Isolates from the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex, mainly F. sacchari, have been reported to be the causal agents of pokkah boeng in sugarcane in Brazil. However, inadequate information was ...available on the occurrence and genetic diversity of F. sacchari in Northeast Brazil, which is a limiting factor on management. Thus, isolates of F. subglutinans sensu lato from sugarcane plants with symptoms of pokkah boeng were evaluated using the sexual cross‐fertility to determine species. All the isolates produced black perithecia when they were crossed with the test isolates of F. sacchari. Three weeks after the crossing, the formation of fertile ascospores cirri was observed. Thirty‐four isolates were self‐sterile hermaphrodites, while 21 were fertile only as males. Five isolates were homothallic. The effective size Ne(f) of the population as a function of the frequency of hermaphrodites and female sterile strains was 95.5%. The F. sacchari isolates were separated into four genetic groups independent of geographic location. The mean of polymorphism among all populations was 79%, and the average unbiased genetic diversity (uh) was considered moderate (0.31). This study in addition to confirming that F. sacchari as the main species associated with pokkah boeng in sugarcane in Northeast Brazil, reveals the relationship of mating type and genetic diversity of F. sacchari. The unrestricted gene flow between regions is probably the best explanation for the low geographic correlation. This knowledge will help in the adoption of management measures with fungicides or resistant cultivars.
Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (
) C677T polymorphism associated with body fat accumulation could possibly trigger an inflammatory process by elevating homocysteine levels and increasing ...cytokine production, causing several diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of food intervention, and not folate supplements, on the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in overweight and obese women with the
C677T polymorphism. A randomized, double-blind eight-week clinical trial of 48 overweight and obese women was conducted. Participants were randomly assigned into two groups. They received 300 g of vegetables daily for eight weeks containing different doses of folate: 95 µg/day for Group 1 and 191 µg/day for Group 2.
C677T polymorphism genotyping was assessed by digestion with HinfI enzyme and on 12% polyacrylamide gels. Anthropometric measurements, 24-h dietary recall, and biochemical analysis (blood folic acid, vitamin B12, homocysteine (Hcy), TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) were determined at the beginning and end of the study. Group 2 had a significant increase in folate intake (
< 0.001) and plasma folic acid (
< 0.05) for individuals with the cytosine-cytosine (CC), cytosine-thymine (CT), and thymine-thymine (TT) genotypes. However, only individuals with the TT genotype presented reduced levels of Hcy, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β (
< 0.001). Group 1 showed significant differences in folate consumption (
< 0.001) and folic acid levels (
< 0.05) for individuals with the CT and TT genotypes. Food intervention with folate from vegetables increased folic acid levels and reduced interleukins, TNF-α, and Hcy levels, mainly for individuals with the TT genotype.
We characterized the partially defatted baru flour (PDBF), a byproduct of the extraction of baru oil, and evaluated its use to produce cookies. Analyzes of composition, total phenolics (TP), total ...flavonoids (TF), condensed tannins (CT) and antioxidant activity (AA) were performed. Cookies were prepared with 5 levels of replacement of wheat flour (WF) by PDBF, and compared for antioxidants, texture and acceptance. PDBF presented more proteins (29.46 g/100 g), lipids (11.84 g/100 g), fibers (38.80 g/100 g), but fewer carbohydrates (11.57 g/100 g) than WF. PDBF can be labeled as rich in iron, zinc and cooper. TP (121.34 mg/100 g) were intermediate to levels found in baru almonds and other nuts. TF (85.41 mg/100 g) was higher than in nuts. CT (64.39 mg/100 g) were close to values known for wines and walnuts but lower than in other nuts. AA was comparable to many tropical fruits. Hardness and fracturability of cookies increased starting from 75 g/100 g PDBF. Acceptance of cookies with 25 g/100 g PDBF was comparable to WF cookies, for some attributes and one group of consumers. Besides the impact on acceptance, the replacement of WF for PDBF influenced positively on nutritional and antioxidant characteristics of cookies.
•Baru flour showed high fibers, lipids, iron, cooper, zinc and low carbohydrates.•Baru flour presented antioxidants' contents comparable to those of known sources.•Hardness and fracturability increased in cookies from 75 g/100 g of baru flour.•Replacement of 25 g/100 g of baru flour led to acceptance close to control cookie.
The present study aims to evaluate some aspects of the pharmacoelectrochemistry of biflorin, a biologically active 1,2-naphthoquinone derivative, isolated from the roots of Capraria biflora. ...Electrochemical experiments involving biflorin using single, double-strand DNA and isolated bases had shown interaction of this quinone with DNA. Similar results were obtained using spectrophotometry (UV–Vis experiments and fluorimetry). Binding constants DNA–biflorin were obtained, through differential pulse voltammetry and fluorimetry. Spectroscopic studies and thermodynamic data had shown that biflorin can intercalate through dsDNA by van der Waals interactions and hydrogen bonds. The effects of biflorin–dsDNA interaction were addressed through a molecular cytogenetic approach, using comet assay and chromosome aberration induction evaluation. Indeed, biflorin, compared to the negative control, presented approximately 4- and 6-fold increases in DNA damage index and 4.1 and 13-fold enhanced damage frequencies at 40 and 80μM, respectively. However, biflorin did not significantly induce chromosome aberrations, suggesting that this molecule does not possess clastogenic potential, but cytotoxic potential. The absence of either clastogenic or aneuploidogenic activity of the compound reinforced its safety.
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•The interaction of drugs with DNA is important in drug discovery and pharmaceutical development processes.•Biflorin is a very promising anticancer prototype.•Biflorin can intercalate through dsDNA by van der Waals interactions and hydrogen bonds.•Biflorin presents cytotoxic potential.•The absence of either clastogenic or aneuploidogenic activity reinforced the safety of biflorin.
Introdução: Fotobiomodulação corresponde à exposição de tecidos biológicos a baixos níveis de luz vermelha e infravermelha, esta terapia favorece a reabilitação de diferentes tecidos e que pode ser ...utilizada para a melhora da prática clínica nas diferentes atuações da fisioterapia, como por exemplo, no tratamento dos acometimentos musculoesqueléticos e inflamatórios. Objetivo: Identificar os benefícios da fotobiomodulação empregados na reabilitação de pacientes nas diferentes patologias traumato-ortopédicas. Metodologia: Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa com busca online nas plataformas de dados: Medline e PubMed. Os descritores foram: fotobiomodulação, taumato-ortopedia e reabilitação. As línguas selecionadas foram: Português, Inglês e Espanhol, entre os anos de 2018 a 2022. Resultados: A descrição dos achados nos ensaios clínicos analisados mostra que a terapia de fotobiomodulação apresenta diferentes usos na prática clínica e que seu uso produz efeito analgésico, anti-inflamatório e regenerativo nos distúrbios musculoesqueléticos. Conclusões: De acordo com a revisão dos artgos, pôde-se perceber que a terapia por fotobiomodulação confirma seus benefícios e eficácia, portando, se fazendo positiva na atuação traumato-ortopédica, gerando resultados significativos quando comparada a outros recursos. Palavras-Chave: Fotobiomodulação. Traumato-ortopedia. Reabilitação.
Background
The single or combined use of herbal and dietary products with medications has shown benefits in the metabolic modulation of carbohydrates, in the restoring of the function of pancreatic ...beta cells, and in insulin resistance. To analyze the effect of the use of flour made from the rind of the yellow passion fruit on the glycemic control of people with diabetes mellitus type 2.
Methods
An open, prospective, randomized clinical trial was undertaken with 54 participants over an eight-week period. The participants from the case group were advised to ingest 12 g of the flour, three times daily; before breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Results
After eight weeks of use of the flour made from the rind of the yellow passion fruit, we did not identify significant statistical differences in the values for capillary blood glucose (
p
= 0.562), fasting blood glucose (
p
= 0.268) or glycated hemoglobin (
p
= 0.229) between the study groups. In the case group, we identified an increase (29.6%–37%) of the people with normal HbA1
c
; however, this did not have statistical relevance (
p
= 0.274).
Discussion
Based in our findings, we believe it is important to extend the time of exposure to the intervention and increase the rigor in the monitoring of adherence in future studies on this topic. Only in this way will we be able to make confident inferences in relation to the use of flour made from the rind of theyellow passion fruit as a therapeutic tool for glycemic and/or metabolic control in persons with DM 2.
Conclusions
In the sample in question, the use of the flour made from the rind of the yellow passion fruit, over an eight-week period, did not improve the glycemic control of people with type 2 diabetes. Trial registration: U1111.1187.3616. Registered 6 September, retrospectively registered, in the Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry.
Part of our research program concentrates on the discovery of new bioactive compounds prepared either by total synthesis or molecular transformation of compounds with bioactivity profiles. In this ...work we have focused our interest on chemical transformations of the Diels-Alder adduct tricyclo6.2.1.0(2,7)undeca-4,9-dien-3,6-dione in order to obtain cage-like compounds and derivatives, followed by an evaluation of their biological activity.
The cytotoxicity of nine naphthoquinones (NQ) was assayed against HL-60 (leukaemia), MDA-MB-435 (melanoma), SF-295 (brain) and HCT-8 (colon), all human cancer cell lines, and peripheral blood ...mononuclear cells (PBMC), as representatives of normal cells, after 72
h of incubation. 5-Methoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone was the most active compound, showing IC
50 values in the range of 0.31 (1.7
μM) in HL-60 to 0.88
μg/mL (4.7
μM) in SF-295 and IC
50 of 0.69
μg/mL (3.7
μM) against PBMC. With the introduction of a bromo-substituent in position 2 or 3 of juglone, the IC
50 significantly decreased, regardless of the position on the NQ moiety. However, compared with juglone methyl ether, the halogen substitution decreased the activity. To further understand the mechanism underlying the cytotoxicity of 5-methoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone, studies involving DNA fragmentation, cell cycle analysis, phosphatidyl serine externalization, mitochondrial depolarization and activation of caspases 8 and 3/7 were performed in HL-60 cell line, using doxorubicin as a positive control. The results indicate that the cytotoxic 5-methoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone activates caspases 8 and 3/7 and thus induces apoptosis independent of mitochondria.