Browsing by Author "Bracht, Adelar"
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- Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of a purified polysaccharide from yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis)Publication . Kungel, Pâmela T.A.N.; Correa, Vanesa G.; Corrêa, Rúbia C.G.; Peralta, Rosely Aparecida; Soković, Marina; Calhelha, Ricardo C.; Bracht, Adelar; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.; Peralta, Rosane M.This study investigated the antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties of a purified yerba mate polysaccharide. The yerba mate polysaccharide showed a prominent antioxidant activity as evaluated by 2,2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•)-radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 1.25 ± 0.10 mg/mL), 3-ethyl benzothiazoline-6- sulphonic acid (ABTS•+)-radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 0.41 ± 0.05 mg/mL), and hydroxyl scavenging activity (IC50= 3.36 ± 0.31 mg/mL). The antioxidant activity evaluated as the ferric ion reduction power (FRAP) and oxygen radical absorbance radical assay (ORAC), expressed as trolox equivalents,were 20.84±1.61 μMTE/- mg and 556.30± 12.83 μM TE/mg, respectively. The purified yerbamate polysaccharide presented high antimicrobial activity against several bacterial and fungal strains; however, no cytotoxicity against all four tumor human cell lines assessed.
- Bioactive formulations prepared from fruiting bodies and submerged culture mycelia of the Brazilian edible mushroom Pleurotus ostreatoroseus SingerPublication . Corrêa, Rúbia C.G.; Souza, Aloisio Henrique Pereira de; Calhelha, Ricardo C.; Barros, Lillian; Glamočlija, Jasmina; Soković, Marina; Peralta, Rosane M.; Bracht, Adelar; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.Pleurotus ostreatoroseus is a Brazilian edible mushroom whose chemical characterization and bioactivity still remain underexplored. In this study, the hydrophilic and lipophilic compounds as well as the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities of formulations (ethanol extracts) prepared with its fruiting bodies and submerged culture mycelia were compared. The bioactive formulations contain at least five free sugars, four organic acids, four phenolic compounds and two tocopherols. The fruiting body-based formulation revealed higher reducing power, DPPH scavenging activity, β-carotene bleaching inhibition and lipid peroxidation inhibition in brain homogenates than the mycelium-based preparation, as well as higher anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities. The absence of hepatotoxicity was confirmed in porcine liver primary cells. These functional responses can be related to the levels of bioactive components including phenolic acids, organic acids and tocopherols.
- Biological activities and chemical constituents of Araucaria angustifolia: An effort to recover a species threatened by extinctionPublication . Peralta, Rosane M.; Koehnlein, Eloá A.; Oliveira, Roselene F.; Correa, Vanesa G.; Corrêa, Rúbia C.G.; Bertonha, Leonardo; Bracht, Adelar; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.Background: Araucaria angustifolia (Bert.) O. Kuntze (A. brasiliensis), known as Paraná pine, is the sole native gymnosperm of the Atlantic forest in Brazil and has great economic, cultural and social importance. Its seed, known as pinhão, has been consumed since prehistoric times. Besides the nutritional aspects, different parts of A. angustifolia are also used in the Brazilian folk medicine for the treatment of rheumatism, respiratory infections, fatigue, anemia, among other disorders. Timber exploration has dramatically reduced the species population, and currently, A. angustifolia is classified as vulnerable regarding the risk of extinction. Scope and Approach: This review presents the most recently uncovered details about the chemical composition of the various parts of the plant. Emphasis is given to the main isolated and identified compounds or fractions and their corresponding bioactivities. Key Findings and Conclusions:.Apart from the nutritional properties of the pinhão, particularly as a starch source, this review reveals that a number of biological activities have been found in different parts of A. angustifolia (leaves, bark and pinhão coat), such as protection against DNA UV-induced damage, antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antiviral and digestive enzyme inhibiting activities. Further investigations should include parts of A. angustifolia that are currently discarded, such as the bark, bracts and the pinhão coat, with potential for use in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Studies on A. angustifolia must combine two important elements: the need for preservation of a typical ecosystem and the implementation of the A. angustifolia forests as a true economic alternative for local residents.
- Biotechnological, nutritional and therapeutic uses of Pleurotus spp. (Oyster mushroom) related with its chemical composition: a review on the past decade findingsPublication . Corrêa, Rúbia C.G.; Brugnari, Tatiane; Bracht, Adelar; Peralta, Rosane M.; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.The particular characteristics of growth and development of mushrooms in nature result in the accumulation of a variety of secondary metabolites, several of them with biological activities. The genus Pleurotus is a cosmopolitan group of mushrooms with high nutritional value and therapeutic properties, besides a wide array of biotechnological and environmental applications. Scope and approach: The present report aims to provide a critical review on aspects related to chemical compounds isolated from the genus Pleurotus with possible biotechnological, nutritional and therapeutic uses. Investigations on the genus have immensely accelerated during the last ten years, so that only reports published after 2005 have been considered. Key findings and conclusions: The most important Pleurotus species cultivated in large scale are P. ostreatus and P. pulmonarius. However, more than 200 species have already been investigated to various degrees. Both basidiomata and mycelia of Pleurotus are a great renewable and easily accessible source of functional foods/nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals with antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antitumor and immunomodulatory effects. A series of compounds have already been precisely defined including several polysaccharides, phenolics, terpenes and sterols. However, intensification of structure determination is highly desirable and demands considerable efforts. Further studies including clinical trials need to be carried out to ascertain the safety of these compounds as adequate alternatives to conventional drugs. Not less important is to extend the search for novel bioactives to less explored Pleurotus species.
- Characterization and bioactivity of copaiba essential oil carried in a self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systemPublication . Ames-Sibin, Ana Paula; Chagas, Any C.; Ferreira, Sabrina B.S.; Mandim, Filipa; Finimundy, Tiane C.; Calhelha, Ricardo C.; Peralta, Rosane M.; Sá-Nakanishi, Anacharis B. de; Bracht, Lívia; Bruschi, Marcos L.; Bracht, Adelar; Barros, Lillian; Comar, Jurandir FernandoCopaiba essential oil (CEO) is the volatile part of copaiba balsam, which has been topically used for various inflammatory conditions. However, there are some concerns about the CEO safety for oral use. The lipophilic character of CEO also limits its application in the pharmaceutical field. This study prepared a selfnanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) containing CEO and evaluated its toxic effects against a primary culture from pig liver (PLP2) and Green monkey kidney cell line (Vero). The inhibition of oxide nitric production was also evaluated on RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line to access the anti-inflammatory effect. The CEO was extracted by hydrodistillation and β-caryophyllene accounted for 51.8% of the oil. The formulation (FSNEDDS) consisting of CEO, Cremophor and ethyl linoleate was characterized in relation to morphology, stability, rheology, simulated digestion and bioaccessibility in vitro. FSNEDDS displayed Newtonian flow behavior with viscosity depending only on temperature and, in an aqueous medium, it formed small spherical particles (<100 nm size diameter). The FSNEDDS showed higher oxidative stability than the non-formulated CEO. In the simulated digestion, FSNEDDS formed nanoemulsifying droplets in gastric phase and tiny micelles in intestinal phase, and a bioaccessibility of 63%. The FSNEDDS showed a superior anti-inflammatory activity (+11%) than non-formulated CEO and this beneficial concentration was achieved with a non-toxic concentration for none of the cell lines tested. In conclusion, FSNEDDS improves the physicochemical stability, bioaccessibility and bioactivity of CEO, and it could be a phytotherapic option for per oral administration to treat inflammatory diseases.
- Chemical composition and bioactivities of Juçara fruit bio-residues, a promising source of valuable moleculesPublication . Garcia, Jéssica A.A.; Corrêa, Rúbia C.G.; Barros, Lillian; Pereira, Carla; Abreu, Rui M.V.; Alves, Maria José; Calhelha, Ricardo C.; Bracht, Adelar; Peralta, Rosane M.; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.Euterpe edulis Martius, popularly known as Juçara, is a native tree of the Atlantic Rainforest found predominantly in the states of the southern and southeastern regions of Brazil. Juçara fruit is a globose berry that, when ripe, acquires a dark purple shade and sweet pleasant taste. The industrial production of Juçara fruit pulp generates solid residues (peel) which are usually discarded [1]. The aim of the present work was to perform an unprecedented in-depth study on the bioactive components profile of E. edulis fruit peel. The nutritional composition of this material was estimated and its hydroethanolic extract was characterized in terms of phenolic compounds, besides antioxidant and antibacterial potential. Finally, the hepatotoxicity of the extract was assessed. A total of nineteen phenolic compounds was identified in Juçara peel. Seventeen were non-anthocyanin molecules: two phenolic acids, namely caffeic acid and a ferulic acid derivative; four flavanonols, corresponding to three dihydroquercetin (taxifolin) and one dihydrokaempferol (aromadendrin) glycoside derivatives; six flavones, assigned as apigenin C-glycoside derivatives; and five flavonols, among which quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, and isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside. The major components of the peel extract were the anthocyanins cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (5.32 and 6.23 mg/g of extract, respectively), which together accounted for more than 87% of the extract’s total phenolic content, which corroborates literature data [2, 3]. Anthocyanins are amidst the main compounds related to the great free radical-scavenging capacity of Juçara fruit, whereas a significant positive correlation with its general antioxidant capacity was observed (Shultz et al., 2016). The herein studied fruit peel extract presented expressive values of antioxidant capacity, assessed by five distinct methods, namely (1) oxidative haemolysis inhibition assay (OxHLIA), (2) inhibition of the production of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS); (3) reduction of the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH); (4) reduction of the 2,2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonate) cation (ABTS), and (5) reduction power of the ferric ion (FRAP). Furthermore, the results obtained for antioxidant activity were more expressive than the ones verified by other authors for Juçara residues [1]. The evaluated E. edulis extract showed no toxicity against a non-tumour liver primary culture PLP2, at the highest concentration assessed (400 μg/mL). The inhibitory activity displayed by the extract against both Gram-positive (Enterococcus faecalis, Listeria monocytogenes, and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus - MRSA) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Morganella morganii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria indicates the presence of an extensive spectrum of phytochemical constituents with antibiotic potential. Indeed, the extract was more effective than the antibiotic ampicillin against M. morganii and P. aeruginosa. Therefore, Juçara fruit residues could be used to produce high added-value food ingredients, both colorants and preservatives, following the circular bioeconomy concept and stimulating the Juçara production chain.
- Chemical composition and biological activities of Juçara (Euterpe edulis Martius) fruit by-products, a promising underexploited source of high-added value compoundsPublication . Garcia, Jéssica A.A.; Corrêa, Rúbia C.G.; Barros, Lillian; Pereira, Carla; Abreu, Rui M.V.; Alves, Maria José; Calhelha, Ricardo C.; Bracht, Adelar; Peralta, Rosane M.; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.The pulp of the fruits of Juçara (Euterpes edulis Martius), a native tree of the Atlantic Rainforest of Brazil, is widely consumed thanks to its flavour and nutritional value. The industrial production of Juçara fruit pulp generates solid residues (peel) which are usually discarded. In this work, a hydroalcoholic extract from Juçara peel flour was evaluated for its phenolic profile as well as for its bioactivities. A total of nineteen phenolic compounds were identified in the Juçara peel flour. Among these, seventeen were non-anthocyanin phenolic compounds, namely two phenolic acids, four flavanonols, six flavones, and five flavonols; whereas the two anthocyanin molecules were cyanidin glycoside derivatives. The Euterpe edulis peel flour presented antioxidant activity and antibacterial potential but was not hepatotoxic. These observations corroborate the idea that this byproduct could fit well into the circular bioeconomy concept, thus promoting the Juçara fruit production chain.
- A comparative study between conventional and non-conventional extraction techniques for the recovery of ergosterol from Agaricus blazei MurrillPublication . Taofiq, Oludemi; Corrêa, Rúbia C.G.; Barros, Lillian; Prieto Lage, Miguel A.; Bracht, Adelar; Peralta, Rosane M.; González-Paramás, Ana María; Barreiro, M.F.; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.Response surface methodology was applied to optimize the recovery of ergosterol from an agroindustrial residue of Agaricus blazei Murrill, by comparing conventional (heat-assisted extraction, HAE) and more sustainable nonconventional approaches (ultrasound and microwave-assisted extractions, UAE and MAE, respectively). A circumscribed central composite design was employed to optimize and describe the interactive effects among variables of the HAE, MAE (time and temperature) and UAE systems (time and ultrasound power), and their performances compared with the standard soxhlet extraction system. The optimum conditions were predicted as 150 min, 81.6 °C for HAE, 30 min, 400W for UAE, and 25 min, 134.6 °C, for the MAE system. The UAE system was identified as the most appropriate technique to obtain extracts with the highest amount of ergosterol, followed by MAE and HAE. Overall, these results demonstrate the potential of using the fruiting bodies of A. blazei as a suitable source to obtain ergosterol-rich extracts, which can be used as an ingredient for various biobased industrial applications.
- Composição Química e Atividades Biológicas da Casca do Fruto da Palmeira Juçara (Euterpe edulis Martius)Publication . Garcia, Jéssica A.A.; Corrêa, Rúbia C.G.; Barros, Lillian; Pereira, Carla; Abreu, Rui M.V.; Alves, Maria José; Calhelha, Ricardo C.; Bracht, Adelar; Peralta, Rosane M.; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.A polpa dos frutos de Juçara (Euterpes edulis Martius), uma árvore nativa da mata Atlântica, é amplamente consumida graças ao seu sabor e valor nutricional, gerando grande quantidade de resíduos sólidos (casca) que geralmente são descartados. Este trabalho, teve por objetivo avaliar o perfil fenólico e bioatividades da casca de Juçara. Um total de dezenove compostos fenólicos foram identificados, sendo dezessete compostos fenólicos não-antocianinas (dois ácidos fenólicos, quatro flavanonóis, seis flavonas e cinco flavonóis). A casca do fruto de E. edulis apresentou atividades antioxidante e antimicrobiana e não apresentou hepatotoxicidade. Os resíduos da fruta Juçara podem ser utilizados para produzir aditivos alimentares de alto valor agregado, tanto corantes quanto conservantes, seguindo o conceito da bioeconomia circular.
- A critical appraisal of the most recent investigations on the hepatoprotective action of brazilian plantsPublication . Garcia-Manieria, Jéssica A.A.; Correa, Vanesa G.; Backes, Emanueli; Sa-Nakanishi, Anacharis Babeto de; Bracht, Lívia; Comar, Jurandir Fernando; Corrêa, Rúbia C.G.; Peralta, Rosane M.; Bracht, AdelarConventional treatments for liver diseases are often burdened by side effects caused by chemicals. For minimizing this problem, the search for medicines based on natural products has increased. The objective of this review was to collect data on the potential hepatoprotective activity of plants of the Brazilian native flora. Special attention was given to the modes of extraction, activity indicators, and identification of the active compounds. The databases were Science direct, Pubmed, and Google Academic. Inclusion criteria were: (a) plants native to Brazil; (b) studies carried out during the last 15 years; (c) high-quality research. A fair number of communications met these criteria. Various parts of plants can be used, e.g., fruit peels, seeds, stem barks, and leaves. An outstanding characteristic of the active extracts is that they were mostly obtained from plant parts with low commercial potential, i.e., by-products or bio-residues. The hepatoprotective activities are exerted by constituents such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, vitamin C, phytosterols, and fructose poly- and oligosaccharides. Several Brazilian plants present excellent perspectives for the obtainment of hepatoprotective formulations. Very important is the economical perspective for the rural producers which may eventually increase their revenue by selling increasingly valued raw materials which otherwise would be wasted.