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The adsorptive capacity of charcoal from the husk of the brazil nut fruit, called "ouriço" (the hard ball with nuts inside) for the herbicide dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) was evaluated. Activated carbons were produced from the brazil nut in a tubular oven at 800 ℃ and activated with CO2 or water steam. The specific surface area was determined by the Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) method, demonstrating the mean density of micropores. Analysis of N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms was undertaken and the morphology of activated carbons was visualized by Scanning Microscopy (SEM). The activated carbons were successfully obtained and had a specific surface area of 395 m².g-1 and 401 m².g-1 after activation with either CO2 or water steam, respectively. The highest pore mean density occurred with a diameter of 1.17 nm for carbons activated in both atmospheres. The graph of the adsorption/desorption isotherms of N2 showed Type I isotherms, regardless of the activation atmosphere. The SEM analysis showed that, for both activation atmospheres, pore formation occurred in the shape of uniform honeycomb craters. Adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second order model, indicating chemisorption. Regardless of the activation atmosphere, the activated carbon from the brazil nut "ouriço", was highly efficient for 2,4-D adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Hibiscus sabdariffa L. is a plant of the Malvaceae family, commonly known as roselle. H. sabdariffa is known to contain antioxidant, cholesterol-lowering, antiobesity, insulin resistance reduction, antihypertensive, and skin cancer chemopreventive properties. This study evaluated the effects of H. sabdariffa aqueous extract against cyclophosphamide (CPA, 25 mg/Kg) induced damage to DNA in male Wistar rats by micronucleus test. Samples of H. sabdariffa calyx were obtained in the municipality of Barra do Garças, Mato Grosso, Brazil. The aqueous extract was prepared by infusion and each animal received a daily dose of 400 mg/Kg by gavage for 15 consecutive days of treatment. The presence of anthocyanins was confirmed by ferric chloride test and phenolic compounds using high-performance liquid chromatography, with emphasis on the identification of rutin. The animals were sacrificed by deepening of anaesthesia to obtain bone marrow and determination of the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes. The group treated with the aqueous extract of H. sabdariffa revealed a 91% reduction in micronucleus frequency when compared with the positive control group. Under the conditions tested, H. sabdariffa L. presented a protective effect to CPA-induced damage to DNA of the treated animals, and it is a potential candidate as a chemopreventive agent against carcinogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hibiscus sabdariffa L. is a plant of the Malvaceae family, commonly known as roselle. H. sabdariffa is known to contain antioxidant, cholesterol-lowering, antiobesity, insulin resistance reduction, antihypertensive, and skin cancer chemopreventive properties. This study evaluated the effects of H. sabdariffa aqueous extract against cyclophosphamide (CPA, 25 mg/Kg) induced damage to DNA in male Wistar rats by micronucleus test. Samples of H. sabdariffa calyx were obtained in the municipality of Barra do Garças, Mato Grosso, Brazil. The aqueous extract was prepared by infusion and each animal received a daily dose of 400 mg/Kg by gavage for 15 consecutive days of treatment. The presence of anthocyanins was confirmed by ferric chloride test and phenolic compounds using high-performance liquid chromatography, with emphasis on the identification of rutin. The animals were sacrificed by deepening of anaesthesia to obtain bone marrow and determination of the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes. The group treated with the aqueous extract of H. sabdariffa revealed a 91% reduction in micronucleus frequency when compared with the positive control group. Under the conditions tested, H. sabdariffa L. presented a protective effect to CPA-induced damage to DNA of the treated animals, and it is a potential candidate as a chemopreventive agent against carcinogenesis., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.