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The Curvularia leaf spot, caused by the phytopathogen Curvularia lunata L., is one of the most relevant foliar diseases in Neotropical fields of corn, Zea mays L. The management of C. lunata infection still is heavily dependent on the use of synthetic compounds. However, due to increasing numbers of control failure reports and the unintended environmental hazards caused by synthetic products, the use of bioactive molecules that combine fungicidal and plant protective activities have been suggested as promising alternative management tools. Here, we assessed the chemical composition and the potential of Jenipapo, Genipa americana L., essential oil for controlling C. lunata in corn leaves. We further evaluated whether the essential oil treatment would modify the plant immune responses (e.g., the activity of defense enzymes, soluble proteins, and foliar pigments) or cause any potential undesired effects in the beneficial fungi Trichoderma asperellum and the ladybeetles Coleomegilla maculata. Chemical composition analysis revealed that the aldehyde (E)-2-decenal was the major component (85.4 %) of the essential oil. The essential oil treatment controlled C. lunata in a preventive way, increased the plant-immunity responses in a concentration manner, and did not cause any detrimental effect on the T. asperellum growth rate nor on the ladybeetles' survival and predatory abilities. In silico analyses further demonstrated the molecular interactions between the (E)-2-decenal and the C. lunata fungal tyrosine-tRNA ligase as a potential mode of action. Collectively, our findings indicate that Jenipapo essential oil has the potential to be used in the management of C. lunata infection. [Display omitted] • Jenipapo, Genipa americana , essential oil controlled Curvularia lunata infections. • Jenipapo essential oil is (E)-2-decenal-rich and targets tyrosine-tRNA ligase. • The preventive use of the essential oil increased the plant immune responses. • The application of Jenipapo oil did not harm Trichoderma asperellum or ladybeetles. • Jenipapo essential oil is a potential biorational product to manage plant diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Butyrate is a four-carbon short-chain fatty acid that improves colonic trophism. Although several studies have shown the benefits of butyrate enemas in ulcerative colitis (UC), studies using the oral route are rare in the literature. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of butyrate intake in the immune response associated to UC. For that, mice were fed control or butyrate (0.5% sodium butyrate) diets for 14 days. Acute UC was induced by dextran sulphate sodium (DSS, 2.5%), replacing drinking water. The results showed that, in UC animals, oral butyrate significantly improved trophism and reduced leukocyte (eosinophil and neutrophil) infiltration in the colon mucosa and improved the inflammatory profile (activated macrophage, B and T lymphocytes) in cecal lymph nodes. In the small intestine, although mucosa histology was similar among groups, DSS treatment reduced duodenal transforming growth factor-β, increased interleukin-10 concentrations and increased memory T lymphocytes and dendritic cells in Peyer''s patches. Butyrate supplementation was able to revert these alterations. When cecal butyrate concentration was analyzed in cecal content, it was still higher in the healthy animals receiving butyrate than in the UC+butyrate and control groups. In conclusion, our results show that oral administration of sodium butyrate improves mucosa lesion and attenuates the inflammatory profile of intestinal mucosa, local draining lymph nodes and Peyer''s patches of DSS-induced UC. Our results also highlight the potential use of butyrate supplements as adjuvant in UC treatment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]