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Abstract: The seed gum from Prosopis juliflora is a galactomannan polysaccharide, which is located in the endosperm. Regarding P. juliflora galactomannan structural studies, there are reports on galactose substitutional pattern, but supporting data by NMR correlation studies are scarce. In this work, a procedure to obtain P. juliflora gum without contamination was employed and the gum was studied by NMR spectroscopy. Overall, results show that mesquite seed has a 1.1:1 Man/Gal ratio. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

p -Hydroxycinnamic diester is very common in fruits and beverages. Furthermore, it belongs to the family of cinnamic acids. It is a chemical compound present in carnauba leaf powder, and it has promising pharmacological properties against non-transmissible chronic diseases. Then, the objective of this work was characterizing the chemical composition of p -hydroxycinnamic diester obtained from carnauba leaf powder, as thoroughly evaluate its antioxidant profile and to analyze its effect in diabetic mice induced by high-fat diet. Male C57BL/6J mice were induced by 60 days by a high-fat diet and treated for 30 days with p-hydroxycinnamic diester (200 e 400 mg/Kg) and metformin (200 mg/Kg). p -Hydroxycinnamic diester presented chemical structure consistent with the cinnamic acid derivatives reported in scientific literature. Furthermore, p -hydroxycinnamic diester exhibited excellent in vivo and in vitro antioxidant activity, and it also decreased glycemia, MDA, reactive oxygen species in liver tissue, body mass, water consumption of animals. p -Hydroxycinnamic diester had satisfactory results, and this product could be useful for diabetes treatment. [Display omitted] • Carnauba wax has promissing pharmacological properties. • P -hydroxycinnamic diesters from carnaúba wax presented hypoglicemic and antioxidant effect. • CG-MS revealed the majoritary presence of p -hidroxycinnamic derivates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Synthetic food colourings were analyzed in soft drinks. [•] The colourings food were extracted from soft drinks using C18 SPE. [•] The colourings food were identified by thin layer chromatography. [•] The concentration of food colouring in soft drink was determined by HPLC. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] The C. ferrea is an economical and ecological important specie in Brazil. [•] The principal reserve polysaccharide (9% dry weight) of C. ferrea was characterized. [•] Its NMR study revealed a galactomannan with a 2.65 mannose/galactose ratio. [•] The rheological behavior of its solution was pseudoplastic. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Dyslipidemia is a chronic non-transmissible condition that has increased due to an unhealthy lifestyle. Statins have been used as the standard treatment to control hyperlipidemia. However, side effects and high costs may be associated with its prolonged treatment, so plants derivatives have been an attractive therapy to overcome these problems. Among the compounds extracted from plants, the p -hydroxycinnamic diesters (HCE), present in carnauba wax (CW), have been found with good pharmacological properties. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the potential anti-hypercholesterolemic and possible toxicological effects of HCE in C57BL/6J mice under a high-fat (HF) diet. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed during 60 days under the HF diet and therefore were either treated with HCE (200 and 400 mg/kg) or simvastatin (20 mg/kg) or received saline (controls) by gavage for 30 days under the same diet. HCE treatment was able to reduce serum total cholesterol and LDL levels. Besides, this compound increased liver X receptor (LXR) and but not significantly affected IL-1β and TNF-α liver mRNA transcription activity. In conclusion, HCE treatment was found safe and may attenuate the deleterious effects of dyslipidemia due to chronic feeding with western diets. [Display omitted] • Carnauba wax has promising pharmacological properties. • p -Hydroxycinnamic diesters from carnauba wax are safe and showed anti-hypercholesterolemic and anti-nitrergic effects. • p -Hydroxycinnamic diesters from carnauba wax improved liver LXR mRNA levels. • p -Hydroxycinnamic diesters affected IL-1β and TNF-α liver mRNA transcription activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study was to examine how IQ changes (the Flynn effect) among school-aged children in Portugal behaved over a period of 25 years (1991, 2008 and 2016) that registered major economic transformations in the country. The country's initial move to prosperity was followed by a recent move into recession, which might affect IQ gains. Changes in IQ by level of intellectual ability were also inspected. Children's scores on Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices in Portugal were compared between the years 1991, 2008 and 2016. Differences in IQs were calculated according to Flynn's (1987) procedures. In addition, percentile distributions of children's scores in the period of economic growth (between 1991 and 2008) were compared for inspection of IQ changes across levels of intellectual ability. Results showed an IQ gain of 2.6 points per decade from 1991 to 2008, followed by a smaller increase (of 1.7 points per decade) from 2008 to 2016, with negative gains observed for seven-, eight- and 10-year-old children. The gains in IQ from 1991 to 2008 have occurred mainly for lower levels of intellectual ability. IQ relative gains accompanied the country's economic fluctuations, and children in lower levels of intellectual ability seemed to have benefitted the most from the economic growth. The trends in the country are suggestive of the influence of economic fluctuations on family dynamics, which, although moderated by education, have consequences for children's cognitive development. • Portuguese school children's IQ has increased over the past 25 years. • IQ gains were smaller after 2008. • The gains in IQ have occurred mainly for lower levels of intellectual ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]