Evaluation of healthy and sensory indexes of sweetened beverages using an electronic tongue

Overconsumption of sugar-sweetened beverages may increase the risk of health problems and so, the evaluation of their glycemic load and fructose-intolerance level is essential since it may allow establishing possible relations between physiologic effects of sugar-rich beverages and health. In this work, an electronic tongue was used to accurately classify beverages according to glycemic load (low, medium or high load) as well to their adequacy for people suffering from fructose malabsorption syndrome (tolerable or not): 100% of correct classifications (leave-one-out cross-validation) using linear discriminant models based on potentiomentric signals selected by a meta-heuristic simulated annealing algorithm. These results may be partially explained by the electronic tongue’s capability to mimic the human sweetness perception and total acid flavor of beverages, which can be related with glycemic load and fructose-intolerance index. Finally, the E-tongue was also applied to quantify, accurately, healthy and sensory indexes using multiple linear regression models (leave-one-out cross-validation: R_adj > 0.99) in the following dynamic ranges: 4.7 < glycemic load ≤ 30; 0.4 < fructose intolerance index ≤ 1.5; 32 < sweetness perception < 155; 1.3 < total acid flavor, g L⁻¹ < 8.3; and, 5.8 < well-balanced flavor ≤ 74. So, the proposed electronic tongue could be used as a practical, fast, low-cost and green tool for beverage’s healthy and sensory evaluation.     

New Acetogenins from the Seeds of Annona coriacea

From the hexane and MeOH extracts of Annona coriacea Mart . (Annonaceae) seeds, two novel acetogenins, coriapentocins A and B ( 1 and 2 , resp.) were isolated. The known acetogenin bullacin ( 3 ) was also isolated from the hexane extract. The structures of compounds 1 – 3 were elucidated by NMR and MS analysis, and relative configurations were established by comparison with literature data.     

Environmentally friendly homocoupling reaction of functionalized potassium aryl trifluoroborates salts in aqueous media

The homocoupling reaction between potassium aryl trifluoroborates containing different functionalities promoted by a catalytic amount of Pd(OAc)₂ is described. The methodology uses water as a solvent under aerobic conditions to give the corresponding biaryl compounds in good yields.     

Analysis of natural red dyes (cochineal) in textiles of historical importance using HPLC and multivariate data analysis

A new analytical approach based on high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) and multivariate data analysis was applied and assessed for analyzing the red dye extracted from cochineal insects, used in precious historical textiles. The most widely used method of analysis involves quantification of specific minor compounds (markers), using HPLC-DAD. However, variation in the cochineal markers concentration, use of aggressive dye extraction methods and poor resolution of HPLC chromatograms can compromise the identification of the precise insect species used in the textiles. In this study, a soft extraction method combined with a new dye recovery treatment was developed, capable of yielding HPLC chromatograms with good resolution, for the first time, for historical cochineal-dyed textiles. After principal components analysis (PCA) and mass spectrometry (MS), it was possible to identify the cochineal species used in these textiles, in contrast to the accepted method of analysis. In order to compare both methodologies, 7 cochineal species and 63 historical cochineal insect specimens were analyzed using the two approaches, and then compared with the results for 15 historical textiles in order to assess their applicability to real complex samples. The methodology developed here was shown to provide more accurate and consistent information than the traditional method. Almost all of the historical textiles were dyed with Porphyrophora sp. insects. These results emphasize the importance of adopting the proposed methodology for future research on cochineal (and related red dyes). Mild extraction methods and HPLC-DAD/MSⁿ analysis yield distinctive profiles, which, in combination with a PCA reference database, are a powerful tool for identifying red insect dyes.     

Biomolecule profiles in inedible wild mushrooms with antioxidant value

The use of natural products isolated from mushrooms, included inedible species, against infection, cancer diseases and other oxidative-stress related diseases is one of the cornerstones of modern medicine. In the present work, the antioxidant molecule profiles of inedible mushroom species were evaluated and compared with those of edible species. The order of antioxidant abundance found in inedible wild mushrooms was: phenolics > flavonoids > ascorbic acid > tocopherols > carotenoids, similar to that of edible species. Furthermore the same energetic biomolecules were found including the disaccharide trehalose, the monosaccharide alcohol derivative mannitol and the fatty acids palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids. Fomitopsis pinicola revealed a very high phenolics concentration (388 mg GAE/g extract) and powerful antioxidant properties, mainly reducing power (EC??) value 60 μg/mL similar to the standard Trolox?). It could find applications in the prevention of free radical-related diseases as a source of bioactive compounds.     

Casbane diterpene as a promising natural antimicrobial agent against biofilm-associated infections

Croton nepetaefolius is a native plant from northeastern Brazil that belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family. The biological action of this plant has been extensively explored, being the secondary metabolites responsible for its properties alkaloids, diterpenes, and triterpenes. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of casbane diterpene (CD), isolated from the ethanolic extract of C. nepetaefolius, to inhibit microbial growth and biofilm formation of several clinical relevant species (bacteria and yeasts). It was found that CD possessed biocidal and biostatic activity against the majority of the species screened, with minimal active concentrations ranging between 125 and 500 μg/mL. In addition, it was observed that biofilm formation was inhibited even when the planktonic growth was not significantly affected. In conclusion, CD showed potential to be a natural tool for the treatment of diseases caused by different infectious microorganisms.     

On the existence and stability for noninstantaneous impulsive fractional integrodifferential equation

In this paper, by means of Banach fixed point theorem, we investigate the existence and Ulam–Hyers–Rassias stability of the noninstantaneous impulsive integrodifferential equation by means of ψ‐Hilfer fractional derivative. In this sense, some examples are presented, in order to consolidate the results obtained.     

Evaluation of Genotoxicity and Toxicity of Annona muricata L. Seeds and In Silico Studies

Cancer is a multifactorial organic dysfunction for which great efforts are being devoted in searching for new treatments and therapeutic adjuvants. Annona muricata is a fruit that has promising activity against several types of cancer, as it contains acetogenins, the metabolite group associated with this action. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate, in experimental models, the toxic behavior of an extract and fraction rich in acetogenins from A. muricata seeds and study the acetogenin, Annonacin, in silico. Phytochemical characterization was made by thin layer chromatography, spectroscopy in the infrared region and nuclear magnetic resonance. Toxicity was evaluated by tests of Allium cepa and Artemia salina, and in silico studies using the SwissDock servers DockThor, PharmMapper, ADMETLab, PreADME, Osiris and ProTox. The extract and fraction showed genotoxic activity against meristematic cells of A. cepa, reducing the mitotic index; however, the extract produced great deleterious effects on the system, even causing cell necrosis. In A. Saline, the extract was more toxic than the fraction, but both samples were considered toxic. Annonacin was effectively linked to complex I, and presented different activities regarding toxicity. Thus, the results of this study are promising, highlighting the anticancer potential of acetogenins.     

From the grapevine to the glass: A wine metabolomics tale by FT-ICR-MS

Wine is one of the most consumed beverages around the world. Its unique characteristics arise from numerous processes, from the selection of grapevine varieties and grapes, the effect of the terroir and geographical origin, through the biochemical process of fermentation by microorganisms, until its aging. All molecules found in wine define its chemical fingerprint and can be used to tell the story of its origin, production, authenticity and quality. Wine's chemical composition can be characterized using an untargeted metabolomics approach based on extreme resolution mass spectrometry. Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) is currently the most powerful analytical technique to analyse such complex sample, providing the most comprehensive analysis of the chemical fingerprint of wine.     

Tetracyclic Thioxanthene Derivatives: Studies on Fluorescence and Antitumor Activity

Thioxanthones are bioisosteres of the naturally occurring xanthones. They have been described for multiple activities, including antitumor. As such, the synthesis of a library of thioxanthones was pursued, but unexpectedly, four tetracyclic thioxanthenes with a quinazoline–chromene scaffold were obtained. These compounds were studied for their human tumor cell growth inhibition activity, in the cell lines A375-C5, MCF-7 and NCI-H460. Photophysical studies were also performed. Two of the compounds displayed GI₅₀ values below 10 µM for the three tested cell lines, and structure–activity relationship studies were established. Three compounds presented similar wavelengths of absorption and emission, characteristic of dyes with a push-pull character. The structures of two compounds were elucidated by X-ray crystallography. Two tetracyclic thioxanthenes emerged as hit compounds. One of the two compounds accumulated intracellularly as a bright fluorescent dye in the green channel, as analyzed by both fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry, making it a promising theranostic cancer drug candidate.