Proximate composition, physical and chemical analysis of the pulp, kernel and oils of Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. were investigated. The macauba pulp and the kernel represented 49 and 6.25% of the mass of the whole fruit, respectively. The main components present in the pulp and kernel are lipids (23.62 and 46.96%) and fibers (13.89 and 15.81%). Furthermore, the mineral analysis showed that the kernel had more micronutrients than pulp, principally Cu, Mn and Zn. The influence of extraction by pressing and Soxhlet extractor in different solvents regarding the quality and yield of the oils was evaluated. The highest yield in oil extraction was obtained by Soxhlet method, influenced by the type of solvent and part of macauba's fruit. For pulp, the better solvent is ethanol and ethanol 95%, and for kernel is ethanol, ethanol 95%, hexane and ethyl either. The analysis of the composition of fatty acids in the oil from the pulp and kernel showed that the monounsaturated fatty acids were predominant in the pulp oil, specially the oleic acid (C 18:1), and saturated fatty acids in the kernel oil, principally the lauric acid (C 12:0).

Acrocomia aculeata is a palm tree typical of the Brazilian savanna. Oils extracted from the pulp and kernel of Acrocomia aculeata fruits have gained considerable attention mainly due to their nutritional and medicinal features. Despite their potential applications, a detailed analysis of their oxidative stability is still needed. The present study shows a close analysis of the oxidative stability of the oils obtained from the kernel and pulp of Acrocomia aculeata fruits, evaluating the influence of the intrinsic antioxidants and the fatty acid composition on the oil's thermal stability. A complete characterization of the physical-chemical and optical properties of the oils was performed. The results showed that 66% of the fatty acids present in the pulp oil are unsaturated, while 75% are saturated in the kernel oil. A higher content of intrinsic antioxidants was obtained in the pulp oil, and an induction period (at 110 • C) of 65 and 43 h was determined for the pulp and kernel oil, respectively. Additionally, oil absorption increases due to the formation of degradation products, and a new fluorescent compound was formed during the oil oxidation process at 110 • C. Even though the pulp presented a high content of unsaturated fatty acids, the pulp oil was more stable than the kernel oil due to its higher content of intrinsic antioxidant, especially carotenoids. The results also demonstrated that oil oxidation can be optically determined by analyzing the absorption at 232 and 270 nm, as well as the emission at 424 nm.

Campomanesia adamantium (Myrtaceae) is a medicinal plant distributed in Brazilian Cerrado. Different parts of this plant are used in popular medicine for treatment of several diseases like fever, diarrhea, hypercholesterolemia and rheumatism. The aim of this work was to evaluate the inhibition of heat-stable enterotoxin type A (STa) by gallic acid present in the peel of C. adamantium fruit and assays to assess the antidiarrheal activity, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic properties of peel extract using the T84 cell line model. The possible inhibition exerted by the gallic acid of the peel extract on the STa peptide was inferred by molecular dynamics simulations. The antidiarrheal effects were investigated measuring cGMP accumulation in cells after stimulation by STa toxin and antibacterial activity was assessed. The anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by inhibition of COX-1 and COX-2. MTT and LDH assays were used to evaluate any possible cytotoxic action while the CyQUANT test was used to investigate the effect on cell proliferation. A representation showing how the possible interactions between STa and the gallic acid of the extract might reduce the action of the enterotoxin is presented. C. adamantium peel extract significantly decreased the levels of cGMP in T84 cells. However, no effect on the species of microorganisms was observed. The extract also inhibited COX-1 (IC50 255.70 ± 0.04 ng/mL) and COX-2 (IC50 569.50 ± 0.11 ng/mL) enzymes. Cytotoxicity assay have shown significant changes in cells treated with the extract, which inhibited the cell proliferation until 72 hours of treatment. Direct interactions of phenolic compounds present in the extract with the STa toxin may limit its activity. Curative effect in the diarrhea treatment and its anti-inflammatory action is based on the pharmacological properties, mechanism of action of the C. adamantium peel extract, and no toxic effects of the peel extract presented on this work.

Baru (Dipteryx alata Vogel) is a native fruit of the Brazilian savanna that provides a nutritive oil, which also has medicinal properties. Baru fruits were collected in central-western Brazil, and the oil was obtained by pressing the seeds. The Baru oil was heated at 110 ∘ C for 24 h, and its oxidative stability was investigated by using fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy. The data showed that both absorption and fluorescence were able to precisely monitor the oil degradation induced by the thermooxidative process. The results revealed a rapid growth of the primary compounds generation in the first 16 hours of degradation. Significant amounts of secondary compounds began to be generated after 14 hours.

Campomanesia adamantium is a medicinal plant of the Brazilian Cerrado. Different parts of its fruits are used in popular medicine to treat gastrointestinal disorders, rheumatism, urinary tract infections and inflammations. Despite its widespread use by the local population, the mechanisms involving platelet aggregation and the inhibition of cyclooxygenase by C. adamantium are unknown. This study evaluated the chemical composition, antioxidant activities and potential benefits of the C. adamantium peel extract (CAPE) and its components in the platelet aggregation induced by arachidonic acid in platelet-rich plasma. Aspects of the pharmacological mechanism were investigated as follows: platelet viability, calcium mobilization, levels of the cyclic nucleotides cAMP and cGMP, thromboxane B2 levels, and the inhibitory effects on COX-1 and COX-2 were studied in vitro and using molecular docking in the catalytic domain of these proteins. The major CAPE constituents standing out from the chemical analysis are the flavonoids, namely those of the flavones and chalcones class. The results showed that CAPE, quercetin and myricetin significantly decreased arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation; the assays showed that CAPE and quercetin decreased the mobilization of calcium and thromboxane B2 levels in platelets and increased cAMP and cGMP levels. Moreover, CAPE inhibited the activity of COX-1 and COX-2, highlighting that quercetin could potentially prevent the access of arachidonic acid more to the catalytic site of COX-1 than COX-2. These results highlight CAPE’s potential as a promising therapeutic candidate for the prevention and treatment of diseases associated with platelet aggregation.

Despite a wide range of possible applications of nanopesticides, the mechanisms involved in their enhanced action remain largely unknown. Understanding the interaction between nanopesticides and plants is crucial for evaluating...

The protonation of acidic side-chains promotes a orientational shift of urea molecules, but only locally, with the interactions with other protein moieties being preserved.

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