ABSTRACT The present work was designed to obtain a fraction containing high concentration of isoflavone-aglycones from Glycine max (L.) Merr., Fabaceae, named isoflavone enriched-fraction, from a dry extract containing isoflavones-glycosides. A simple and low cost method was proposed: extraction of isoflavone glycosides from the G. max dry extract with a proper solvent, hydrolysis of the glycosides, recovery of the aglycones, and purification of the fraction containing high isoflavone-aglycones concentration. All the extraction and purification parameters were optimized based on the isoflavones yields, which were analyzed by liquid chromatography and expressed as total isoflavone aglycones. The optimization of the process conditions was accomplished using the classical one-variable-at-a-time method. The identity and purity of the isoflavones contained in this enriched fraction were determined by LC/UV/ESI/MS analysis, Fourier transformed-infrared spectroscopy, and 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The physicochemical properties of the isoflavone enriched-fraction were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. The moisture content, particle size, equilibrium solubility and thermal and photostability were also determined. The high isoflavone-aglycone content (daidzein, 489.35 mg/g; glycitein, 251.02 mg/g and genistein, 158.96 mg/g) as well as the high purity obtained (90% of total isoflavones) make this fraction a promising novel raw material for the production of isoflavone-aglycones based pharmaceuticals or functional foods.

Achyrocline satureioides (Lam.) DC., Asteraceae, é uma planta amplamente utilizada na medicina popular no sul do Brasil, Uruguai, Argentina e Paraguai. As características tecnológicas do extrato seco por aspersão de Achyrocline satureioides, produzido em escala semi-industrial, assim como a viabilidade da produção de granulados são relatadas no presente trabalho. O extrato seco por aspersão foi caracterizado como um pó fino, composto por pequenas partículas esféricas com superfície rugosa e porosa. O fator de Hausner, índice de Carr e o índice de densificação das partículas foram, respectivamente, 1,23, 18,9% e 27,2 mL, caracterizando-o como um pó com fluxo pobre e de baixa densidade. A preparação dos granulados a partir deste extrato seco por aspersão, através do método de desagregação por via seca, originou grânulos com forma irregular, superfície rugosa, mas com melhor fluxo e melhores características de compactabilidade. Estes grânulos apresentaram fator de Hausner, índice de Carr e índice de densificação de 1,09, 8,16% e 12,33 mL, respectivamente. A análise por de CLAE dos polifenóis principais quercetina, luteolina e 3-O-metilquercetina revelou que o processo de granulação não altera o perfil quantitativo e qualitativo dos constituintes inicialmente presentes no extrato seco. A avaliação da estabilidade física do extrato seco por aspersão e do granulado, em condições de unidade relativa de 65 e 99%, mostrou uma expressiva redução na absorção de umidade dos grânulos quando comparados com o extrato seco.

Achyrocline satureioides (Lam.) DC., Asteraceae, is a herbal specie widely used in folk medicine in the south of Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay. The technological characteristics of an Achyrocline satureioides spray dried extract powder, produced in semi-industrial scale, as well as the feasibility of the granules are reported in the present work. The spray dried powder was characterized as a fine powder consisting of small spherical particles with rough and porous surface. The Hausner's factor, Carr's index, and densification index of the spray dried powder were, respectively, 1,23, 18,9%, and 27,2 mL, characterizing it as a poor flow and low density powder. The preparation of granules from this spray dried powder, through dry disaggregation method, yielded irregularly shaped granules, with a rough surface, but with better flow and compactability characteristics. These granules presented a Hausner's factor, a Carr's index, and a densification index of, respectively, 1,09, 8,16%, and 12,33 mL. The LC assay of the main polyphenols, quercetin, luteolin, and 3-O-methylquercetin revealed that the granulation process did not changed the quantitative and qualitative profile of these constituents originally present in the spray dried powder. The comparative evaluation of the physical stability of both the spray dried powder and the granules, under relative humidity conditions of 65% and 99%, showed an expressive reduction in the humidity sorption on the granules as compared to the spray dried powders.

Genistein:β-cyclodextrin complexes with high drug loading (19.22%) were prepared by freeze-drying and characterized by differential scanning calorimetry and hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The spatial configuration of the complex was proposed by means of 2D-NOESY experiment combined with molecular modeling. According to the results obtained, the interaction of genistein with β -cyclodextrin in a 1:1 complex is supposed to occur mainly through the insertion of the guest A-ring in cyclodextrin cavity, without rule out the possibility of inclusion through the B-ring, as previously reported in the literature.

Ilex paraguariensis A. St. -Hil. is a native species of southern South America. The caffeine content in Ilex paraguariensis leaves has been considered an important quality parameter for maté-derived products. In this work different extraction methods for the determination of these methylxantines are compared. The influence of the extraction conditions on the methylxanthine yields was evaluated. Extraction by decoction with acidic aqueous solution (H2SO4 4N) presented the higher efficiency in the theobromine extraction. The extraction in a Soxhlet with acidic aqueous solution and decoction with acidic aqueous solution showed the highest caffeine yield. For the concomitant theobromine and caffeine quantification, the decoction with acidic aqueous solution is suggested.

Ilex paraguariensis St. Hilaire é uma espécie sul-americana da qual ramos e folhas são utilizados para o preparo de uma bebida de grande consumo em alguns países da América do Sul. A planta é conhecida como "erva-mate" em português ou "yerba-mate" em espanhol. Tendo em vista o potencial uso das saponinas como tensoativo bem como o seu potencial terapêutico, o presente trabalho propõe um método de extração e quantificação para as saponinas presentes em Ilex paraguariensis. As saponinas foram extraídas por decocção, hidrolisadas e quantificadas por CLAE e detecção em UV. A concentração de saponinas foi expressa em ácido ursólico (saponinas totais). O método cromatográfico mostrou linearidade na concentração de 13,5 a 135 µg mL-1. O extrato aquoso apresentou uma concentração de saponinas totais de 352 µg mL-1. Os resultados sugerem a possibilidade de adaptação do método para doseamento de saponinas com núcleo triterpênico em extratos de outras plantas.

Ilex paraguariensis St. Hilaire is a South American tree from which leaves and twigs are used to prepare a commonly consumed tea in several South American countries. The plant is known as "erva-mate" in Portuguese or "yerba mate" in Spanish. Considering the potential use of the saponins as surfactant as well as its therapeutic potential, the present work was designed to propose extraction and quantitation methods for the saponins present in Ilex paraguariensis. The saponins were extracted by decoction, hydrolyzed and quantified by a HPLC method with UV detection. The saponins concentration was expressed in ursolic acid (total saponins). The method showed linearity for ursolic acid in the range of 13.5 to 135 µg mL-1. The aqueous extract presented total saponins concentration of 352 µg mL-1. The results also suggest the possibility of use of similar method for assaying triterpenoid saponins in other plants.