ABSTRACT The genus Ceiba has species such as Ceiba pubiflora circumscribed in the Malvaceae family where it has annual flowering in the Cerrado domain of Brasil. Flowers of C. pubiflora were collected, and then the extract was produced. Phytochemical analyses, thin-layer chromatography, yield, pH, refractive index and density were performed. Bioactive compounds were determined by the reduction of DPPH free radicals and total phenols. The extract yield was 6,88 %, several classes of compounds present as alkaloids, flavonoids and saponins. The best eluents were acetone and ethyl acetate in thin layer chromatography, the antioxidant activity showed an inhibition concentration (IC50) of 217,4 mg L-1 and total phenolic content of 7,26 mg expressed as gallic acid (GAE 100 g-1).This study allowed, based on the unprecedented results of C. pubiflora, further studies to be carried out, due to the numerous results of great importance, which allow investigating in greater detail the pharmacological, chemical and bioactive characteristics.

RESUMEN El género Ceiba tiene especies como Ceiba pubiflora circunscrita en la familia Malvaceae, que florece anualmente en el dominio Cerrado de Brasil. Se recolectaron flores de C. pubiflora, luego se produjo el extracto. Se realizaron análisis fitoquímicos, cromatografía en capa fina, rendimiento, pH, índice de refracción y densidad. Los compuestos bioactivos se determinaron mediante la reducción de radicales libres DPPH y fenoles totales. El rendimiento del extracto fue de 6,88 %; hubo presencia de varias clases de compuestos como alcaloides, flavonoides y saponinas. Los mejores eluyentes fueron acetona y acetato de etilo en cromatografía en capa fina; la actividad antioxidante mostró una concentración de inhibición (CI50) de 217,4 mg L-1 y contenido fenólico total de 7,26 mg expresado en ácido gálico (EAG 100 g-1). Este estudio permitió, en base a los resultados sin precedentes de Ceiba pubiflora, que se realicen más estudios, debido a los numerosos resultados de gran importancia, que permiten investigar con mayor detalle las características farmacológicas, químicas y bioactivas.

Abstract This study aimed to develop biodegradable films from pectin extracted from pequi mesocarp and commercial pectin. The films were produced using the casting technique and characterized in terms of their physical, water-related, mechanical, thermal, optical, and microstructural properties. The highest yield of pectin extracted from pequi (26.6%) was obtained using 4% citric acid, a temperature of 80 °C, and an extraction time of 160 min. Commercial-pectin films had a smoother and more regular surface than pequi-pectin films. Pequi-pectin films had higher moisture content (36.25%) and water solubility (76.99%) than commercial pectin films. Pequi-pectin films also showed lower luminosity (55.67*) and higher values of a* (11.56), b*(27.35), opacity (10.67), and Young modulus (82.16 Mpa) than commercial-pectin films. The films exhibited similar thermal behavior, highlighting the presence of exothermic and endothermic peaks for both samples. In the biodegradability tests, both films proved to be 100% biodegradable in four days. The pectin extracted from the pequi mesocarp showed potential for the production of biodegradable films, and this discovery opens up new possibilities for using this byproduct as a raw material for the production of sustainable food packaging.

ABSTRACT Besides their value as therapeutic resources, medicinal plants may also be used as sources of active ingredients against phytopathogens. Fungi can grow and cause spoilage in food, thus, resusting in decrease in its quality and quantity. This research aimed at evaluating the effect of essential oil from Murraya paniculata (ML-EO) leaves on mycelial growth of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, a fungus that poses high risk to several cultures, mainly soybean. Essential oil from M. paniculata (Rutaceae) leaves was obtained by hydrodistillation which was carried out by a Clevenger-type apparatus while its chemical composition was analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. β-Caryophyllene (23.8%), α-zingiberene (21.0%) and β-cubebene (10.2%) were the main constituents found in ML-EO leaves. In vitro antifungal activity showed that ML-EO, at a 300 µL dose, inhibited 91.2% of mycelial growth of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum . This is the first report of the antifungal activity of ML-EO against S. sclerotiorum and results suggest that the essential oil under evaluation has good potential to control this phytopathogenic fungus.

Abstract: The Cerrado is one of the world's biodiversity hotspots and Brazil’s second largest biome. Many native species of the Brazilian Cerrado provide fruits that have unique sensory characteristics and high nutritional value. This study aimed at characterizing the pulp of Eugenia klotzschiana O. Berg, concerning its proximal composition, bioactive compound content and antioxidant activity. The pulp under study had high moisture (89.47 g kg-1) and caloric (96.07 kcal kg-1) values whereas its contents of protein (0.59 g kg-1) and lipids (2.35 g kg-1) were low. The cerrado pear pulp also had high iron content (16.5 mg kg -1) and dietary fiber (6.45 g kg-1), besides 0.034-0,055 mg kg-1 carotenoids, 8.66 mg kg-1 ascorbic acid and 0.66 mg kg-1 total chlorophyll. Total phenolic compounds (333.41-566.33 mg EAG kg-1) and flavonoids (225-50 mg EQ kg-1) were found by extraction methods named Method 1 (water) and Method 2 (acetone+methanol), respectively. Thus, the cerrado pear can be an alternative to improving nutrient intake and to providing sustainable use of the native flora in the Cerrado.