Resumo O presente estudo tem como objetivo descrever uma nova espécie de Sphaerospora encontrado na bexiga urinária de Mesonauta festivus, coletado no distrito Corre Água, no município de Macapá, estado do Amapá (Brasil). Foram realizadas análises morfométricas e filogenéticas, nas quais se avaliou a relação entre as espécies de mixosporídeos já descritas. A nova espécie possui plasmódio poliespórico, que varia em tamanho e forma. Os esporos maduros são subesféricos. Na visão sutural, apresentam 5,3 ± 0,2 (5,2-5,6) μm de comprimento e 7,0 ± 0,7 (6,3-7,7) μm de largura, com duas cápsulas polares piriformes de tamanhos iguais, 2,5 ± 0,2 (2,3-2,8) μm de comprimento e 1,8 ± 0,2 (1,6-2,0) μm de largura. As análises filogenéticas das sequências parciais do gene 18S rDNA confirmam ser uma nova espécie e determinou a relação desta com outros myxozoários já relatados. Conclui-se que a espécie em estudo pertence à família Sphaerosporidae, gênero Sphaerospora, e nova espécie, Sphaerospora festivus n. sp. e primeira ocorrência de parasitos desse gênero no Brasil.

Abstract The present study describes a new species of the genus Sphaerospora found in the urinary bladder of the flag cichlid, Mesonauta festivus collected in Corre Água district of the municipality of Macapá, Amapá State (Brazil). The study includes morphological and phylogenetic analyses of the new parasite, to determine the relationship of the new species with related myxosporean species. The new species has polysporous plasmodia, which vary in size and shape. The mature myxospores are subspherical shape in valvar view. In the sutural view, the myxospores are 5.3±0.2 (5.2-5.6) μm in length and 7.0±0.7 (6.3-7.7) μm in width, with two piriform polar capsules equal size, 2.5±0.2 (2.3-2.8) μm in length and 1.8±0.2 (1.6-2.0) μm in width. The phylogenetic analyses of a partial sequence of the 18S rRNA gene confirmed the status of the new species and determined the relationship of the new species and related myxosporean species.The sum of the evidence indicates that, Sphaerospora festivus n. sp. belongs to the family Sphaerosporidae, and is the first record of the genus Sphaerospora from Brazil.

Abstract The main constituents of the Euterpe oleracea Mart., Arecaceae, fruits (açaí) are anthocyanins. This paper aimed to standardize the extraction process and characterize an anthocyanin-rich dry extract obtained from this fruit. A 23 full factorial design was used. The volumes of ethanol 92% and acetic acid and the extraction time were used as factors. Total solids and anthocyanins content were used as feedback. The dry extract was obtained by freeze-drying. The content of anthocyanins was determined spectrophotometrically. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Differential Scanning Calorimeter, Thermogravimetry, Scanning Electron Microscopy, and Atomic Absorption Spectrometry were used for characterizingthe dry extract. The DPPH method was used for evaluating radical scavenging activity. The extraction conditions were established. The most influent factor was the volume of acetic acid. The dry extract moisture content was equal to 1.39 ± 0.25%, the evaporation residue 97.25 ± 1.28%, total ashes 0.62 ± 0.12%, and the anthocyanin content was 61.75 ± 3.28%. The elemental composition shows the presence of manganese 4.85 ppm, iron 1.62 ppm, zinc 0.05, copper 1.38 ppm, calcium 1.01 ppm, cadmium 0.003 ppm, nickel 0.37 ppm, and lead 0.38 ppm. The dried extract IC50 estimated by the radical scavenging assay with DPPH was 31.25 ± 2.31 ppm. The optimal extraction conditions were: the volume of ethanol 92%: 400 ml; volume of acetic acid: 75 ml; an extraction time: 4 h.

ABSTRACT Diabetes mellitus is a syndrome that reaches more than 382 million people worldwide. It interferes with the metabolism of carbohydrates, causing chronic hyperglycemia. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the Copaifera duckei, Dwyer, Fabaceae, oleoresin on streptozotocin-induced (STZ) diabetic rats. This study was based on the induction of diabetes mellitus by streptozotocin (55 mg/kg, i.p.) in Wistar rats and treated with doses of C. duckei oleoresin (250 and 500 mg/kg, p.o.). Subsequently, the clinical, biochemical and histopathological of the pancreas parameters were evaluated. Gas chromatographic analysis indicated that β-bisabolene (22.29%), β-caryophyllene (21.25%) and α-farnesene (15.58%) sesquiterpenes were the major components of the C. duckei oleoresin. In streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus, it was possible to observe that the C. duckei oleoresin treatment had a significant effect (p < 0.001) on the clinical parameters, and that there was a positive improvement. This was attenuated by the urea, creatinine, and transaminases alterations (p < 0.001) observed in animals with diabetes mellitus, as well as the significantly reduced (p < 0.001) values of total cholesterol, triacylglycerides, and glucose. In the histopathological analyses of the pancreas, it was observed that the C. duckei oleoresin was able to restore β-cells and to significantly increase the quantity and diameter of the Langerhans islets (p < 0.05), when compared to the diabetic group. The treatment with C. duckei oleoresin, employed under the conditions of this study, presented antidiabetic activity and can improve the complications found in this syndrome.

Abstract Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) is the main vector of some neglected diseases, including dengue. It is very important to develop formulations that increase effectiveness of vector control with low toxicity. Quercetin is a plant-derived flavonoid that modulates the development of some insects. The low water solubility of quercetin impairs the development of water-dispersible commercial products. To circumvent this problem, the preparation of nanoformulations is considered promising. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of bulk and quercetin nanosuspension against A. aegypti larvae and also to investigate their ecotoxicity. Quercetin nanosuspension was produced by a solvent displacement method followed by solvent evaporation and was maintained in two different temperatures (4 and 25 ºC). Its size distribution and zeta potential were monitored along 30 days. The influence of quercetin nanosuspension and bulk-quercetin was investigated at various concentrations against A. aegypti and the green algae Chlorella vulgaris. The quercetin nanosuspension presented higher stability at 4 ºC and negative zeta potential values. Quercetin nanosuspension and bulk-quercetin adversely affected the larvae development, especially at the highest concentrations. Larvae mortality was between 44% and 100% (48 h) for quercetin nanosuspension at 100 and 500 ppm, respectively. The bulk-quercetin induced around 50% mortality regardless the concentration used at this same time-period. Absence of emerging mosquitoes from water was observed on the survival larvae of all the treated groups. Quercetin nanosuspension was less toxic than bulk-quercetin against C. vulgaris, especially at higher concentrations. These data indicate that quercetin nanosuspension may represent a potential larvicide for A. aegypti control, once they induced larvae death and inhibited the survival ones to emerge from water. In addition, it did not demonstrated ecotoxicity against a non-target organism, highlighting its better properties, when compared to the bulk-quercetin.

ABSTRACT Diabetes mellitus is a chronic and severe metabolic dysfunction, it's slow and progressive evolution interferes directly in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins, causing hyperglycemia, glycosuria, polydipsia, hyperlipidaemia, among others. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antidiabetic effect of hydroethanolic extract and granulated of Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess., Clusiaceae, species in diabetic rats as well as it's biochemical parameters. The results demonstrated that both the pharmaceutical forms, hydroethanolic extract and granulated, were able to reduce significantly (p < 0.001) hyperglycemia and glycosuria, in addition to improve polydipsia, polyuria, and weight loss. Treatments using hydroethanolic extract and granulated were also able to reduce significantly levels of triacylglycerides, cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein, as well as the transaminases, urea and creatinine levels. Therefore, it is concluded that these pharmaceutical forms have anti-diabetic effect and act improving the biochemical parameters, this effect is probably due to the high content of polyphenolic compounds found in the formulations.

Extracts of the fruits of Caesalpinia ferrea Mart. (Leguminosae) are widely consumed in folkloric medicine in Brazil and several other countries without any genetic toxicity evaluation. In this study we investigated, the clastogenic and cytotoxic potential of the crude aqueous extract of the fruits of C. ferrea in Wistar rat bone marrow cells using the micronucleus and chromosomal aberration test systems. The animals were treated by gavage with 3 concentrations of the extract, 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg, and cyclophosphamide 30 mg/kg. Bone marrow cells were collected 24 h after the treatment. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCE), mean number of chromosomal aberrations or mitotic index (MI) for the 3 concentrations compared with negative control suggesting that the crude aqueous extract from the fruits of the C. ferrea has no clastogenic and cytotoxic effect in Wistar rat bone marrow cells.

We characterized the chemical constituents of Copaifera duckei oleoresin and used dermal application to Wistar rats to evaluated its possible mutagenic and cytotoxic activities on peripheral blood reticulocytes and bone marrow cells. Chemical characterization of the oleoresin revealed the presence of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, an unidentified neutral diterpene and diterpene acids. To evaluate mutagenicity evaluation the rats were treated with 10, 25 and 50% of the LD50 dose of the oleoresin for three consecutive days and peripheral blood collected after 0, 24, 48 and 72 h for micronucleus analysis. The rats were humanly sacrificed 24 hours after the last treatment and chromosome preparations made using standard techniques. At the three concentrations and the three time intervals tested we found that there were no statistically significant differences in either the mean number of micronucleated reticulocytes (MNRETs) or the number of chromosomal aberrations as to the negative control. However, at 25 and 50% of the LD50 dose of the oleoresin there was a significant decrease in the mitotic index (MI) as compared to the negative control. Under our experimental conditions, C. duckei V11 oleoresin produced no mutagenic effects on bone marrow cells or in peripheral reticulocytes as assessed by chromosome aberrations and the micronucleus test respectively, but showed cytotoxic activity at high doses.

Plants of the genus Hypericum, long used in folk medicine, contain active compounds which present, anti-septic, diuretic, digestive, expectorant, vermifugal, anti-depressive and other properties. The possible clastogenic effect of a H. brasiliense extract was tested in vivo on the bone marrow cells of Wistar rats. The extract was administered by gavage at doses of 50, 150 and 300 mg/kg body weight. Experimental and control animals were submitted to euthanasia 24 h after the treatment for micronucleus (MN) and chromosome preparations. H. brasiliense extract did not induce statistically significant increases in the average numbers of MN or chromosome aberrations in the test systems employed.