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Antiinflammatory and antitumor activity has been reported in Passiflora edulis (yellow passion fruit) nevertheless the intrinsic mechanisms of action are not fully elucidated. The present study aimeds to perform a comparison between the antitumor activity involving the crude extract (HCE) and the supercritical fluid extract with ethanol as co-solvent (SFEtOH) from P. edulis f. flavicarpa Deg. The in vitro cytotoxicity was evaluated in MCF-7 cells, while the in vivo antitumor activity was assessed in male Balb/c mice inoculated with Ehrlich carcinoma cells. SFEtOH exhibited higher antitumor activity compared to HCE. Wherein, SFEtOH showed an EC50 of 264.6 µg/mL against MCF-7 cells as well as an increased inhibition of tumor growth of 48.5% (p < 0.001) in male Balb/c mice, thereby promoting an increased mice lifespan to approximately 42%. Moreover, SFEtOH caused lipid (p < 0.001) and protein (p < 0.001) oxidation by increasing glutathione redox cycle activity while decreased the thioredoxin reductase activity (p < 0.001). SFEtOH also induced oxidative DNA damage in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells leading to G2/M cycle arrest and has increased apoptotic cells up to 48.2%. These data suggest that the probable mechanisms of antitumor effect are associated to the lipid, protein and DNA damage, leading to cell cycle arrest and triggering apoptosis via mitochondrial pathway, should be probable due to the presence of medium and long chain fatty acids such as lauric acid.

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Guabiroba fruit has been highlighted for its high phytochemical content, particularly of phenolic compounds. The stability, bioavailability, and bioactivity of these compounds can be enhanced by nanoencapsulation, to improve functionality. Poly(d,l-lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) nanoparticles containing phenolic extract of guabiroba (GPE) were synthesized by an adapted emulsion-evaporation method and their physico-chemical and functional properties were studied at two lactic to glycolic acid ratios (50:50 and 65:35). Higher (P<0.05) or equivalent antioxidant capacity compared to free GPE were observed for GPE-loaded nanoparticles. Free extract and PLGA nanoparticles were effective inhibitors of Listeria innocua, with lower (P<0.05) GPE concentrations required for inhibition when nanoencapsulated. Also, reduction of ROS generation in non-cancer cells was achieved with lower GPE concentrations (P<0.05) after encapsulation. These results suggest that PLGA nanoparticles can be used as a delivery system for phenolic compounds at lower levels than originally required for enhanced functional properties.

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The possibility of increasing the aggregated value of the huge amount of residues generated by wineries around the world foment studies using the grape pomace - the residue from the wine production, composed by seed, skin and stems - to obtain functional ingredients. Nowadays, consumers in general prefer natural and safe products mainly for food and cosmetic fields, where the supercritical fluid extraction is of great importance due to the purity of the extracts provided. Therefore, the objective of this work is to evaluate the global extraction yield, the antimicrobial activity and the composition profile of Merlot and Syrah grape pomace extracts obtained by supercritical CO2 (SC-CO2) and CO2 added with co-solvent at pressures up to 300 bar and temperatures of 50 and 60 °C. The results were compared with the ones obtained by Soxhlet and by ultrasound-assisted leaching extraction methods. The main components from the extracts, identified by HPLC, were gallic acid, p-OH-benzoic acid, vanillic acid and epicatechin. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of the extracts were evaluated using four strains of bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and three fungi strains (Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, Candida krusei). Despite lower extraction yield results, the supercritical fluid extracts presented the highest antimicrobial effectiveness compared to the other grape pomace extracts due to the presence of antimicrobial active compounds. Syrah extracts were less efficient against the microorganisms tested and Merlot extracts were more active against Gram-positive bacteria.

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Informações epidemiológicas indicam que uma substancial proporção de doenças transmitidas por alimentos (DTA) é atribuída às falhas no processamento domiciliar dos alimentos. A implementação de estratégias de educação em saúde contribuem para a mudança de comportamentos específicos de higiene alimentar nas cozinhas domésticas. Com o objetivo de avaliar os padrões de higiene alimentar de usuários do programa saúde da família (Lapa-RJ), visando o planejamento de estratégias de educação sem saúde, foi elaborado um questionário sobre higiene e segurança alimentar em torno de cinco temas: conhecimentos sobre doenças transmitidas por alimentos; contaminação cruzada; higiene pessoal, ambiental e de alimentos; controle de temperaturas e controle de alimentos de risco.(...) Os resultados sugerem que a maioria dos entrevistados, não estão adotando padrões de higiene alimentar recomendados para minimizar os riscos de doenças transmitidas por alimentos no ambiente doméstico.

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Informações epidemiológicas indicam que uma substancial proporção de doenças transmitidas por alimentos (DTA) é atribuída às falhas no processamento domiciliar dos alimentos. A implementação de estratégias de educação em saúde contribuem para a mudança de comportamentos específicos de higiene alimentar nas cozinhas domésticas. Com o objetivo de avaliar os padrões de higiene alimentar de usuários do programa saúde da família (Lapa-RJ), visando o planejamento de estratégias de educação sem saúde, foi elaborado um questionário sobre higiene e segurança alimentar em torno de cinco temas: conhecimentos sobre doenças transmitidas por alimentos; contaminação cruzada; higiene pessoal, ambiental e de alimentos; controle de temperaturas e controle de alimentos de risco. Foram recrutados 80 pacientes para participarem do estudo. O estudo foi conduzido no período de Março a Julho de 2006. Dentre os 80 pacientes entrevistados, 60% usava a mesma tábua de corte para carnes e vegetais. Somente 21% lavavam vegetais crus com solução de hipoclorito. 55% deixam alimentos após a cocção mais de 2 horas fora da geladeira. 30% dos entrevistados tinham consumido carnes "mal cozidas" nos últimos seis meses antes da entrevista. Os resultados sugerem que a maioria dos entrevistados, não estão adotando padrões de higiene alimentar recomendados para minimizar os riscos de doenças transmitidas por alimentos no ambiente doméstico.(AU)

Introduction: Epidemiological data indicate that a substantial proportion of foodborne diseases are related to improper food home preparation. The implementation of health education strategies could improve specific food hygiene behaviors in domestic kitchens. Objective: To assess the food hygiene standards of the care users in family health program to planning food safety education. Methods: A food safetyquestionnaire was designed covering five areas such as: knowledge about foodborne diseases; cross-contamination; personal, environmental and food hygiene; control temperature and control foodrisks. 80 patients were recruited to participate in this study. The study was conducted between March toJuly 2006. Results: From 80 patients interviewed; 60% used the same cutting board to cut meats and vegetables. Only 21% washed raw vegetables with hypochlorite solution and 55% leave cooked foods outside the refrigerator for more 2 h. 30% had consumed meat undercooked in the 6 months prior tointerview. Conclusions: The results suggest that the majority of patients interviewed do not meet recommended food hygiene standards to minimize the risk of foodborne diseases in the domesticsetting. (AU)

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