The objective of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of the food dyes sunset yellow, bordeaux red, and tartrazine yellow on the cellular cycle of Allium cepa L. Each dye was evaluated at the doses of 0.4 and 4.0 mL, at the exposure times of 24 and 48 hours in root tip cells of Allium cepa L. Slides were prepared and cells were analyzed during the whole cell cycle for cellular aberrations totaling 5,000 total cells for each dose evaluated. The mitotic index was calculated, and statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-squared test (p < 0.05). The results showed that the three dyes used under the evaluated doses and exposure times were cytotoxic to the cells of the system-test used. Further cytotoxicity studies should be conducted for additional results and a proper evaluation of the effect of these three dyes on a cellular level.

In this study we evaluated the action of crude aqueous extracts obtained from rhytidome of Hymenaea stigonocarpa (jatobá-do-cerrado) on Allium cepa meristematic root cells in three concentrations: 0.082, 0.164, 0.328g/mL, at exposure times of 24 and 48 h. The slides were prepared by the crushing technique, and cells analyzed throughout the cell cycle, totaling 5000 for each control group and concentration. It was found that all three concentrations, including the lowest which is considered ideal for use, in all exposure times, had significant antiproliferative action on the cell cycle of this test system. For cells under division, we observed a high number of cells in prophase. Therefore, under the conditions studied H. stigonocarpa indicated to be cytotoxic.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o potencial ornamental de dez acessos de pimenta Capsicum spp. procedentes da Coleção de Germoplasma da Universidade Federal do Piauí, Brasil. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação, no Departamento de Fitotecnia, do Centro de Ciências Agrárias, no município de Teresina, Piauí, obedecendo ao delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, com três repetições. Na caracterização morfoagronômica dos acessos, conforme orientação do Bioversity International, utilizaram-se os seguintes descritores qualitativos e quantitativos para o gênero Capsicum: forma da folha, hábito de crescimento da planta, antocianina no nó da planta, posição da flor, cor da corola, cor do fruto no estado intermediário e maduro, forma do fruto, forma do ápice do fruto, textura da epiderme do fruto, comprimento do fruto, comprimento do pedicelo, persistência do fruto maduro e altura da planta. Dentre os dez acessos avaliados, sete foram considerados com potencial ornamental: CGC-06 (C. chinense), CGC-07 (C. chinense), CGC-11 (C. annuum var. glabriusculum), CGC-23 (C. chinense), CGC-36 (C. annuum var. glabriusculum), CGC-59 (C. annuum var. glabriusculum) e CGC-67 (C. annuum var. glabriusculum). O CGC 11 apresentou estética mais harmoniosa, com flores eretas, as quais são de fácil percepção; frutos eretos e vistosos e folhas de formato lanceolado.

RESUMO:Este trabalho realizou um levantamento sobre o uso de plantas medicinais na cidade de Picos-PI, identificou as plantas cultivadas no horto pertencente ao Laboratório Fitoterápico de Picos (LAFIPI), e analisou o uso de fitoterápicos dispensados pelo Programa Farmácia Viva no triênio 2008-2010. Do total dos 750 entrevistados, 37,6% foram homens e 62,4 % mulheres, dentre os quais a maioria não concluiu o segundo grau (69,2%) e 77,2% possuíam renda mensal de até dois salários mínimos. Com relação ao consumo de plantas medicinais, 76,3% afirmaram utilizá-las para tratar doenças, principalmente por considerá-las mais saudáveis (84,8%). A indicação do uso foi orientada, sobretudo, por familiares (82,2%), embora a maioria adquira as plantas em feiras livres (32,8%). Das 127 plantas relatadas, as mais citadas foram erva-cidreira, boldo e hortelã, sendo as folhas a parte mais utilizada (42,3%), predominantemente por infusão (39,4%). As aplicações mais lembradas foram para tratar dores em geral (17%), distúrbios respiratórios (16,5%) e digestivos (16%). As espécies mais cultivadas no horto são chambá (Justicia pectoralis), alecrim pimenta (Lippia sidoides), malva santa (Plectranthus barbatus) e erva cidreira (Lippia alba). O lambedor de chambá foi o fitoterápico mais procurado pela população entre 2008 e 2010. Esse estudo descreveu, pela primeira vez, o uso tradicional de plantas medicinais no município de Picos e demonstrou, também de forma inédita, a relevância de investimentos do Programa Farmácia Viva no município de Picos e sua inclusão no Programa Saúde da Família como forma de disponibilizar à população de baixa renda fitoterápicos produzidos localmente a custos reduzidos. . From the total of 750 interviewed participants, 37.6% were men and 62.4 % women. Most of them do not have secondary education (69.2%) and 77.2% had an income of up until two minimum wages. Regarding consumption of medicinal plants, 76.3 % used them to treat diseases, mainly because they considered them to be healthier (84.8%). The indication of use of the plants was mainly suggested by relatives (82.2%), even though the majority of the participants acquires plants in open markets (32.8%). From the 127 plants mentioned, the most cited ones were balm, boldo and mint, and leaves were the most utilized parts (42.3%), predominantly by infusion (39.4%). The most common reasons for the usewere to treat pain in general (17%), and respiratory (16.5%) and digestive disorders (16%). The most cultivated species in the garden were chambá (Justicia pectoralis), alecrim pimenta Palavras

Curcumin, the main bioactive polyphenolic compound in Curcuma longa L. rhizomes has a wide range of bioactive properties. Curcumin presents low solubility in water and thus limited bioavailability, which decreases its applicability. In this study, cytotoxic effects of curcumin solid dispersions (CurSD) were evaluated against tumor (breast adenocarcinoma and lung, cervical and hepatocellular carcinoma) and non-tumor (PLP2) cells, while cytotoxic and genotoxic effects were evaluated in Allium cepa. The effect of the CurSD on the acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and monoamine oxidase (MAO A-B) enzymes was determined, as well as its capacity to inhibit the oxidative hemolysis (OxHLIA) and the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). CurSD are constituted by nanoparticles that are readily dispersible in water, and inhibited 24% and 64% of the AChE and BChE activity at 100 μM, respectively. GST activity was inhibited at 30 μM while MAO-A and B activity were inhibited at 100 μM. CurSD showed cytotoxicity against all the tested tumor cell lines without toxic effects for non-tumor cells. No cytotoxic and genotoxic potential was detected with the Allium cepa test. CurSD maintained the characteristics of free curcumin on the in vitro modulation of important enzymes without appreciable toxicity.

Heterochromatin distribution and histone modification patterns of H4K5 acetylation and H3S10 phosphorylation in Capsicum L.

ABSTRACT. The objective of this work was to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of the food dyes erythrosine, brilliant blue and red 40 on the cell cycle of Allium cepa L. Each dye was evaluated at doses of 0.4 and 4.0 ml, at exposure times of 24 and 48 hours, in onion root tip cells. Cells and the presence of chromosomal aberrations were analyzed throughout the whole cell cycle, totaling 5,000 cells for each group of bulbs. The mitotic index was calculated and the statistical analysis was conducted through the Chi-square test (p < 0.05). From the obtained results, it was verified that the food additives erythrosine and brilliant blue were not cytotoxic to the cells of the test system. However, the red 40 dye, at the two evaluated doses and the two exposure times used in this bioassay have promoted a significant reduction in cell division and induced the emergence of anaphasic and telophasic bridge aberrations and micronucleated cells. Additional cytotoxicity studies should be conducted to add information to these and other previously obtained results in order to evaluate, with property, the action of these three dyes on a cellular level.Keywords: food additive, dye toxicity, Allium cepa.Citotoxicidade dos corantes alimentares erythrosine (E-127), azul brilhante (E-133) e red 40 (E-129) em sistema-teste vegetal RESUMO. Este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar o efeito citotóxico dos corantes alimentares eritrosina, azul brilhante e vermelho 40 sobre o ciclo celular de Allium cepa L. Cada corante foi avaliado nas doses de 0,4 e 4,0mL, nos tempos de exposição de 24 e 48h, em células meristemáticas de raízes de cebolas. Foram analisadas células em todo o ciclo celular e a presença de aberrações cromossômicas, totalizando 5.000 células para cada grupo de bulbos. Calculou-se o índice mitótico e a análise estatística foi feita por meio do teste Qui-quadrado (p < 0,05). A partir dos resultados obtidos, verificou-se que os aditivos alimentares eritrosina e azul brilhante não foram citotóxicos às células do sistema-teste em questão. Já o corante vermelho 40, nas duas doses avaliadas e nos dois tempos de exposição estipulados para este bioensaio, promoveu redução significativa da divisão celular e induziu o aparecimento de aberrações dos tipos ponte anafásica, ponte telofásica e célula micronucleada. Estudos adicionais de citotoxicidade devem ser conduzidos para se somar a estes para assim avaliar, com propriedade, a ação destes três corantes em nível celular.Palavras-chave: aditivo alimentar, toxicidade de corante, Allium cepa.

This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of food flavorings (Strawberry, Condensed Milk and Chocolate) on Allium cepa meristematic root cells, with exposure times of 24 and 48 hours. Cytotoxic and mutagenic potential were evaluated separately at doses of 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 ml and in combination, in which for each dose, the same dose of one other flavoring was combined. The results were analyzed by the Chi-square test (p <0.05). The Strawberry flavor in both exposure times and the three studied doses, the Condensed Milk at 0.6 ml in the 48 hour exposure time, the Chocolate flavor at 0.4 ml, exposure time of 48 hours, and at 0.6 ml, in both exposure times and all treatments with combined doses, significantly reduced the cell division rate, proving to be cytotoxic. No treatment resulted in a significant number of cellular aberrations in A. cepa cells, therefore, the flavorings, under the conditions studied, were non-mutagenic.Keywords: food additive; toxicity at the cellular level; meristematic cells of Allium cepa roots. Practical Application:The results of this study suggest that the studied food flavorings should not be used indiscriminately. They also call attention to the urgent need for more toxicity studies using these food additives so as to properly define the amount of daily intake of these flavoring by the population.