first time, the isolation of iso-kaurenoic acid from this species.

O intenso uso de herbicidas implica a necessidade de determinar o potencial dessas substâncias em contaminar fontes aquáticas subsuperficiais. Diante dessa preocupação, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de diferentes lâminas de água sobre o potencial de lixiviação de quatro herbicidas utilizados em pré-emergência na cultura do algodão, em dois solos provenientes de Campo Novo do Parecis-MT (RQ - textura arenosa) e Tangará da Serra-MT (LV - textura argilosa). No desenvolvimento deste trabalho utilizouse a técnica de bioensaio em colunas de solo, nas quais foram simuladas irrigações de 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 e 100 mm, após a aplicação de alachlor (RQ 2,40; LV 3,36 kg ha-1), oxyfluorfen (RQ 0,48; LV 0,72 kg ha-1), prometryne (RQ 0,75; LV 1,50 kg ha-1) e S-metolachlor (RQ 1,20; LV 1,44 kg ha-1). Nas amostras de solo com textura arenosa (RQ), evidenciou-se que lâminas de 80 e 100 mm de água proporcionaram lixiviação até a profundidade de 10-15 cm do alachlor e até 15-20 cm do S-metolachlor. Independentemente da lâmina de água aplicada, nas amostras de RQ oxyfluorfen não ultrapassou a camada de 5-10 cm, e o prometryne movimentou-se até a camada de 10-15 cm somente na lâmina de 100 mm de água. Nas amostras de solo com textura argilosa (LV), o oxyfluorfen não se movimentou além da camada superficial, mesmo sob as maiores lâminas de irrigação, e o prometryne atingiu 5-10 cm de profundidade sob lâminas de 80 e 100 mm. Os herbicidas alachlor e S-metolachlor atingiram 10-15 cm de profundidade sob lâminas de 80 e 100 mm no LV. Evidenciou-se uma maior movimentação efetiva das moléculas de herbicidas nas amostras de solo com textura arenosa (RQ), em relação às amostras de solo com textura argilosa (LV).

Herbicide use intensification implies in the need to determine the potential of these substances to reach groundwater. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of different irrigation depths on the leaching potential of four herbicides commonly used in preemergence cotton weed control, in samples of two soils from Campo Novo do Parecis-MT (RQ-sandy texture) and Tangará da Serra-MT (LV-clay texture). Thus, a bioassay technique in soil columns was adopted, in which water depths of 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 mm were simulated after application of alachlor (RQ 2.40; LV 3.36 kg ha-1), oxyfluorfen (RQ 0.48; LV 0.72 kg ha-1), prometryne (RQ 0.75; LV 1.50 kg ha-1) and S-metolachlor (RQ 1.20; LV 1.44 kg ha-1). For soil samples with sandy texture (RQ), water depths of 80 and 100 mm led to leaching down to layers of 10-15 cm for alachlor and 15-20 cm for S-metolachlor.Regardless of the irrigation depth applied in the RQ samples, oxyfluorfen did not exceed the depth of 5-10 cm and prometryne could be detected at the depth of 10-15 cm only at water depth of 100 mm. In columns filled with clay soil (LV), oxyfluorfen did not move beneath the surface layer, even under the highest water depths and prometryne reached the depth of 5-10 cm under 80 and 100 mm. The herbicides alachlor and S-metolachlor reached 10-15 cm depth under water depths of 80 and 100 mm in the LV. A more intense downward movement of the herbicide molecules was found in sandy soil samples (RQ) than in clay texture soil samples (LV).

A espécie vegetal Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) B.L.Burtt & R.M. Sm. é popularmente empregada para o tratamento de diversas enfermidades, entre elas a hipertensão. Avaliar a composição química, a atividade antihipertensiva e ação na hipertrofia cardíaca do óleo essencial das folhas de Alpinia zerumbet (OEAZ) em ratos foram os objetivos deste estudo. O OEAZ, obtido por hidrodestilação em aparelho Clevenger, teve sua composição química analisada em cromatografia gasosa acoplada à espectrometria de massas (CG-EM). Foram identificados 14 constituintes, sendo terpinen-4-ol (37,45%) o majoritário, seguido pelos óxido de cariofileno (7,56%), trans-hidrato de sabineno (6,61%) e 1,8-cineol (4,02%). A avaliação cardiovascular foi feita após o tratamento crônico de ratos espontaneamente hipertensos (SHR) e seus respectivos controles, ratos Wistar-Kyoto (WKY). Os dados hemodinâmicos revelaram redução da pressão arterial média (PAM) no grupo tratado (SHRP: 160 ± 7 mm Hg; p<0,01) em relação ao não tratado (SHR: 180 ± 5 mm Hg). A relação entre peso do ventrículo esquerdo e peso corporal (VE/PC) do SHRP (2,50 ± 0,03 mg g-1; p<0,01) mostrou-se inferior ao SHR (2,61 ± 0,01 mg g-1), confirmando a redução da hipertrofia cardíaca (HC). Os dados de PAM e VE/PC dos animais SHRP foram estatisticamente diferentes quando comparados com os ratos controle (WKY: 116 ± 2 mm Hg e WKYP: 119 ± 4 mm Hg; p<0,05; WKY: 2,15 ± 0,04 mg g-1 e WKYP: 2,17 ± 0,04 mg g-1 ; p<0,01), indicando não ter havido normalização dos mesmos. Conclui-se que o tratamento crônico com OEAZ foi capaz de determinar redução, mas não a normalização, da PAM e da HC de ratos SHR, provavelmente pela presença dos componentes terpinen-4-ol e 1,8-cineol. Estudos com doses maiores ou período de tratamento superior são necessários para avaliar a possibilidade de o OEAZ normalizar os parâmetros analisados (PAM e HC).

Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) B.L. Burtt & R.M.Sm. is traditionally employed to treat several diseases such as hypertension. The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition, the anti-hypertensive activity and the capacity to reduce cardiac hypertrophy of the essential oil of A. zerumbet leaves (EOAZ) in rats. EOAZ was obtained through hydrodistillation in Clevenger apparatus and its chemical composition was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Several constituents (14) were identified, terpen-4-ol (37.45%) being the major component, followed by caryophyllene oxide (7.56%), trans-sabinene hydrate (6.61%) and 1,8-cineol (4.02%). The cardiovascular effect was investigated after chronic treatment with spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and their respective controls, Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). The treated group showed a lower mean arterial pressure (MAP) (SHRP: 160 ± 7 mm Hg; p<0.01) than the untreated group (SHR: 180 ± 5 mm Hg). The ratio of left ventricle-to-body weight (LV/BW) for SHRP was lower (2.504 ± 0.03 mg g-1; p<0.01) than that for SHR (2.162 ± 0.01 mg g-1), confirming the cardiac hypertrophy (CH) reduction. There were significant differences in MAP and CH between SHRP animals and control rats (WKY: 116 ± 2 mm Hg and WKYP: 119 ± 4 mm Hg; p<0.05. WKY: 2.152 ± 0.04 mg g-1 and WKYP: 2.168 ± 0.04 mg g-1; p<0.01), indicating that these values were not normalized. Those data showed that the chronic treatment with EOAZ reduces MAP and CH in SHR probably due to the presence of the compounds terpinen-4-ol and 1,8-cineol. Studies with higher doses or longer treatment periods are necessary to evaluate whether EOAZ can reduce the analyzed parameters (MAP and CH) to normal values.