Euterpe oleracea fruits have gained much attention because of their phenolic constituents that have shown potential health benefits. The aim of this work was to quantify the major non-anthocyanin flavonoids (NAF) in the fruit juice by an accurate method coupling ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography with a linear ion trap-high resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometry system (UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap MS). Fruits were processed to juice, and then the juice was lyophilized and defatted. The residue was then extracted in the presence of methanol by sonication. The extraction time was optimized and recovery rates of the extraction were >90%. The extracts were dried and solubilized again in 40% MeOH, which showed the best compromise for MS detection. For the UHPLC quantification, a HSS C18 column (1.8 μm) was used with a gradient elution of methanol and water both with 0.1% formic acid. Total error and accuracy profiles were used as validation criteria. Seven compounds and their isomers were successfully separated, including the major NAF. Calibration in the matrix was found to be more accurate than calibration without matrix. Trueness (<15% relative bias), repeatability, and intermediate precision (<13% RSD), selectivity, response function, linearity, LOD (ranged from 0.04 to 0.81 μg/mL) and LOQ (0.15-5.78 μg/mL) for 12 compounds were evaluated and the quantification method was validated. Its applicability was demonstrated on real samples from different suppliers. Their qualitative and quantitative profiles were similar and some compounds were for the first time quantified. In addition, eriodictyol was identified for the first time in this fruit along with five other flavonoids for which possible structures were proposed.

The aim of this work is to develop the first validated UHPLC-PDA method for major anthocyanins quantification in Euterpe oleracea fruits after fast extraction procedures and samples preparation. The separation was performed on HSS C18 column (1.8 μm) using a gradient elution with acetonitrile and 5% formic acid in a total run time of only 17 min. Total error and accuracy profiles were used as criteria for the validation process. Calibration in the matrix was found to be more accurate than calibration without matrix. Trueness (<6.76% relative bias), repeatability (<4.6% RSD), intermediate precision (<5.3% RSD), selectivity, response function and linearity for major anthocyanins, cyanidin-3-glucoside and cyanidin-3-rutinoside, were evaluated. The concentration range validated was 1-48 μg/mL for both compounds. In addition two cyanidin-di-O-glycosides were detected for the fist time in this fruit. We also showed that a first extraction of the fruits with ethyl acetate removes the lipophilic compounds and allows an easier extraction by methanol and quantification of anthocyanins in this extract.

Recebido em 31/10/08; aceito em 2/7/09; publicado na web em 8/12/09 PURIFICATION OF PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS FROM Inga edulis LEAVES USING SOLID-PHASE EXTRACTION: MAJOR COMPOUNDS QUANTIFICATION AND ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY EVALUATION. A phenolic fraction was obtained from of the acetone-water-acetic acid extract of Inga edulis leaves, by liquid-liquid partition and SPE-C 18 cartridges. This method provided an increase of 108, 66, 51, 50 and 36% of flavonols, proanthocyanidins, total polyphenols, gallotannins and flavanols, respectively. The major phenolics in purified fraction were procyanidin B2, catechin and myricetin-3-O-a-L-rhamnopyranoside, which achieved increases of 111, 47 and 45%, respectively, after SPE. Acid hydrolysis confirmed the presence of procyanidins, prodelphinidins and glycosylated flavonoids.

Several advances have been recently achieved on the understanding of the potential biological effects of black rice and its derivatives. They further confirm that black rice should be considered as a promising source of health-promoting functional foods targeting a large set of noninfectious diseases. However, more clinical studies are needed to support the findings highlighted in this review.

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The aim of this work is to develop the first validated UHPLC-PDA method for major anthocyanins quantification in Euterpe oleracea fruits after fast extraction procedures and samples preparation. The separation was performed on HSS C18 column (1.8 m) using a gradient elution with acetonitrile and 5% formic acid in a total run time of only 17 min. Total error and accuracy profiles were used as criteria for the validation process. Calibration in the matrix was found to be more accurate than calibration without matrix. Trueness (<6.76% relative bias), repeatability (<4.6% RSD), intermediate precision (<5.3% RSD), selectivity, response function and linearity for major anthocyanins, cyanidin-3-glucoside and cyanidin-3-rutinoside, were evaluated. The concentration range validated was 1-48 g/mL for both compounds. In addition two cyanidin-di-O-glycosides were detected for the fist time in this fruit. We also showed that a first extraction of the fruits with ethyl acetate removes the lipophilic compounds and allows an easier extraction by methanol and quantification of anthocyanins in this extract.

The bioactivity and phytochemical composition of a partially purified extract of ac ßai (PPEA), concentrated in phenolic compounds (PC) and without the presence of macronutrients, were investigated. The major PC quantified by UHPLC-DAD-LTQ-Orbitrap MS-MS/MS in the PPEA are anthocyanins. In vitro, PPEA showed a cytostatic effect on the K-562 lymphoid leukaemia at a concentration of 40 lg PC mL À1 , with a GI 50 equal to 1.08 lg PC mL À1 . In vivo, the extract did not promote acute toxicity in mice in any of the doses tested. The extract displayed gastroprotective activity in rats treated orally with 16, 48 and 160 mg PC kg À1 , with a significant decrease in the ulcerative lesion index, compared with the negative control. The lack of toxicity and the bioactivity of the PPEA show that this extract is beneficial to health and useful as a commercial food additive containing natural violet colourant, with pharmaceutical and functional potentials.

Chromomycosis, or chromomycosis, is a chronic, progressive cutaneous and subcutaneous mycosis caused by several species of pheoid or dermaticeous (darkly pigmented) fungi. It mainly affects male patients, in the age group between 30 and 60 years and is more common on rural areas, being associated to traumatic events, which may explain the high frequency of involvement of the lower limbs and exposed areas. Its lesion starts as a small, nonpruriginous, erythematous papule or macula and slowly spreads to the surrounding skin. Commonly, takes 5 to 15 years or more from the onset to diagnosis the disease. The disease progress and evolve to variable morphology types, chronic lesions and complications usually lead to definitive disability, especially due to treatment limitations. We present three cases of exuberant and disfiguring chromomycosis, including a case were the lesions suffered carcinomatous degeneration. All patients complained about the drug price and one of them abandoned the treatment and medical follow up. All patients were from rural area, one of them complained about the absence of medication and reported financial difficulties for transportation. In conclusion, physicians must be aware of chromomycosis as a possible diagnosis when considering a chronic skin condition. Although not common, prevention strategies and alternative therapies should be investigated to improve chromomycosis management, especially in undeveloped regions. The distance and difficulties to accesses health services may delay the diagnosis and prejudice the treatment, given that small and initial lesions have better prognosis, impairing the improvement in patients' quality of live and the prevention of severe complications and morbidities.