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Recebido em 12/8/08; aceito em 4/2/09; publicado na web em 3/7/09 PHENOLIC COMPOSITION, ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF BRAZILIAN RED PROPOLIS. Propolis is a resinous hive product collected by honeybees from various plant sources. It has a complex chemical composition, constituted by various phenolic compounds. Extracts of increasing polarity (n-hexane, chloroform, and ethanol) were obtained from a sample of red propolis from the state of Alagoas. Assays were carried out for determination of contents of phenolics, along with antibacterial and antioxidant activities. The EEP, fractions and sub-fractions showed strong biological activities and were related with phenolic the content compounds contents. The sub-fractions were more bioactive than the EEP and fractions, demonstrating that the antioxidant and antibacterial activities are not a result of synergistic effect between the various chemical compounds in propolis.

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Biological assays that have been performed on different types of Brazilian propolis have shown that type 6 propolis (G6) has a strong antimicrobial activity and a low flavonoid content. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between the phenolic composition and the biological activities displayed by propolis G6 from the state of Bahia and green propolis, also known as type 12 (G12). The values of the flavonoids and the total phenolics in propolis G6 were different than those in propolis G12. Although the G12 variety presented greater antioxidant activity, propolis G6 proved to have greater antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities. The results showed that the phenolic compounds may not be the only compounds responsible for the biological activity. More detailed studies of the chemical composition and an assessment of the biological activity are required to establish the quality of propolis.Uniterms: Brazilian própolis/evaluation. Flavonoids/determination in propolis. Phenolic compounds/ determination in propolis. Propolis/quality control.Ensaios biológicos realizados com diferentes tipos de própolis brasileira têm mostrado que a própolis do tipo 6 (G6) tem forte atividade antimicrobiana e menor teor de flavonóides. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a correlação entre a composição fenólica e atividades biológicas apresentadas pela própolis G6, do Estado da Bahia, e a própolis verde, do tipo 12 (G12). Os teores de flavonóides e fenólicos totais na própolis G6 foram diferentes dos teores da própolis G12. Apesar da G12 apresentar maior atividade antioxidante, a própolis G6 apresenta maior atividade antimicrobiana e citotóxica. Os resultados mostraram que os compostos fenólicos não são os únicos compostos responsáveis pela atividade biológica da própolis. Estudos mais específicos da composição química, em adição à avaliação das atividades biológicas, são requeridos para determinar a qualidade da própolis.Unitermos: Própolis brasileira/avaliação. Flanovóides/determinação no própolis. Compostos fenólicos/ determinação no própolis. Própolis/controle de qualidade.

The aim of this work was to study the chemical composition, botanical origin and the antioxidant activity of ethanolic extracts of bee pollen. The antioxidant activity was measured by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl hydrate (DPPH.) scavenging method and b-carotenelinoleic assay. The pollen extracts were purified using a XAD2 resin and the amount of phenolic compounds and flavonoids were identified by reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses. The phenolic content of bee pollen extracts before and after the resin were 38.6 and 17.8 mg/g of gallic acid equivalent in bee pollen, respectively. Two different flavonoids (rutin and myricetin) which can be accounted by the high antioxidant activity of bee pollen extracts were identified and quantified. The total antioxidant capacity measured by the DPPH. radical method increased significantly in bee pollen extracts purified with hydrophobic resin: 24.84-94.75% (Palmeira). All samples were considered heterofloral, which were composed by pollen from Myrtaceae eucalyptus, Asteraceae and Brassicaceae families, and among others.El objetivo de este trabajo fue estudiar la composicio´n quı´mica, el origen bota´nico y la actividad antioxidante de los extractos etano´licos de polen de abeja de Apis melıfera L. La actividad antioxidante fue medida por los me´todos de secuestro del radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazylhydrate (DPPH . ) y por la oxidacio´n acoplada del beta-caroteno/a´cido linoleico. Los extractos etano´licos fueron purificados usa´ndose la resina XAD2 y la cantidad de compuestos feno´licos y flavonoides fueron identificados por el ana´lisis de RP-HPLC/UV-Vis y CG-MS. El contenido feno´lico de los extractos de polen de abeja antes y despue´s de la resina fueron 38,6 y 17,8 mg/g de GAE (equivalente en a´cido ga´lico) en el polen de abeja, respectivamente. Fueron identificados y cuantificados dos distintos flavonoides (rutina y miricetina), los cuales pueden explicar la alta actividad antioxidante de los extractos de polen de abeja. La capacidad antioxidante total medida por el me´todo del radical DPPH aumento´significativamente en los extractos purificados con la resina hidro´foba 24,84% para 94,75% (Palmeira/PR); 40,81% para 92,56% (Sa˜o Joaquim/SC); y 14,91% para 94,05% (Encruzilhada/RS). Todas las muestras fueron consideradas heteroflorales, las cuales eran compuestas por el polen de Myrtaceae eucalyptus y de las familias Asteraceae y Brassicaceae entre otras.

Yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil.) has been studied for its important biological activities mainly attributed to phenolic compounds. This study evaluated the antimicrobial activity of methanolic and ethanolic extracts of yerba mate against food pathogens, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella Enteritidis and Escherichia coli through minimum inhibitory (MIC) and bactericidal (MBC) concentrations, in addition to the determination of chemical composition by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and phenolic content. The most effective extract had its activity evaluated under different pH conditions by growth curve analysis. All microorganisms except E. coli were inhibited. The ethanolic extract showed the lowest MIC/MBC (0.78/0.78 mg/ml), the highest phenolic content (193.9 g.GAE/kg) and the presence of chlorogenic acid derivatives, especially 3-O-caffeoylquinic and caffeic acid. This extract was able to inhibit microbial growth at pH 7 and 8.

Manganese (Mn) is an essential element for human health. However, at high concentrations Mn may be neurotoxic. Mn accumulates in astrocytes, affecting their redox status. In view of the high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the exotic Brazilian fruit açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.), its methanolic extract was obtained by solid-phase extraction (SPE). This açaí extract showed considerable anthocyanins content and direct antioxidant capacity. The açaí extract scavenged 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radicals (DPPH•) with an EC₅₀ of 19.1 ppm, showing higher antioxidant activity compared to butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), but lower than ascorbic acid and quercetin. This obtained açaí extract also attenuated Mn-induced oxidative stress in primary cultured astrocytes. Specifically, the açaí extract at an optimal and nutritionally relevant concentration of 0.1 μg/ml prevented Mn-induced oxidative stress by (1) restoring GSH/GSSG ratio and net glutamate uptake, (2) protecting astrocytic membranes from lipid peroxidation, and (3) decreasing Mn-induced expression of erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) protein. A larger quantity of açaí extract exacerbated the effects of Mn on these parameters except with respect to lipid peroxidation assessed by means of F₂-isoprostanes. These studies indicate that at nutritionally relevant concentration, anthocyanins obtained from açaí protect astrocytes against Mn neurotoxicity, but at high concentrations, the "pro-oxidant" effects of its constituents likely prevail. Future studies may be profitably directed at potential protective effects of açaí anthocyanins in nutraceutical formulations.

Inúmeros esforços têm sido dirigidos para conferir às plantas seu real papel e valor na terapia. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a atividade antimicrobiana, mutagênica, toxicidade, e os efeitos no crescimento e diferenciação de Herpetomonas samuelpessoai, do extrato hidroalcoólico de Bauhinia forficata. Para avaliar a atividade antimicrobiana foi realizado o teste de difusão em ágar, bem como a determinação das concentrações inibitória (CIM) e microbicida mínimas (CMM). O potencial clastogênico e/ou aneugênico, in vivo, foi avaliado usando o teste do micronúcleo em medula óssea de camundongos Swiss albinus. Foi determinada também a dose letal média (DL50). O extrato inibiu o crescimento de oito bactérias, mostrando-se mais ativo para Gram-positivas e não foi eficiente para os fungos, tendo sido ativo nas concentrações de 2000, 1000, 500 e 250 mg/mL contra os microrganismos testados. Os resultados mostraram que nas concentrações administradas (500, 1000 e 2000 mg/Kg), não houve aumento estatisticamente significativo de micronúcleos. Não houve ação no crescimento e diferenciação de Herpetomonas samuelpessoai nas concentrações testadas. Com relação a DL50, o extrato não apresentou toxicidade.