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As disfunções estéticas interferem diretamente no bem-estar biopsicossocial da população, especialmente feminina. Tais modificações orgânicas, atreladas ao estilo de vida e ao envelhecimento, vêm sendo alvo de pesquisas nos últimos anos, sobretudo na elaboração de estratégias terapêuticas acessíveis e naturais. O projeto de extensão “Belezas do Agreste” da UPE Garanhuns promoveu uma ação de divulgação consciente de receitas caseiras direcionadas às principais disfunções estéticas faciais e corporais para a comunidade da universidade e seu entorno. Foi feita uma revisão de literatura com artigos de 1990 a 2020, publicados nas bases de dados PubMed e Scielo, com o objetivo de respaldar cientificamente a efetividade terapêutica da Aloe vera e das argilas na preparação das receitas caseiras. A ação prática foi desenvolvida por estudantes de 3 diferentes cursos da universidade e oportunizou a utilização dos produtos naturais a um grupo de participantes. Os efeitos cicatrizantes e imunomoduladores descritos na literatura para a A. vera, assim como as propriedades inerentes das argilas, confirmam os benefícios desses produtos e baseiam nossa escolha de uso. A ação oportunizou aos extensionistas uma formação diferenciada em saúde e apresentou aos mais de 40 participantes formas naturais e de baixo custo para o tratamento das principais disfunções estéticas.

Bioactive biodegradable films are emerging biomaterials in the food packaging field. This study aims to investigate the effect of different Cenostigma nordestinum extracts (leaves, bark, and exudate bark) on the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and some physicochemical properties of chitosan films. Different concentrations of the extracts were added to the film matrix and the resulting incorporated films were evaluated for their bioactive, optical, mechanical, and water vapor barrier properties. The extracts of C. nordestinum proved to be natural sources of promising bioactive compounds with good antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The films incorporated with C. nordestinum extracts were opaquer, more resistant to tension, and less permeable to water vapor when compared to chitosan-control films. The incorporation of 300 µg mL−1 of the bark extract in the chitosan film increased the tensile strength from 113.97 ± 0.42 to 164.82 ± 0.85 MPa, and reduced the water vapor permeability from 2.11 ± 0.02 to 1.51 ± 0.04 × 10−10 g (m s Pa)−1. Additionally, the incorporated films presented excellent antioxidant capacity and discrete antimicrobial activity. The ongoing results demonstrate that bioactive chitosan-films incorporated with different C. nordestinum extracts are quite promising for the production of ecologically sustainable packaging for the food industry.

O interesse crescente pelo desenvolvimento de produtos de origem biológica, que utilizem tecnologias de processamento que possam diminuir a dependência social por produtos sintéticos, tem incentivado a prospecção de polímeros naturais. Polissacarídeos são biopolímeros que apresentam propriedades interessantes a uma série de aplicações biotecnológicas, especialmente por serem biodegradáveis, biocompatíveis e de baixa ou nenhuma toxicidade. O processamento de polissacarídeos a nível industrial, porém, requer inúmeras etapas prévias; dentre elas, a extração é considerada fator determinante para a obtenção de um bom rendimento e a possível replicação em escala industrial. Este trabalho teve como objetivo otimizar a metodologia de extração de polissacarídeos proposta por Albuquerque et al., (2014) para os polissacarídeos das sementes de Morinda citrifolia (Polinoni) e Senna occidentalis (Polimanji). A extração foi realizada por precipitação etanólica, centrifugação e lavagens com etanol e acetona; em seguida, foram calculados os rendimentos de extração e a concentração total de carboidratos. Finalmente, a natureza polissacarídica dos biopolímeros foi analisada por FT-IR. Polimanji e Polinoni foram extraídos com 19,84 ± 1,19 % e 5,63 ± 1,59 % de rendimento e apresentaram concentração de carboidratos totais de 3,25 ± 0,17 mg/mL e 6,66 ± 0,20 mg/mL, respectivamente. O FT-IR apresentou picos de absorção característicos de polissacarídeos para ambos os biopolímeros. Os resultados obtidos indicam que a otimização do protocolo extrativo desponta como uma técnica eficiente na extração de polissacarídeos contidos em sementes de plantas por se adequar às características de cada substrato, além de apresentar baixo custo e duração quando comparado a outros métodos.

Introducao: A pele e o maior orgao do corpo humano, reconhecida como orgao periferico do sistema imune por apresentar mecanismos proprios, cujas propriedades de defesa variam de acordo com o local e sua espessura (MOTTA et al , 2011). As dermatites de contato sao associadas a desregulacoes da autoimunidade, cujo agente causador e relacionado a penetracao percutâneas que costuma ser subdivididas em irritativas e alergicas (SBD, 2017). Relato de caso: V. B. S. P., 18 anos, negra, estudante e sem historico de alergia ou hipersensibilidade na familia, foi diagnosticada em 2016 com alergia a lanolina apos o teste de contato. A paciente retornou em 2019 com um quadro mais brando dos mesmos sintomas, onde foi constatado o uso continuo de produtos com tracos de lanolina e quando questionada, afirmou que os produtos manipulados eram muito caros e demoravam para ficarem prontos. A recomendacao de suspender o uso de produtos com lanolina continuou e foi pensada a possibilidade de iniciar tratamento com corticoides topicos. Discussao: As dermatites alergicas de contato (DCA) sao desencadeadas por uma resposta imune especifica contra determinados antigenos e substâncias, respondendo por uma reacao do tipo IV da escala de Gell & Coombs, mediada por via aferente com a ativacao de queratinocitos e liberacao de citocinas inflamatorias, como IL-1, IL-6 e TNF-α, seguindo por via do linfocito T h1 (MOTTA et al , 2011). A sintomatologia e bastante variavel, desde pequenos ardores ate queimacao e prurido (SBD, 2017). Assim, e necessario um teste de contato para diferenciar o agente causador e conduzir melhor a terapeutica. A primeira leitura do teste acontece apos 48 horas e a segunda com 96 (MOTTA; KALIL; BARROS, 2005). Conclusao: Como uma doenca que apresenta mediacao do sistema imune, DCAs devem ter controle primario baseado no afastamento do agente irritante. O tratamento deve ser individualizado e os exames clinicos usados para complementar o diagnostico.

The objective of this work was to develop a new edible coating based on the ethanolic residue of the Ziziphus joazeiro fruit pulp (POLIJUA) and evaluate its application in the Coalho cheese, a fresh cheese type. Films were developed using different concentrations of glycerol and the best formulation was applied on cheeses to evaluate their physical-chemical and microbiological characteristics during 21 days of storage. The POLIJUA coating significantly decreased (p

For medical biomaterials, xyloglucan dispersions can form films or gels to be applied as a wound dressing. For this purpose, the structural characterization of xyloglucan dressing (XG) and xyloglucan dressing containing 0.5 mg/mL of concanavalin A (XGL) was performed. The lectin release capacity and stability, cytotoxicity, and pro-wound healing effects were also investigated. XG and XGL films were prepared by mixing 0.5 % (w/v) xyloglucan with 0.3 % (v/v) glycerol. The ConA incorporated in the xyloglucan dressing maintained its biological activity for fourteen days in a controlled-release manner. The films were non-toxic, homogeneous, flexible, and accelerated the wound contraction compared with the control group, promoting less infiltration of inflammatory cells, angiogenesis, remodeling, and early epithelization. The films also alleviate the inflammation phase by reducing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-, TNF-, IL-1, IL-6, and IL-12), especially the XGL film, which promoted the up- and down-regulation of important proteins associated with the wound repair. All these findings suggest that XG and XGL films may represent a good therapeutic approach for wound healing applications., The authors are grateful for the financial support for research grants from the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnol ´ogico (CNPq), Coordenaç˜ao de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) and the Fundaç˜ao de Amparo `a Ciˆencia e Tecnologia do Estado de Pernambuco (FACEPE). We are grateful to the Centro de Tecnologias Estrat´egicas do Nordeste (CETENE) and to the Laborat´orio de Imunopatologia Keizo Asami-LIKA at the Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE) for access to its installation and technical assistance., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Polysaccharides are complex polymers containing long chains of monosaccharide units linked by glycosidic bonds...

Carbohydrate-binding proteins, also known as lectins, are valuable tools for biotechnology, including pharmacological uses. Mannose lectins obtained from plant and animal sources are applied to protection and characterization of autoimmune diseases as well as defense proteins against pathogens. The presence of mannose-binding lectins in plants that also recognize glucose could be entitled Man/Glc lectins; such specificity has allowed employing these vegetal lectins for several applications. Animal mannose-binding lectins are synthesized in the liver and secreted into the blood stream where both concentration and activity are greatly affected due to gene polymorphisms; these serum proteins play important roles in the immune system by recognizing mannose-like carbohydrate ligands found exclusively on pathogenic microorganisms. Mannose lectins already showed strong binding to relevant bacteria, viruses, protozoa and helminth species, initiating potent host defense mechanisms by inducing growth inhibition or death of such organisms; the ability to prevent the formation or destruction of microbial biofilms has also been reported. Mannose-binding lectins have attracted considerable attention against carcinogenesis and atherogenesis. The aim of this review article is to approach biotechnology characteristics of these lectins from different sources and microorganism/cell surface interactions with mannose; in addition, aspects of mechanisms associated to lectin antipathogenic activities are described.

Although prostate cancer is notable for its high incidence and mortality in men worldwide, its identification remains a challenge. Biomarkers have been useful tools for the specific detection of prostate cancer. Unfortunately, benign prostate diseases cause similar alterations in screening assays thus reducing the potential for early and specific diagnosis. Changes in glycan and glycoprotein expression have often been associated with the onset and progression of cancer. Abnormal glycans and glycoproteins have been reported as new biomarkers of prostate metabolism that can distinguish benign prostate disease and cancer in non-aggressive and aggressive stages. Carbohydrate-binding proteins known as lectins have been valuable tools to detect these changes, investigate potential biomarkers and improve our understanding aberrant glycosylation in cancer. Here we review progress in elucidating prostate disease and discuss the roles of glycans in the differential detection of benign and cancerous prostate disease. We also summarize the lectin-based tools for detecting glycosylation changes.

This study evaluated the healing potential of free Cramoll, a xyloglucan membrane extracted from Hymenaea courbaril (HcXM) and Cramoll immobilized in HcXM (Cramoll-HcXM), in cutaneous wounds of diabetic mice induced by alloxan. Sixty male Swiss albino mice were randomly divided into four experimental groups (15 animals): Control; Cramoll; HcXM; and Cramoll-HcXM. Wounds, on the animals’ back after anesthesia and trichotomy, were treated daily, and clinical analysis was performed daily. Microbiological, wound retraction, histological and collagen I and III quantification analyses were performed on the 2nd, 7th and 12th days of treatment. During the 12 days of treatment no contamination was observed to any experimental wounds. Reepithelialization was accelerated in Cramoll, HcXM and Cramoll-HcXM groups and wound retraction was statistically superior in the Cramoll group. The Cramoll and HcXM groups, after 12 days of treatment, presented epidermis and dermis with typical characteristics of healthy skin, with greater deposition of type 1 collagen. The treatment of cutaneous wounds in diabetic mice with Cramoll and HcXM accelerates the healing process when used individually, however, inflammatory infiltrate and fibrovascular tissue persisted in the Cramoll-HcXM group. According to the results, this is the first report on the use of a lectin as a healer in induced diabetic mice; Cramoll and HcXM are excellent compounds for repairing skin wounds in diabetics.