Glutathione Reductase (GR) plays a key role in the maintenance of GSH homeostasis, variations in its activity may indicate damage from environmental contaminants. Experimental planning is a strategy to reduces time and cost in enzymatic assays. In this work, DCCR experimental planning was used to standardize and to validate the measure of GR in Aegla singularis bioindicator. Samples of A. singularis were collected in three watersheds with different percentages of naturalness and land uses. At all, were selected 7 streams, in which collections were performed at one upstream (most preserved) and one downstream (less preserved) point. Effects of temperature, reading time, substrate (GSSG) and protein concentration in GR reaction medium were evaluated, being that the two latter variables were optimized by DCCR. GR was not affected by temperature (15 to 30 °C) or reading time (6 and 10 minutes). Increased concentrations of proteins from biological extract had negative correlation with GR, whereas higher concentrations of GSSG resulted in higher GR activity. Environmental validation showed that GR in Aeglawas influenced primarily by the watershed of origin. DCCR planning was efficient to optimizing the use of GR as a biomarker of environmental quality.

Abstract Cooling of carcasses using water immersion is the most used process in the poultry industry. In this stage, besides the reduction of temperature, water absorption in the carcasses occurs and, consequently, in the chicken cuts, which are monitored by the companies and supervised by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply of Brazil, which establishes water absorption limits. The objective of this work was to evaluate the process capacity analysis tool to analyze the water absorption capacity by chicken carcasses during precooling, based on the absorption indexes obtained on an industrial scale, by the analysis of 720 carcasses. After structural alterations, aiming at greater bubble control and shorter residence time of the chicken carcasses in the cooling system, Cp (process potential index) and Cpk (process performance index) were close to each other (0.82 and 0.81, respectively), indicating that the process is practically centralized and, although it has become smaller than 1, presented a significant improvement over the initial evaluation (cp 0.35 and cpk 0.26).

Abstract The sensory, physical-chemical and microbiological characteristics of boneless chicken thighs and drumsticks stored at different temperatures were evaluated. Samples stored at −6 and −12 °C, in natura and cooked, presented changes in sensory characteristics from the sixth and fifth month of storage, respectively. In natura samples kept at −18 °C presented sensory modification from the eighth month, and cooked samples did not show alterations during 12 months of storage. For lipid oxidation, differences were observed between −6 and −12 °C by the third month and between −12 and −18 °C after 12 months of storage. Related to protein oxidation, samples stored at −18 °C did not differ from the standard (0 days), showing values of 6.03 nmol carbonyl/mg protein after 12 months of storage. Samples under freezing at −6 °C for 12 months presented an increase in psychrotrophic count. This behaviour was not observed in the samples stored at −12 and −18 °C. Considering the different analyzes, the maximum storage period was 6 days at 4 °C, 8 months at –6 and –12 °C and at least 12 months storage at –18 °C.

This study reports the optimization of geranyl butanoate production by esterification of geraniol and butanoic acid in a solvent-free system using two immobilized lipases as catalyst. The operating conditions that optimized geranyl butanoate production were determined to be 40 °C, a geraniol to butanoic acid molar ratio of 3:1, 150 rpm, 5 wt% of enzyme, and 1 h of reaction, which resulted in a reaction conversion of about 97% for Novozyme 435. When homemade Novozyme NZL-102-LYO-HQ (Cal-B) immobilized in polyurethane foam was used as catalyst, the experimental conditions of an alcohol to acid molar ratio of 5:1, 70 °C, 150 rpm, 5 wt% of enzyme, and 1 h of reaction gave a conversion of 95%. New experimental data on enzymatic esterification of geraniol and butanoic acid for geranyl butanoate production are reported in this work, showing that the technique is promising for overcoming the well-known drawbacks of the chemical-catalyzed route.

ABSTRACT Understanding the genetic structure and diversity of plants is fundamental to their conservation and permits their sustainable use by local communities. The genus Maytenus (Celastraceae) is composed of plants possessing pharmacological and antioxidant properties. However, the genetic and economic properties of the species M. dasyclada, a typical species of Araucaria forests in Brazil and Uruguay, have been little studied. In this work, the genetic structure and diversity of natural populations of M. dasyclada located in unprotected and preserved forest remnants were investigated using RAPD and isozymes markers. The results demonstrated that in areas of preservation, populations of M. dasyclada possess a relatively high degree of polymorphism and high values for Na, Ne, Shannon index, He and Ho, indicating high genetic variability. Moreover, these protected populations are very close to each other and potentially experience significant gene flow. The results presented here highlight the relevance of preservation areas for the conservation of M. dasyclada, and that populations inhabiting these areas could serve as a genetic source for the recovery of populations in regions where genetic diversity has been lost.

ABSTRACT Among the nutrients involved in the chicken diet, the microminerals deserve attention as they exert essential functions in the organism. These compounds can be provided in inorganic (traditional) and organic (chelate) forms. In organic form, the micromimerals can attend a new concept related to a better bio-availability. In this sense, the objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the partial and total substitution of inorganic by organic sources of microminerals on the animal diet, assessing its concentration in the blood and liver after 21 and 40 days and also in the bones after 40 days. Moreover, the effect on the physical-chemical and sensory characteristics of the muscle after 15 days of storage at 4°C was also evaluated. The animals were divided into five treatments: 100% inorganic, 70% inorganic and 30% organic, 50% inorganic and 50% organic, 30% inorganic and 70% organic and 100% organic-chelate. It is shown that the use of organic sources of microminerals in the diet of poultry induced to an increase of its concentrations in the blood and liver, with no significant alterations in the compositions of bones, compared to the use of inorganic sources. Feed formulated using 50% of organic minerals and 50% of inorganic minerals led to similar results. The diet with organic minerals or mixture with inorganic sources results in a low lipid oxidation in the drumsticks stored at 4°C for 15 days, in comparison with those using only inorganic minerals. No sensory alterations were observed for all different treatments.

This study aimed to compare the chemical composition and in vitro antibacterial and antioxidant activity of commercial essential oils of rosemary, clove, oregano, sage and binary combination of clove and oregano. Eugenol (89.58%) for clove, carvacrol (60.71%) for oregano, bornyl acetate (39.64%) for rosemary, linalool (39.26%) for sage and eugenol (56.42%) for binary combination were identified as the main components . In evaluation of antibacterial activity, the oregano showed the highest inhibition zones and the smallest minimum inhibitory concentration. The binary combination with IC50 of 6.40 μg/mL, followed by clove with IC50 of 11.79 μg/mL had excellent antioxidant potential.

Este estudio tuvo como objetivos comparar la composicion quimica y actividad antioxidante y antibacteriana in vitro de los aceites esenciales comerciales de romero, clavo de olor, oregano, salvia y combinacion binaria de clavo y oregano. Fueron identificados como componentes principales, eugenol (89,58%) para el clavo, el carvacrol (60,71%) para el oregano, el acetato de bornilo (39,64%) de romero, linalol (39,26%) de la salvia y el eugenol (56,42%) para la combinacion binaria. En la evaluacion de la actividad antibacteriana el oregano mostro las zonas de inhibicion mas altas y la concentracion inhibitoria minima mas pequena. La combinacion binaria con IC50 de 6,40 μg/mL, seguido de clavo de olor con IC50 de 11,79 μg/mL tiene un excelente potencial antioxidante.

Lipases produced by a newly isolated Sporidiobolus pararoseus strain have potential catalytic ability for esterification reactions. After production, the enzymatic extracts (conventional crude and precipitated, 'CC' and 'CP', and industrial crude and precipitated, 'IC' e 'IP') were partially characterized. The enzymes presented, in general, higher specificity for short chain alcohols and fatty acids. The precipitated extract showed a good thermal stability, higher than that for crude enzymatic extracts. The 'CC' and 'CP' enzymes presented high activities after exposure to pH 6.5 and 40 ºC. On the other hand, the 'IC' and 'IP' extracts kept their activities in a wide range of pH memory but presented preference for higher reaction temperatures. Preliminary studies of application of the crude lipase extract in the enzymatic production of geranyl propionate using geraniol and propionic acid as substrates in solvent-free system led to a reaction conversion of 42 ± 1.5%.

A busca por substâncias antibacterianas e antioxidantes naturais tem sido alvo de diversos estudos científicos. Foi objetivo determinar as atividades antibacteriana e antioxidante e a concentração inibitória mínima do óleo essencial do cravo-da-índia, obtido por hidrodestilação. O estudo por CG-EM identificou o eugenol como o constituinte majoritário do óleo essencial e os testes de atividade antibacteriana mostraram bons resultados para quase todos os microorganismos avaliados. Os valores de concentração inibitória mínima variaram de 0,2 mg.mL-1 a 0,6 mg.mL-1. Aatividade antioxidante demonstrou uma correlação linear com a concentração de óleo essencial. Os resultados demonstraram potencial antibacteriano e antioxidante do óleo essencial de Eugenia caryophyllata, constituindo-se uma opção para a formulação de novos produtos alimentícios.

The search for natural antioxidants and antimicrobials has been a major goal of scientific studies. The main objective of this work was to determine the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities and the minimal inhibitory concentration of clove oil obtained by hydrodistillation. GC-MS analysis identified eugenol as major compound of the essential oil. The oil showed antibacterial activity for almost all tested microorganisms. The minimal inhibitory concentration ranged from 0.2 mg.mL-1 to 0.6 mg.mL-1. There was a linear correlation between the antioxidant activity and the essential oil concentration. Results showed the potential of Eugenia caryophyllata essential oil as an alternative for the formulation of new food products.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo determinar a atividade antimicrobiana e antioxidante do óleo essencial de Ho-Sho. O principal componente do óleo essencial obtido a partir de folhas da planta submetidas ao processo de hidrodestilação foi o linalol (80 a 95% m/m). O óleo essencial mostrou atividade antimicrobiana para todos os microrganismos testados, com exceção de Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A maior atividade antimicrobiana do óleo essencial sobre as bactérias testadas foi observada sobre Xanthomonas campestris (33,0 mm) e a menor sobre Yersinia enterocolitica (10,5 mm). Para a concentração inibitória mínima (CIM), observou-se que todos os microrganismos apresentaram-se susceptíveis ao óleo essencial de Ho-Sho. A variação das CIM para as bactérias Gram-positivas foi de 1,00 mg.mL-1 (Streptococcus mutans) a 1,75 mg.mL-1 (Staphylococcus epidermidis). Já a variação das CIM para as bactérias Gram-negativas foi de 0,625 mg.mL-1 (Citrobacter freundii) a 2,50 mg.mL-1 (Shigella flexneri). Os resultados obtidos na determinação da atividade antioxidante do óleo essencial demonstram que o percentual antioxidante aumenta proporcionalmente à concentração de óleo essencial adicionado, atingindo o valor máximo de 97,49% de atividade antioxidante para a concentração de 50000 μg.mL-1.

The main objective of this work was to evaluate the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the Ho-Sho essential oil. The major component of the essential oil obtained from the leaves submitted to hydro-distillation was linalool (80-95 wt%). The essential oil showed antimicrobial activity for all tested microorganisms, except for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Higher antimicrobial activities over the tested bacterium were observed for Xanthomonas campestris (33.0 mm), and lower activities were obtained for Yersinia enterocolitica (10.5 mm). For the minimal inhibition concentration (MIC), it was observed that all microorganisms presented susceptibility to the Ho-Sho essential oil. For Gram-positive bacteria, the MIC varied from 1.00 mg.mL-1 (Streptococcus mutans) to 1.75 mg.mL-1 (Staphylococcus epidermidis). In the case of Gram-negative bacteria, the MIC was 0.625 mg.mL-1 for Citrobacter freundii and 2.50 mg.mL-1 for Shigella flexneri. The results related to antioxidant activities demonstrated that the antioxidant percentage increases proportionally to the concentration of the essential oil added reaching the maximum value of 97.49% for the essential oil concentration of 50000 μg.mL-1.

A extração empregando dióxido de carbono a altas pressões em erva-mate (Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil.), tem sido justificada pelo crescente interesse desta matriz vegetal ou de parte de seus constituintes na formulação de novos produtos, tais como cosméticos e medicamentos, entre outros. Neste contexto, o objetivo do presente trabalho é avaliar a distribuição química de compostos semi-voláteis em 20 populações de erva-mate coletadas em toda área de distribuição desta espécie no Brasil. 30 plantas foram selecionadas para produzir a amostra de cada população. Os extratos de cada amostra foram obtidos por extração com dióxido de carbono a alta pressão e, posteriormente, foram analisados por CG/EM. A quantificação de alguns compostos semi-voláteis presentes nos extratos (cafeína, teobromina, fitol, esqualeno, vitamina E, eicosano, pentatriacontano e stigmasterol), apresentaram variações significativas entre as concentrações dos diferentes compostos analisados nas diferentes populações, os quais não estão relacionados com origem geográfica ou com características de macroclima. Os resultados apontam para a importância dos fatores genéticos e/ou fatores de microclima sobre a composição química desta espécie.

The use of compressed carbon towards extracting semi-volatile compounds present in maté leaves (Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil.) is due to the growing interest in mate constituents to develop new products in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food industries. The objective of this work was to assess the chemical distribution of semi-volatile compounds in 20 native populations of maté collected all over Brazil. The extracts of bulk samples (30 plants) of each population were obtained by the high-pressure carbon dioxide extraction technique, and analyzed by GC/MSD. The quantification of compounds (caffeine, theobromine, phytol, squalene, vitamin E, eicosane, pentatriacontane, and stigmasterol) showed significant variations within the different populations and compounds analyzed, which are not related to geographical origin or macroclimate characteristics. The results pointed out to the importance of genetic and local environmental factors on the chemical composition of this species.

This work reports extraction yield and chemical characterization of the extracts obtained by high-pressure CO2 extraction of a cultivar of Ocimum basilicum L. The experiments were performed in the temperature range of 20 to 50 °C, from 100 to 250 atm of pressure. Chemical analyses were carried out by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, permitting to identify 23 compounds that were grouped into five chemical classes. Results showed that temperature and solvent density influenced positively the extraction yield. At 20 °C and 0.41 g cm-3 occurred a rise in the concentration of monoterpenes, oxygenated monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes and oxygenated sesquiterpenes.

Os óleos essenciais de duas variedades da árvore canforeira (Cinnamomum camphora Nees & Eberm, Lauraceae), conhecidas como Hon-Sho e Ho-Sho cultivadas em canteiros experimentais no sul do Brasil foram estudados. Os óleos essenciais foram obtidos das folhas e ramos de plantas jovens por hidrodestilação. A identificação dos componentes foi feita por GC, GC/MS e índices de retenção nas fases metil silicone e carbowax. Os principais componentes foram linalol no Ho-Sho e cânfora no Hon-Sho.

The essential oils of two varieties of Camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora Nees & Eberm, Lauraceae), known as Hon-Sho and Ho-Sho cultivated in experimental stands in Southern Brazil were studied. The essential oils were obtained from the leaves and twigs of young plants by hydrodistillation. The identification of the components was performed using GC, GC/MS and retention indexes on methyl silicone and carbowax phases. The main components identified were linalool in the Ho-Sho and camphor in the Hon-Sho.