RESUMO: Dois experimentos foram realizados com o objetivo de avaliar o uso das sementes secas de Piper cubeba nas dietas de frangos de corte de 1 a 21 dias de idades e seus efeitos sobre o perfil bioquímicos do sangue e na biometria dos órgãos das aves. Em cada experimento 240 pintos de corte machos, com um dia de idade da linhagem Cobb foram distribuídos em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com cinco tratamentos e quatro repetições de 12 aves por parcela experimental. No primeiro experimento foi avaliado o uso da Piper cubeba em dietas consideradas de alta digestibilidade, a base de milho e farelo de soja, e no segundo avaliou-se o uso da pimenta em dietas de baixa digestibilidade, as quais foram obtidas com a inclusão de farinha de carne e ossos. Com relação aos dados de perfil bioquímico sanguíneo do experimento I, com exceção da gama glutamil transferase, todos os demais níveis séricos se apresentaram dentro dos limites recomendados para aves, e apenas os níveis de triglicerídeos diferiram entre os tratamentos (P<0,05). No experimento II houve diferença significativa para os níveis de albumina, colesterol e ácido úrico, porém isso não foi resultado de desordens metabólicas, visto que com exceção da gama glutamil transferase, todos os níveis encontraram-se dentro dos limites recomendados. Em ambos os experimentos não foram observadas diferenças (P>0,05) para a biometria dos órgãos. Nas condições em que os experimentos foram realizados a inclusão das sementes de Piper cubeba na ração para frangos de corte não proporcionou alterações bioquímicas e biométricas que possam limitar seu uso como material vegetal para os estudos fitogênicos.

ABSTRACT: Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the use of dried seeds of Piper cubeba in the diets of 1 to 21-day-old broilers and its effect on biochemical blood profile and biometry of the organs. In each experiment, 240 one-day-old male broiler chicks Cobb were distributed in a completely randomized design with five treatments and four replicates of 12 birds per experimental plot. The first experiment evaluated the use of Piper cubeba in considered highly digestible diets based on corn and soybean meal, and the second evaluated the use of pepper in low digestibility diets, which were obtained with the inclusion of meat and bone meal. Regarding the blood chemistry profile data of the experiment I, with the exception of gamma glutamyl transferase, all other serum levels were within recommended limits for poultry, and only triglyceride levels differed between treatments (P <0.05). In the second experiment there was significant difference in albumin levels, cholesterol and uric acid, but this was not the result of metabolic disorders, because except for the gama glutamyl transferase levels, all variables were within recommended levels. In both experiments, there were no differences (P> 0.05) for the biometry of organs. The conditions under which the experiments were performed at inclusion of Piper cubeba seeds in feed for broilers has not provided any toxicity to poultry.

Resumo Introdução A espécie Psidium cattleianum Sabine tem despertado o interesse dos pesquisadores por apresentar, além de atividade cicatrizante, analgésica e antioxidante, propriedades antimicrobianas frente a micro-organismos da mucosa oral que podem atuar como agentes cariogênicos. Objetivo Foi avaliada, neste trabalho, a atividade antimicrobiana de extratos bruto e fracionados das folhas do araçá, além do seu perfil cromatográfico. Material e método Para avaliação da atividade antimicrobiana, foi utilizada a técnica de microdiluição, para determinação da Concentração Inibitória Mínima (CIM), e repique do inóculo em Ágar Muller Hinton (Himedia), para averiguação da Concentração Bactericida Mínima (CBM). O extrato foi testado nas concentrações entre 10 e 500 µg/mL. O perfil cromatográfico foi realizado pelo método de Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Eficiência (CLAE). Resultado Os resultados obtidos foram submetidos a uma análise descritiva e foi possível observar a atividade inibitória dos extratos do P. cattleianum contra S. mutans e S. oralis. Conclusão A atividade antimicrobiana dos extratos de P. cattleianum contra micro-organismos orais justifica maiores estudos para a utilização medicinal dessa espécie, como, por exemplo, sua utilização em enxaguantes bucais.

Abstract Introduction The specie Psidium cattleianum Sabine has aroused the interest of researchers to exhibit, healing activity, analgesic, antioxidant, antimicrobial properties against the micro-organisms of the oral mucosa that can act as cariogenic agents. Objective It was analyzed in this study the antimicrobial activity of crude extracts and fractions and chromatographic profile of araçá. Material and method For antimicrobial activity, we used the technique of on broth microdilution for determining the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and replating of inoculum in Muller Hinton (Himedia) agar for finding the Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC). The extract was tested at concentrations between 10 and 500 µg/mL. The chromatographic profile was performed by the method of High Performance Liquid Chromatography. Result The results were submitted to a descriptive analysis was possible to observe the inhibitory activity of the extracts of P. cattleianum against S. oralis and S. mutans. Conclusion The antimicrobial activity of P. cattleianum extracts against oral microorganisms justifies the use of this species as a medicinal plant.

Abstract Schistosomiasis, a chronic disease that affects million people worldwide, is caused by trematode flukes of the genus Schistosoma. The lack of an anti-schistosomiasis vaccine and massive monotherapy with praziquantel reinforces the need for search and development of new therapeutic drugs. Recently, we demonstrated that the essential oil of Piper cubeba L., Piperaceae, and their derivative dibenzylbutyrolactolic (-)-6,6'-dinitrohinokinin, presents in vitro and in vivo activities against Schistosoma mansoni. Here, we identified changes in the protein expression after exposure to dibenzylbutyrolactolic (-)-6,6'-dinitrohinokinin. We applied two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) to S. mansoni soluble protein extracts and observed at least 38 spots to be affected by dibenzylbutyrolactolic (-)-6,6'-dinitrohinokinin. We further identified 25 differentially expressed proteins by mass spectrometry. Enrichment for biological processes and predictive analyses of protein-protein interactions suggest that dibenzylbutyrolactolic (-)-6,6'-dinitrohinokinin targets proteins involved mainly in metabolic processes, especially carbohydrate metabolism. In summary, this study provides an interesting approach to understand the anti-parasitic activity of semi-synthetic (-)-6,6'-dinitrohinokinin a derivative compound from lignan and for the development of new therapy strategies.

O feijoeiro foi cultivado em solução nutritiva com deficiências de macronutrientes, de B e Fe e excessos de Al e Mn. Foram obtidos sintomas típicos de falta e de toxidez e as plantas foram analisadas.

This work had the purpose of studying some aspects of the mineral nutrition of the bean plant (Phaseolus vulgaris L., var. Carioca) checking the effects of the ommission of macronutrients and also B and Fe and the excesses of Al and Mn. Some changes in heigth of the plants and the number of leaves, yield of dry matter and mineral composition of leaves and roots were observed. To check the effects of ommission of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe and B, and excesses of Mn and Al, bean plants were grown in controlled conditions. The harvest was done when the induced symptoms were well established. From the obtained data, it is concluded that: 1. Ca was the element that, when missing, had the major depressive effect on heigth of the plants, number of leaves, and dry matter weight. 2. It is possible to induce symptoms of mineral deficiencies, and excesses in the bean plant if it is grown in the nutrient solution in the absence or excess of some elements. 3. Dry matter production was affected by treatments in the following increasing order: complete, - S, - K, + Al, -B, + Mn. - Mg, - Fe, - P, - N and - Ca. 4. The main interactions among the leaf elements, detected through this trial were: K x Ca x Mg, Fe x Mn. 5. The absence of an elements causes a decrease of its content in the leaves, when compared to the complete treatment.