Studies have suggested that total energy intake and diet composition affect lifespan and ageing. A high-fat diet induces oxidative stress and affects the development of diseases. In contrast, antioxidants are capable of reducing its harmful effects. Yerba mate beverages are an important source of antioxidants, but there is scarce knowledge about their effects on suppressing fat accumulation. Here, we investigated the compounds present in yerba mate extracts and assessed their effects on Drosophila melanogaster given a high cholesterol diet. LS-ESI-MS analysis showed the presence of matesaponins, phenolic compounds and methylxanthines in all of the examined extracts. In Drosophila, under extract treatment conditions, the mean lifespan was significantly extended from 38 to 43 days, there was an increase in the ability to support induced stress and decrease in lipid peroxidation products. Moreover, yerba mate extracts recovered the glutathione S-transferases (GST) activity and reduced the cholesterol level. Taken together, our results support that extracts can extend lifespan by reducing the detrimental effect of a high-fat diet in D. melanogaster, and this outcome can be associated with the compound content in the extracts. This study improves the understanding of natural interventions that reduce stress-induced oxidative damage, which is fundamental in promoting healthy ageing.

Sida tuberculata (Malvaceae) is a medicinal plant traditionally used in Brazil as an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agent. Here, we aimed to investigate the different extractive techniques on phytochemical parameters, as well as to evaluate the toxicity and antioxidant capacity of S. tuberculata extracts using in silico and in vitro models. Therefore, in order to determine the dry residue content and the main compound 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) concentration, extracts from leaves and roots were prepared testing ethanol and water in different proportions. Extracts were then assessed by Artemia salina lethality test, and toxicity prediction of 20E was estimated. Antioxidant activity was performed by DPPH and ABTS radical scavenger assays, ferric reducing power assay, nitrogen derivative scavenger, deoxyribose degradation, and TBARS assays. HPLC evaluation detected 20E as main compound in leaves and roots. Percolation method showed the highest concentrations of 20E (0.134 and 0.096 mg/mL of extract for leaves and roots, respectively). All crude extracts presented low toxic potential on A. salina (LD50 >1000 µg/mL). The computational evaluation of 20E showed a low toxicity prediction. For in vitro antioxidant tests, hydroethanolic extracts of leaves were most effective compared to roots. In addition, hydroethanolic extracts presented a higher IC50 antioxidant than aqueous extracts. TBARS formation was prevented by leaves hydroethanolic extract from 0.015 and 0.03 mg/mL and for roots from 0.03 and 0.3 mg/mL on egg yolk and rat tissue, respectively (P<0.05). These findings suggest that S. tuberculata extracts are a considerable source of ecdysteroids and possesses a significant antioxidant property with low toxic potential.

As espécies melitófilas de uma área de caatinga foram caracterizadas quanto à morfologia e recursos florais, floração e abelhas visitantes. As coletas foram realizadas, durante quatro dias consecutivos, em fevereiro, abril, junho, agosto, outubro e dezembro/2000 (10º47'37'S e 42º49'25'W). A área foi percorrida das 06:00 às 17:00 h, seguindo dois transectos paralelos (com 450 m × 100 m e 550 m × 100 m) e distando 50 m entre si, abrangendo 10 ha. As 42 espécies melitófilas identificadas (55% da flora local) foram visitadas por 2.924 indivíduos de 41 espécies abelhas. As famílias Caesalpiniaceae e Malpighiaceae foram as mais visitadas. As espécies predominantemente visitadas por 35 espécies de abelhas, correspondendo a 78% do total de indivíduos foram: Byrsonima blanchetiana Miq., Copaifera coriacea Mart., Senna macranthera, Peltogyne pauciflora Benth., Senna gardneri (Benth.) H.S. Irwin & Barneby, Serjania comata, Mouriri pusa (Gardner), Jatropha mutabilis (Pohl.) Baill., Maytenus rigida Mart. e Turnera calyptrocarpa Urb. (24% da flora apícola). A produção de flores dessas espécies representou 95% do total. Em geral, os aspectos básicos da morfologia floral das espécies: pequenas, dispostas em inflorescências, zigomorfas, de cores alva e rosa, monoclinas e com deiscência longitudinal das anteras, não diferiram em relação à flora local, corroborando o seu caráter generalista. O predomínio de interações generalistas deve-se à abundância local de abelhas eussociais nativas (Meliponinae) e Apis mellifera. Embora a produção de flores tenha sido maior na estação chuvosa, as abelhas foram mais abundantes no período seco, indicando que o recurso não limitou a atividade das abelhas. As plantas do estrato arbustivo e herbáceo floresceram mais intensamente no período seco e chuvoso, respectivamente, gerando um grau de compartimentalização no padrão de uso dos recursos pelas abelhas. Esse padrão pode favorecer a manutenção das abelhas solitárias, de pequeno porte, incapazes de competir eficientemente com abelhas eussociais com alta capacidade de comunicação e exploração dos recursos mais abundantes como Apis mellifera. Os resultados indicaram que não apenas a composição florística, mas a estratificação e a forte sazonalidade da floração foram determinantes da composição e do padrão local de uso de recursos pelas abelhas em caatinga.

The plant species in an area of caatinga vegetation (10º47'37'S and 42º49'25'W) were surveyed to identify flower morphology, available floral resources, flowering characteristics, and visiting bee species. Collections were made for four consecutive days in February, April, June, August, and December/2000. The area was surveyed between 06:00 and 17:00 h by following two parallel transects (450 m × 100 m and 550 m × 100 m), 50 m apart (total of 10 hectares). The 42 plant identified (55% of the local flora) were visited by a total of 2924 bees belonging to 41 species. The plant families Caesalpiniaceae and Malpighiaceae were the most frequently visited. The plant species most often visited by 35 species of bees (78% of the total number of bees surveyed) were: Byrsonima blanchetiana Miq., Copaifera coriacea Mart., Senna macranthera, Peltogyne pauciflora Benth., Senna gardneri (Benth.) H.S. Irwin & Barneby, Serjania comata, Mouriri pusa (Gardner), Jatropha mutabilis (Pohl.) Baill., Maytenus rigida Mart. and Turnera calyptrocarpa Urb. (24% of the total bee flora). These plant species were responsible for 95% of total flower production during the study period. Generally, the basic floral morphology of these species consisted of small, white to pink, zygomorphic flowers displayed in inflorescences, monoclinous, with longitudinal anthers dehiscence; this morphology was very similar to that of the flora, suited to generalist pollinators. The predominance of generalist interactions reflects the local abundance of stingless bees (Meliponinae) and Apis mellifera. Although flower production was greatest during the rainy season, bees were more abundant during the dry season. This indicates that bee activity was not limited by the availability of floral resources. Plants of the shrub stratatum flowered more intensely during the dry season, while herbaceous plants did so during the rainy season. This created a degree of compartmentalization of floral resources for the bees. This flowering pattern tends to favor small, solitary bees that cannot compete efficiently with eusocial bees (such as Apis mellifera) that have great capacity for communication and for exploiting the most abundant resources. The results indicate that it is not only the composition of the floral resources, but also the stratification and strong seasonal nature of flowering that influences the composition and local use by bees in caatinga vegetation.