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To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report in the literature concerning the bioactive properties of faveleira products. This work focuses on the physicochemical evaluation of faveleira oil, as well as it investigates the bioactive properties of faveleira seeds, faveleira oil and the press cake obtained during the oilseed processing. The seeds were cold pressed and the following tests were performed: physicochemical characteristics (acidity, peroxide values, moisture and volatile matter, density and viscosity) and fatty acid profile of faveleira oil; total phenolic and flavonoid content of faveleira seed and press cake; antibacterial activity of seed, oil and press cake; and antioxidant activity (DPPH radical scavenging activity, reducing power assay, total antioxidant capacity, superoxide radical scavenging assay and oxygen radical absorbance capacity) of seed, oil and press cake. Our work demonstrated that the faveleira seed oil has low acidity (0.78 ± 0.03% oleic acid) and peroxide value (1.13 ± 0.12 mEq/1000g), associated with the relevant concentration of linoleic acid (53.56%). It was observed that important phenolics (398.89 ± 6.34 mg EAG/100 g), especially flavonoids (29.81 ± 0.71 mg RE/g) remain in the press cake, which indicates that the by-product of the faveleira oilseed production constitutes a rich residual source of bioactive compounds. No bacterial growth inhibition was detected, but all samples including faveleira seeds, press cake, oil and its fractions have potent antioxidant activities, mainly the press cake, with oxygen radical absorbance capacity of 28.39 ± 4.36 μM TE/g. Our results also show that faveleira oil has potential to be used as edible oil and the press cake should be used to contain the most antioxidants from seed.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of supplementation with retinyl palmitate in the immediate postpartum period on the levels of secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) in colostrum. Methods: A clinical trial was conducted among 96 recently-delivered mothers treated at a public maternity hospital, divided into control group, which was not supplemented (n = 44), and test group, supplemented on the first day postpartum (n = 52). Samples of 2 mL of colostrum were collected on the first 2 days postpartum. SIgA was measured by turbidimetry and data were analyzed by the Student t test. Results: Before supplementation, the average SIgA was 829.1±337.6 mg/dL in the control group and 827.3±249.8 mg/dL in the test group (p = 0.52). After supplementation, the average SIgA was 343.9±177.2 mg/dL in the unsupplemented group and 501.2±54.5 mg/dL in the supplemented group (p < 0.00001). Conclusion: The colostrum of women supplemented with retinyl palmitate has higher levels of SIgA, which suggests that the production of antibodies is modulated by vitamin A.

This study aims to evaluate the physicochemical properties and tocopherol content in faveleira seed oil extracted using three methods (Bligh-Dyer, Soxhlet extractor, and cold-pressing). Each of the methods generated different yield percentages, with cold-pressing producing the least amount of oil. However, the cold-pressing method produced better quality oil with more desirable properties, including low acidity (1.56 ± 0.01% oleic acid) and low peroxide value (0.45 ± 0.09 mEq/1000 g). Cold-pressing resulted in higher quantities of tocopherols: 0.59 ± 0.12 mg/100 g of alpha-tocopherol and 20.97 ± 1.15 mg/100 g of beta + gamma-tocopherol. Faveleira seed oil, when extracted by cold-pressing, maintains better physicochemical quality, with the highest beta + gamma-tocopherol content.

Despite the diagnosis of satisfactory nutritional status, breastfeeding women showed significant risk of subclinical vitamin E deficiency. We suggest that the concentration of alpha-tocopherol in colostrum be associated with type of delivery and pre-gestational nutritional status of women.

Composição química da semente da faveleira (Cnidoscolus phyllacanthus) em diferentes períodos sazonaisNa vegetação da caatinga a Cnidoscolus phyllacanthus, popularmente conhecida como favela ou faveleira, destaca-se por ser uma planta altamente resistente a seca e de alto teor nutricional, apresentando diversas aplicações. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência de diferentes períodos sazonais na composição química da semente da faveleira da região Seridó/RN. As sementes, separadas em 3 lotes por períodos sazonais diferentes (lote 1 -época chuvosa; lote 2 -estiagem inicial; lote 3 -estiagem prolongada), foram trituradas e analisadas quanto aos teores de umidade, cinzas, lipídios, proteínas e carboidratos. Verificou-se que as sementes da faveleira apresentaram predominância de lipídios e de proteínas. Na análise de umidade observou-se diferença significativa (p < 0,05) entre todos os lotes, o teor de cinzas foi significativamente (p < 0,05) menor no lote 1 (4,67 ± 0,18) quando comparado ao lote 3 (4,96 ± 0,08), na análise de proteínas o lote 3 (30,42 ± 1,63) apresentou o maior teor e diferiu significativamente (p < 0,05) dos demais. Quanto aos lipídios houve diferença significativa (p < 0,05) entre os lotes, Cnidoscolus phyllacanthus, popularly known as favela or faveleira, is a species of the caatinga vegetation highly resistant to drought, with high nutritional content, and having several uses. The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of different seasons on the chemical composition of faveleira seeds in the region of Seridó/RN. The seeds collected in different seasons were separated into 3 lots (lot 1 -rainy season; lot 2 -initial dry season; lot 3 -prolonged dry season), ground, and analyzed for moisture, ash, lipids, protein, and carbohydrates. The chemical analysis the seeds showed predominance of lipids and proteins. The results showed that moisture was significant different (p < 0.05) between all the lots; the ash content in lot 1 was significantly (p < 0.05) lower (4.67 ± 0.18) than lot 3 (4.96 ± 0.08); and protein content was highest in lot 3 (30.42 ± 1.63) and significantly (p < 0.05) different from the others. There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) for lipids between the lots, with lot 2 showing the lowest content (21.57 ± 0.37). Significant difference (p < 0.05) was also found for carbohydrates between the lots, with lot 1 (14.37 ± 1.83) having the lowest content and lot 2 (39.17 ± 0.52) the highest content. The differences observed between the lots are attributed to the harvest of the seeds in different seasonal periods. The results show that the seasonal period influences the nutritional value of faveleira seeds, and that better forms of use need to be identified according to the period of harvesting.

OBJETIVO: Definir o estado nutricional e estabelecer a prevalência de deficiência de vitamina A (DVA) em puérperas atendidas em maternidade pública brasileira, além de avaliar a influência de características maternas e obstétricas sobre os níveis de retinol no soro e no colostro nessa população. MÉTODOS: Participaram do estudo de corte transversal 97 puérperas saudáveis classificadas quanto à idade, estado nutricional, paridade, via de parto, peso ao nascer e idade gestacional do recém-nascido. Três amostras de colostro e uma de soro foram coletadas em jejum no pós-parto imediato. O retinol foi analisado por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência. Para caracterizar o estado nutricional em vitamina A, foi adotado ponto de corte para retinol no soro de 30µg/dL e, no colostro, de 60µg/dL. RESULTADOS: No grupo total de puérperas, a concentração média de 60µg/dL de retinol no colostro e 43µg/dL no soro indicou estado bioquímico adequado. No entanto, ao se avaliar individualmente, constatou-se alta prevalência de DVA subclínica no soro (15%) e no colostro (50%). Não foi verificada influência das características maternas, obstétricas e do neonato sobre os níveis de retinol no soro e no colostro das mulheres (p>0,05). CONCLUSÕES: O risco de DVA pode ocorrer em gestantes/puérperas independentemente das características maternas e obstétricas consideradas. Esse fato reforça a necessidade da atenção especial ao acompanhamento pré-natal de todas as mulheres, a fim de prevenir a instalação da DVA e garantir a redução dos índices de morbimortalidade infantil e materna.

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