Post-treatment with plant extracts used in Brazilian folk medicine caused a partial reversal of the antiproliferative effect of glyphosate in the<i> Allium cepa </i> test

Species of the genus Psychotria are used for multiple purposes in Brazilian folk medicine, either as water infusions, baths or poultices. This study was aimed to evaluate the genotoxic and antiproliferative effects of infusions of Psychotria brachypoda and P. birotula on the Allium cepa test. Exposure to distilled water was used as a negative control, while exposure to glyphosate was used as a positive control. The interaction of extracts (as a post-treatment) with the effects of glyphosate was also studied. Results showed that glyphosate and the extracts of both P. brachypoda and P. birotula reduced the mitotic index as compared with the negative control (distilled water). Surprisingly, however, both extracts from P. brachypoda and P. birotula caused a partial reversal of the antiproliferative effect of glyphosate when used as a post-treatment. Glyphosate also induced the highest number of cells with chromosomal alterations, which was followed by that of P. birotula extracts. However, the extracts from P. brachypoda did not show any signifi cant genotoxic effect. Post-treatment of glyphosate-treated samples with distilled water allowed a partial recovery of the genotoxic effect of glyphosate, and some of the Psychotria extracts also did so. Notably, post-treatment of glyphosatetreated samples with P. brachypoda extracts induced a statistically signifi cant apoptotic effect. It is concluded that P. brachypoda extracts show antiproliferative effects and are not genotoxic, while extracts of P. birotula show a less potent antiproliferative effect and may induce chromosomal abnormalities. The finding of a partial reversion of the effects of glyphosate by a post-treatment with extracts from both plants should be followed up.     

EFFECTS OF INITIAL pH ON COMPOSITIONAL CHANGES AND SENSORY TRAITS OF FRENCH DRY-CURED HAMS

Fifty hams were distributed into 2 groups differing in initial pH of the Adductor muscle — one group with a pH < 6.1 (low pH group) and the other group with a pH of 6.1 or higher (high pH group). Ten hams were used for fresh meat analysis, while the 40 other hams were processed by dry-curing. Five hams of each pH group were used for chemical analysis before processing (day 0) and at days 74, 81, 179 and 273 of processing. The Biceps femoris muscle was analyzed for moisture, salt content, lipids, nitrogen fractions and volatile compounds. Sensory analysis was performed at days 179 and 273. The low pH hams had higher moisture and salt content at the beginning of processing. They reflected more active lipolysis and proteolysis as indicated by higher levels of free fatty acids and nonprotein nitrogen. Also, they were scored as firmer, dryer and had a less intense fat aroma.     

Pollen viability of <i>Polygala paniculata</i> L. (Polygalaceae) using different staining methods

Polygala paniculata L. is a medicinal plant that grows in the Brazilian Atlantic coast, known as ‘barba-de-São-João’, ‘barba-de-bode’, ‘vassourinha branca’, and ‘mimosa’. In this study, pollen viability was estimated by three different staining methods: 2% acetic orcein, 2% acetic carmine, and Alexander’s stain. The young inflorescences of twenty accessions were collected and fixed in a solution of ethanol: acetic acid (3:1) for 24 hours, then stored in ethanol 70% under refrigeration. Six slides per plant, two for each stain, were prepared by squashing, and 300 pollen grains per slide were analyzed. Pollen viability was high (>70%) for most accessions of P. paniculata using the Alexander’s stain, which proved the most adequate method to estimate pollen viability.     

Antiproliferative and genotoxic effects of <i>Mikania glomerata</i> (Asteraceae)

Mikania glomerata is a plant used in Brazilian traditional medicine, known as ‘guaco’. It possesses anti-inflammatory properties and the aqueous extracts of its leaves are indicated for the treatment of diseases of the respiratory tract. This study aimed at evaluating the antiproliferative and genotoxic effect of Mikania glomerata leaf infusions on the cell cycle of onion. The material used was collected in the native environment from Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Aqueous extracts through infusions were prepared in two concentrations: 4g/L (usual concentration) and 16g/L (4x more concentrated) of each of the populations. Two groups of four onion bulbs for each plant population were used plus a control group. The rootlets were fixed in ethanol-acetic acid (3:1), conserved in ethanol 70% and slides were prepared using the squashing technique colored with orcein 2%. The cells were observed and analyzed during cell cycle. Per group of bulbs, 2000 cells were analyzed, and the mean values of the cell number of each of the phases of the cell cycle were calculated, determining the mitotic index (MI). Statistic analyses of the data were carried out by the x2 (p= 0.05) test. We conclude that M. glomerata presents both antiproliferative and genotoxic activity.     

RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN MUSCLE TISSUE CHARACTERISTICS AND SENSORY QUALITIES OF DRY-CURED HAM

Forty dry-cured hams were identified at the end of 9 months processing. The Biceps femoris was analyzed for dry matter, pH, protein, lipids, acid value, hydroxyproline, Cl^-, pigment, glycogen, lactic acid and protein fractions, and average diameter and metabolic type of fibers. Sensory analysis involved color scoring on a whole slice of ham; assessment (by sniffing) of the acceptability on the semimembranosus of all 40 hams; and evaluation of odor, texture, taste and aroma on the biceps femoris of 26 hams. Among the traits under study, dry matter, glycogen, lactic acid, Cl^- and pH appeared as the most important determinants of sensory qualities of dry-cured ham. High levels of glycogen, lactic acid and Cl^- and low pH were associated with dry texture and high intensity of dry ham and cured meat aroma. The other components studied revealed scarce and generally low correlations with sensory traits.     

EVALUATION OF PROCESSING, PRESERVATION AND CHEMICAL AND FATTY ACID COMPOSITION OF NILE TILAPIA WASTE

In this experiment, the heads of Nile tilapia were used as a raw material to produce flour through cooking, grinding, drying and sieving processes. The flour obtained was stored for 90 days in a refrigerator and shelf time was monitored by chemical methods (acid number [AN] and thiobarbituric acid [TBA] test), fatty acid composition and microbiological methods. The proximate composition was: moisture (6.01%), ash (19.38%), proteins (38.41%) and total lipids (35.46%). Thirty-six fatty acids were found in the lipidic fraction. The predominant ones were 16:0, 18:1n-9 and 18:2n-6. The fatty acids of the series n-3, 18:3n-3 (alpha-linolenic acid), 18:2n-6 (linolenic acid), 20:5n-3 (eicosapentaenoic acid) and 22:6n-3 (docosahexaenoic acid) were found in smaller proportion. No changes were detected in the flour stored for 90 days as to polyunsaturated fatty acids and microbiological analysis. The AN remained constant up to 60 days of storage and TBA values increased throughout the 90-day storage.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Waste Nile tilapia heads are not commonly used in human feeding and, therefore, are discarded. In this experiment, Nile tilapia heads were used as a raw material to produce tilapia flour; it was stored in a refrigerator and the shelf time was monitored for 3 months by chemical and microbiological methods. The flour is a caloric food, has high lipid content with omega-3 fatty acids, minerals, proteins and can be used as human feeding.