One of the recurrent problems of the agroindustry sector is the incorrect disposal of waste because of the complexity of the material, moisture, among other factors. Waste is not used in tonnage, but is systematically used. Examples of residues are malt bagasse and cassava peel, produced in large quantities in the brewing industry and flour production, respectively. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate bioactive compounds of flours produced from agroindustry waste to potentiate their use as an ingredient rich in antioxidants. The flours produced from agroindustry waste were evaluated for phenolic compounds, total carotenoids, antioxidant activity, and the attainment of phenolic profiles and fingerprints by paper spray mass spectrometry. It was possible to identify a broad class of compounds in both flours, such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, among others. The flours can be possibly included in food commodities or packaging formulation since they are natural antioxidants, thus adding value to these products and reducing environmental issues. However, further analysis is needed to ensure bioavailability as well as food safety.

<p>Nas últimas décadas, diversos estudos têm demonstrado o interesse pela conservação de frutas e, também, pelos benefícios do consumo de alimentos ricos em compostos com atividade antioxidante. O presente estudo foi realizado com o objetivo de quantificar os compostos e a atividade antioxidante e analisar fatores físico-químicos, durante o armazenamento pós-colheita de maçãs da cultivar Eva submetidas à irradiação gama nas doses de 0; 0,5; 1,0 e 1,5 kGy. A atividade antioxidante foi medida pelos métodos de 2,2-difenil-1-picril-hidrazila (DPPH) e de β-caroteno/ácido linolenico. Foram avaliados os teores de compostos fenólicos totais, ácido ascórbico, cor e teor de sólidos solúveis. Os resultados mostraram que, independentemente da dose de irradiação, houve um aumento em % SRL, durante o armazenamento pós-colheita das maçãs de Eva. Baixas doses de irradiação foram capazes de preservar os compostos fenólicos, manter os níveis de ácido ascórbico e evitar um aumento no teor de sólidos solúveis.</p>

<p>Nowadays, the number of studies about fruit conservation as well as the benefits of consumption of foods rich in antioxidant compounds was increased. This study aimed to quantify antioxidant compounds and their activity and to evaluate the physical and chemical changes during the post-harvest storage of Eva's apple cultivars that were subjected to gamma irradiation at doses of 0; 0.5; 1.0 and 1.5 kGy. The antioxidant activity was measured by the 2.2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and the β-carotene/linolenic acid methods. Levels of total phenolics, ascorbic acid, color, and soluble solids were evaluated. The results showed that, regardless of the irradiation dose, there was an increase in % SRL during post-harvest storage of Eva's apples. Low irradiation doses were able to preserve the phenolic compounds, maintain the ascorbic acid levels and avoid an increase in the soluble solids content.</p>

Modified atmosphere is a method of food preservation that provides increased lifetime, decreases deterioration losses, and facilitates marketing. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of different plastic films in modifying the atmosphere around Eva apples to assure quality maintenance during postharvest storage. The fruits were cleaned and separated into three treatment groups: polypropylene, low density polyethylene, and high density polyethylene packing with a total of 5 fruits per package for each evaluation period. A group of control apples was not submitted to atmospheric modification. After the treatment, all fruits were stored at 0.5±0.5°C (cold storage) for up to 225 days. The analyses were performed at 45, 135, and 225 days after cold storage. Respiration, ethylene production, firmness, mass loss, total pectin, soluble pectin, soluble solids, total acidity, and epidermis background color of each treatment group were evaluated. The high density polyethylene film treatment did not show a decrease in ethylene production during storage and allowed the fruits to maintain a greater firmness and smaller percentage of mass loss during the study period. Moreover, the storage of the Eva apple cultivar under modified atmosphere allowed the preservation of quality for up to seven months.

O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar o efeito de doses específicas do composto 1-metilciclopropeno (1-MCP), após a colheita, nos aspectos fisiológicos e na qualidade físico-química de maçãs Eva durante o armazenamento refrigerado. Após a aplicação dos tratamentos com diferentes doses de 1-MCP (0, 10, 50, 100 e 500mg L-1), os frutos foram armazenados em câmara fria 0,5°C (±0,5) por até 135 dias. O armazenamento refrigerado juntamente com a aplicação de 1-MCP resultou em uma menor produção de etileno, principalmente nos frutos tratados com as doses de 10, 50 e 100mg L-1. O grupo controle perdeu 45% de sua firmeza, enquanto os grupos tratados perderam, em média, 27% de sua firmeza. O parâmetro C de cor identificou frutos com cor mais intensa aos 135 dias de armazenamento e o ângulo Hue mostrou que, quando tratados com as doses de 10 e 50mg L-1, os frutos apresentaram-se mais amarelados, evidenciando melhor ação do 1-MCP em baixas concentrações. Frutos que não foram submetidos aos tratamentos apresentaram maior relação sólidos solúveis e acidez, demonstrando assim maior atividade metabólica.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of specific doses of the compound 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), after harvest, on the physiological and physicochemical quality of apples Eva during refrigerated storage. After applying thetreatment with different doses of 1-MCP (0, 10, 50, 100 and 500mg L-1), fruit were stored in cold 0.5°C (±0.5) for up to 135 days. The cold storage with the application of 1-MCP resulted in a lower production of ethylene in fruits treated with doses of 10, 50 and 100mg L-1. The control group lost 45% of its firmness, while the treated groups lost on average 27% of their firmness the parameter C fruit color identified with a more intense color to the 135 days of storage and Hue angle showed that when treated with doses of 10 and 50mg L-1, fruit showed more yellow, evidenced best action of 1-MCP at low concentrations. Fruit that have not undergone the treatments showed a higher ratio of soluble solids and acidity, thus demonstrating increased metabolic activity.

O estresse imposto às plantas pelo alagamento do solo constitui uma barreira para o crescimento e produtividade destas. A identificação de cultivares de soja que possam produzir maior teor de isoflavonas torna-se necessária à medida que a soja vem sendo utilizada na alimentação humana e para redução dos riscos de doenças crônicas. Dessa forma, o presente estudo foi realizado com o objetivo de quantificar isoflavonas e proteínas em cultivares de soja submetidas ao alagamento em diferentes estádios de desenvolvimento. As cultivares 'BRS 267', 'BRS 257' e 'BRS 213' foram submetidas a 15 dias de alagamento, nos estádios V6 e V8 e 11 dias sob estresse, no estádio R4. As proteínas no grão foram extraídas e quantificadas e analisadas as eletroforeses em SDS-PAGE. Os isoflavonóides foram extraídos, separados e quantificados por HPLC. A análise por eletroforese das três cultivares revelou o mesmo padrão de bandas relativas às proteínas totais, independente do tratamento utilizado. O alagamento promoveu aumento no teor total de isoflavonas nas plantas alagadas no estádio R4 da cultivar 'BRS 267', permanecendo constante nas demais cultivares.

The stress imposed on plants by soil flooding constitutes a major barrier to growth and productivity. The identification of soybean varieties that produce higher levels of isoflavones, is necessary as soybeans have been used as human food to reduce risks of chronic diseases. Thus, this study was conducted with the objective of quantifying proteins and isoflavones in soybean cultivars subjected to flooding at various stages of development. The cultivars 'BRS267', 'BRS257' and 'BRS213' were subjected to 15 days of flooding, starting at the stages V6 and V8 and 11 days under stress starting at the stage R4. The proteins in the grain were extracted and quantified and analyzed by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis. Isoflavones were extracted, separated and quantified on HPLC. The electrophoretic analysis of the three cultivars under study revealed the same pattern of banding relative to the total protein regardless of the treatment. However, it was noted that flooding led to an increase in the total contents of isoflavones in the BRS 267 plants flooded in stage R4, remaining constant in other cultivars.

A soja é um dos produtos agrícolas de maior importância no Brasil, e segundo maior produtor mundial. A tolerância ao excesso de umidade do solo e da rápida recuperação com o término do alagamento são características desta cultura, porém, a deficiência de oxigênio, causada pelo excesso de água, é um dos fatores determinantes que pode reduzir sua produtividade. O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar o comportamento de três cultivares de soja ao alagamento em diferentes estádios de desenvolvimento, por meio de análise da produção de massa seca, metabolismo de carboidratos e atividade das enzimas do metabolismo anaeróbio. O experimento foi desenvolvido na Universidade Federal de Lavras (MG), em 2007. As cultivares BRS 267, BRS 257 e BRS 213 foram submetidas a 15 dias de alagamento, nos estádios V6 e V8 e 11 dias no estádio R4. Os resultados revelaram redução na produção de massa seca nos tratamentos alagados no estádio V8 para a cultivar BRS 267 e no estádio V6 para BRS 257 e BRS 213; esta última foi a mais tolerante ao alagamento, pois obteve o menor decréscimo de massa seca em relação ao controle. O alagamento também induziu aumento nos teores de amido e açúcares solúveis totais nas folhas, assim como maior atividade das enzimas álcool desidrogenase e piruvato descarboxilase para as três cultivares, quando comparadas a seus respectivos controles. Já para a enzima lactato desidrogenase, essa diferença foi menos expressiva. Esses resultados revelam comportamentos distintos comparando as três cultivares.

The soybean is one of the most important agricultural products in Brazil, the second in world production. The soil high tolerance to excess of moisture and the rapid recovery after flooding are important characteristics of this culture. However, the oxygen, deficiency resulting from excess of water is one factor that may cause reduction in soybean productivity. This study aimed to evaluate the behavior of three soybeans cultivars upon flooding at various stages of development, based on dry matter production, carbohydrate metabolism and some anaerobic enzymes activities. The experiment was conducted at the Federal University of Lavras, Brazil, in 2007. Cultivars BRS 267, BRS 257 and BRS 213 were submitted to 15 days of flooding, for stages V6 and V8 and 11 days for stage R4. Results indicated a reduction in the production of dry matter for the treatments flooded BRS 267 in the stage V8 and for varieties BRS 257 and BRS 213, V6 stage the latter being the most tolerant to flooding, once exhibited a lower reduction in dry matter compaired to control. The flooding also lead to an increase of total soluble sugars and starch levels in the leaves, as well as to an increase in the activity of the enzymes alcohol dehydrogenase and pyruvate decarboxylase, in all three evaluated cultivars. Nom significant differences were observed for the lactate dehydrogenase enzyme activity. These results indicate a different behavior when comparing the three cultivars.

Angiostrongylus costaricensis é um parasita que causa angiostrongilíase abdominal em humanos, seu tratamento inclui o uso de antiinflamatórios apesar da falta de estudos que justifiquem esta conduta. O objetivo deste artigo é avaliar o efeito da betametasona e da Arctium lappa na evolução de lesões intestinais induzidas pelo parasita. Utilizou-se camundongos Swiss, machos, adultos, distribuídos em 4 grupos: infectados tratados com betametasona; com Arctium lappa; não tratados e grupo controle. Os tratamentos iniciaram no 15º dia de infecção e permaneceram por 15 dias. Infiltrado eosinofílico e granuloma foram avaliados (1-leve; 2-moderado; 3-severo). A betametasona permitiu a evolução das lesões para formas mais graves, enquanto o extrato não interferiu na progressão da patologia. As substâncias empregadas não mostraram eficácia na proteção das lesões induzidas pelo Angiostrongylus costaricensis em camundongos. Estes achados desmotivam o uso de betametasona e Arctium lappa em humanos acometidos por angiostrongilíase abdominal.

Angiostrongylus costaricensis is a parasite that causes abdominal angiostrongyliasis in humans. The treatment for it includes the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, despite the lack of studies to justify this approach. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the effect of betamethasone and Arctium lappa on the evolution of intestinal lesions induced by this parasite. Adult male Swiss mice were used, distributed into four groups: infected and treated with betamethasone; infected and treated with Arctium lappa; infected and not treated; and control group. The treatments were started on the 15th day after infection and continued for 15 days. The presence of eosinophilic infiltration and granuloma was evaluated (1-mild; 2-moderate; 3-severe). Betamethasone allowed the lesions to evolve into more severe forms, while the extract did not interfere with disease progression. The substances applied were ineffective for protection against the lesions induced by Angiostrongylus costaricensis in mice. These findings discourage the use of betamethasone and Arctium lappa for humans affected by abdominal angiostrongyliasis.