RESUMO

Aleurites moluccanus (candlenut) and Bertholletia excelsa (Brazil nut) are marketed as dietary supplements for weight loss. These dietary supplements have been found to sometimes be adulterated with toxic nuts/seeds from Cascabela thevetia, commonly known as yellow oleander or lucky nut. This study emphasizes the key identification parameters to differentiate the genuine and adulterated nuts. Samples were obtained from authenticated sources of the nuts and from commercial sources of dietary supplements. This study examined 38 samples, including voucher and commercial samples. All eight commercial candlenut dietary supplement samples were adulterated. Additionally, two samples sold as Brazil nuts were also found to be adulterated. Other nuts were screened for the presence of Cardiac Glycosides, but none were found to be positive. The presence of yellow oleander was confirmed in all commercial dietary supplement samples marketed as candlenut as well as in commercial samples of Brazil nut. This study provides simple key identification characters using micro-morphology and histochemical localization of cardiac glycosides in the commercial nuts, HPTLC fingerprints, and LC-DAD-Q-ToF analytical parameters to detect and identify adulteration in commercial products.

Assuntos

Bertholletia , Suplementos Nutricionais , Suplementos Nutricionais/análise , Bertholletia/química , Contaminação de Alimentos/análise , Cromatografia em Camada Fina , Nozes/química , Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Pressão , Redução de Peso , Microscopia

RESUMO

ABSTRACT Fadogia agrestis Schweinf. ex Hiern (Vangueria agrestis (Schweinf. ex Hiern) Lantz), Rubiaceae, is an African traditional medicinal plant also used as a dietary supplement in the US. The present paper is the first report of the pharmacognostic study of the leaf, stem and root of F. agrestis by microscopy, HPTLC and total phenolic/flavonoid content analyses. Noteworthy microscopic features that can help in identification and quality control are septate and lignified non-glandular trichomes on leaf and stem epidermises, paracytic stomata on leaf abaxial epidermis, numerous cells containing yellow substances of presumably phenolic compounds in leaf and stem, calcium oxalate druses and prismatic crystals in leaf and styloids in stem, primary phloem fibers in stem, brachysclereids in stem and root, spherical starch grains in root, and vessels with vestured pits and simple perforated end walls. In addition to microscopy, a total phenolic/flavonoid content determination and an HPTLC method were also developed for rapid chemical fingerprint analyses of Fadogia samples and dietary supplements.

RESUMO

This paper provides a comparative account of the essential oil chemical composition and biological activities of five Brazilian species of Baccharis (Asteraceae), namely B. microdonta, B. pauciflosculosa, B. punctulata, B. reticularioides, and B. sphenophylla. The chemical compositions of three species (B. pauciflosculosa, B. reticularioides, and B. sphenophylla) are reported for the first time. Analyses by GC/MS showed notable differences in the essential oil compositions of the five species. α-Pinene was observed in the highest concentration (24.50%) in B. reticularioides. Other major compounds included α-bisabolol (23.63%) in B. punctulata, spathulenol (24.74%) and kongol (22.22%) in B. microdonta, ß-pinene (18.33%) and limonene (18.77%) in B. pauciflosculosa, and ß-pinene (15.24%), limonene (14.33%), and spathulenol (13.15%) in B. sphenophylla. In vitro analyses for antimalarial, antitrypanosomal, and insecticidal activities were conducted for all of the species. B. microdonta and B. reticularioides showed good antitrypanosomal activities; B. sphenophylla showed insecticidal activities in fumigation bioassay against bed bugs; and B. pauciflosculosa, B. reticularioides, and B. sphenophylla exhibited moderate antimalarial activities. B. microdonta and B. punctulata showed cytotoxicity. The leaves and stems of all five species showed glandular trichomes and ducts as secretory structures. DNA barcoding successfully determined the main DNA sequences of the investigated species and enabled authenticating them.

Assuntos

Antimaláricos/química , Baccharis/classificação , Inseticidas/química , Óleos Voláteis/química , Tripanossomicidas/química , Animais , Antimaláricos/farmacologia , Baccharis/química , Baccharis/genética , Percevejos-de-Cama/efeitos dos fármacos , Monoterpenos Bicíclicos , Compostos Bicíclicos com Pontes/química , Compostos Bicíclicos com Pontes/farmacologia , Código de Barras de DNA Taxonômico , Cromatografia Gasosa-Espectrometria de Massas , Inseticidas/farmacologia , Limoneno/química , Limoneno/farmacologia , Sesquiterpenos Monocíclicos , Monoterpenos/química , Monoterpenos/farmacologia , Óleos Voláteis/farmacologia , Folhas de Planta/química , Óleos de Plantas/química , Óleos de Plantas/farmacologia , Caules de Planta/química , Sesquiterpenos/química , Sesquiterpenos/farmacologia , Tripanossomicidas/farmacologia

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Chronic schistosomiasis and its severe complication, periportal fibrosis, are characterized by a predominant Th2 response. To date, specific single nucleotide polymorphisms in ST2 have been some of the most consistently associated genetic variants for asthma. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the role of ST2 (a receptor for the Th2 cytokine IL-33) in chronic and late-stage schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma japonicum and the potential effect of ST2 genetic variants on stage of disease and ST2 expression. METHODS: We recruited 947 adult participants (339 with end-stage schistosomiasis and liver cirrhosis, 307 with chronic infections without liver fibrosis, and 301 health controls) from a S japonicum-endemic area (Hubei, China). Six ST2 single nucleotide polymorphisms were genotyped. Serum soluble ST2 (sST2) was measured by ELISA, and ST2 expression in normal liver tissues, Hepatitis B virus-induced fibrotic liver tissues, and S japonicum-induced fibrotic liver tissues was measured by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: We found sST2 levels were significantly higher in the end-stage group (36.04 [95% CI, 33.85-38.37]) compared with chronic cases and controls (22.7 [95% CI, 22.0-23.4], P < 1E-10). In addition, S japonicum-induced fibrotic liver tissues showed increased ST2 staining compared with normal liver tissues (P = .0001). Markers rs12712135, rs1420101, and rs6543119 were strongly associated with sST2 levels (P = 2E-10, 5E-05, and 6E-05, respectively), and these results were replicated in an independent cohort from Brazil living in a S mansoni endemic region. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate for the first time that end-stage schistosomiasis is associated with elevated sST2 levels and show that ST2 genetic variants are associated with sST2 levels in patients with schistosomiasis.

Assuntos

Doenças Endêmicas , Proteína 1 Semelhante a Receptor de Interleucina-1/genética , Cirrose Hepática/genética , Fígado/patologia , Schistosoma japonicum/imunologia , Schistosoma mansoni/imunologia , Esquistossomose/genética , Adulto , Animais , Brasil/epidemiologia , China/epidemiologia , Doença Crônica , Estudos de Coortes , Progressão da Doença , Feminino , Fibrose , Genótipo , Humanos , Proteína 1 Semelhante a Receptor de Interleucina-1/sangue , Interleucina-33/metabolismo , Fígado/parasitologia , Cirrose Hepática/complicações , Cirrose Hepática/epidemiologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Polimorfismo de Nucleotídeo Único , Esquistossomose/complicações , Esquistossomose/epidemiologia

RESUMO

The plant maca, grown at 4000 m altitude in the Peruvian Central Andes, contains hypocotyls that have been used as food and in traditional medicine for centuries. The aim of this research was to provide results on some health effects of oral administration of spray-dried extracts of black or red maca (Lepidium meyenii) in adult human subjects living at low (LA) and high altitude (HA). A total of 175 participants were given 3 g of either placebo, black, or red maca extract daily for 12 weeks. Primary outcomes were changes in sexual desire, mood, energy, health-related quality of life score (HRQL), and chronic mountain sickness (CMS) score, or in glycaemia, blood pressure, and hemoglobin levels. Secondary outcomes were acceptability and safety, assessed using the Likert test and side effect self-recording, respectively, and the effect of altitude. At low altitude, 32, 30, and 32 participants started the study receiving placebo, red maca, or black maca, respectively. At high altitudes, 33, 35, and 31 participants started the study receiving placebo, red maca, and black maca, respectively. Consumption of spray-dried extracts of red and black maca resulted in improvement in mood, energy, and health status, and reduced CMS score. Fatty acids and macamides were higher in spray-dried extracts of black maca than in red maca. GABA predominated in spray-dried extracts of red maca. Effects on mood, energy, and CMS score were better with red maca. Black maca and, in smaller proportions, red maca reduced hemoglobin levels only in highlanders with abnormally high hemoglobin levels; neither variety of maca reduced hemoglobin levels in lowlanders. Black maca reduced blood glucose levels. Both varieties produced similar responses in mood, and HRQL score. Maca extracts consumed at LA or HA had good acceptability and did not show serious adverse effects. In conclusion, maca extract consumption relative to the placebo improved quality of life parameters. Differences in the level of improvement between red and black maca are probably due to differences in the composition of these two plant varieties. Both maca extracts were well tolerated and safe.