RESUMOPropôs-se, neste trabalho, avaliar a potencialidade do uso de resíduos lignocelulósicos da bananicultura como substrato de fermentação do processo de metanização. Os resíduos casca de banana, engaço, folhas e pseudocaule da bananeira Musa cavendischii, foram biodegradados a 30 °C e pH 7,2, em diferentes volumes de trabalho, empregando-se como biodigestor frascos Erlenmeyer, garrafas plásticas e biorreator de bancada. A composição ideal do substrato para a metanização foi definida como: 50% m m -1 de cascas, 25% de folhas e 25% de pseudocaule. O engaço, por apresentar baixa velocidade de biodegradação em comparação com as demais biomassas, não foi recomendado para a metanização conjunta dos resíduos. A hidrólise ácida prévia do substrato foi prejudicial à produção de biogás visto que, além de conduzir à formação de H 2 S no biogás gerado, inibiu a formação de CH 4 . O rendimento máximo em biogás, obtido em biodigestor de bancada empregando-se substrato in natura, foi de 244 L CNTP kg -1 ST com 66,8% v v -1 de CH 4 . Palavras-chave: metanização, biodigestão anaeróbia, gás metanoBiodegradation of lignocellulosics residues generated in banana cultivation and its valorization for the production of biogas ABSTRACTThis study aimed to evaluate the capability of using lignocellulosic residues from banana cultivation as a fermentation substrate of the methanization process. The following Musa cavendischii residues were evaluated: bananas peels, stalk, leaves and the pseudostem. The fermentation studies were developed at 30 ºC and pH 7.2 with different working volumes in Erlenmeyers flasks, plastic bottles and bioreactor bench. The ideal composition of the methanization substrate was set containing: 50% (w/w) of peels, 25% of leaves and 25% of pseudostem. The stalk, presenting a lower rate of biodegradation in comparison to other biomasses, was not recommended for the methanization together with such residues. The acid hydrolysis advance of the substrate was detrimental to the production of biogas. In addition to making possible the production of H 2 S in biogas generated, it inhibited the formation of CH 4 . The maximum yield of biogas, obtained in biodigestor bench of employing substrate in nature, was 244 L CNTP kg -1 ST with 66.8% (v/v) of CH 4.

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Achyrocline satureioides (Lam.) D.C. is a herb native to South America, and its inflorescences are popularly employed to treat inflammatory diseases. Here, the effects of the in vivo actions of the hydroalcoholic extract obtained from inflorescences of A. satureioides on neutrophil trafficking into inflamed tissue were investigated. Male Wistar rats were orally treated with A. satureioides extract, and inflammation was induced one hour later by lipopolysaccharide injection into the subcutaneous tissue. The number of leukocytes and the amount of chemotactic mediators were quantified in the inflammatory exudate, and adhesion molecule and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) expressions and phorbol-myristate-acetate- (PMA-) stimulated oxidative burst were quantified in circulating neutrophils. Leukocyte-endothelial interactions were quantified in the mesentery tissue. Enzymes and tissue morphology of the liver and kidney were evaluated. Treatment with A. satureioides extract reduced neutrophil influx and secretion of leukotriene B4 and CINC-1 in the exudates, the number of rolling and adhered leukocytes in the mesentery postcapillary venules, neutrophil L-selectin, β2-integrin and TLR-4 expression, and oxidative burst, but did not cause an alteration in the morphology and activities of liver and kidney. Together, the data show that A. satureioides extract inhibits neutrophil functions related to the innate response and does not cause systemic toxicity.

R ESU M OA conversão de biomassas agroindustriais em bioetanol com consequente valorização de rejeitos e resíduos, tem sido objeto de estudos de várias pesquisas realizadas no Brasil e no mundo. Neste trabalho foi avaliada a potencialidade do uso da polpa e da casca da banana (Musa cavendishii ), tanto in natura como previamente hidrolisada por ácido e enzimas, como substrato da fermentação alcoólica. Os rendimentos médios em bioetanol (em base úmida de biomassa) obtidos com a polpa (0,48 ± 0,05 g g -1) e com a casca (0,34 ± 0,11 g g -1), ambos in natura, possibilitaram a eficiência do processo de conversão, da ordem de 95% do rendimento teórico. A produtividade máxima alcançada em bioetanol foi de 3,0 ± 0,7 g L -1 h -1 com o uso da polpa e de 1,32 ± 0,03 g L -1 h -1 com a casca. Nas condições operacionais avaliadas o pretratamento dos resíduos com ácido sulfúrico não é recomendado para a produção de bioetanol. Palavras-chave: bioálcool, biocombustíveis, resíduos agrícolasAlternative energy from biomass: Bioethanol from banana pulp and peels A B ST R A C T The conversion of agroindustrial biomasses in bioethanol with consequent enrichment of wastes has been the object of various research projects conducted in Brazil and around the world. This study evaluated the potential of the Musa cavendishii banana pulp and peels using in natural state and also waste previously hydrolyzed by acid and enzimes, as substrate of alcoholic fermentation. The mean bioethanol yields (on wet biomass base), obtained with the pulp (0.48 ± 0.05 g g -1) and with the peels (0.34 ± 0.11 g g -1), both in natural state, enabled a conversion process efficiency to the order of 95% of theoretical yield. Maximum value reached in bioethanol was 3.0 ± 0.7 g L -1 h -1 with pulp and 1.32 ± 0.03 g L -1 h -1 with peels. Under the evaluated operating conditions, the pre-treatment of wastes with sulfuric acid is not recommended for bioethanol production.

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The methanolic extract from Campomanesia reitziana fruits and the main active principle, identified as 4',6'-dihydroxy-3',5'-dimethyl-2'-methoxy chalcone or dimethyl cardamonin (1), exhibited pronounced antinociceptive effects against two models of pain in mice. Compound 1 caused dose-dependent inhibition of abdominal constrictions, with a calculated ID50 value of 8.1 (6.5-10.1) μmol/kg (i.p.), being about 16-fold more potent than two reference analgesic drugs. Methanolic extract and 1 were also effective against the formalin model, inhibiting both phases of pain, causing reductions of 39.9% and 26.8% (extract, 10 mg/kg) and 52.9% and 57.6% (compound 1, 5 mg/kg) for the first and second phases, respectively.