Ora-pro-nobis (Pereskia aculeata Mill) is an unconventional food plant (UFP) rich in proteins, vitamins, fibers, and antioxidants. In this study, ora-pro-nobis leaves were investigated as a proof of concept by near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy concerning the storage time (from collection to 12 days), packaging system: styrofoam-based packaging covered with stretchable polychloride vinyl (PVC) film, and vacuum packaging (nylon/poly), temperature (at room temperature of 20 ºC, and in the refrigerator at 4 ºC), and sanitization condition (washed and without washing). Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to augmented matrices, showing that unwashed leaves stored in the refrigerator with styrofoam-based packaging covered with PVC film were better preserved over time. Furthermore, it has been suggested that NIR absorptions are related to proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins, antioxidants, and water from ora-pro-nobis leaves and their physiological reactions over time. By combining NIR spectroscopy and chemometrics, a complete understanding of the shelf life of ora-pro-nobis leaves was achieved.

Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is the most cultivated fish species in Brazil. Studies have shown that fish consumption is related to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases due to its high contents of polyunsaturated fatty acids, as omega-3 (n-3) and omega-6 (n-6). In this sense, a new method to determine omega-3 and omega-6 by near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and multivariate calibration based on partial least squares (PLS) was proposed. Spectra of fillets of Nile tilapias packed under vacuum were obtained and compared to the reference method (gas chromatography) used for quantification of fatty acids. The outliers were evaluated in the models that were validated by calculation of the parameters for model performance estimation, showing promising results. The appropriate values achieved for accuracy, limits of detection and quantification, indicate that the NIR/PLS models can be an alternative to chromatography in the determination of omega-3 and omega-6 in fillets of Nile tilapia. Furthermore, the spectra acquisition on the vacuum-packed fillet contributes to the NIR/PLS method in terms of cost and quickness.

Dando continuidade às pesquisas de bioprospecção dos programas SisBiota CNPq/FAPESP e Biota-FAPESP, o presente artigo descreve os resultados de atividade leishmanicida e determinação da composição química das frações ativas de Brosimum glaziovii (Moraceae), por meio da cromatografia gasosa. Os extratos e frações das folhas e galhos foram testados in vitro em cepas de Leishmania amazonensis. As frações hexânicas das folhas e galhos apresentaram atividades potente e moderada, respectivamente (IC50 = 3,6 e 39,1 µg mL-1). Por meio das análises de cromatografia gasosa foi possível identificar os esteróis: campesterol, β-sitosterol e estigmasterol e os triterpenos: α-amirina, β-amirina, acetato de β-amirina, e lupenona, além de outros constituintes apolares principalmente ácidos graxos e seus derivados. Este é o primeiro trabalho descrito sobre a atividade leishmanicida e composição química desta espécie.

As part of our ongoing SisBiota CNPq/FAPESP and Biota-FAPESP bioprospecting programs, this paper deals with the leishmanicidal properties of Brosimum glaziovii (Moraceae), and used gas chromatography analysis to determine the chemical composition of these fractions. The extracts and fractions from the leaves and branches of B. glaziovii were screened against Leishmania amazonensis. The hexane fractions from the leaves and branches displayed the highest leishmanicidal activities, with IC50 = 3.6 and 39.1 µg mL-1. Using gas chromatography analysis it was possible to identify the sterols campesterol, stigmasterol, and β-sitosterol, as well as the triterpenes α-amyrin, β-amyrin, β-amyrin acetate, and lupenone, and other nonpolar components, mainly fatty acids and their derivatives. This is the first report on the leishmanicidal activity and the chemical composition of B. glaziovii.