Bioactivities from marine algae of the genus gracilaria

Seaweeds are an important source of bioactive metabolites for the pharmaceutical industry in drug development. Many of these compounds are used to treat diseases like cancer, acquired immune-deficiency syndrome (AIDS), inflammation, pain, arthritis, as well as viral, bacterial, and fungal infections. This paper offers a survey of the literature for Gracilaria algae extracts with biological activity, and identifies avenues for future research. Nineteen species of this genus that were tested for antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antihypertensive, cytotoxic, spermicidal, embriotoxic, and anti-inflammatory activities are cited from the 121 references consulted.     

New approaches to clarify antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of the ethanol extract from Vernonia condensata leaves

The present study was aimed at evaluating the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of the ethanol extract from Vernonia condensata leaves in animal models, in order to afford a better understanding of these properties. The extract reduced the number of abdominal contortions at doses of 100 (51.00 ± 3.00), 200 (42.00 ± 2.98) and 400 mg/kg (39.00 ± 4.00). In formalin tests, a significant reduction in the licking time (p < 0.01) was observed in the first phase by 25.14 (200 mg/kg = 51.50 ± 4.44) and 31.15% (400 mg/kg = 48.00 ± 4.37). The doses of 100 (43.37 ± 5.15), 200 (34.62 ± 4.16) and 400 mg/kg (28.37 ± 3.98) inhibited (p < 0.001) the second phase. After 60 and 90 min of treatment, a dose of 400 mg/kg (10.13 ± 0.39 and 11.14 ± 1.33, respectively) increased the latency time. Doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg potentiated the sleeping time induced by diazepam, pentobarbital and meprobamate. The extracts (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) showed anti-inflammatory effects by a decrease in paw edema. The extracts also reduced the exudate volume at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg. The leukocyte migration had significant effect (p < 0.001) at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg. The completion of additional experiments in the investigation of the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of V. condensata allowed a better understanding of the central and peripheral mechanisms involved.     

Spontaneous crowding of ribosomes and proteins inside vesicles: a possible mechanism for the origin of cell metabolism

One of the open questions in the origin of life is the spontaneous formation of primitive cell-like compartments from free molecules in solution and membranes. "Metabolism-first" and "replicator-first" theories claim that early catalytic cycles first evolved in solution, and became encapsulated inside lipid vesicles later on. "Compartment-first" theories suggest that metabolism progressively occurred inside compartments. Both views have some weaknesses: the low probability of co-entrapment of several compounds inside the same compartment, and the need to control nutrient uptake and waste release, respectively. By using lipid vesicles as early-cell models, we show that ribosomes, proteins and lipids spontaneously self-organise into cell-like compartments to achieve high internal concentrations, even when starting from dilute solutions. These findings suggest that the assembly of cell-like compartments, despite its low probability of occurrence, is indeed a physically realistic process. The spontaneous achievement of high local concentration might provide a rational account for the origin of primitive cellular metabolism.     

New details on the fine structure of the rhoptry of Toxoplasma gondii

Rhoptries are organelles that have important, complex roles in Apicomplexa biology. During Toxoplasma gondii infection, these organelles take part in several essential and complex processes that include host cell entry and parasite development. Using different electron microscopy techniques, we characterized the fine morphology of the rhoptries of two of the most important life stages of T. gondii: the tachyzoite and the bradyzoite forms. The observed tachyzoite and bradyzoite rhoptries had delimited regions characterized by a dark and electron‐dense neck, an amorphous and less electron‐dense bulb, and a region of intermediate electron density, which connects the bulb to the neck. Metal replicas of frozen‐fractured tachyzoites showed intramembranous particles of different densities and sizes on the fractured faces of rhoptry membranes. Both in tachyzoites and bradyzoites, the intramembranous particles were arranged in distinctive parallel arrays that decorated most part of these organelles. Tubulo‐vesicular subcompartments and free particles within the rhoptry lumen were observed on freeze‐fractured replicas. Cryo‐fixed, deep‐etched samples showed several pore‐like structures localized in the bulb portion. No obvious evidence was found of a possible connection between rhoptries and micronemes. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

High Temperature Mechanical Behavior of UHTC Coatings for Thermal Protection of Re-Entry Vehicles

In this work, the high temperature mechanical properties of ultra high temperature ceramics (UHTC) coatings deposited by plasma spraying have been investigated; particularly the stress-strain relationship of ZrB₂-based thick films has been evaluated by means of 4-point bending tests up to 1500 °C in air. Results show that at each investigated temperature (500, 1000, and 1500 °C) modulus of rupture (MOR) values are higher than the ones obtained at room temperature (RT); moreover at 1500 °C the UHTC coatings exhibit a marked plastic behavior, maintaining a flexural strength 25% higher compared to RT tested samples. The coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CTE) has been evaluated up to 1500 °C: obtained data are of primary importance for substrate selection, interface design and to analyze the thermo-mechanical behavior of coating-substrate coupled system. Finally, SEM-EDS analyses have been carried out on as-sprayed and tested materials in order to understand the mechanisms of reinforcement activated by high temperature exposure and to identify the microstructural modifications induced by the combination of mechanical loads and temperature in an oxidizing environment.     

Effects of the addition of mechanically deboned poultry meat and collagen fibers on quality characteristics of frankfurter-type sausages

The effects of mechanically deboned poultry meat (MDPM) and levels of collagen fibers on comminuted, cooked sausage quality characteristics were investigated using the central composite rotatable design of response surface methodology (RSM). Use of collagen fiber as an additive affected the sausage characteristics, but the effect depended on the amount of the MDPM used. While MDPM additions resulted in higher cooking loss and darker and redder frankfurters, the addition of collagen fibers improved cooking yields and contributed to the lightness of the final product. Higher collagen fiber content was also accompanied by a significant increase in frankfurter hardness regardless of the MDPM content. Use of collagen fibers countered the negative effects of MDPM on sausage quality attributes, especially on cooking yields and final product color.     

Speciation of arsenic in rice and estimation of daily intake of different arsenic species by Brazilians through rice consumption

Rice is an important source of essential elements. However, rice may also contain toxic elements such as arsenic. Therefore, in the present study, the concentration of total arsenic and five main chemical species of arsenic (As(3+), As(5+), DMA, MMA and AsB) were evaluated in 44 different rice samples (white, parboiled white, brown, parboiled brown, parboiled organic and organic white) from different Brazilian regions using high-performance liquid chromatography hyphenated to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS). The mean level of total arsenic was 222.8 ng g(-1) and the daily intake of inorganic arsenic (the most toxic form) from rice consumption was estimated as 10% of the Provisional Tolerable Daily Intake (PTDI) with a daily ingestion of 88 g of rice. Inorganic arsenic (As(3+), As(5+)) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) are the predominant forms in all samples. The percentages of species were 38.7; 39.7; 3.7 and 17.8% for DMA, As(3+), MMA and As(5+), respectively. Moreover, rice samples harvested in the state of Rio Grande do Sul presented more fractions of inorganic arsenic than rice in Minas Gerais or Goiás, which could lead to different risks of arsenic exposure.     

Structural and proactive safety aspects of oxidation debris from multiwalled carbon nanotubes

The removal of oxidation debris from the oxidized carbon nanotube surface with a NaOH treatment is a key step for an effective functionalization and quality improvement of the carbon nanotube samples. In this work, we show via infrared spectroscopy and ultrahigh resolution and accuracy mass spectrometry that oxidation debris obtained from HNO(3)-treated multiwalled carbon nanotubes is a complex mixture of highly condensed aromatic oxygenated carbonaceous fragments. We have also evaluated their cytotoxicity by using BALB/c 3T3 mouse fibroblasts and HaCaT human keratinocytes as models. By knowing the negative aspects of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) to the water quality, we have demonstrated the removal of these carbon nanotube residues from the NaOH solution (wastewater) by using aluminium sulphate, which is a standard coagulant agent used in conventional drinking water purification and wastewater treatment plants. Our results contribute to elucidate the structural and proactive safety aspects of oxidation debris from oxidized carbon nanotubes towards a greener nanotechnology.     

Basalt woven fiber reinforced vinylester composites: Flexural and electrical properties

A preliminary comparative study of basalt and E-glass woven fabric reinforced composites was performed. The fabrics were characterized by the same weave pattern and the laminates tested by the same fiber volume fraction. Results of the flexural and interlaminar characterization are reported. Basalt fiber composites showed higher flexural modulus and apparent interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) in comparison with E-glass ones but also a lower flexural strength and similar electrical properties. With this fiber volume fraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of the fractured surfaces enabled a better understanding both of the failure modes involved and of points of concern. Nevertheless, the results of this study seem promising in view of a full exploitation of basalt fibers as reinforcement in polymer matrix composites (PMCs).     

Curcumin associated magnetite nanoparticles inhibit in vitro melanoma cell growth

Curcumin is a natural product possessing therapeutic properties but the low water solubility of this compound limits its use. We have successfully incorporated curcumin into a bilayer of dodecanoic acid attached to magnetite nanoparticles in an effort to maximize solubility and delivery efficiency. Curcumin/magnetite nanoparticles were characterized using diffused reflectance infra-red fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). Moreover curcumin associated magnetite nanoparticles inhibited in vitro melanoma cell growth. An inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 66.0 +/- 3.0 microM (48 +/- 2.2 microg-iron/mL) was observed for the curcumin/magnetite nanoparticles. Fluorescent microscopy revealed that curcumin associated magnetite nanoparticles were internalized by the melanoma cells and remained in the cytoplasm. The curcumin/magnetic nanoparticles synthesized in this study possess magnetic and water solubility properties making this a novel curcumin formulation with therapeutic potential.