Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil.) extract (YME) on oxidative stress parameters and pathological changes in the lungs of mice chronically exposed to hand-rolled cornhusk cigarette (HRC) smoke. Twenty-four male Swiss mice were divided into four groups exposed to the following treatments: control (ambient air), HRC, YME, and HRC plus YME. The animals were exposed to four HRCs per session, with 3 sessions/day, every day for 30 days. Twenty-four hours after the last inhalation, the mice were killed, and the left lungs were removed. The results showed that HRC contains elevated levels of tin and carbon oxide, but less arsenic, cobalt, manganese, and selenium than commercial cigarettes. YME administration reversed fibrosis, alveolar enlargement, and hemorrhage induced by HRC smoke. In addition, the YME and HRC significantly reduced the production of oxidants, oxidative damage and promoted a significant increase in total thiol. In conclusion, exposure to HRC smoke compromised pulmonary histoarchitecture by promoting structural changes and increasing oxidative stress in tissues. However, concomitant treatment with YME regulated the redox state and reduced the harmful effects of HRC smoke exposure in the lungs.

A cafeína é uma substância derivada de bases purínicas que confere muitos benefícios à saúde e tem sido amplamente estudada em áreas relacionadas à saúde e ao desempenho humano. Neste sentido, esse estudo visou estimular a oxidação das folhas de Ilex paraguariensis, para obtenção de um produto semelhante ao chá-preto, produzido a partir de Camellia sinensis e, monitorar o teor de cafeína por HPLC. No delineamento experimental cruzaram-se três variáveis relacionadas à câmara: temperatura, umidade e luz, e duas associadas às folhas: umidade e idade. Os resultados indicam que o teor de cafeína decresce com o aumento da idade da folha, tornando nítido que folhas de 6,5 meses apresentam valores intermediários de cafeína, em relação às de 12 meses.

Caffeine is a substance derivate of purine basis that has many benefits, has been widely studied in areas related to health and human performance. In this sense, this work aims to simulate the oxidation of leaves of yerba mate, a process used to obtain the black tea from the Camellia sinensis leaves and monitor these to their caffeine content for HPLC. A factorial design of experiments was performed for five variables: temperature, humidity and light camera, moisture and age leaf. The results indicate that caffeine tend to decrease their content (%) with increasing leaf age. Making clear that 6,5 months is the intermediate age of the leaf whose values of caffeine are also intermediate.

La cafeína es una sustancia derivada de bases púricas que confiere muchos beneficios a la salud y ha sido ampliamente estudiada en las áreas relacionadas a la salud y al rendimiento humano. En este sentido, este estudio estuvo dirigido a estimular la oxidación de las hojas de Ilex paraguariensis, para obtener un producto similar al té negro, producido a partir de Camellia sinensis y controlar el contenido de cafeína por HPLC. En el experimento se cruzaron tres variables relacionadas a la cámara: temperatura, humedad y luz, y dos asociadas con las hojas: edad y humedad. Los resultados indican que el contenido de cafeína se reduce con el aumento de la edad de la hoja, dejando claro que hojas de 6,5 meses exhiben valores intermedios de cafeína, en relación a las de 12 meses.