The inflorescence of Musa paradisiaca, known as “banana heart” is a structure that includes flowers and bracts of banana, commonly used as food source worldwide. The aims of this study were (1) to determine the mineral components of Musa paradisiaca and (2) to compare the obtained results with previously reported data of Recommendation Dietary Allowances (RDAs) and edible plant permissible limits set by FAO/WHO. The samples were digested using microwave-assisted equipment, while elemental contents were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP OES). Metal (Mg, Ca, Cr, Ni, Cu, Fe, and Zn) and nonmetal (S and P) contents were detected. According to RDA, the inflorescences could be excellent sources of Mg, P, Cr, Cu, Zn, and Fe for females, males, and pregnant women, all age 31–50 y, as well as children (4–8 y). Bracts are good source of Zn for male and pregnant women and good source of Fe for children. All the samples contained considerable amounts of Mg, Ca, P, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Fe, which were quite low to induce deleterious effects (UL). FAO/WHO limits for edible plants have not yet been established for S, P, Mg, and Ca, but Ni and Zn are below of those limit values. However, Cr and Cu concentrations are higher than the values established for edible plants and may pose a threat to human health. Farmers should be encouraged by government agencies, not only for sustainability of production but also to ensure the storage and trade of banana tree inflorescence.

Resumo O presente artigo objetiva expor e discutir algumas táticas e estratégias adotadas por paraguaios indocumentados para ter acesso à saúde por meio do SUS no Brasil. A pesquisa de campo realizou-se especificamente entre a cidade paraguaia de Pedro Juan Caballero e a cidade brasileira de Ponta Porã. Outro objetivo é discutir as relações socioculturais de caráter identitário que essas táticas e estratégias engendram e oportunizam na faixa de fronteira em questão. No tocante às táticas e estratégias, elencamos as concepções teóricas de Michel de Certeau a respeito dessas categorias. Fredrik Barth e seus conceitos atinentes aos grupos étnicos dão a tônica de nossa análise acerca das diversas, e por vezes divergentes, identidades étnicas oriundas das inter-relações estabelecidas na dinâmica que propicia a existência de táticas e estratégias – no tocante ao acesso à saúde – na fronteira do Brasil com o Paraguai.

Information on the content of medicinal plants used in the treatment of diabetes is scarce in the literature. The objectives of this study were to determine the levels of macroelements and microelements in three different medicinal plant species including the dry samples and teas from Bauhinia forficata, Eleusine Indica, and Orthosiphon stamineus and assess the human health risks of ingestion of the tea. The content of the dry samples and teas was obtained using the technique of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES) after microwave digestion procedure. The hazard quotient (HQ) method was used to access the human health risks posed by heavy metal through tea consumption. The results revealed the presence of K, Mg, Na, P, Al, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Ni, and Se in dry samples and plant teas. The dry plants have high concentration of K and P. All dry plants contain Mg, Na, Al, Fe, Mn, Ni, Zn, and Cu above the limit permissible level set by the World Health Organization (WHO). All the hazard index (HI) values in plant teas were found to be within safe limits for human consumption ( HI < 1 ). The plants may have possible action benefits when used in popular medicine. However, the ingestion through capsules prepared by enclosing a plant powder or teas can be harmful to the health of diabetics. The prescription of this plant for the treatment of diabetes should be treated with caution.

The present study estimated the human health risk assessment and daily intake of heavy metals and metalloids in herbal medicines used to treat anxiety in Brazil. Six different brands of herbal medicines were purchased in the city of Campo Grande/MS, Brazil: Pasalix®, Calman®, Serenus®, Maracugina®, Prakalmar® and Calmasyn®. In total, eight elements including As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, and Pb were analyzed using optical emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP OES). Only the concentration of As in the herbal medicine Prakalmar® is above the values established by United States Pharmacopoeia Convention (USP) and Brazilian Pharmacopoeia (BF) for permitted concentration of elemental impurities in drugs substances. The concentration of Ba, Cd, Co, Cr and Cu in all herbal medicines are lower than the values set by USP and FB. The concentration of Pb in Calman® is lower than the limits established by BF, but higher than those established by USP. Pasalix, Serenus®, Calmasyn®, Prakalmar® and Marcacugina® have a higher Pb concentration than the values allowed by USP and BF. All herbal medications have concentrations within safe ranges for human consumption, with the exception of Calmasyn®, which has Pb over the value defined by USP for oral permissible daily exposure (PDE) for elemental impurities. The values of estimated daily intake (EDI) of metal (loid)s in adults and children obtained from the consumption of the herbal medicines are below the values stipulated by the minimal risk levels (MRLs). All the hazard index (HI) values recorded in this study were below 1. However, monitoring by regulatory agency is necessary, large doses of heavy metal may cause acute or chronic toxicities.

O artigo discute, a partir das intersecções existentes entre os mecanismos de acesso à saúde – elaborados e acionados pelos indocumentados nas cidades de Pedro Juan Caballero (PY) e Ponta Porã (BR) –, categorias como segredo, confiança, família e amizade. A pesquisa que deu origem aos dados etnográficos aqui apresentados teve por objetivo descobrir e analisar como as pessoas indocumentadas, brasileiros e paraguaios, procediam – e procedem – para ter acesso aos serviços de saúde no Brasil por meio do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), visto que esse acesso só é franqueado diante da apresentação de documentação específica, tais como o Cartão do SUS e a Cédula de Identidade para Estrangeiros (RNE). Aos indocumentados resta apelar aos expedientes tidos pelas autoridades brasileiras como ilegais e, portanto, passíveis de sanções por parte do Estado. As estratégias dos indocumentados para acessar os serviços de saúde através do SUS envolvem complexas redes de solidariedade, nas quais se imiscuem e se confundem binômios como legal/ilegal e confiança/desconfiança.