Caesalpinia pyramidalis, is an endemic plant from the North east of Brazil which present scientifically proven anti-inflamatory, antinociceptive, and gastroprotective activities. This work aimed at evaluating the gastroprotective effect of the extract of Caesalpinia pyramidalis (EECp) bark in acute gastric ulcers induced by ethanol in Wistar rats. The ulcered animals were treated with a dose of 100mg/kg of EECp and L-NAME (nitric acid blocker) and Propargylglycine (hydrogen sulfide blocker). It was evaluated, in all treatments, the role of the gas mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and also the participation of mast cells and molecules involved in the anti-inflamatory process as iNOS and citocin IL-4. It was observed in the NO evaluation that the treatment with L-NAME was not able to revert the inhibitory effect of EECp on the ulcers induced by ethanol, showing that the EECp does not operate via NO. However, the H2S can operate in the gastro protection of the EECp as its block hindered the gastroprotective effect on the ulcers induced by ethanol. In order to evaluate the mast cells, histological cuts were made with toluidine blue/alcian blue/safranine where different mast cells phenotypes were observed. In all treatments a prevalence of mucous mast cells was observed. The techniques of immunofluorescence and flow cytometry were used to evaluate IL-4 and iNOS. The ulcered animals treated with EECp presented high expression of IL-4 and low expression of iNOS, suggesting an anti-inflammatory activity of EECp. In conclusion, the gastroprotective effect of EECp and its action mechanism are related to H2S in diminishing the oxidative stress, the induced NO synthase, and the positive immunomodulatory effect for IL-4, with the diminution of mucous mast cells during the inflammatory process. / A Caesalpinia pyramidalis, planta endêmica da região do Nordeste é utilizada popularmente para tratamento de diversos distúrbios patológicos e possui ação anti-inflamatória, anti-nociceptiva e gastroprotetora. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar o efeito gastroprotetor do extrato da entrecasca da Caesalpinia pyramidalis (EECp) em modelos de úlcera aguda induzidas por etanol em ratos Wistar. Os animais ulcerados foram tratados com EECp na dose de 100 mg/kg, com L-NAME (bloqueador de óxido nítrico) e Propargilglicina (bloqueador de sulfeto de hidrogênio). Para todos os tratamentos foi avaliado o papel de mediadores gasosos como óxido nítrico (NO) e sulfeto de hidrogênio H2S, e também a participação de mastócitos e de moléculas envolvidas no processo inflamatório como a iNOS e a citocina IL-4. Na avaliação dos de NO observamos que o tratamento com L-NAME não foi capaz de reverter o efeito inibitório da EECp sobre as úlceras induzidas por etanol, demonstrando que o EECp não age pela via do NO. Contudo o H2S pode estar atuando na gastroproteção do EECp pois o seu bloqueio impediu o efeito gastroprotetor sobre as úlceras induzidas por etanol. Para avaliação de mastócitos cortes histológicos foram corados com azul de toluidina/ alcian blue/ safranina onde observamos diferentes fenótipos de mastócitos. Observamos um predomínio de mastócitos mucosos em todos os tratamentos. Para a avaliação de IL-4 e de iNOS foram utilizadas as técnicas de imunofluorescência e citometria de fluxo. Observamos que os animais ulcerados tratados com EECp apresentaram alta expressão de IL-4 e baixa expressão de iNOS, sugerindo uma atividade anti-inflamatória da EECp. Pode-se concluir que o efeito gastroprotetor do EECp e o possível mecanismo de ação, está relacionado ao H2S na diminuição do estresse oxidativo, diminuição do NO sintase induzível e com o efeito imunomodulatório positivo para IL-4, como a diminuição de mastócitos mucosos durante o processo inflamatório.

Degradation of water resources has become one of the most pressing global concerns currently facing mankind. Constructed Wetlands (CWs) represent a concept to combat deterioration of water resources by acting as buffers between wastewater and receiving water bodies. Still, constructing wetlands for the sole purpose of wastewater treatment is a challenging task. To contribute to this research area, the fundamental question raised in this doctorate thesis was: how do factors such as vegetation and residing water movements (hydraulics) influence wastewater treatment in CWs? Also, effects of different data analysis methods for results of CW hydraulics and wastewater treatment were investigated. Research was focused on  phosphorus (P), ammonium-nitrogen (NH4+-N) and solids (TSS) in wastewater and o n P in macrophyte biomass. Studies were performed in pilot-scale free water surface (FWS) CW systems in Kenya (Chemelil) and Sweden (Halmstad) and as computer simulations. Results from the Chemelil CWs demonstrated that meeting effluent concentration standards simultaneously for all water quality parameters in one CW was difficult. Vegetation harvest, and thus nutrient uptake by young growing macrophytes, was important for maintaining low effluents of NH4+-N and P, especially during dry seasons. On the other hand, mature and dense vegetation growing for at least 4 months secured meeting TSS standards. Phosphorus in above-ground green biomass accounted for almost 1/3 of the total P mass removal, demonstrating high potential for P removal through macrophyte harvest in CWs. Also, results suggested that harvest should be species-specific to achieve high P removal by macrophytes and overall acceptable wastewater treatment in CWs. Still, different methods to estimate evapotranspiration (ET) from the Chemelil CWs showed that water balance calculations greatly impacted estimations of wastewater treatment results. Hydraulic tracer studies performed in the Chemelil and Halmstad CWs showed that mature and dense emergent vegetation in CWs could reduce effective treatment volumes (e-values), which emphasized the importance of regulating this type of vegetation. Also, it was shown that hydraulic tracer studies with lithium chloride performed in CWs with dense emergent vegetation had problems with low tracer recoveries. This problem could be reduced by promoting the distribution of incoming tracer solution into the CW using a barrier near the CW inlet pipe. Computer simulation results showed that the choice of tracer data analysis method greatly influenced quantifications of CW hydraulics and pollutant removal. The e-value could be 50% higher and the pollutant removal 13% higher depending upon used method. Moreover, unrealistic evalues (above 100%) in published literature could to some extent be explained by tracer data analysis method. Hence, to obtain more reliable hydraulic data and wastewater treatment results from CWs, more attention should be paid to the choice of tracer data analysis method. / Konstruerade våtmarker representerar ett koncept för möjligheten att nå en hållbar vattenresurshantering genom att agera som ”filter” mellan föroreningskälla och viktiga vattenresurser såsom sjöar och hav. Mycket kunskap saknas däremot om hur man konstruerar våtmarker med en optimal och pålitlig vattenreningskapacitet. Den här avhandlingen undersöker därför hur vegetation och vattnets väg genom våtmarken (hydrauliken) påverkar avloppsvattenrening i våtmarker. Dessutom undersöktes hur valet av dataanalysmetod av insamlad data påverkar resultaten. Studier genomfördes i Kenya och Sverige i experimentvåtmarker (ca. 40-60 m2) och inkluderadedatainsamling av vattenkvalité, hydraulik (spårämnesexperiment) samt biomassa och fosfor i biomassan av två olika våtmarksväxter. Dessutom genomfördes datorsimuleringar. Resultaten från Kenya visade att växtskörd och efterföljande näringsupptag av nyskördade växter var viktig för att uppnå låga utgående koncentrationer av fosfor och ammonium i en tropisk våtmark, speciellt under torrsäsongen. Däremot var en välutvecklad och tät vegetation viktig för reningen av partiklar. Fosfor i grön växtbiomassa representerade cirka 1/3 av våtmarkernas totala fosforrening, vilket påvisade potentialen i att genom skörd ta bort fosfor från avloppsvatten m.h.a. konstruerade våtmarker. Resultaten pekade också på att skörden bör vara art-specifik för att uppnå en hög fosforrening och generellt bra vattenreningsresultat. Dock visade olika beräkningsmetoder att vattenbalansen i en tropisk våtmark markant kan påverka vattenreningsresultaten. Resultaten från spårämnesexperimenten demonstrerade att den effektiva våtmarksvolymen för vattenrening blev mindre vid hög täthet av övervattensväxter. Detta pekade på att regelbunden växtskörd var viktig för att uppnå god vattenrening i våtmarker. Experiment med spårämnet litium visade att man kan få felaktiga resultat p.g.a. att en del spårämne fasthålls på botten i våtmarken om denna har mycket övervattensväxter. Därför bör spridningen av spårämnet i sådana våtmarker underlättas m.h.a. en spridningsbarriär nära inloppsröret. Simuleringar visade också att valet av dataanalysmetod av spårämnesdata starkt kan påverka resultaten och därmed också vår tolkning av en våtmarks hydraulik och reningskapacitet. Den effektiva volymen kunde vara 50% högre och reningseffekten 13% högre beroende på vilken metod som användes. Likaså kan valet av dataanalysmetod ha bidragit till överskattade och orealistiska effektiva volymer (över 100%) i artiklar publicerade de senaste 25 åren. Genom att fokusera mer på valet av dataanalysmetod och t.ex. jämföra resultaten från två olika metoder kan man minimera risken för bristfälliga resultat och därmed felaktiga slutsatser om en våtmarks vattenreningskapacitet.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / The difference in rainfall throughout the year is a recurring problem that the plants in the field must contend as a result of the moments of drought to which they can be submitted. In the Caatinga, this problem is even greater, since the rains are very sparse and irregular, causing drought for months. The plants of the Caatinga have several adaptations to resist such conditions. This work aimed to evaluate physiological parameters of two endemic species of the Caatinga, the |catingueira| (Poincianella pyramidalis) and |pinhão-bravo| (Jatropha mollissima), in search to discover what strategies these species adopt to survive the drought. Two collections, one in the dry season and one in the wet, were made to evaluate parameters of water relations, concentrations of organic solutes and photosynthetic pigments, chlorophyll a fluorescence and gas exchange. The |catingueira| shown to have been damaged by drought, with a significant reduction in their rates of water relations, particularly in the relative water content, which reached values below 60%, and the performance indices of chlorophyll a fluorescence. The |pinhão-bravo| was able to maintain their high tissue turgor, but the rates of fluorescence and net photosynthesis demonstrated that he was affected by drought since their photosynthetic parameters suffered very significant reductions. / A diferença de precipitação ao longo do ano é um problema recorrente que as plantas em campo precisam enfrentar, em decorrência dos momentos de déficit hídrico aos quais elas podem ser submetidas. Na Caatinga, esse problema é ainda maior, já que as chuvas são muito esparsas e irregulares, ocasionando meses a fio de estiagem. As plantas da Caatinga possuem diversas adaptações para suportar tais condições. Esse trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar parâmetros fisiológicos de duas espécies endêmicas da Caatinga, a catingueira (Poincianella pyramidalis) e o pinhão-bravo (Jatropha mollissima), em busca de descobrir que estratégias essas espécies adotam para sobreviver ao período de estiagem. Foram feitas duas coletas, uma na estação seca e outra na chuvosa, para avaliar parâmetros de relações hídricas, concentrações de solutos orgânicos e de pigmentos fotossintéticos, fluorescência de clorofila a e trocas gasosas. A catingueira demonstrou ter sido bastante afetada pela seca, com redução significativa nos seus parâmetros de relações hídricas, sobretudo no teor relativo de água, que atingiu valores abaixo de 60%, e nos índices de desempenho da fluorescência da clorofila a. O pinhão-bravo conseguiu manter a turgescência de seus tecidos alta, mas os índices da fluorescência e da fotossíntese líquida demonstraram que ele também foi afetado pelo déficit hídrico, uma vez que seus parâmetros fotossintéticos sofreram reduções bastante significativas.