Orientador: Luiz Claudio Di Stasi / Resumo: A Doença Inflamatória Intestinal engloba duas principais doenças sendo elas a Doença de Crohn e a Retocolite Ulcerativa onde ambas se caracterizam por uma inflamação crônica do intestino, com períodos de exacerbação seguidos de intervalos prologados com remissão dos sintomas. Sua etiologia é considerada multifatorial e ainda pouco elucidada. Considerando-se que não existe cura, que os fármacos utilizados são de alto custo, além de apresentarem sérios efeitos colaterais e ainda muitos pacientes não responderem a esses tratamentos disponíveis, a busca por estratégias complementares de prevenção e tratamento dessa doença que combinem eficácia e segurança, como o uso de alimentos funcionais, compostos antioxidantes e compostos bioativos se apresentam como uma perspectiva promissora. Com base nisso, a espécie vegetal Hibiscus esculentus L. conhecida popularmente como quiabo, foi selecionada para o presente estudo com o objetivo de avaliar a atividade anti-inflamatória intestinal das dietas enriquecidas com o fruto no modelo experimental da inflamação intestinal induzida por ácido trinitrobenzenosulfônico em ratos. Para tanto, a farinha dos frutos foi incorporada na dieta de ratos Wistar machos nas concentrações de 5% e de 10% por 28 dias antes e 7 dias após a indução do processo inflamatório intestinal. Os animais foram mortos no 35º dia e seus cólons foram extraídos. Para a caracterização da atividade anti-inflamatória intestinal foram analisados parâmetros macroscópicos (escore,... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Inflammatory Bowel Disease comprises two major diseases, Crohn´s disease and ulcerative colitis where both are characterized by chronic inflammation of the intestine, with periods of exacerbation followed by prolonged intervals with remission of symptoms. This disease is multifactorial with complex and not fully elucidated etiology. Considering that there is no cure and the drugs may cause serious side effects, and many patients do not respond to the available treatments, researches focused on the development of new treatment strategies are important. The pursuit of complementary strategy of prevention and treatment of disease that combine effectiveness and safety, such as the use of functional foods, antioxidant compounds and bioactive compounds if known as a promising perspective. Based on this, a vegetable species Hibiscus esculentus L., populary known as okra, was selected for this study with the objective to evaluate the activity of enriched diet in the experimental model of intestinal inflammation induced by trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid in rats. For this, a fruit flour was incorporated in the diet of male Wistar rats in concentrations of 5% and 10% for 28 days before and 7 days after of induction of intestinal inflammation by TNBS. The animals were killed on the 35th day and their colons were removed. For the characterization of the intestinal antiinflammatory activity, were performed macroscopic studies (score, lesion length, weight ratio length of the colon, occurrenc... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Les composés phénoliques sont des métabolites secondaires chez les végétaux, qui possèdent un large éventail de propriétés biologiques et fonctionnelles, par exemple antioxydantes, antimicrobiennes. Comme ils sont très répandus dans le règne végétal, les sous-produits issus de la transformation végétale représentent une source intéressante et peu coûteuse des polyphénols qui pourraient être utilisés comme additifs naturels, inoffensifs et multifonctionnels, avec une valeur de marché ajoutée. Toutefois, leur polarité limite leur utilisation dans des systèmes émulsionnés complexes, tels que ceux rencontrés en formulations cosmétiques, alimentaires, ou pharmaceutiques. Sur cette base, la lipophilisation s’est avérée être une stratégie efficace pour améliorer le caractère hydrophobe de ces composés bioactifs et, par conséquent, leurs propriétés fonctionnelles.Le principal objectif de ce travail a été d'ajouter de la valeur à des sources végétales riches en polyphénols par l'extraction, caractérisation et enfin, par lipophilisation des principaux polyphénols issus de ces sources. Dans ce contexte, Hibiscus sabdariffa L. ou roselle, cultivée dans le monde entier et considérée comme une importante source d’anthocyanes, avec des propriétés colorantes uniques, ainsi que des propriétés antioxydantes et antimicrobiennes, a été utilisée pour l'extraction assistée par ultrasons, suivi d’une seule étape de fractionnement par chromatographie en phase liquide à basse pression, pour isoler ces principaux anthocyanes. Les composés ainsi obtenus ont été utilisés pour évaluer leur possibilité à être lipophilisés en utilisant différentes longueurs de chaînes alkyles. Egalement, les propriétés colorantes des anthocyanes issues d’hibiscus ont été calculées par la méthode de pH jumps. Ainsi, les constantes de pseudo équilibre (pK'a 2,9), d’acidité (pKa 3,7) et d’hydratation (pK'h 3,0) de la delphinidine-3-O-sambubioside, ont été estimées.La delphinidine-3-O-sambubioside et la cyanidine-3-O-sambubioside ont été les principaux anthocyanes obtenus à partir de l’extrait d'hibiscus. Ces composés ont été lipophilisés avec succès pour la première fois, par voie chimique. Les produits ont été caractérisés par des techniques de chromatographie et spectrométrie. L'acide protocatéchique (PA), qui peut être extrait de la fleur d'hibiscus, a été utilisé comme molécule modèle, et il a été lipophilisé par voie chimique avec une série homologue d'alcools. Afin d'évaluer l'impact de la lipophilisation sur leurs propriétés fonctionnelles, leur activités antioxydantes (DPPH, ORAC, CAT), et antifongique (méthode de microdilution) ont été évaluées avant et après lipophilisation. De manière générale, les molécules estérifiées avec des alcools de chaîne courte et moyenne (de C1 à C6) ont montré des activités améliorées par rapport au composé non estérifié.En conclusion, cette étude a montré que la lipophilisation, en utilisant une longueur de chaîne optimale, pourrait avoir un impact positif sur les propriétés antioxydantes et antifongiques des composés phénoliques. Ces travaux de thèse ont également démontré que cette stratégie peut être appliquée à différentes familles de composés phénoliques, tels que les anthocyanes et les acides phénoliques, pour l’obtention des molécules pouvant être potentiellement utilisées comme additifs dans des produits de formulation. / Phenolic compounds are a group of secondary plant metabolites with a broad range of inherent biological and functional properties e.g. antioxidants and antimicrobial agents, all bundled within the phenol functional group. Since they are one of the most widely distributed molecules in the vegetal kingdom, by-products issued from the vegetal processing represent an interesting and inexpensive source of polyphenols that could be used as natural, innocuous and multifunctional ingredients, with an added market value. However, the polarity of these phenolic compounds limits their use in complex emulsified systems, such as food, pharmaceutical or cosmetic formulations. Based on this, lipophilization has showed to be an efficient strategy to enhance the hydrophobicity of these bioactive compounds and, consequently, their functional properties. The aim of this work was to add value to polyphenol-rich plant sources by the extraction, characterization and finally, lipophilization of their predominant polyphenols. In this context, Hibiscus sabdariffa L. or roselle flower, an inexpensive, worldwide produced source of anthocyanins, with unique color, and, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, was used for ultrasound-assisted extraction and single-step fractionation by low-pressure liquid chromatography, to isolate its main anthocyanins. The obtained compounds were used to evaluate their suitability for lipophilization with different chain length alkyl donors. Moreover, the color properties of hibiscus anthocyanins were studied by the pH jumps method, which allowed the calculation of the pseudo equilibrium (pK'a 2.9), acidity (pKa 3.7) and hydration constants (pK'h 3.0).The obtained hibiscus anthocyanins (delphinidin-sambubioside and cyanidin-sambubioside) were successfully chemically lipophilized. The products were characterized by means of LC/ESI-MS. Moreover, protocatechuic acid (PA), which can be extracted from hibiscus flowers, was used as model molecule, and it was chemically lipophilized with a homologous series of alcohols. In order to evaluate the impact of the lipophilization on their functional properties, protocatechuates were assessed for their antioxidant (DPPH, ORAC, CAT), and antifungal (microdilution method) activity, before and after chemical lipophilization. In general, protocatechuates with short to medium alkyl chain lengths (from C1 to C6) showed improved activities compared to the parent compound. In conclusion, this study showed that, lipophilization using the optimal chain length could have a positive impact in the functional properties, e.g. antioxidant and antifungal activities, of phenolic compounds. Here was also demonstrated that this strategy can be applied to different families of phenolic compounds, such as anthocyanins and phenolic acids, representing an alternative to synthesize molecules that might have potential use as additives in formulated products.

Hibiscus sabdariffa L. est une plante vivace herbacée localisée dans les zones tropicales et subtropicales des deux hémisphères. Au Sénégal, où elle a été introduite au 19ème siècle, H. sabdariffa, encore appelé bissap ou roselle, est cultivé sur l'ensemble du territoire et exploité principalement pour ses calices. Une boisson désaltérante est traditionnellement élaborée à partir des calices séchés par extraction à l'eau. La caractérisation physico-chimique et biochimique des calices nous a tout d'abord permis de mieux évaluer le potentiel de ce produit. Ainsi, les calices contiennent entre 767 et 1480 mg.100g -1 d'anthocyanes et entre 1347 et 3736 mg.100g-1 de polyphénols totaux. Ils présentent un pouvoir antioxydant voisin de 260 µmolTrolox.g-1. L'acide malique y est l'acide organique majoritaire avec une teneur pouvant atteindre 2,3 g.100g-1. De part ces caractéristiques, l'extrait aqueux de calices d'H. sabdariffa constitue une excellente source d'anthocyanes. Le travail s'est ensuite focalisé sur le procédé d'obtention de cet extrait. L'étude de l'extraction solide-liquide a été réalisée à partir de calices séchés et d'eau à des températures comprises entre 25 et 90 °C. Un rendement d'extraction en anthocyanes maximum de 88 % a été obtenu à 25 °C avec un ratio calice/eau de 1/25. La réduction de la taille des particules et l'augmentation de la température diminuent le temps d'extraction mais n'affectent pas le rendement d'extraction. Un modèle d'extraction solide-liquide incluant les cinétiques de dégradation thermique des anthocyanes a été proposé puis validé. La microfiltration tangentielle sur membrane céramique de diamètre moyen de pores 0,2 µm a permis de produire un extrait stérilisé à froid, stable pendant 90 j à 20 °C. Nous avons montré à ce niveau que la pression transmembranaire optimisée à un facteur de réduct ion volumique (FRV) égal à 1 n'est plus optimale lorsque le FRV augmente. Pour concentrer les anthocyanes présents dans l'extrait, l'ultrafiltration sur une membrane de seuil de coupure de 5 kDa peut être utilisée malgré une rétention incomplète (95-97 %). Par contre, la nanofiltration offre une rétention totale des anthocyanes. Le procédé, mis en uvre dans des conditions semi-industrielles, a permis d'augmenter la teneur en extrait sec soluble (ESS) de 40 à 250 g.kg-1 à 35 °C, à une pression transmembranaire comprise entre 20 et 30 bar avec un flux moyen de 15 kg.h-1.m-2. L'évaporation osmotique, testée sur un pilote équipé d'une membrane en polypropylène de 10 m2, a permis de concentrer l'extrait anthocyanique jusqu'à 620 g d'ESS.kg-1. Cet extrait concentré conserve toutes les qualités physico-chimiques, biochimiques, nutritionnelles et aromatiques de l'extrait initial. Le flux évaporatoire est directement corrélé à la teneur en extrait sec solub le du produit à concentrer. Enfin, divers couplages d'opérations unitaires ont été comparés pour obtenir un extrait concentré à partir de calices d'H. sabdariffa. Le procédé qui associe une extraction à froid, une pré-concentration par nanofiltration et une concentration par évaporation osmotique est la meilleure voie tant en terme de coûts d'investissement et de fonctionnement que de qualité de l'extrait. / Hibiscus sabdariffa L. is a herbaceous plant, cultivated largely in tropical and subtropical areas of both hemispheres. In Senegal, where it was introduced in the 19th century, H. sabdariffa L. also called bissap or roselle is grown throughout the territory and operated primarily for its calyx. A refreshing drink is traditionally made from dried calyx by water extraction. The physical-chemical and biochemical characterization of the calyx allowed us to assess better the potential of this product. Thus, the calyx contained between 767 and 1480 mg.100g-1 of anthocyanins and between 1347 and 3736 mg.100g-1 of total polyphenols. They have an antioxidant capacity closed to 260 μmolTrolox.g-1. Malic acid is the major organic acid with content up to 2.3 g.100g-1. Because of these characteristics, the aqueous extract of H. sabdariffa calyx is an excellent source of anthocyanins. The work was then focused on the process for obtaining this extract. The study of solid-liquid extraction was performed from dried calyx with water at temperature range from 25 and 90 ° C. A maximum extraction yield of anthocyanin of 88 % was obtained at 25 ° C with a solid-to-solvent ratio of 1/25. Reducing the particle size and increasing the temperature decreased the extraction time but do not affect the extraction efficiency. A model of solid-liquid extraction which included the thermal anthocyanins degradation kinetics has been proposed and validated. Crossflow microfiltration with tubular ceramic 0.2 pore size membrane has produced a cold sterilized extract, stable during 90 days at 20 °C. We have shown here that the transmembrane pressure optimized at a volume reduction ratio (VRR) equal to 1 is no longer optimum when the VRR is increasing. To concentrate the anthocyanins present in the extract, the ultrafiltration membrane with a cutoff of 5 kDa can be used despite incomplete retention (95-97%). By cons, nanofiltration offers a tot al retention of anthocyanins. The method, implemented in semi-industrial conditions, has increased the content of total soluble solids (TSS) from 40 to 250 g.kg-1 at 35 °C at a transmembrane pressure between 20 and 30 bar with an average flow of 15 kg.h-1.m-2. The osmotic evaporation, tested on a pilot equipped with a polypropylene membrane of 10 m2, has concentrated anthocyanin extract up to 620 g TSS. kg-1. This concentrated extract retains all the physical-chemical, biochemical, nutritional and aromatic quality of the original extract. The evaporation flux is directly correlated with the total soluble solids content of the product to concentrate. Finally, various couplings of unit operations were compared to obtain a concentrated extract from H. sabdariffa calyx. The process which combines a cold extraction, a pre-concentration by nanofiltration and concentration by osmotic evaporation is the best way both in terms of investment costs and operating and quality of the ext ract.

La toxicité des émissions de formaldéhyde rejetées par les panneaux de particules à base de résines contenant du formaldéhyde motive la recherche de liants alternatifs notamment d’origine naturelle. Ce travail porte sur l’élaboration par thermopressage et la caractérisation physico-mécanique de panneaux de particules sans ou à faibles rejets de formaldéhyde à partir des tiges de kénaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) et de la colle d’os ou de liants végétaux riches en tannins ou en mucilage de plantes tropicales. L’utilisation de ces bioadhésifs a permis d’obtenir des panneaux de bonne résistance en flexion (370 = MOE = 3100 MPa ; 2,01 = MOR = 23 MPa). Un procédé peut être envisagé pour une production de ces panneaux utilisables comme matériaux de construction écologiques / The proven toxicity of lignocellulosic composites based on urea-formaldehyde, phenol-formaldehyde type resins by their formaldehyde emissions cause environmental health problems. A study has been carried out to enhance the development of particleboards of low density with few formaldehyde emissions manufactured with Hibiscus cannabinus core reinforcements and matrix of bone adhesive or tannin material from pod of Parkia biglobosa, stem barks of Pithecellobium dulce and foliar sheath of Sorghum caudatum or mucilaginous material from calyx of Bombax costatum and stem barks of Grewia venusta. Vegetable materials were employed in rough powders or extracts forms, or in mixture with the bone adhesive. The results obtained reveal that bone adhesive was as valuable as the urea formaldehyde resin for manufacturing particleboard with good mechanical properties (MOE: 541 MPa, MOR: 5.23, IB: 0.58 MPa). Tannin and mucilaginous rough materials gave particleboards with bending modulus of elasticity (MOE) ranging from 370 to 400 MPa, bending modulus of rupture (MOR) varying from 2.01 to 3.17 MPa and internal bond (IB) going from 0.06 to 0.28 MPa. Those plant extracts leaded to particleboards with variable mechanical properties (MOE: 484 –1100 MPa, MOR: 2.36 – 5.66 MPa and IB: 0.11 – 0.46 MPa) depending of the nature of the adhesive. Tannin based adhesive gave particleboards more valuable than mucilaginous ones. The association of the bone adhesive with the rough or the extracts of the plants material improved the mechanical characteristics of the panels

This study explores the silencing of familial spaces in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus. It probes into how the familial space is invested with religiosity: how ritual and norm structure and silence familial spaces and how transcendence from these spaces can be achieved through elements of laughter, music and sexuality. The study uses post-colonial theories, concepts of familial ideology and familial theory to read the text. The introductory chapter provides a politico-historical background of the text, then a literary historiography of how the familial trope has been used in African literature with special focus on Achebe. The chapter also outlines the theoretical framework of the study while anticipating the issues to be dealt with. Chapter two focuses on how the familial space is invested with religious rituals and how these silence the familial space. Chapter three examines how augmentation out of the silenced familial spaces works through elements of laughter, sexuality and music. Chapter four investigates the family as a portrait of the state and most significantly how these two institutions are portrayed to be in a complex relationship. The study’s conclusion is that the family can be used as an alternative site for discourses of marginality and can give a nuanced critique of the postcolony.

Submitted by Jorge Silva (jorgelmsilva@ufrrj.br) on 2017-08-23T18:01:56Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2016 - Ana L?gia Panain de Souza Rezende.pdf: 2352671 bytes, checksum: 2325a74ffef5675199939b7af3f37d60 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-23T18:01:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2016 - Ana L?gia Panain de Souza Rezende.pdf: 2352671 bytes, checksum: 2325a74ffef5675199939b7af3f37d60 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-07-26 / CAPES / Vegetables are a source of nutrients essential to human health and have low caloric value. Among these, non-conventional vegetables also have other advantages such as hardiness and the lowest price, but lacks information on these species which prevents an increase in its production and consumption. Thus, the objective of this study was to cultivate the species Hibiscus sabdariffa, better known as vinagreira, characterize some of its constituents and estimate its shelf life potential when stored in polypropylene packaging with different perforations and stored at 5 ? 1 ?C. The vinagreira remained for approximately 120 days in field conditions in the Horticultural Sector UFRRJ. The branches were collected and transported to the Embrapa Food, which were washed, selected, arranged in bunches of about 150g and subjected to treatment consisting of the conical packaging polypropylene, perforated (P), not perforated (NP), micro perforated (MP) and control (C) in which the packs were stored without use of packaging. They were carried physical, physicochemical and chemical every two days storage. The design was completely randomized in split plots, and treatments in the plots and the days of storage in the subplot. The results were analyzed using SPSS. It was the homogeneity and normality of the data, followed by analysis of variance and significance according to Tukey test and/or regression analysis. For control, the analyzes were performed only until the fourth day of storage due to reduction of apparent quality such as wilting and color changes of the leaves, while those packaged in decreased the apparent quality, with symptoms of senescence the eighth day of storage. The leaves have a high levels of titratable acidity and carotenoids, being the predominant malic acid and the major carotenoid, the ?-carotene. It was concluded that vinagreira is well adapted Climate conditions Serop?dica-RJ, showing the source of compounds with antioxidant activity. With regard to cold storage, the use of plastic polypropylene packaging provided greater potential life for vegetables, because in these conditions the bunches could be sold for up to seven days after harvest without loss of quality, while the control bunches potential shelf life was less four days. / As hortali?as s?o fonte de nutrientes essenciais ? sa?de humana e possuem baixo valor cal?rico. Dentre estas, as hortali?as n?o-convencionais apresentam ainda outras vantagens como a rusticidade e o menor pre?o, por?m faltam informa??es sobre estas esp?cies o que impossibilita um aumento da sua produ??o e consumo. Desse modo, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi cultivar a esp?cie Hibiscus sabdariffa, mais conhecida como vinagreira, caracterizar alguns dos seus constituintes e estimar a sua vida ?til potencial, quando acondicionada em embalagens de polipropileno com diferentes perfura??es e armazenadas a 5 ? 1 ?C. A vinagreira permaneceu por aproximadamente 120 dias em condi??es de campo no Setor de Horticultura da UFRRJ. Os ramos foram colhidos e transportados para a Embrapa Agroind?stria de Alimentos, onde foram lavados, selecionados, arranjados em ma?os de aproximadamente 150 g e submetidos aos tratamentos, constitu?dos pelas embalagens c?nicas de polipropileno, perfurada (P), n?o perfurada (NP), micro perfurada (MP) e o controle (C) em que foram armazenados sem o uso de embalagens. Foram realizadas an?lises f?sicas, f?sico-qu?micas e qu?micas a cada dois dias do armazenamento. O delineamento utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, em esquema de parcelas subdivididas, tendo os tratamentos nas parcelas e os dias de armazenamento na subparcela. Os resultados foram submetidos a an?lises estat?sticas pelo programa SPSS. Verificou-se a homogeneidade e normalidade dos dados, com posterior an?lise de vari?ncia e de acordo com a signific?ncia procedeu-se o teste Tukey e/ou an?lise de regress?o. Para o controle, as an?lises foram realizadas somente at? o quarto dia do armazenamento, devido ? redu??o da qualidade aparente, como murchamento e altera??es de cor das folhas, enquanto para os ma?os acondicionados nas embalagens houve redu??o da qualidade aparente e sintomas de senesc?ncia ao oitavo dia do armazenamento. As folhas apresentaram elevado teor de acidez total titul?vel e de carotenoides, sendo o ?cido predominante o m?lico e o carotenoide majorit?rio, o ?-caroteno. Concluiu-se que a vinagreira se adapta bem as condi??es clim?ticas de Serop?dica-RJ, mostrando-se fonte de compostos com atividade antioxidante. Em rela??o ao armazenamento refrigerado, a utiliza??o de embalagens pl?sticas de polipropileno proporcionou maior vida ?til potencial para a hortali?a, pois nestas condi??es os ma?os poderiam ser comercializados por at? sete dias ap?s a colheita, sem preju?zo da qualidade, enquanto os ma?os do controle a vida ?til potencial foi inferior a quatro dias.

In Purple Hibiscus, Adichie describes what happens in a family when one person, Papa Eugene, takes control and completely subjugates other family members to his wishes and demands. The author shows the dire consequences his actions have on his family but also how those actions ultimately lead to his own destruction. This essay links the restrictions and abuse suffered by Kambili and her family to Michel Foucault’s theories on torture and surveillance as detailed in Discipline and Punish. Foucault’s theories are linked to Jeremy Bentham’s Panopticon in order to further introduce the concept of surveillance. The essay describes the physical and psychological abuse suffered by the family and also details the surveillance and torture techniques used by Papa Eugene to stay in control. Moreover, it argues that power can be lost through applying too much control and by metering out punishment that is too harsh and it shows how such actions ultimately lead to rebellion.

<p>Basella alba (BA) and Hibiscus macranthus (HM) are used by traditional healers in Cameroon to treat male sexual fertility problems. Previous studies showed that in vivo administration of the leaf extracts of both plants caused a significant increase in rat seminal vesicle weight and spermatozoa numbers was accompanied by a significant increase in serum testosterone. The aim of this study was to establish the effects of BA and HM extracts on Sertoli cell functions. TM4 cell line was used in this study as it exhibited properties similar to the Sertoli cells (Mather, 1982). Sertoli cell play a key role in spermatogenesis by regulating and supporting germ cell development. Therefore, any alterations in Sertoli cell physiology or structure may lead to impaired spermatogenesis, germ cell loss and male infertility. Developing germ cells in the seminiferous tubule require a constant supply of lactate and pyruvate (Jutte et al, 1981 / 1982) and toxicant induced alterations in these nutrients have been shown to induce germ cell necrosis (Monsees et al., 2000). TM4 Sertoli cells were cultured in DMEM/Ham F-12 (M) for one day and exposed to<br /> 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, 100 &mu / g/ml of BA and HM extracts, respectively, for four further days. The extracts were dissolved in 0.5 % DMSO in M, while 0.5 % and 2% DMSO in M were used as negative or positive controls, respectively, and 100mM ethanol as positive control where indicated. Results obtained from the Sertoli cells exposed to BA extracts, showed that the plant extract had no significant effect on the cell viability but induced a significant concentration-dependent increase in lactate (19-67%) and pyruvate levels (39-102%) and a concentration-dependent decrease in the protein content (9-42%). The H&amp / E histological study confirmed that the BA extract had no cytotoxic effect, as there were no changes in the morphology of the cell. Likewise, apoptotic study using DAPI showed no alteration in the nucleus when compared to the negative control. The HM plant extract significantly enhanced mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity (7fold) in the Sertoli cells but caused only slight alterations in the lactate and pyruvate levels. There was no effect seen in the protein content of the Sertoli cells. H&amp / E and DAPI staining revealed that there were neither changes in the morphology of the cells nor any alteration regarding the mitotic and apoptotic indices. Thus, the HM extract did not have a cytotoxic effect on the cells. This study demonstrated that the Basella alba methanol extract may enhance spermatogenesis as it stimulated the source of energy required for the development of germ cells without exerting a cytotoxic effect. The Hibiscus macranthus extract stimulated mitochondrial dehydrogenase activities and may thus trigger changes in Sertoli cell physiology. In summary, both plant extracts enhanced certain Sertoli cell<br /> functions and thus might explain the positive in vivo effects of the combined plant extracts on rat spermatogenesis observed by Moundipa et al. (1999).</p>

<p>Basella alba (BA) and Hibiscus macranthus (HM) are used by traditional healers in Cameroon to treat male sexual fertility problems. Previous studies showed that in vivo administration of the leaf extracts of both plants caused a significant increase in rat seminal vesicle weight and spermatozoa numbers was accompanied by a significant increase in serum testosterone. The aim of this study was to establish the effects of BA and HM extracts on Sertoli cell functions. TM4 cell line was used in this study as it exhibited properties similar to the Sertoli cells (Mather, 1982). Sertoli cell play a key role in spermatogenesis by regulating and supporting germ cell development. Therefore, any alterations in Sertoli cell physiology or structure may lead to impaired spermatogenesis, germ cell loss and male infertility. Developing germ cells in the seminiferous tubule require a constant supply of lactate and pyruvate (Jutte et al, 1981 / 1982) and toxicant induced alterations in these nutrients have been shown to induce germ cell necrosis (Monsees et al., 2000). TM4 Sertoli cells were cultured in DMEM/Ham F-12 (M) for one day and exposed to<br /> 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, 100 &mu / g/ml of BA and HM extracts, respectively, for four further days. The extracts were dissolved in 0.5 % DMSO in M, while 0.5 % and 2% DMSO in M were used as negative or positive controls, respectively, and 100mM ethanol as positive control where indicated. Results obtained from the Sertoli cells exposed to BA extracts, showed that the plant extract had no significant effect on the cell viability but induced a significant concentration-dependent increase in lactate (19-67%) and pyruvate levels (39-102%) and a concentration-dependent decrease in the protein content (9-42%). The H&amp / E histological study confirmed that the BA extract had no cytotoxic effect, as there were no changes in the morphology of the cell. Likewise, apoptotic study using DAPI showed no alteration in the nucleus when compared to the negative control. The HM plant extract significantly enhanced mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity (7fold) in the Sertoli cells but caused only slight alterations in the lactate and pyruvate levels. There was no effect seen in the protein content of the Sertoli cells. H&amp / E and DAPI staining revealed that there were neither changes in the morphology of the cells nor any alteration regarding the mitotic and apoptotic indices. Thus, the HM extract did not have a cytotoxic effect on the cells. This study demonstrated that the Basella alba methanol extract may enhance spermatogenesis as it stimulated the source of energy required for the development of germ cells without exerting a cytotoxic effect. The Hibiscus macranthus extract stimulated mitochondrial dehydrogenase activities and may thus trigger changes in Sertoli cell physiology. In summary, both plant extracts enhanced certain Sertoli cell<br /> functions and thus might explain the positive in vivo effects of the combined plant extracts on rat spermatogenesis observed by Moundipa et al. (1999).</p>

Os cálices do hibisco possuem uma grande quantidade de compostos bioativos responsáveis pela sua atividade antioxidante. O presente trabalho teve como objetivos a obtenção de extratos contendo esses compostos bioativos em solução aquosa com 2 % de ácido cítrico por extração assistida por micro-ondas (EAM) e o encapsulamento desses extratos por atomização e liofilização utilizando polidextrose (PD), proteína isolada do soro de leite (WPI) e a mistura destes na concentração de 10 %. Previamente foram estudados três métodos de extração, o primeiro usando somente EAM a 200, 300 e 700 W de potência, e tempos de 2, 5 e 8 minutos; o segundo consistiu de dois períodos, a extração aquosa ácida com tempos de 1, 2, 4, 6, 18 e 24 horas seguida de EAM nas potências de 200, 300 e 700 W; o terceiro consistiu de EAM seguida de extração aquosa ácida, nos mesmos tempos e potências citados para o segundo método. Os resultados indicaram que a melhor condição do primeiro método foi a 700 W e 8 min, do segundo método realizada a 6 horas de extração aquosa ácida, seguida de EAM a 700 W por 8 min e do terceiro método, EAM a 700 W por 8 min seguida de 6 horas de extração aquosa ácida. Quando os três métodos foram comparados, a melhor condição de extração foi aquela obtida no terceiro método: 1,63 mg delfinidina-3-sambubiosídeo · g-1; 29,62 mg EAG · g-1; 133,25 μmol ET · g-1 para antocianinas, fenólicos totais e atividade antioxidante por ABTS, respectivamente. Para avaliar o efeito da extração obtida somente por EAM, os extratos obtidos por extração exaustiva com metanol por 25 min e EAM a 700 W e 8 min foram quantificados por HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS, sendo encontrados 13 compostos (6 ácidos fenólicos, 2 antocianinas e 5 flavonóides derivados da quercetina, kaempferol e miricetina). Os compostos fenólicos majoritários foram o ácido 3-cafeoilquínico (2,58 e 1,32 mg · g-1) e ácido 5-cafeoilquínico (1,71 e 0,90 mg · g-1) para extração exaustiva e EAM, respectivamente. Esse mesmo extrato (700 W e 8 min) foi encapsulado por atomização (160 °C) e liofilização (- 68 °C por 54 horas). Os pós obtidos foram avaliados quanto aos teores de compostos fenólicos totais, antocianinas monoméricas totais, atividade antioxidante (ABTS, DPPH e HRSA), medidas por análises espectrofotométricas, atividade de água, umidade, higroscopicidade, solubilidade, eficiência de encapsulação, cor, análise termogravimétrica, temperatura de transição vítrea, espectroscopia de infravermelho com transformada de Fourier (FTIR) e microestrutura (MEV). Os pós atomizados tiveram menor atividade de água (0,14 a 0,17), umidade (3,4 a 4,5 %), higroscopicidade (23,9 a 34,1 %), solubilidade (86 a 98,2 %) e eficiência de encapsulação (51,62 a 84,52 %) do que os pós liofilizados. Os resultados do FTIR mostraram que os encapsulantes não interagiram quimicamente, visto que não foram observados mudanças na frequência dos picos; as provas termogravimétricas indicaram que os pós apresentaram a mesma tendência nas perdas de massa. Na análise de microestrutura foi observado um melhor desempenho nas micropartículas atomizadas com PD, as quais mostraram partículas mais esféricas e sem tendência de atração e aderência entre si. Foram obtidas retenções de 38 a 77 % para antocianinas monoméricas totais, 42 a 89 % para compostos fenólicos totais, e entre 33 e 90 % para atividade antioxidante nos pós obtidos. O pó encapsulado liofilizado com 10 % de polidextrose mostrou uma maior retenção de antocianinas (77 %), atividade antioxidante por DDPH (90 %) e HRSA (74 %), entretanto com maior higroscopicidade (39,4 %). As provas aceleradas de estocagem (umidades relativas de 75 e 90 % em temperaturas de 40 e 60 °C) realizadas em todos os pós encapsulados, após 30 dias, indicaram que o tratamento liofilizado com 10 % de PD foi o que apresentou melhores resultados a essas condições, retendo 75 % dos compostos fenólicos, com atividades antioxidantes medidas por ABTS, DPPH e HRSA de 75, 90 e 74 %, respectivamente, existentes no extrato original. O pó obtido tem potencial para aplicação em alimentos, portanto, devido ao hibisco ser uma matriz com ampla composição de compostos bioativos. / The hibiscus calyces contend a high quantity of bioactive compounds responsible for their antioxidant activity. The present paper was aimed the production of extracts containing those bioactive compounds in acidified aqueous solution 2 % of citric acid by microwave assisted extraction (MAE) and the encapsulation of those extracts by spray drying and freeze-drying using polydextrose (PD), whey protein isolate (WPI) and their mixture in the concentration of 10 %. Previously three methods of extraction were studied, the first using only MAE at 200, 300 and 700 W of power, and times of 2, 5 and 8 minutes; the second consisted of two steps, the acid aqueous extraction with times of 1, 2, 4, 6, 18 and 24 hours followed by MAE at the powers of 200, 300 and 700 Watts; the third consisted of MAE followed by acid aqueous extraction, in the same times and powers mentioned for the second method. The results indicated that the best condition of the first method was 700 W and 8 minutes, the second method performed at 6 hours of acid aqueous extraction, followed by MAE at 700 W for 8 minutes and the third method, MAE at 700 W for 8 minutes followed by 6 hours of acid aqueous extraction. When the three methods are compared, the best condition of extraction was obtained in the third method: 1.63 mg delphinidin-3-sambubioside · g-1; 29.62 mg GAE · g-1; 133.25 μmol TE · g-1 for total monomeric anthocyanins, total phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity by ABTS, respectively. To evaluate the effect of the extraction obtained only by MAE, the extracts obtained by exhaustive extraction with methanol for 25 minutes and MAE at 700 W and 8 minutes were quantified by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS, was found 13 compounds (6 phenolic acids, 2 anthocyanins and 5 flavonoids derived from quercetin, kaempferol and myricetin). The phenolic compounds majorities were acid 3-caffeoylquinic (2.58 e 1.32 mg · g-1) and acid 5-caffeoylquinic (1.71 e 0.90 mg · g-1) for exhaustive extraction and MAE, respectively. That same extract (700 W and 8 minutes) was encapsulated by spray drying (160 ºC) and freeze-drying (- 68 °C for 54 hours). The obtained powders were evaluated about the levels of total phenolic compounds, total monomeric anthocyanins, antioxidant activity (ABTS, DPPH e HRSA), measured by spectrophotometric analysis, water activity, moisture, hygroscopicity, solubility, encapsulation efficiency, color, thermogravimetric analysis, glass transition temperature, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and microstructure (MEV). The spray dried powders had lower water activity (0.14 to 0.17), moisture (3.4 to 4.5 %), hygroscopicity (23.9 to 34.1 %), solubility (86 to 98.2 %) and encapsulation efficiency (51.62 to 84.52 %) than the freeze-dried powders. The results of FTIR showed that the encapsulants did not interact chemically, since changes were not observed on the frequency of the peaks; the thermogravimetric tests indicated that the powders presented the same tendency on the mass loss. On the microstructure analysis a better perform was observed on the spray dried microparticles with PD, which showed more spherical particles and with no tendency of attraction and adherence between them. Were obtained retentions of 38 to 77 % for total monomeric anthocyanins, 42 to 89 % for total phenolic compounds and between 33 and 90 % for antioxidant activity in the obtained powders. The encapsulated power by freeze-drying, with 10 % of polydextrose, was showed higher retention of anthocyanins (77 %), antioxidant activity by DDPH (90 %) and HRSA (74 %), however with higher hygroscopicity (39.4 %). The accelerated tests of storage (relative humidity of 75 and 90 % in temperatures of 40 and 60 ºC) performed in all the encapsulated powders, after 30 days, indicated that the freeze-drying treatment with 10 % of PD has the best behavior in those conditions, retaining 75 % of the phenolic compounds, with antioxidant activities measured by ABTS, DPPH and HRSA of 75, 90 and 74 %, respectively, present in the original extract. The obtained powder has potential for application in foods, therefore, due to the hibiscus being a matrix with ample composition of bioactive compounds.