Submitted by Leticia Schettini (leticia@ufrrj.br) on 2016-10-05T14:40:58Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2005 - Isabel da Concei??o Gama Silva e Lima.pdf: 2535972 bytes, checksum: 3693f1b4ed58c18a135a182df5e7e78d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-10-05T14:40:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2005 - Isabel da Concei??o Gama Silva e Lima.pdf: 2535972 bytes, checksum: 3693f1b4ed58c18a135a182df5e7e78d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005-12-14 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior-CAPES / The red mombin tree (Spondias purpurea L.) is originary from Central America and had adapted satisfactorily to the climatic conditions of some South-American countries as Brazil. This tree produces a fruit of good appearance, nutritive quality, and much appreciated aroma, which is consumed as in natura or processed fruit as frozen pulps, juices, candies, nectars, popsicles and ice creams. This evidence shows its increasing commercialization in grocery stores, supermarkets and restaurants of country. However, there are commercial losses, which can be attributed to biologic and phytopatologic causes that indicate alarming numbers to producers. The study of red mombin composition can contribute to popularize the use of this fruit, once that it is unknown to the most of Rio de Janeiro city people. This research had as objective the characterization of the red mombim fruit (Spondias purpurea) produced in West Zone of Rio de Janeiro and the formularization of products made from pulp aiming to expand the increasing of its productive chain. The centesimal composition demonstrated that the fruit fractions with peel present greater fiber contents, therefore, the consumption of the fruit with peel must be stimulated in order to get its benefits. The researched minerals were found in larger concentrations in the fruit fractions with peel, with prominence for iron and zinc contents. However, studies should be made in order to verify the biodisponibility of these minerals. The analytical data also demonstrated that the red mombin had high vitamin C content, which is an important aid in the iron absorption by the organism. The fractions with peel had a more intense color than the pulp, probably because of the amount of received solar radiation. The red mombin had the - criptoxantin xanthophyll as main carotenoid, one of the most important provitamin A compounds. The formulated red mombin products were jellies and fruit pastes with different concentrations of sucrose. The microbiological analysis performed on elaborated products showed that hygienical-sanitary and technological conditions were satisfactory. The sensorial analysis showed that the attributes appearance, color, aroma, texture and flavor got average around seven at nine point scale hedonic, which represents the category ?I like it moderately?. It indicates that exotic flavor of fruit was well accepted by consumers. The percentage of judgers demonstrated that purchase intentions for jelly and red mombin paste was fairly representative, 92 % and 82% respectively. It evidences the possibility to introduce the products made from red mombin to the market, increasing the period of useful life and the added-value of the fruit. / Frut?fera tropical t?pica do continente americano, a serigueleira (Spondias purpurea L.) ? origin?ria da Am?rica Central, tendo se adaptado satisfatoriamente ?s condi??es clim?ticas de alguns pa?ses da Am?rica do Sul, como o Brasil. Esta produz um fruto de boa apar?ncia, qualidade nutritiva, e aroma muito apreciados para o consumo como fruta in natura ou processada, como polpa, sucos, doces, n?ctares, picol?s e sorvetes, sendo evidente a crescente comercializa??o nos mercados, supermercados e restaurantes do Pa?s. Entretanto, existem perdas comerciais, as quais est?o ligadas principalmente a fatores biol?gicos e fitopatol?gicos, que indicam n?meros preocupantes para os produtores. O estudo da composi??o da seriguela pode contribuir para popularizar o uso deste fruto, desconhecido pela maior parte da popula??o da cidade do Rio de Janeiro. A pesquisa teve como objetivo a caracteriza??o qu?mica da fruta Seriguela cultivada na zona oeste do Rio de Janeiro e a formula??o de produtos a partir da polpa do fruto visando expandir o crescimento da sua cadeia produtiva. Os resultados da composi??o centesimal demonstraram que as fra??es com casca cont?m maior teor de fibras, portanto deve-se incentivar o consumo dos frutos com casca que representa h?bito alimentar saud?vel. Os minerais pesquisados foram encontrados em maior concentra??o nas fra??es da fruta com casca, com destaque para os teores de ferro e zinco. Entretanto, devem ser realizados ainda estudos no sentido de verificar a biodisponibididade desses minerais. Os dados anal?ticos demonstraram tamb?m que a seriguela possui alto teor de vitamina C, sendo importante aux?lio na absor??o do ferro pelo organismo. As fra??es com casca possu?am uma colora??o bem mais intensa que a polpa, provavelmente devido ? quantidade de radia??o solar recebida. A seriguela possui a xantofila - criptoxantina, importante por sua atividade pr?-vitam?nica A, como caroten?ide majorit?rio. Os produtos de seriguela formulados foram gel?ias e doces de corte com diferentes concentra??es de sacarose. As an?lises microbiol?gicas realizadas nas gel?ias e nos doces de corte elaborados atestaram que os produtos apresentavam condi??es higi?nico-sanit?rias satisfat?rias. A an?lise sensorial indicou que os atributos apar?ncia, cor, aroma, textura e sabor apresentaram m?dias pr?ximas a sete em uma escala hed?nica de nove pontos, que representa a impress?o ?gostei moderadamente?, indicando que o sabor ex?tico da fruta foi bem recebido pelos consumidores. O percentual de provadores que demonstrou inten??o de compra para gel?ia e doce de corte de seriguela foi bastante representativo, 92 % e 82% respectivamente, evidenciando a possibilidade de introduzir no mercado produtos a base de seriguela, aumentando a vida-de-prateleira e o valor agregado do fruto.

In this thesis, the life history and population biology of an endemic and declining California butterfly, Speyeria adiaste clemencei (Comstock, 1925) is described from Chews Ridge, Monterey Co., CA. S. a. clemencei can be successfully reared on commercially available Viola spp., facilitating captive rearing for restoration. Larvae of S. adiaste can be distinguished morphologically from sympatric S. callippe and S. coronis larvae based upon coloration of the dorsal and dorsolateral scoli, head capsule coloration, and coloration of setae, facilitating identification in the field. Adequate access to nectar sources throughout the flight period, especially during drought years, as well as host plant density and distribution, are critical aspects for maintaining viable S. a. clemencei populations. To gain a better understanding of its population biology, three seasons of weekly Pollard walk counts and two seasons of mark recapture (MR) were conducted. The population declined during the study period, which may be associated with decreasing rainfall. MR estimates were very strongly correlated with weekly Pollard walk counts. Differences in habitat use between the sexes were observed, with males showing a slight preference for ridge over meadow plots, whereas females preferred meadow plots containing Viola host plants. Analysis of survival and dispersal indicated this species is relatively short-lived with low dispersal ability, two traits associated with its life history that have important implications for re-colonization dynamics and population structure.

THE ASSESSMENT OF INFLUENCE OF ZINC IONS AND ECHINACEA PURPUREA (L.) MOENCH FOR MICE INTOXICATED BY CADMIUM IONS Abstract Background. Cadmium (Cd), a well-known environmental hazard, exerts a number of toxic effects in organism. It disturbs the activity of biochemical systems of cells. Accumulation of cadmium depends on the amount of essential trace elements, including zinc. Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench (EP) can modify its influence. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of ions of cadmium, zinc, and EP on organism in experimental model of mice. The objectives of the scientific work were as follows: 1. To evaluate the accumulation of cadmium in the internal organs of experimental mice after acute and chronic intraperitoneal and per oral intoxication. 2. To assess morphological changes in liver tissue, mitotic and apoptotic activity of liver cells after the intoxication by cadmium ions of different duration and dose. 3. To assess the effect of zinc ions to the accumulation of cadmium in the internal organs and to the mitotic and apoptotic activity of liver cells in the organism of mice intoxicated by cadmium. 4. To evaluate the effect of EP to accumulation of cadmium in internal organs, mitotic and apoptotic activity of liver cells after the chronic intraperitoneal and per oral intoxication by cadmium ions. The scientific novelty of the study. This work makes our knowledge about mechanisms and outcomes of acute and chronic exposure to cadmium deeper. The... [to full text]

Le phénomène naturel d’érosion des berges peut menacer des infrastructures humaines. Des protections végétales peuvent être installées afin de mimer les dynamiques de végétation et armer la berge grâce aux racines. Cependant, les changements climatiques globaux sont susceptibles d’entraîner et d’aggraver les sécheresses, ce qui va stresser les végétaux présents et compromettre la bonne réussite des ouvrages de génie végétal. La principale question est donc « Quelles sont les caractéristiques biotechniques et les facultés d’acclimatation à la sécheresse de boutures de Salicaceae et Tamaricaceae, espèces utilisées ou potentiellement utilisables en génie végétal ? ». L’étude de différentes populations d’espèces classiquement utilisées que sont les saules démontre une résistance à la sécheresse plus efficace des populations méridionales tandis que les productions de biomasses restent plus élevées chez les populations septentrionales. L’étude des traits biotechniques et du comportement racinaire d’espèces potentielles appartenant aux Tamaricaceae (Tamarix gallica et Myricaria germanica) montre un taux élevé de reprise au bouturage, une forte production de biomasses et une stratégie de prospection racinaire différente des saules, ce qui leur confère une résistance à la sécheresse accrue. Ceci confirme une utilisation possible de ces espèces dans des ouvrages de génie végétal soumis à sécheresse. / The natural phenomenon of riverbank erosion can threaten human stakes. Vegetative bioengineering protections can be installed to imitate the vegetation dynamics and anchor the soil bank thanks to roots. However, global climate change could induce and increase droughts, what is going to stress plants and to compromise the bioengineering works success. The main question is thus " what are the biotechnical capabilities and the drought acclimatization faculties of cuttings of Salicaceae and Tamaricaceae, species used or potentially useful in bioengineering? ". The study of different populations of species such as willows demonstrates a more effective drought resistance of the Southern populations whereas the biomass productions remain higher with the Northern populations. The study of the biotechnical traits and the root behavior potentially useful species such as Tamaricaceae (Tamarix gallica and Myricaria germanica) show a high resprouting rate, a high biomass production and a prospecting root strategy different from willows. This results confer them a better drought resistance. This confirms a possible use of these species in vegetative bioengineering works subjected to drought.

<p>This thesis examines the isolation and characterisation (biological and chemical) of polypeptides from plants. A fractionation protocol was developed and applied on 100 plant materials with the aim of isolating highly purified polypeptide fractions from small amounts of plant materials. The polypeptide fractions were analysed and evaluated for peptide content and biological activities. A multitarget functional bioassay was optimised as a method for detecting substances interacting with the inflammatory process of activated neutrophil granulocytes. In this assay, the neutrophil was challenged with an inflammatory mediator, <i>N</i>-formyl methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP), or with platelet activating factor (PAF), to induce exocytotic release of the enzyme elastase, which then was quantified by photometric determination of the product p-nitroanilide (pNA) formed from a chromogenic substrate for elastase. Of the tested extracts, 41% inhibited pNA formation more than 60%, and 3% stimulated formation.</p><p>Phoratoxin B and four new peptides, phoratoxins C-F, were isolated from <i>Phoradendron tomentosum</i>. In addition, the cardiac glycoside digitoxin was isolated from <i>Digitalis purpurea</i>. All these substances expressed cytotoxicity and a neutrophil challenging activity.</p><p>Phoratoxins C-F were similar to earlier described phoratoxins A and B, which belong to the group of thionins. All the peptides were evaluated for cytotoxicity in a human cell line panel. Phoratoxin C was the most potent towards the cell lines (mean IC₅₀: 160 nM), and was therefore investigated further on tumour cells from patients. Correlation analysis of the log IC₅₀ values indicated a mechanism of action different from clinically used archetypal cytotoxic drugs. Phoratoxin C also showed selective toxicity to the solid tumours when compared to the haematological cancer types. The phoratoxin C was 18 times more potent towards the solid tumour samples from breast cancer cells (87 nM) compared to the tested haematological malignancies.</p><p>The structure-activity relationship concerning cytotoxicity was evaluated for digitoxin and related cardiac glycosides. Digitoxin was shown to be potent, with the average IC₅₀ 37 nM being within the therapeutic concentration used for cardiac congestion (13-45 nM). Digitoxin expressed selective toxicity towards solid tumours from patients compared to haematological malignancies.</p>

This thesis examines the isolation and characterisation (biological and chemical) of polypeptides from plants. A fractionation protocol was developed and applied on 100 plant materials with the aim of isolating highly purified polypeptide fractions from small amounts of plant materials. The polypeptide fractions were analysed and evaluated for peptide content and biological activities. A multitarget functional bioassay was optimised as a method for detecting substances interacting with the inflammatory process of activated neutrophil granulocytes. In this assay, the neutrophil was challenged with an inflammatory mediator, N-formyl methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP), or with platelet activating factor (PAF), to induce exocytotic release of the enzyme elastase, which then was quantified by photometric determination of the product p-nitroanilide (pNA) formed from a chromogenic substrate for elastase. Of the tested extracts, 41% inhibited pNA formation more than 60%, and 3% stimulated formation. Phoratoxin B and four new peptides, phoratoxins C-F, were isolated from Phoradendron tomentosum. In addition, the cardiac glycoside digitoxin was isolated from Digitalis purpurea. All these substances expressed cytotoxicity and a neutrophil challenging activity. Phoratoxins C-F were similar to earlier described phoratoxins A and B, which belong to the group of thionins. All the peptides were evaluated for cytotoxicity in a human cell line panel. Phoratoxin C was the most potent towards the cell lines (mean IC50: 160 nM), and was therefore investigated further on tumour cells from patients. Correlation analysis of the log IC50 values indicated a mechanism of action different from clinically used archetypal cytotoxic drugs. Phoratoxin C also showed selective toxicity to the solid tumours when compared to the haematological cancer types. The phoratoxin C was 18 times more potent towards the solid tumour samples from breast cancer cells (87 nM) compared to the tested haematological malignancies. The structure-activity relationship concerning cytotoxicity was evaluated for digitoxin and related cardiac glycosides. Digitoxin was shown to be potent, with the average IC50 37 nM being within the therapeutic concentration used for cardiac congestion (13-45 nM). Digitoxin expressed selective toxicity towards solid tumours from patients compared to haematological malignancies.

No description available.

The goals of this research project were to identify the various insects observed to visit inflorescences of Echinacea angustifolia DC, and to rank these visitors according to their importance as pollinators of E. angustifolia in Saskatchewan. Studying nectar and the nectary is essential to understanding the interaction of disc florets with pollinators. Nectar-sugar production by disc florets of E. angustifolia and E. purpurea (L. Moench) was quantified from anthesis to cessation with production per disc floret peaking in the afternoon of the staminate phase (191.7 µg) and at midday of the first day of the pistillate phase (156.6 µg), respectively. Morphology of the disc-like floral nectaries of both Echinacea species was studied, as well as the ultrastructure of the nectary of E. purpurea. Modified stomata on the nectary rim are the most likely exits for nectar, but creases in the epidermis may also participate. The nectary of E. purpurea is vascularized by phloem alone, which occurred adjacent to the epidermis. Companion cells possessed wall ingrowths, and these cells may unload arriving sugar destined for either an apoplastic or symplastic pathway. Lobed nuclei were a key feature of secretory parenchyma cells, as was a predominance of mitochondria, suggesting that energy-requiring eccrine secretion predominates in E. purpurea. E. angustifolia exhibited a generalist pollination system, with pollinating insects belonging to the orders Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, and Lepidoptera. The pollination efficiency of visitors was determined by single insect visits to bagged, virgin inflorescences followed by quantifying pollen tubes at the bases of receptive styles and/or calculating the percentage of shrivelled styles. It was determined that bumble bees (Bombus spp.) were efficient pollinators, indicating that they would likely contribute much to the pollination of E. angustifolia. Grasshopper bee flies (Systoechus vulgaris Loew) were plentiful but individually were not efficient pollinators, but taken together, they provided much pollination. Golden blister beetles (Epicauta ferruginea Say) were efficient pollinators but where yellow-petalled flowers occurred, their numbers on E. angustifolia decreased. Honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) were efficient pollinators and were present in low numbers without managed introduction. Pierid (2003) butterflies were regular visitors and efficient pollinators, and likely contributed significantly to E. angustifolia pollination. When introduced, the alfalfa leafcutter bee (Megachile rotundata Fabr.) preferred not to forage on E. angustifolia and as such, these solitary bees were not suitable as managed pollinators. In large agricultural plantings of E. angustifolia, however, native insects may not be capable of providing sufficient pollination for seed production when floral competition occurs.

The goals of this research project were to identify the various insects observed to visit inflorescences of Echinacea angustifolia DC, and to rank these visitors according to their importance as pollinators of E. angustifolia in Saskatchewan. Studying nectar and the nectary is essential to understanding the interaction of disc florets with pollinators. Nectar-sugar production by disc florets of E. angustifolia and E. purpurea (L. Moench) was quantified from anthesis to cessation with production per disc floret peaking in the afternoon of the staminate phase (191.7 µg) and at midday of the first day of the pistillate phase (156.6 µg), respectively. Morphology of the disc-like floral nectaries of both Echinacea species was studied, as well as the ultrastructure of the nectary of E. purpurea. Modified stomata on the nectary rim are the most likely exits for nectar, but creases in the epidermis may also participate. The nectary of E. purpurea is vascularized by phloem alone, which occurred adjacent to the epidermis. Companion cells possessed wall ingrowths, and these cells may unload arriving sugar destined for either an apoplastic or symplastic pathway. Lobed nuclei were a key feature of secretory parenchyma cells, as was a predominance of mitochondria, suggesting that energy-requiring eccrine secretion predominates in E. purpurea. E. angustifolia exhibited a generalist pollination system, with pollinating insects belonging to the orders Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, and Lepidoptera. The pollination efficiency of visitors was determined by single insect visits to bagged, virgin inflorescences followed by quantifying pollen tubes at the bases of receptive styles and/or calculating the percentage of shrivelled styles. It was determined that bumble bees (Bombus spp.) were efficient pollinators, indicating that they would likely contribute much to the pollination of E. angustifolia. Grasshopper bee flies (Systoechus vulgaris Loew) were plentiful but individually were not efficient pollinators, but taken together, they provided much pollination. Golden blister beetles (Epicauta ferruginea Say) were efficient pollinators but where yellow-petalled flowers occurred, their numbers on E. angustifolia decreased. Honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) were efficient pollinators and were present in low numbers without managed introduction. Pierid (2003) butterflies were regular visitors and efficient pollinators, and likely contributed significantly to E. angustifolia pollination. When introduced, the alfalfa leafcutter bee (Megachile rotundata Fabr.) preferred not to forage on E. angustifolia and as such, these solitary bees were not suitable as managed pollinators. In large agricultural plantings of E. angustifolia, however, native insects may not be capable of providing sufficient pollination for seed production when floral competition occurs.

Le diabète de type 2 affecte en moyenne 29% de la population adulte crie d’Eeyou Istchee (CEI). Afin d’identifier les plantes médicinales possédant un potentiel antidiabétique, des interviews ont été réalisés dans les communautés CEI de Wemindji et Oujé-Bougoumou. Utilisant une approche quantitative, les espèces mentionnées ont été classées et comparées à la pharmacopée des communautés avoisinantes. Seize et 25 plantes ont été mentionné à Wemindji et Oujé-Bougoumou, respectivement. Sept nouvelles espèces de plantes et une de champignon se sont ajoutées à la liste des espèces à potentiel antidiabétique, bien que la plupart de celles mentionnées pendant les interviews soit en communes à la pharmacopée CEI générale, démontrant ainsi leur importance culturelle. Des analyses phytochimiques sur deux de ces espèces, Rhododendron groenlandicum et Sarracenia purpurea, ont été réalisées à partir d’échantillons récoltés à différents endroits du territoire eeyouch. Bien qu’aucun patron n’ait été détecté dans la variation des composantes biologiquement actives chez S. purpurea, les composés phénoliques chez R. groenlandicum, particulièrement la (+)-catéchine, l’(-)-epicatéchine et la quercétine-3-galactoside, varient spatialement en fonction de paramètres d’insolation telles la radiation solaire ou la photopériode. Les échantillons de cette dernière espèce, testés in vitro dans le bioessai de l’adipogenèse des cellules adipocytes murines 3T3-L1, augmentent l’accumulation intracellulaire des triglycérides, leur conférant ainsi une activité diabétique semblable à la rosiglitazone. Cependant, cette activité était plus faible dans les échantillons à haute teneur en quercétine, cela pouvant ainsi avoir un impact sur la qualité d'un produit de santé naturel fabriqué à partir de cette espèce. / Type 2 diabetes has reached epidemic proportions among Canada’s aboriginal populations and affects on average 29% of adult Cree of Eeyou Istchee (CEI). In collaboration with the Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay and the CIHR team in Traditional Antidiabetic Aboriginal Medicines, interviews were held in the CEI communities of Wemindji and Oujé-Bougoumou to identify potential antidiabetic plants. Using a quantitative approach, species mentioned were ranked and compared to the pharmacopoeia of other participating communities. Sixteen and 25 plants were mentioned in Wemindji and Oujé-Bougoumou respectively. Seven new plant and one fungal species were added to the list of potential antidiabetic species, although most of those mentioned were common to the general CEI pharmacopoeia, thus supporting the cultural importance that they hold. Phytochemical analyses of two of these species, Rhododendron groenlandicum and Sarracenia purpurea, were made from accessions harvested throughout Eeyou Istchee. While no pattern was detected in the variation of S. purpurea’s biologically active compounds, phenolic compounds from R. groenlandicum, specifically (+)-catchin, (-)-epicatechin and quercetin-3-galactoside, varied spatially as a function of insolation parameters such as solar radiation or photoperiod. Samples from the latter, tested in vitro in the 3T3-L1 murine adipocytes adipogenesis bioassay, increased the intracellular accumulation of triglycerides, thus conferring it a glitazone-like antidiabetic activity. This activity, however, was weaker in accessions with high quercetin content, which could have an impact on the quality of a natural health product made from this species.