Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:27:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-12-16Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:31:27Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 badin_f_me_jabo.pdf: 588683 bytes, checksum: 95acfa363bf6d9a1c4fd8c48c39fdd26 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / As indústrias sucroenergéticas têm como preocupação o controle de contaminantes da fermentação, responsáveis por afetar a viabilidade da levedura, provocando diversos transtornos no processo, comprometendo a eficiência fermentativa e o rendimento industrial. Dentre as alternativas para o controle das contaminações, destacam-se o uso de antimicrobianos sintéticos. Sua utilização continua pode favorecer o desenvolvimento de cepas resistentes, contribuindo para o incremento do custo de produção, além da possibilidade de incorporação de resíduos no produto final. Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito do biocida convencional (monensina sódica) e biocidas naturais preparados à base de própolis (Extrato Hidroalcoólico de Própolis - EHP e Extrato Oleoso de Própolis- EOP) sobre a fisiologia das leveduras, o controle dos contaminantes do processo fermentativo e composição do destilado. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o Inteiramente Casualizado com parcelas subdivididas, com 4 repetições. Os Tratamentos Principais foram: Testemunha, EOP, EHP e monensina sódica (Kamoran WP). Os Tratamentos Secundários constituíram-se nos 10 ciclos fermentativos. Avaliaram-se as características químico-tecnológicas do caldo, mosto e vinho, parâmetros microbiológicos das leveduras e composição do destilado obtido. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram que os biocidas avaliados apresentaram efeito similar, sendo efetivos no controle dos contaminantes da fermentação, não afetando negativamente suas características fisiológicas. Não afetaram a composição a composição do destilado final obtido / The control of fermentation contaminants is one of the sugar mills concerns. The fermentation contaminants are responsible to affect the yeast viability, generating several overturns to the process, compromising the fermentative efficiency as well the industrial yield. Among the alternatives to control contamination, the use of synthetic antimicrobials can be highlighted. Its progressed use may favor the development of resistant strains, contributing in production cost improving, besides the possibility of residues incorporation into the final product. This work aimed evaluate the effect of conventional biocides (sodic monensin) and natural ones based on propolis (Propolis Hydroalcoholic Extract – EHP and Propolis Oily Extract – EOP) under the yeasts physiology, the fermentative process contaminants control, and the distilled composition. The experimental design used was the split-plot with four replications. The main treatments were: Control, EOH, EHP, and sodic monensin (Kamoran WP). The secondary treatments were the 10 fermentative cycles. The evaluated characteristics were: juice, must, and wine chemical-technical characteristics, yeasts microbiologic parameters, and the distillated obtained composition. The results obtained showed that the evaluated biocides presented similar effect, being effectives to control the fermentation contaminants, not affecting negatively its physiologic characteristics. They did not affect the composition of the distilled obtained

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:23:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-06-24Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:09:10Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 pretti_t_me_arafcf.pdf: 649581 bytes, checksum: 01a43b71b827a486ed71045fb400a33b (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Visando ampliar o aproveitamento nutricional e tecnológico do amendoim realizou-se este trabalho, com o objetivo de elaborar extrato aquoso, com diferentes processamentos, e verificar a aceitação do extrato fermentado com Streptococcus thermophilus e Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp bulgaricus e com adição de leite em pó desnatado. O procedimento para obtenção do extrato consistiu no aquecimento dos grãos em solução de bicarbonato de sódio a 0,5% (1:4, p/v) até ebulição, com posterior drenagem, lavagem, desintegração e filtração. Foram avaliadas duas temperaturas (75 ºC e 97 ºC) e duas proporções de grão: água (1:5 e 1:8, p/v) para a desintegração dos grãos. Os produtos fermentados, com 0%, 2% e 4% de leite em pó, foram avaliados sensorialmente. Água a 75 ºC produziu extrato com o menor conteúdo de lipídeos (5,87%) e maior de carboidratos (2,31%). Os componentes dos extratos foram significativamente diluídos com a maior proporção de água (1:8 p/v), que permitiu o maior rendimento (1:6,92 kg), a maior extração de sólidos totais e proteína e a menor perda de sólidos no resíduo, sendo este procedimento selecionado para elaboração do extrato fermentado. O aquecimento dos grãos a 97 ºC propiciou proteína com maior digestibilidade (80,6%). Os resultados mostraram a possibilidade de se elaborar um produto adequado, fermentando-se o extrato de amendoim adicionado de leite em pó. Apresentou pH 4,5, 0,5% de ácido lático, 4,86% proteína e 2,36% de lipídeos e características sensoriais aceitáveis. A adição de leite em pó desnatado favoreceu a fermentação (4 horas e meia), melhorou a consistência e a aceitação geral do produto fermentado. O extrato aquoso fermentado de grãos de amendoim é uma alternativa tecnológica viável à elaboração de alimentos para a população, pela qualidade nutricional de seus componentes e a sua fácil disponibilidade. / Aiming to increase nutritional and technological utilization of the peanut, this research was realized to produce an aqueous extract, with variations in processing, and to check the acceptance of the fermented extract with Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp bulgaricus and with the addition of powder milk. The procedure to obtain the extract consisted of heating the beans until boiling (1:4 w/v) 0.5% of sodium bicarbonate, draining, washing, disintegration and filtration. It was evaluated two temperatures (75 ºC and 97 ºC) and two amounts of grain: water (1:5 and 1:8, w/v) in disintegration of the grains. Fermented products, with 0%, 2% and 4% of powder milk, were evaluated. Water at 75 ºC produced extract with lower content of lipids (5.87%), and higher of carbohydrates (2.31%). The extracts components of the were significantly diluted with the proportion 1:8 w/v, that permited the highest yield of process (1:6.92 kg) and better total solids and protein extraction and lower loss of solids in the waste. It was therefore selected for preparation of the fermented extract. The heating of the grains at 97 ºC, due to better digestibility of protein (80.6%). The results showed that is possible to obtain a fermented product with peanut extract added at milk powder. It presented pH 4.5, 0.5% lactic acid, 4.86% protein and 2.36% lipids and sensorial quality. The addition of powder milk favored fermentation (4 hours) and improved the consistency and general acceptance of the fermented product. The aqueous extract fermented of peanut grains represents a viable technological alternative in the preparation of food for population, due to nutritional quality of its components and its easy availability.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:29:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-12-17Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:17:40Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 gimenes_am_me_botfmvz.pdf: 692315 bytes, checksum: 7da5bd34c5afb8b570d2c0e11f7e30c9 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / O presente estudo visou avaliar a resposta ovariana e a taxa de recuperação embrionária em éguas tratadas com EPE nas doses de 6, 8 e 12,5 mg sendo o tratamento iniciado após a aplicação de prostaglandina F2 no oitavo ou sexto dia após a ovulação com a finalidade de reduzir o tempo e custo do tratamento. Foram realizados dois experimentos, para o experimento 1, 40 ciclos estrais de éguas Mangalarga Marchador, entre cinco e 24 anos, e para o segundo experimento 30 ciclos estrais de éguas mestiças entre quatro e 12 anos de idade, foram estudados. Foi aplicada 7,5 mg i.m.de prostaglandina F2 (Dinoprost Trometamina) no oitavo (experimento 1) ou sexto (experimento 2) dia após a ovulação. Nesse momento as éguas foram distribuídas aleatoriamente em cinco grupos para o experimento 1: (n=8 ciclos estrais/grupo): Grupo F20-23mm 6mg e F20-23mm 8mg receberam 6 e 8mg, respectivamente, de EPE por via i.m. a cada 12 horas, a partir da detecção de folículo(s) entre 20-23mm de diâmetro. Nos Grupos D8 - 6mg e D8 - 8mg foi aplicado 6 ou 8 mg de EPE, respectivamente, a cada 12 horas por via i.m. a partir do D8 (concomitante a PGF2 ). No Grupo F20-23mm Salina (Controle): as éguas receberam solução salina respeitando os mesmos intervalos que os grupos tratados com EPE a partir da detecção de folículo(s) entre 20-23mm de diâmetro. No experimento 2, a metodologia foi similiar ao experimento 1, contudo, as éguas receberam 12,5 mg de EPE, e o tratamento foi iniciado no sexto dia após a ovulação para o Grupo D6-12,5 mg (n=9), ou quando detectou-se folículo(s) entre 20-23mm, Grupo F20-23mm 12,5 mg (n=10) e F20-23mm Salina (Controle, n=10). Em todos os grupos (Exp. 1 e 2) o tratamento (EPE ou salina) foi mantido até 12 horas anterior a detecção de folículo(s) com diâmetro 35 mm, nesse momento a ovulação foi induzida com única dose de 2500 U.I. de hCG, i.v. (Vetecor®)... / The present study aimed to evaluate the ovarian response and embrionary recovery in mares treated with doses of 6, 8 and 12.5 mg of EPE. The treatment was started after application of prostaglandin F2 for reduce the period and cost of treatment. Two experiments were conducted, for the experiment one, 40 estrous cycles of Mangalarga Marchador mares and ranged in age from 5 to 24 yrs, and for the second experiment 30 estrous cycles of crossbreed mares ranged in age from four to 12 yrs was used. In the eighth (experiment 1) or sixth (experiment 2) after ovulation was applied 7.5 mg i.m. of prostaglandin F2 (Dinoprost Trometamina). In this moment, all mares in experiment 1 was randomly assigned to treatment and control groups as follows: Groups 1 and 2 (n=8 cycles/group) received 6 mg of EPE, i.m. twice daily, beginning when largest follicle (s) was (were) 20-23 mm (Group F20-23mm 6mg) or regardless of follicle size on Day 8 (Group D8 – 6 mg); Groups 3 and 4 (n=8 cycles/group), received 8 mg of EPE, i.m. twice daily, beginning when largest follicle was 20-23 mm (Group F20-23 mm 8 mg) or regardless of follicle size on Day 8 (Group D8 – 8mg); Group F20-23mm Saline (Control, n=8 cycles) received saline, i.m. beginning when largest follicle (s) was (were) 20-23 mm in the same range of groups treated with EPE. In the second experiment was used the same methodology of the experiment 1, however, the mares received 12.5mg of EPE, and the treatment began in the sixth day after ovulation for the Group D6- 12.5mg (n=9), or when the largest follicle (s) was (were) 20-23 mm, Group F20-23mm 12,5 mg (n=10) e F20-23mm Saline (Control, n=10). Treatments with EPE or saline continued until 12 hours before detection of follicle (s) reached 35 mm, at which time a single dose of hCG (2500 U.I., i.v., Vetecor®) was given. Groups were compared using ANOVA and mean differences among groups were... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Orientador: Marco Antonio Alvarenga / Resumo: Vários estudos têm relatado que a égua é refratária a todas as drogas rotineiramente utilizadas, visando superovulação em outras espécies, como o FSH e o eCG (Mc Cue, 1996). O extrato de pituitária eqüina (EPE) é um preparado parcial de gonadotrofina eqüina, e o único composto que consistentemente induz ovulações múltiplas em éguas (Squires et al, 1999); contudo, a resposta superovulatória tem sido baixa (1-3 ovulações/égua) (Mc Cue, 1996). Estudos mais recentes demonstram uma melhora no percentual de ovulações múltiplas em éguas superovuladas com a administração do EPE duas vezes ao dia (4-7ovulações/égua), entretanto com baixa taxa de recuperação embrionária (Scoggin et al., 2002; Alvarenga et al., 2001). Este fato pode estar relacionado a produção de oócitos de baixa qualidade (anormalidade na maturação folicular e oocitária) (Dippert et al., 1994; Palmer et al., 1993), a falha do folículo em liberar o oócito e a dificuldade na captação do mesmo para o interior do oviduto, assim como o trânsito deste ou do embrião pelo oviduto (Dippert et al., 1994). O extrato de pituitária eqüina (EPE) foi preparado no laboratório do Departamento de Reprodução Animal e Radiologia Veterinária da Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), campus de Botucatu - SP, através do método proposto por Guillon & Combarnous, (1983). Seis éguas em bom estado nutricional, com idade variando entre quatro e 15 anos e massa corpórea de 400 a 500 Kg, além de um bom histórico reprodutivo, foram monitoradas diariamente durante os períodos compreendidos entre os meses de novembro (2001) a março (2002). Foram utilizados dois ciclos estrais de cada égua subdivididos em dois grupos: doses constantes e doses decrescentes; porém entre os tratamentos esperou-se um intervalo de dois ciclos estrais. O experimento foi conduzido no posto de monta... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Several studies have reported the is unresponsive to all the routinely used drugs aiming the superovulation in other species, such as the FSH and the eCG. The equine pituitary extract (EPE) is a partial equine gonadotropin preparation, and the only compound which consintenty induces multiple ovulation in mares; however, the superovulatory response has been low (1-3 ovulations/mare). More recent studies demonstrate some improvement in the percentage of multiple ovulation in superovulated mares with the EPE administration twice a day (4-7 ovulations/mare), nevertheless with a low rate of embryo recovery. This fact can be related to the low quality oocyte production (abnormality in the follicular and oocytary maturation), the follicular failure in releasing the oocyte and its collection towards the inner part of the oviduct, as its or the embryo traffic through the oviduct. The improvement on embryo recovery rate has been shownin cows with the utilization of decreasing doses of FSH. The present experiment aimmed to compare the ovulatory answer and embryo production of mares treated twice daily with constant and decreasing doses of EPE. Six mares in good nutrition status, with ages ranging from four and 15 years old and weighing from 400 to 500 Kg, together with a good reproductive history, were monitored daily through the preiods between the months of november/2001 to march/2002. Two estrous cytrous cycles were used from each mare and subdivided into two groups: constant doses and decresing doses;however between the treatments na interval of two estrous cycles was given. The experiment was carried out in the riding station (UNESP), placed in Lageado, a farm in the city of Botucatu - SP. For both groups, the treatment was started in the seventh post-ovuatory day, presenting a very evident corpora lutea and follicles equal or under 25 mm of diameter in the... (Complete abstract, click electronic address below) / Mestre

Orientador: Gabriela Alves Macedo / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia de Alimentos / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-25T09:23:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Queiros_LiviaDias_M.pdf: 1473794 bytes, checksum: 8841b5d38503f939739da3243001d1ed (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Resumo: A soja atrai considerável atenção no atual cenário econômico mundial devido ao seu elevado potencial nutritivo e efeitos potencialmente benéficos à saúde humana, que são atribuídos principalmente às isoflavonas. Esta classe de fenóis heterocíclicos é conhecida por suas atividades biológicas, tais como as atividades estrogênica, antioxidante e antitumoral, sendo as formas agliconas mais ativas do que as glicosiladas. Contudo, estudos têm mostrado que a eficácia clínica das isoflavonas está relacionada com a capacidade de produção de equol, um metabólito da daidzeína que, segundo a literatura vigente, é produzido exclusivamente pela ação da microbiota intestinal. Assim, há evidências de que nem todos os indivíduos são capazes de metabolizar as isoflavonas a equol, sendo essa variabilidade atribuída às diferenças na composição da microflora intestinal, hábitos alimentares, fatores genéticos, dentre outros. Neste contexto, os produtos à base de soja são uma forma de incluir as isoflavonas na dieta, sendo que o extrato hidrossolúvel de soja (EHS) é um substrato que tem se apresentado com potencial para produção de novos alimentos com apelo saudável. Desse modo, com o propósito de aumentar o conteúdo de isoflavonas bioativas e avaliar a viabilidade de um processo biotecnológico para produção de equol in vitro, neste projeto foi investigada a aplicação de culturas starters e bactérias lácticas probióticas na fermentação do EHS, aliado à ação do extrato bruto de tanase obtido a partir de Paecilomyces variotti. Além disso, também foi avaliada a biotransformação dos compostos fenólicos e atividade antioxidante do produto obtido. O teor de fenóis totais foi avaliado pelo método de Folin-Ciocalteau, a atividade antioxidante pelos métodos in vitro ORAC e de sequestro de radicais DPPH e o perfil químico dos extratos, antes e depois dos processos de biotransformação, foi avaliado por CLAE-DAD com co-injeção de padrões de isoflavonas. Após o processo fermentativo e/ou tratamento enzimático do EHS, houve um significativo aumento no teor de fenólicos totais e capacidade antioxidante, evidenciada por ambos métodos empregados (ORAC e DPPH), quando comparados com o controle do EHS sem reação. Além disso, foi verificada uma modificação no perfil polifenólico das amostras do EHS biotransformadas evidenciado por CLAE-DAD, resultando em um aumento na concentração das formas agliconas em relação às glicosiladas, bem como o aumento da concentração de equol após os processos de biotransformação propostos. Os resultados obtidos por CLAE-DAD confirmaram que o extrato de tanase de P. variotty foi capaz de biotransformar as formas glicosiladas (daidzina e genistina) das isoflavonas em suas respectivas formas agliconas (daidzeína e genisteína), indicando uma atividade diglicosídica do extrato semipurificado de tanase. Pelo que se tem conhecimento, a hidrólise de isoflavonoides glicosilados por tanase, bem como a formação de equol, é um relato inédito na literatura demonstrando que é possível desenvolver um processo in vitro para a obtenção deste composto bioativo, sem a presença de bactérias intestinais, utilizando apenas uma biotransformação enzimática / Abstract: The soy attracts considerable attention in the current global economic scenario due to their high nutritional potential and potentially beneficial effects to human health, which are mainly attributed to isoflavones. This class of heterocyclic phenols is known for its biological activities, such as estrogenic, antioxidant and antitumor activities, and the aglycone forms are more active than the glycosylated. However, studies have shown that the clinical efficacy of isoflavones is related to the capacity to produce equol, a metabolite of daidzein, which according to the current literature it is produced exclusively by the action of the gut microbiota. Thus, there is evidence that not all individuals are able to metabolize isoflavones to equol and this variability is attributed to differences in the composition of gut microflora, diet, genetic factors, among others. In this context, the soy-based products are a way to include the isoflavones in the diet, and the soymilk is a substrate that has shown the potential to produce new foodstuff with healthy appeal. Thus, in order to increase the content of bioactive isoflavones and assess the viability of a biotechnological process for in vitro production of equol, in this project was investigated the application of starters and probiotic lactic bacteria strains in the fermentation of soymilk, combined with the action of the crude extract of tannase obtained from Paecilomyces variotii. Furthermore, it was also evaluated the biotransformation of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of the obtained product. The total phenolic content was assessed by Folin-Ciocalteau method, the antioxidant activity by in vitro methods of ORAC and DPPH radical sequestration and the chemical profile of the extracts, before and after the processes of biotransformation, was evaluated by HPLC-DAD with co- injection of standards of isoflavones. After the fermentation process and/or enzymatic treatment of the soymilk, there was a significant increase of the total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity, as evidenced by both methods employed (ORAC and DPPH), compared with the standard soymilk. Furthermore, there was observed a change in the polyphenolic profile of biotransformed samples of soymilk, evidenced by HPLC-DAD, resulting in an increase in the concentration of the aglycones in relation to glucosides forms, as well as there was a significant increase of the concentration of equol after the biotransformation processes proposed. The results obtained by HPLC-DAD confirmed that the extract of tannase from P. variotii was able to biotransform the glucosides forms (daidzin and genistin) of isoflavones in their aglycone forms (daidzein and genistein), indicating a diglycosidase activity of the crude extract of tannase. From what is known, the hydrolysis of glucosides isoflavone by tannase, as well as the formation of equol, is an unpublished report in the literature demonstrating that it is possible to develop an in vitro method for obtaining this bioactive compound, without the presence of gut bacteria process using only an enzymatic biotransformation / Mestrado / Ciência de Alimentos / Mestra em Ciência de Alimentos

Magister Pharmaceuticae - MPharm / Leonotis leonurus, a South African indigenous medicinal plant, is frequently used in the form of a tea. However, this dosage form has many disadvantages. Consequently three L. leonurus solid extract preparations were prepared and explored as possible replacements of the tea form, but very little was known about their physical and chemical stability during storage. The specific objectives were to: (i) prepare a freeze dried aqueous extract (FDAE), 20 % aqueous ethanol (Aq EtOH) extract and calcium alginate beads of the FDAE form of L. leonurus, (ii) characterize the extracts using parameters of select physical and chemical features and, (iii) determine the long-term stability of the extracts. It was hypothesised that the Aq EtOH extract would contain higher levels of chemical marker compounds (marrubiin and leonurine) than the FDAE and calcium alginate FDAE beads of L. leonurus and, that the calcium alginate FDAE beads would have greater stability (i.e. longer shelf-life) than the FDAE and the Aq EtOH extract. The three L. leonurus solid extracts were prepared using accepted published methods. For the physical characterization of the extracts, the organoleptic properties were determined using the natural senses (e.g. sight, smell, taste, etc.) and for chemical characterization, total phenol content (TPC; using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent method), total flavonoid content (TFC; using aluminium chloride-methanol solution) and antioxidant activity (using the -diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) assay). To establish the long-term stability of the preparations, encapsulated L. leonurus solid extracts was stored in sealed standard plastic containers at four conditions: (A), room temperature of 24 ˚C ± 5 ˚C; (B), fixed temperature of 30˚C ± 5 ˚C and (C), elevated temperature of 40˚C ± 5 ˚C for 6 months, and (D), accelerated stability test conditions of 40˚C ± 5 ˚C / 75 % RH for 4 weeks. Samples of the stored encapsulated preparations were collected periodically and assessed for changes in organoleptic properties, TPC, TFC, antioxidant activity levels and marker compound (i.e. marrubiin and leonurine) levels. The latter was determined by validated HPLC assay. Yields of 19.9, 12.82 and 10.7 % of FDAE, Aq EtOH extract and calcium alginate FDAE beads were obtained, respectively. Physically the calcium alginate beads contained less moisture (1.86 %) than the FDAE (3.77 %) and Aq EtOH (2.91 %). Chemically the FDAE, Aq EtOH extract and calcium alginate FDAE beads respectively had appreciable and similar TPC (i.e.7.86, 7.52 &, 6.94 mg GAE/g; p > 0.05; Anova) and TFC (i.e. 4.30, 4.47 & 3.67 mg QE/g; p > 0.05; Anova) levels, but variable amounts of marrubiin (i.e. 22.5, 17.5, and 0.4 ug/mg plant extract) and leonurine (i.e. 2.0, 1.4 and 0.7 ug/mg plant extract), respectively. The antioxidant activity levels were also different i.e. EC50 values of 7.71, 6.66 and 11.53 mg/mL (student t-test p-value of < 0.0001; ANOVA-test; p< 0.05) for the FDAE, Aq EtOH extract and calcium alginate FDAE beads, respectively. During storage (i.e. stability study) the L. leonurus solid extracts generally remained physically unaffected by temperature (i.e. no significant change in organoleptic features), but when exposed to humidity the FDAE and Aq EtOH extracts showed clear signs of physical degradation i.e. changed from being flaky powders to sticky melted masses, while the calcium alginate beads remained unchanged. Within 1 month storage at RT, 30 °C, 40 °C and 1 week at 40 °C / 75 % RH the TPC of the encapsulated FDAE decreased significantly by 61, 60, 58 and 52 %, respectively, that for the encapsulated Aq EtOH extract by 61, 54, 46 and 50 %, respectively, and for calcium alginate FDAE beads by 66, 71, 59 and 57 %, respectively. Using TPC as a stability parameter all three encapsulated extracts had very short shelf-lives ranging from 1.24 weeks (0.31 months) to 3.72 weeks (0.93 months). Under the same conditions and storage periods (i.e. 1 month & 1 week) the TFC of the encapsulated FDAE decreased significantly by 25, 25, 29 and 66 %, respectively, for encapsulated Aq EtOH extract by 26, 26, 23 and 70 %, respectively, and the calcium alginate FDAE beads by 55, 55, 52 and 64 %, respectively. The results obtained for TFC was thus similar to that obtained for the TPC data. Based on the TFC data all three encapsulated extracts had very short shelf-lives ranging, from 1.56 weeks (0.39 months) to 6.76 weeks (1.69 months). Under the same conditions and storage periods (i.e. 1 month & 1 week) as that used to determine TPC and TFC, the antioxidant activity of the extracts changed little, i.e. decreased by 0.2, 0.1, 0.8 and 2 %, respectively for FDAE, by 0.7 %, 1 %, 0.1 % and 5.3 %, respectively for the Aq EtOH and by 2, 2, 1.4 and 0.8 %, respectively for the calcium alginate FDAE beads. Moreover, based on antioxidant activity, all three encapsulated extracts had relatively long shelf-lives ranging from 15.6 weeks (3.9 months) to 22.4 weeks (5.6 months). Finally, the determination of the stability of the encapsulated L. leonurus extracts stored under stress conditions (i.e. 40 °C / 75 % RH) and based on marker compound levels was unresolved. Between the time of extract preparation and characterisation until start of the stability study the marrubiin levels in the FDAE, Aq. ETOH and calcium beads had decreased from 22.5, 17.5, and 0.4 ug/mg plant extract, respectively, to 0.30, 0.11, 0.30 μg/mg, respectively, and the leonurine levels from 2.0, 1.4 and 0.7 to 0.46, 0.38 and 0.09 μg/mg, respectively and was too low to conduct a meaningful stability study with the developed validated assay. Overall, all three the encapsulated L. leonurus solid extracts studied were clearly very unstable and did not have suitable long-term storage stability. The modification of the freeze-dried aqueous extract of L. leonurus into a calcium alginate bead form seemed to combat physical instability but did not improve the chemical instability of the aqueous extract. It is therefore recommended that the addition of excipients or other post extract modification (e.g. production of phytosomes) be explored to combat the hygroscopicity of L. leonurus FDAE and ultimately improve its overall product stability.

Magister Pharmaceuticae - MPharm / Leonotis leonurus (L. leonurus) and Artemisia afra (A. afra) are two of the most commonly used medicinal plants in South Africa traditionally advocated for use in asthma. However, proper scientific studies to validate these claimed uses are lacking and little is known about the mechanisms for this effect. These plants contain flavonoids, which are reported to have smooth muscle relaxant activity and may be responsible for the activity of these two plants. The objectives of this study were to: (1) determine and compare the flavonoid profiles and levels in A. afra and L. leonurus, (2) compare the respiratory smooth muscle relaxant effects of freeze-dried aqueous extracts of A. afra and L. leonurus and (3) investigate whether K⁺ - channel activation (i.e. KATP channel) is one possible mechanism of action that can explain the effect obtained in traditional use of these two plants. It was hypothesized that: (1) the flavonoid levels and profile of A. afra would be greater than the flavonoid levels and profile of L. leonurus, (2) A. afra would have a more potent respiratory muscle relaxant effect than L. leonurus and (3) A. afra and L. leonurus will inhibit K⁺ - induced contractions in a superior manner than carbachol and histamine - induced contractions. To realize these objectives, freeze-dried aqueous extracts (FDAE) of the dried leaves of the two plants were prepared. A validated HPLC assay was developed and used to identify and determine the levels of luteolin in the plant preparations. Solutions of the plant extracts were studied in the isolated guinea-pig trachea tissue preparation in the presence of carbachol, histamine and KCL. The possible mechanism of action of the two plants was determined by cumulative log dose-response curves (LDRC) for carbachol, histamine and KCL in the absence and presence of 1, 30 and 100 mg/ml solutions of the plant extracts. The flavonoid profile of un-hydrolyzed and hydrolyzed L. leonurus was greater than that of un-hydrolyzed and hydrolyzed A. afra. The levels of free and total luteolin in A. afra FDAE (8.977 ± 0.73 μg/ml and 16.394 ± 0.884 μg/ml, respectively) were significantly (p < 0.001) higher than that in L. leonurus FDAE (0.929 ± 0.066 μg/ml and 3.093 ± 0.531 μg/ml, respectively). L. leonurus and A. afra relaxed tracheal smooth muscles contracted with histamine, KCL and carbachol in a dose dependent manner. The degree of relaxant activity of L. leonurus versus the three inducers of contraction (agonists) could be classified as KCL > carbachol > histamine, with EC₅₀ values of 9.87, 29.34 and 94.76 mg/ml, respectively. The A. afra tracheal smooth muscle relaxant activity was categorized as carbachol > histamine > KCL, with EC₅₀ values of 13.93, 15.47 and 19.88 mg/ml, respectively. Overall, A. afra which contained the higher levels of luteolin, was more potent at relaxing the guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle than L. leonurus. Collectively, the results confirm that aqueous solutions of A. afra and L. leonurus as used in local traditional practice have potent but different degrees of bronchodilator activities that could be useful in the treatment of asthma, and that these actions may be related to each plant's luteolin (or flavonoid) levels. Moreover it is very unlikely that KATP channels are primarily responsible for the actions of A. afra and L. leonurus, but rather that more than one mechanism of action is involved in the tracheal smooth muscle relaxant effects of these two plants. / National Research Foundation

Continuous fermentations were performed in an external-recycle, biofilm reactor using glucose and CO2 as carbon substrates. The nitrogen source for the auxotrophic Actinobacillus succinogenes was a combination of yeast extract (YE) and corn steep liquor (CSL), and sometimes only YE or CSL was used. In this study, the succinic acid productivity of A. succinogenes decreased by 67% as the amount of YE in the complex nitrogen source mixture decreased from 16 g·L-1 to 0 g·L-1. Succinic acid production increased as the CSL concentration in the nitrogen source increased, and the mass ratio of succinic acid to acetic acid exceeded the theoretical maximum limit of 3,93 g·g-1 when only CSL was used as the nitrogen source. The mass ratio of formic acid to acetic acid was consistently within the theoretical yield limitations (0,77 g·g−1) and decreased as the CSL concentration in the nitrogen source increased. The highest SA concentration in this study was 22,57 g·L-1 when only YE was used as the nitrogen source in the growth medium, and the highest SA productivity obtained in this study was 1,58 g·L-1·h-1 when a combination of YE and CSL was used as a nitrogen source. The highest mass ratio of SA to AA achieved was 8,3 g·g-1 when CSL was the sole nitrogen source. The mass ratio of FA to AA was consistently less than 0,77 g·g-1, approaching 0 g·g-1, as the CSL concentration in the nitrogen source increased. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / National Research Foundation (NRF) / Chemical Engineering / MSc / Unrestricted

A quitina é um biopolímero abundante na natureza e seu derivado, a quitosana é tido como excelente biomaterial na engenharia tecidual por sua versatilidade e propriedades, assim como colágeno que por sua presença natural no organismo e seu papel biológico fazem com que seja amplamente utilizado na medicina. As blendas destes biopolímeros possuem excelentes propriedades mecânicas devido às interações eletrostáticas e pontes de hidrogênio, e propriedades biológicas pelos materiais que as compõe, já demonstrando eficácia na regeneração tecidual. O extrato de Garcinia mangostna L., ou extrato de mangostão, é pouco estudado no ocidente, mas no oriente é amplamente utilizado para fins medicinais, com propriedades promissoras na área de engenharia tecidual. A interação deste com as blendas de quitosana/colágeno ainda não foram estudadas. Este trabalho teve como objetivo a obtenção e estudo de scaffolds de quitosana/colágeno em diferentes proporções (1:1, 2:1 e 3:1) com extrato de mangostão em variadas concentrações (10, 20 e 30%). A quitosana foi extraída por desacetilação da &#946-quitina de gládios de lula, o colágeno aniônico foi obtido de tendão bovino por hidrólise alcalina e o extrato de mangostão foi obtido da casca do fruto. A caracterização da quitosana e assim como colágeno, extrato e misturas foram analisados por absorção na região do infravermelho (FT-IR), efetuou-se um ensaio reológico dos géis e os scaffolds foram submetidos à calorimetria exploratória diferencial (DSC), microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), ensaios de intumescimento e liberação do extrato. Ensaios reológicos indicam um comportamento pseudoplástico para todas as amostras e se feito um tratamento matemático, o melhor modelo às quais estas se adaptam seria o modelo de Carreau. Os DSC dos scaffolds mostram que a adição de extrato tende à elevar a temperatura de desnaturação (Td) do colágeno. Espectros FT-IR caracterizaram o extrato e não mostraram resultados conclusivos sobre a incorporação dele aos filmes. Fotomicrografias por MEV mostram alteração no tamanho médio de poros e canais com a adição de extrato. Ensaios de intumescimento dos scaffolds mostram uma diminuição de capacidade de absorção com adição de extrato, os ensaios de liberação feitos para os scaffolds das misturas mostram uma liberação entre 25-35% do extrato sendo as cinéticas de liberação modeladas pelo modelo de Kosmeyer-Peppas para a maioria das amostras. Obtendo-se assim géis e scaffolds que mostram resultados inicias promissores e com acréscimo de estudos complementares podem vir a ser utilizados no campo da engenharia tecidual. / Chitosan is an abundant biopolymer in nature, and it is an excellent biomaterial for tissue engineering due to its versatility and properties. Collagen, by the natural presence in the organism and to the biological role makes it widely used in medicine. These biopolymers blends have excellent mechanical properties due to electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonds, and biological properties, demonstrating good efficiency in tissue engineering. The Garcinia mangostana L. extract, or mangosteen extract, is not very well studied in the western culture, but in the eastern, it is widely used in local medicine, with promising properties in tissue engineering field. The interaction between chitosan/collagen blends and mangosteen extract has not yet been studied. This study aims to obtain scaffolds from chitosan/collagen blends in different ratios, such as 1:1, 2:1 and 3:1 with different extract concentrations (10, 20 and 30%). Chitosan was obtained by deproteinization and deacetylation of &#946-chitin from squid\'s pens, anionic collagen was obtained from bovine tendon by alkaline hydrolysis, and the mangosteen extract was obtained from the hulls of fruits. Materials characterization was done by FT-IR, DSC, SEM, swelling and extract release in buffer solution. Rheological measurements were made with the gels formed from the mixture of the components. The rheological studies indicates a pseudo plastic behavior to all samples and by a mathematical treatment, the Carreau mathematical model was the best fitting. The DSC analysis for the collagen mixtures indicated a tendency to elevate the denaturation temperature with addition of extract. With the FT-IR results, we could obtain mangosteen extract spectrum but the mixtures spectrum did not show the extract incorporation. The photomicrographies obtained by SEM showed pore and channels alteration with extract addition. Swelling studies showed a decrease in swelling capacity after extract addition, release studies showed a 25-35% extract release by scaffolds and in most cases the kinetic was fitted by Kosmeyer-Peppas. Thus obtaining promising gels and scaffolds in the field of tissue engineering, but needing of further development.

This diploma thesis is related to usage of food supplements in general. It observes which food supplements are mostly used, how often and in which period they are used and also which supplements forms population prefer. Next is this diploma paper focused on supplements for the support of cerebration, concretely up to supplements containing Ginkgo biloba. It studies their vascular activity, effect on memory and concentricity in various age groups. Also HPLC method for quick analysis of selected food supplements containing Ginkgo biloba was tested.