ABSTRACT Purpose: To assess the effect of the ethanolic extract of the leaves of three species of plants from the Piperaceae family on reducing necrosis and enhancing wound healing in an animal model of degloving injuries. Methods: The animals were divided into six groups, each consisting of six animals: sham, negative control, EEPA (Piper amalago ethanolic extract), EEPG (Piper glabratum ethanolic extract), EEPV (Piper vicosanum ethanolic extract), and positive control receiving hyperbaric oxygenation. The animals underwent surgery to induce excision wounds, and the extent of cutaneous necrosis was evaluated using graphic software, while wound healing was assessed through histopathology. Results: Skin necrosis percentage area was: sham group = 62.84% 6.38; negative control group = 63.03% 4.11; P. vicosanum = 40.80% 4.76 p < 0.05; P. glabratum 32.97% 4.01 p < 0.01; P. amalago = 32.40% 4.61 p < 0.01; hyperbaric oxygenation = 33.21% 4.29 p < 0.01. All treated groups showed higher collagen deposition and less intense, plus predominantly mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate, suggesting improved healing process. Conclusions: The three tested extracts demonstrated efficacy in reducing the extent of cutaneous necrosis caused by degloving injuries and also showed evidence of improvement in the wound healing process.

Abstract Aim: This study evaluated the effects of 10 weeks of combined exercise training on the salivary oxidative profile of hypertensive and normotensive postmenopausal women. Methods: Twenty-six non-obese postmenopausal women were divided into two groups: the hypertensive group (HT; n = 13; 58.9 ± 3.9 years; and BMI of 27.7 ± 4.6 kg/m2) or the normotensive group (NT; n = 13; 52.7 ± 5.2 years; and BMI of 26.9 ± 2.9 kg/m2). They performed 30 sessions of combined exercises over 10 weeks: 45 min per session, three times a week. Resting saliva samples were collected after an overnight fast to evaluate salivary nitrite levels and oxidative stress markers before and after training. Results: Two-way ANOVA showed that there was no difference in the responses over time between the hypertensive and normotensive groups in catalase, superoxide dismutase salivary activity, total antioxidant capacity, or lipid peroxidation. However, superoxide dismutase activity (δHT -0.87 ± 14.53 SOD/mg protein; δNT: 7.13 ± 9.39 SOD/mg protein; p < 0.01) and nitrite levels (δHT 10.32 ± 60.83 mM; δNT 101.92 ± 149.57 mM; p = 0.03) were higher overall in the hypertensive group compared to the normotensive group. Moreover, salivary nitrite levels increased over time (p = 0.04) in both groups. Conclusion: 10 weeks of combined exercise training did not change salivary oxidative stress markers in either normotensive or hypertensive postmenopausal women, although, after exercise training, nitrite levels increased in both groups, even with higher baseline salivary nitrite levels in hypertensive women. Thus, recurrent exercise seems to be a safe strategy after menopause from the standpoint of oxidative stress, regardless of the presence of hypertension.

Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a diferença entre isolados de dois tipos de sintomas de cercosporiose do cafeeiro (mancha de olho pardo e cercospora negra) em relação à morfologia conidial, ao crescimento micelial, à produção de cercosporina e à reprodutibilidade dos sintomas em folhas de cafeeiro coletadas em três municípios de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Observou-se diferença entre os isolados para as variáveis estudadas, mas sem relação com o tipo de sintoma. As diferenças encontradas não foram associadas à origem do isolado. Os sintomas caracterizados como cercospora negra foram associados a diferentes condições do hospedeiro durante o processo de infecção.

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the difference between the isolates from two cercospora leaf spot symptoms (brown eye spot and black spot) in relation to conidial morphology, mycelial growth, cercosporin production, and reproduction of symptoms in coffee leaves collected in three municipalities in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. There was a difference between the isolates for the studied variables, but without any relation to the type of symptom. The differences found were not associated with the origin of the isolates. The symptoms characterized as black spot were associated with different host conditions during the infection process.

O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o potencial dos óleos essenciais extraídos de Hyptis marrubioides, Aloysia gratissima e Cordia verbenacea no controle da ferrugem asiática da soja. A atividade inibitória dos óleos essenciais (aplicados no intervalo de concentração de 0,05 - 2%) sobre a germinação dos urediniósporos de Phakopsora pachyrhizi foram avaliados em teste in vitro. As propriedades curativas e erradicantes dos óleos (aplicados no intervalo de concentração de 0,05 - 0,5%) foram estudadas em casa de vegetação utilizando a cultivar MG/BR 46 (Conquista) suscetível a P. pachyrhizi. Microscopia eletrônica de varredura foi utilizado para investigar o efeito dos óleos essenciais sobre a morfologia dos urediniósporos do fungo. Os tratamentos com os óleos essenciais, em todas as concentrações testadas inibiram totalmente a germinação dos urediniósporos in vitro. A aplicação curativa dos óleos essenciais reduziu a severidade da doença, expressa em área abaixo da curva de progresso em 33 a 41%, enquanto que o fungicida comercial (piraclostrobina + epoxiconazole), empregado como controle positivo reduziu em 61%. Tratamento de plantas infectadas com óleos essenciais produziu alterações morfológicas nas estruturas fúngicas, semelhantes as produzidas pelo fungicida comercial, ou seja, murchamento dos urediniósporos, apressórios, tubos germinativos e paráfise.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of essential oils derived from Hyptis marrubioides, Aloysia gratissima and Cordia verbenacea for controlling Asian soybean rust. The inhibitory activities of the essential oils (applied in a concentration range of 0.05 - 2%) on the germination of Phakopsora pachyrhizi urediniospores were investigated using in vitro assays. The curative and eradicating properties of the oils (applied in a concentration range of 0.05 - 0.5%) were studied under greenhouse conditions using the P. pachyrhizisusceptible soybean cultivar MG/BR 46 (Conquista). Scanning electron microscopy was employed to investigate the effects of the essential oils on the morphology of the P. pachyrhizi urediniospores. The treatment with the essential oils at all concentrations tested led to the total inhibition of spore germination in vitro. The curative application of the essential oils reduced the disease severity, expressed as the area under the disease-progress curves, by 33 to 41%, whereas the commercial fungicide (pyraclostrobin + epoxyconazole) employed as a positive control reduced the severity by 61%. The treatment of infected plants with the essential oils resulted in morphological alterations in the fungal structures that were similar to those produced by the commercial fungicide, namely, a shrivelling of the urediniospores, appressoria, germ tubes and paraphyses.

Estudos sistemáticos sobre os fatores de formação do solo são relativamente escassos no Brasil, em razão da dificuldade de amostrar vários níveis de um fator, mantendo os demais constantes. A região de Lavras, MG, possui grande diversidade geológica em uma área pequena, o que possibilita avaliar o controle exercido por diferentes litologias na mineralogia e nas demais características do solo. Foram selecionados oito solos embasados sobre quartzito, mica-xisto, gabro, itabirito, serpentinito, metacalcário, gnaisse e filito, em condições semelhantes de vegetação (floresta tropical semidecidual), relevo (terço médio de encosta) e clima. Após a descrição dos perfis, coletaram-se amostras dos horizontes e das rochas, e realizaram-se análises físicas e químicas de rotina, composição química total e mineralogia da rocha, da areia e da argila do solo. Todos os solos são pobres em bases trocáveis (exceto o Argissolo sobre itabirito), e notou-se grande variação na composição granulométrica, mineralógica e química. Os teores de Al2O3, SiO2 e Fe2O3 presentes nas rochas não evidenciaram correlação com os respectivos teores nos solos derivados, enquanto o teor de Fe2O3 foi fortemente correlacionado à densidade de partículas e suscetibilidade magnética. Apesar de evidências de material parcialmente alóctone em alguns casos, pôde-se notar forte influência da litologia subjacente na paragênese mineralógica. Os solos foram genericamente agrupados em: cauliníticos com minerais 2:1 (Argissolos sobre mica-xisto e itabirito; e Cambissolo sobre quartzito), cauliníticos (Argissolos sobre gnaisse e filito) e oxídicos (Latossolos sobre metacalcário e gabro; e Plintossolo sobre serpentinito). Os processos de monossialitização e alitização predominam na região, sendo respectivamente associados a rochas com valores intermediários e baixos em sílica, enquanto a presença de minerais 2:1 é acessória à caulinita e parece depender da presença de mica e altos teores de sílica na rocha de origem.

Systematic studies on of soil formation factors are relatively scarce in Brazil since comprehensive samplings of a variable factor while keeping others constant are difficult to perform. Near Lavras, Minas Gerais, there is wide geological diversity over a small area, which offers a chance to assess the control exerted by different lithologies on mineral suites and other soil properties. Thus, eight soils overlying quartzite, mica-schist, gabbro, itabirite, serpentinite, meta-limestone, gneiss and phyllite, under similar climate and tropical, semideciduous forest conditions were selected, all located on midslopes. After description of soil profiles, soil horizon and fresh rock samples were collected for standard physical, fertility, and chemical composition and mineralogical analyses. All soils were poor in bases (except for an Ultisol over itabirite) and showed wide textural, mineralogical and chemical variation. Despite evidence of partially allochthonous material in some cases, a strong influence of underlying lithology was noted on soil mineral suites. There were no significant correlations among Al2O3, SiO2 and Fe2O3 contents in rocks and soils, whereas Fe2O3 content was strongly correlated with particle density and magnetic susceptibility. The soils were grouped as: 1) kaolinitic with 2:1 minerals (Ultisols over mica-schist and itabirite, Inceptisol over quartzite); 2) kaolinitic (Ultisols over gneiss and phyllite), and 3) oxidic (Oxisols over meta-limestone and gabbro, plinthic Oxisol over serpentinite). Monosialitization and alitization processes predominate in the region, associated with rocks with moderate and low silica contents, respectively, whereas 2:1 minerals are accessory to kaolinite and their occurrence seems to depend on rocks rich in mica and silica.

A podridão-do-colmo e espiga, causada por Stenocarpella maydis, é responsável por graves perdas na produção de milho. O tratamento de sementes com fungicidas pode provocar danos ambientais. Por isso, este estudo objetivou avaliar o efeito de óleos essenciais extraídos de Cymbopogon winterianus (citronela), Thymus vulgaris (tomilho), Cymbopogon citratus (capim-limão), Corymbia citriodora (eucalipto), Cinnamomum zeylanicum (canela) e Syzygium aromaticum (cravo-da-Índia) sobre o desenvolvimento de S. maydis in vitro. Além disso, sementes de milho foram tratadas com esses óleos essenciais para determinar seus possíveis modos de ação e efeitos. Os óleos de S. aromaticum, C. zeylanicum e T. vulgaris inibiram o desenvolvimento do fungo nas concentrações maiores que 0,025%. Os óleos de S. aromaticum e C. zeylanicum mostraram taxas de germinação de sementes de 89,0% e 84,5%, as quais foram maiores que a testemunha. Esses óleos reduziram a incidência do patógeno nas sementes para 39,0% e 28%, respectivamente. Além disso, esses óleos, bem como o óleo de T. vulgaris, produziram menor redução do estande de milho. O exame de microscopia eletrônica de varredura revelou que os óleos de S. aromaticum and T. vulgaris agiram diretamente sobre os conídios, impedindo a germinação. Os resultados deste trabalho sugerem que os óleos de S. aromaticum, C. zeylanicum e T. vulgaris são alternativas potenciais para o tratamento de sementes de milho no controle de S. maydis.

Stem and ear rot caused by Stenocarpella maydis are responsible for severe losses in maize production. Treatment of seeds with fungicides may induce environmental damage. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of essential oils extracted from Cymbopogon winterianus, Thymus vulgaris, Cymbopogon citratus, Corymbia citriodora, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, and Syzygium aromaticum on the development of in vitro S. maydis. In addition, maize seeds were treated with these essential oils to determine their possible mode of action and effects. The oils from S. aromaticum, C. zeylanicum, and T. vulgaris inhibited fungal development at concentrations higher than 0.025%. The oils from S. aromaticum and C. zeylanicum showed seed germination rates of 89.0% and 84.5%, which were higher than that of the control. The oils from S. aromaticum and C. zeylanicum reduced the pathogen incidence in the seeds to 39.0% and 28.0%, respectively. Further, these oils as well as that from T. vulgaris produced lower reduction of maize stand. Scanning electron microscopy examination revealed that essential oils from S. aromaticum and T. vulgaris acted directly on the conidia, impeding germination. The findings suggest that the oils from S. aromaticum, C. zeylanicum, and T. vulgaris are potential alternatives for maize seed treatment in the control of S. maydis.