Natural Occurring Phenolic Derivatives from Mauritia flexuosa (Buriti) Stems and Their Potential Antibacterial Activity against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Mauritia flexuosa Linnaeus filius (buriti or aguage; Arecaceae) is a palm used by traditional medicine in Brazil to treat dysentery and diarrhea. Our group showed that the soluble dichloromethane (CH Cl ) fraction from EtOH extract from M. flexuosa stems inhibited the growth of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant S.

Isohemigossypolone: Antiophidic properties of a naphthoquinone isolated from Pachira aquatica Aubl.

We investigated the antiophidic properties of isohemigossypolone (ISO), a naphthoquinone isolated from the outer bark of the Pachira aquatic Aubl. The inhibition of phospholipase A, coagulant, fibrinogenolytic, hemorrhagic and myotoxic activities induced by Bothrops pauloensis venom (Pb) was investigated. For this, we use samples resulting from the incubation of Pb with ISO in different concentrations (1:1, 1:5 and 1:10 w/w), we also evaluated the condition of treatment using ISO after 15 min of venom inoculation.

Antiophidic activity of the secondary metabolite lupeol isolated from Zanthoxylum monogynum.

Previous studies have demonstrated the potential antiophidic activity of Zanthoxylum monogynum A.St.-Hil.

Two new usnic acid derivatives from the endophytic fungus Mycosphaerella sp.

The endophytic fungus Mycosphaerella sp. (UFMGCB2032) was isolated from the healthy leaves of Eugenia bimarginata, a plant from the Brazilian savanna. Two novel usnic acid derivatives, mycousfuranine (1) and mycousnicdiol (2), were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract, and their structure was elucidated by NMR and MS analyses.

Characterization of starch-based bioplastics from jackfruit seed plasticized with glycerol.

Biodegradable films based on starches from different botanical sources exhibited physicochemical and functional properties which were related with the starch characteristics. However, had inadequate mechanical properties and were hard and brittle. In this research, jackfruit seed starch plasticized with glycerol were developed and characterized.

Immobilization of sugars in supermacroporous cryogels for the purification of lectins by affinity chromatography.

Lectins are glycoproteins that bind to carbohydrates or glycoconjugates by specific interactions. The specificity of lectins to various carbohydrates is a determinant factor in the choice of ligand for the chromatographic matrix when using chromatography as a lectin purification technique. In this work, the immobilization of three different aminated carbohydrates on the surface of macroporous polymeric cryogels was evaluated.

Development of supermacroporous monolithic adsorbents for purifying lectins by affinity with sugars.

Affinity techniques are frequently used to purify biocompounds, because of specific interactions observed in many cases. One example are the lectins, proteins connected in a reversible manner and specific to carbohydrates or sugar-containing molecules. Four different methods were investigated (epoxy, Schiff base, glutaraldehyde and ethylenediamine) to immobilize the carbohydrate N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (d-GlcNAc) on the surface of supermacroporous cryogels made for lectin purification.

Reducing the life cycle GHG emissions of microalgal biodiesel through integration with ethanol production system.

Despite environmental benefits of algal-biofuels, the energy-intensive systems for producing microalgae-feedstock may result in high GHG emissions. Trying to overcome energy-costs, this research analyzed the biodiesel production system via dry-route, based on Chlorella vulgaris cultivated in raceways, by comparing the GHG-footprints of diverse microalgae-biodiesel scenarios. These involved: the single system of biomass production (C0); the application of pyrolysis on the residual microalgal biomass (cake) from the oil extraction process (C1); the same as C0, with anaerobic cake co-digested with cattle manure (C2); the same conditions as in C1 and C2, by integrating in both cases (respectively C3 and C4), the microalgae cultivation with an autonomous ethanol distillery.

Bone remodelling analysis of a bovine femur for a veterinary implant design.

The response of bovine bone to the presence of an implant is analysed with the aim of simulating bone remodelling in a developing model of a polymeric intramedullary interlocking nail for veterinary use. A 3-D finite element model of the femur diaphysis is built based on computed tomography images and using a CAD-based modelling pipeline. The bone remodelling process after the surgery is analysed and compared with the healthy bone.