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The tucuma (Astrocaryum vulgare) fruit grows largely in the north region of Brazil and its neighbouring countries. The fruit is rich in lipids and proteins. However, no single detailed study on the quality of oil and proteins obtained from the pulp and kernel parts of the fruit has been performed. The objective of the present study was to undertake an exhaustive analysis of the oil and protein fractions of the pulp and kernel seeds of the fruit. Physical and physico-chemical properties of the hexane extracted oils from the pulp and kernel of the tucuma fruit were studied. A large difference was observed in iodine and saponification values of the pulp and kernel oils. A total number of 25 and 22 fatty acids were identified in the pulp and kernel oil, respectively. The pulp oil contained nearly 25.6% saturated and 74.4% unsaturated fatty acids among which palmitic, stearic, oleic and linoleic acids were primary fatty acids. On the other hand, tucuma kernel oil showed nearly 87.3% saturated and 12.6% unsaturated fatty acids, being the principal fatty acids were lauric, miristic, palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids. The pulp proteins presented much better amino acid profile than kernel proteins. In pulp proteins, the essential amino acids were presented in concentrations higher than recommended by FAO except for methionine and lysine while the kernel protein was deficient in all essential amino acids except phenylalanine. © 2001 Altaga All rights reserved. Resumen La fruta de tucuma (Astrocaryum vulgare) crece ampliamente en las regiones del norte de Brasil y en los países vecinos. La fruta es rica en lípidos y proteínas. Sin embargo, no hay estudios sobre la calidad de los aceites y de las proteínas de su pulpa y semilla. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue realizar un análisis detallado de las fracciones de la pulpa y de las semillas en esta fruta. Se estudiaron las propiedades físicas y físico-química de aceites de las semillas de tucuma extraídos en hexano. Se observaron grandes diferencias de valores de índice de yodo e índice de saponificación en los aceites de las pulpas y de las semillas. Un total de 25 y 22 ácidos grasos se identificaron en aceites de la pulpa y de las semillas, respectivamente. El aceite de la pulpa contiene cerca de 25,6% de ácidos grasos saturadas y 74,4% de ácidos grasos insaturadas entre los cuales los principales fueron ácido palmítico, esteárico, oleico y linoleico. Por otro lado, el aceite de la semilla contiene cerca de 87,3% de ácidos grasos saturados y 12,6% de ácidos grasos insaturadas, siendo los principales ácido laúrico, mirístico, palmítico, oleico y linoleico. Las proteínas de la pulpa presentan un perfil de aminoácidos mucho mejor que las proteínas de las semillas. En las proteínas de la pulpa los aminoácidos esenciales presentaron una concentración alta en relación con la recomendada por la FAO excepto la de metionina y lisina, mientras que las proteínas de las semillas fueron deficientes en aminoácidos esenciales excepto la fenilalamina. © 2001 Altaga. Todos los derechos reservados. Palabras clave: Tucuma, Aceite, Pulpa, Astrocaryum vulgare Resumo A fruta de tucuma (Astrocaryum vulgare) crece nas regións do norte de Brasil e nos países veciños. A fruta é rica en lípidos e proteínas. Sen embargo, non hai estudos sobre a calidade dos aceites e das proteínas da sua pulpa e semilla. O obxetivo do presente trabajo foi realizar un análise detallado das fraccións da pulpa e das semillas en esta fruta. Estudaronse as propiedades físicas e físico-química dos aceites das semillas de tucuma extraídos en hexano. Oobservaronse grandes diferencias de valores de índice de iodo e índice de saponificación nos aceites das pulpas e das semillas. Un total de 25 e 22 ácidos grasos identificaronse nos aceites da pulpa e das semillas, respectivamente. O aceite da pulpa conten cerca de 25,6% de ácidos grasos saturadas e 74,4% de ácidos grasos insaturadas entre os cales o ácido palmítico, esteárico, oleico e linoleico foron os principais. As proteínas da pulpa presentan un perfil de aminoácidos moito mellor que as proteínas das semillas. Nas proteínas da pulpa os aminoácidos esenciaies presentaron unha concentración alta en relación coa recomendada pola FAO excepto a de metionina e lisina, mentras que as proteínas das semillas foron deficientes en aminoácidos esenciais excepto a fenilalamina. © 2001 Altaga. Todolos dereitos reservados. Palabras chave: Tucuma, Aceite, Pulpa, Astrocaryum vulgare [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Nanoencapsulation is a valid alternative for the oral administration of peptide drugs and proteins, as nanoparticles protect them from proteolytic degradation in the gastrointestinal tract and promote the absorption of these macromolecules. The orofacial antinociceptive effect of frutalin (FTL), through the intraperitoneal route, has already been proven. This study aimed to develop, characterize, and evaluate the orofacial antinociceptive activity of an oral formulation containing FTL in acute and neuropathic preclinical tests. Nanoencapsulated FTL was administered by oral route. The acute nociceptive behavior was induced by administering capsaicin to the upper lip and NaCl to the right cornea. The nociceptive behavior was also induced by formalin injected into the temporomandibular joint. The neuropathic pain model involved infraorbital nerve transection (IONX), which induced mechanical hypersensitivity and was assessed by von Frey stimulation. Trpv1 gene expression was analyzed in the trigeminal ganglion. The analyzed sample did not show any cytotoxicity; 52.2% of the FTL was encapsulated, and the size of the nanocapsule was less than 200 nm, the polydispersion was 0.361, and the zeta potential was - 5.87 and - 12.8 mV, with and without FTL, respectively. Nanoencapsulated FTL administered by oral route had an orofacial antinociceptive effect in acute and neuropathic rodent models. The antinociceptive effect of FTL was prevented by ruthenium red, but not by camphor. FTL reduced Trpv1 gene expression. FTL promotes orofacial antinociception, probably due to the antagonism of TRPV1 channels, and the nanoformulation represents an effective method for the oral administration of this protein. HIGHLIGHTS: • Nanoformulation for oral protein administration. • Nanocapsule containing FTL prevents orofacial nociceptive acute and neuropathic pain. • Frutalin promotes orofacial antinociception behavior antagonism of TRPV1 channels., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists.)

Background: Plant lectins have shown promising neuropharmacological activities in animal models., Objective: This study evaluated the effect of Dioclea altissima seed lectin (DAL) on adult zebrafish behavior., Method: Zebrafish (n=6/group) were treated (i.p.; 20 μL) with DAL (0.025; 0.05 or 0.1 mg/mL), vehicle or diazepam (DZP) and submitted to several tests (open field, light/dark preference or novel tank). Flumazenil, pizotifen or granisetron were administered 15 min before DAL (0.05 mg/mL), and the animals were evaluated on light/dark preference test. It was also verified whether the DAL effect depended on its structural integrity and ability to interact with carbohydrates., Results: DAL decreased the locomotor activity of adult zebrafish (0.025; 0.05 or 0.1 mg/mL), increased the time spent in the upper region of the aquarium (0.025 mg/mL), and decreased the latency time of adult zebrafish to enter the upper region on the novel tank test. DAL (0.05 mg/mL) also increased their permanence in the light zone of the light/dark preference test. The effect of DAL was dependent on carbohydrate interaction and protein structure integrity and was prevented by pizotifen, granizetron and flumazenil., Conclusion: DAL was found to have an anxiolytic-like effect mediated by the 5-HT and GABAergic receptors., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Lectins are proteins or glycoproteins of non-immunological origin capable of reversibly and specifically binding to glycoconjugates. They exist in free form or associated with cells and are widely distributed in nature, being found in plants, microorganisms, and animals. Due to their characteristics and mainly due to the possibility of reversible binding to glycoconjugates, lectins have stood out as important tools in research involving Neurobiology. These proteins have the ability to modulate molecular targets in the central nervous system (CNS) which may be involved with neuroplasticity, neurobehavioral effects, and neuroprotection. The present report integrates existing information on the activity of animal and plant lectins in different areas of Neuroscience, presenting perspectives to direct new research on lectin function in the CNS, providing alternatives for understanding neurological diseases such as mental disorders, neurodegenerative, and neuro-oncological diseases, and for the development of new drugs, diagnoses and therapies in the field of Neuroscience., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Background: Plant lectins have shown promising biological activities in the central nervous system (CNS)., Objective: This study evaluated the effect of DAL, a lectin isolated from the seeds of the Dioclea altissima species, having binding affinity to D-glucose or D-mannose residues, on mice behavior., Methods: Mice (n=6/group) were treated (i.p.) with DAL (0.25, 0.5 or 1 mg/kg) or vehicle and subjected to several tests (open field/OFT, marble-burying/MBT, hole-board/HBT, elevated plus maze/PMT, tail suspension/ TST, forced swimming/FST or rotarod/RRT). Pizotifen, cyproheptadine, flumazenil, L-NAME, 7-NI, Larginine or yohimbine were administered 15 min before DAL (0.5 mg/kg) and the animals were evaluated on PMT. It was also verified whether the DAL effect depended on its structural integrity and ability to interact with carbohydrates., Results: The results showed there were no neurobehavioral changes in the mice at the RRT, FST and locomotion in the OFT. DAL (0.25, 0.5 or 1 mg/kg) increased the behavior of grooming and rearing in the OFT, head dips in the HBT, pedalling in the TST and decreased the number of marbles hidden in the MBT. In the PMT, DAL (0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg) and Diazepam increased the frequency of entries in the open arms and the time of permanence in the open arms without affecting the locomotor activity. The effect of DAL was dependent on carbohydrate interaction and protein structure integrity and it prevented by pizotifen, cyproheptadine, flumazenil, L-NAME and 7-NI, but not by L-arginine or yohimbine., Conclusion: DAL was found to have an anxiolytic-like effect mediated by the 5-HT and GABAergic receptors and NO pathway., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Objective: L-Asparaginase (ASNase) is an enzyme used in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). As the therapeutic ASNases has bacterial origin, severe side effects are associated with its use, among them hypersensitivity and inactivation of the enzyme. In this context, the objective of this work was to produce a recombinant ASNase of bacterial origin in human cells in order to determine the presence and consequences of potential post-translational modifications on the enzyme., Results: Recombinant ASNase was expressed in human cells with a molecular weight of 60 kDa, larger than in Escherichia coli, which is 35 kDa. N-glycosylation analysis demonstrated that the increased molecular weight resulted from the addition of glycans to the protein by mammalian cells. The glycosylated ASNase presented in vitro activity at physiological pH and temperature. Given that glycosylation can act to reduce antigenicity by masking protein epitopes, our data may contribute to the development of an alternative ASNase in the treatment of ALL in patients who demonstrate side effects to currently marketed enzymes.

The increased incidence of candidemia in terciary hospitals worldwide and the cross-resistance frequency require the new therapeutic strategies development. Recently, our research group demonstrated three semi-synthetic naphthofuranquinones (NFQs) with a significant antifungal activity in a fluconazole-resistant (FLC) C. tropicalis strain. The current study aimed to investigate the action's preliminary mechanisms of NFQs by several standardized methods such as proteomic and flow cytometry analyzes, comet assay, immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy evaluation. Our data showed C. tropicalis 24 h treated with all NFQs induced an expression's increase of proteins involved in the metabolic response to stress, energy metabolism, glycolysis, nucleosome assembly and translation process. Some aspects of proteomic analysis are in consonance with our flow cytometry analysis which indicated an augmentation of intracellular ROS, mitochondrial dysfunction and DNA strand breaks (neutral comet assay and γ-H2AX detection). In conclusion, our data highlights the great contribution of ROS as a key event, probably not the one, associated to anti-candida properties of studied NFQs., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The caprine arthrite encephalite (CAE) is a disease that affects especially dairy goat. The virus shows compartmentalization features, that allows it to hide at certain times during the course of the disease, making it difficult to control. The present study was conducted to identify the major seminal plasma protein profile of goats infected by CAE and its associations with seroconversion using Western blotting. Two groups containing five males each, were used in this experiment. The first group was composed by seropositive animals and the control by seronegative confirmed by Western blotting and PCR. The semen was collected through artificial vagina and after that, two-dimensional electrophoresis and MALDI-TOF MS were used. Seventy-five spots were identified in the goat seminal plasma gels, equivalent to 13 different proteins with more expression. The similar proteins found in both groups and related to reproduction were spermadhesin Z13-like, bodhesin and bodhesin-2, Lipocalin, protein PDC-109-like, and albumin. In infected goats, proteases such as arisulfatase A have been identified, whose function probably is related to metabolism control of sulfatides, involved to virus control. The other ones were bifunctional ATP-dependent dihydroxyacetone kinase/FAD-AMP lyase, cathepsin F isoform X1, disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain-containing protein 2-like isoform X1, clusterin, carbonic anhydrase 2, electron transfer flavoprotein subunit beta, and epididymal secretory glutathione peroxidase. The results of this study show the reaction of the innate immune system against chronic infection of goats by CAE.

Background: Essential oils (EOs) and their volatile components (VCs) have varied biological and pharmacological activities, but low solubility and bioavailability hamper their applications, so that inclusion in cyclodextrins (CDs) is likely to improve their physicochemical properties and pharmacological effects., Objective: The authors conducted a systematic review to evaluate the biological activities and pharmacological applications of essential oils and their volatile components complexed with cyclodextrins., Methods: The search terms 'Cyxlodextrin', 'Inclusion Complex', 'Volatile oils', 'Essential oil' and 'Volatile components' were used to retrieve articles from the PUBMED, MEDLINE and SCOPUS databases., Results: A total of 38 articles were identified. A greater efficacy of EOs and their VCs complexed with different CDs types was found in in vitro and preclinical studies when compared to free forms in the various biological activities and animal models of the evaluated pharmacological tests., Conclusion: This review of selected studies showed that the use of CDs promotes greater solubility, bioavailability and efficacy of EOs and their VCs, thus indicating an interesting alternative for the biotechnological development of new therapeutic formulations., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

An osmotin (CpOsm) from the latex of Calotropis procera has been crystallized in both tetragonal and trigonal forms suitable for structure determination. Crystallographic studies of CpOsm are of great interest because limited information is available concerning the structure of latex proteins and CpOsm has previously been shown to interact with the spore membranes of some plant pathogenic fungi, thus impairing spore germination and hyphal growth. CpOsm crystals were grown using 0.1 M HEPES buffer pH 7.5, 26% PEG 4000, 0.2 M ammonium sulfate (space group P4(3)) or using 0.1 M HEPES buffer pH 7.5, 35% MPD, 0.7 M ammonium sulfate (space group P3(1)12). X-ray diffraction data were collected to 2.17 Å (P4(3)) and 1.80 Å (P3(1)12) resolution and molecular-replacement analyses produced initial phases for both crystal forms.

Endosperms from seeds of different subfamilies of Leguminosae were submitted to sequential aqueous and alkaline aqueous extractions. The extractions from species belonging to the Mimosoideae and Faboideae subfamilies yielded galactomannans with constant Man:Gal ratios, whereas the extractions from Caesalpinioideae seeds gave rise to galactomannans with increasing values of the Man:Gal ratio. The presence of a family of galactomannans within the same species may be a trait found only in Caesalpinioideae subfamily. The final insoluble residues that were obtained after the removal of galactomannans from the Caesalpinioideae and Faboideae subfamilies are composed of pure mannans and do not contain cellulose, while those from the Mimosoideae subfamily are composed of cellulose. A mannan was isolated from the unripe endosperm of Caesalpinia pulcherrima, suggesting no developmental relationship between galactomannan and mannan. These results are consistent with the presence of a distinctive cell wall pattern in the endosperms of Leguminosae species., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The present study was designed to verify whether frutalin (FTL) affords gastroprotection against the ethanol-induced gastric damage and to examine the underlying mechanism(s). Gastric damage was induced by intragastric administration of 0.2 ml of ethanol (96%). Mice in groups were pretreated with FTL (0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg; i.p.), cimetidine (100 mg/kg; p.o.), or vehicle (0.9% of NaCl, 10 mL/kg; p.o.), 30 min before ethanol administration. They were sacrificed 30 min later, the stomachs excised, and the mucosal lesion area (mm²) measured by planimetry. Gastroprotection was assessed in relation to inhibition of gastric lesion area. To study the gastroprotective mechanism(s), its relations to capsaicin-sensitive fibers, endogenous prostaglandins, nitric oxide, sulphydryls, ATP-sensitive potassium channels, adrenoceptors, opioid receptors and calcium channels were analyzed. Treatments effects on ethanol-associated oxidative stress markers GSH and MDA were measured in gastric tissue. FTL afforded a dose-unrelated gastroprotection against the ethanol damage. However, it failed to prevent the ethanol-induced changes in the levels of GSH and MDA. It was observed that the gastroprotection by FTL was greatly reduced in animals pretreated with capsazepine, indomethacin, L-NAME or glibenclamide. Considering the results, it is suggested that the FTL could probably be a good therapeutic agent for the development of new medicine for the treatment of gastric ulcer., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A lectin and a galactoxyloglucan were characterized from Mucuna sloanei seed cotyledons. The galactoxyloglucan, isolated by water extraction and ethanol precipitation, had Glc:Xyl:Gal proportions in a molar ratio of 1.8:1.7:1.0 and a molar mass (M(w)) of 1.6x10(6)g mol(-1). The lectin (sloanin), isolated from the same seed by affinity chromatography on cross-linked Adenanthera pavonina galactomannan, gave two protein bands by SDS-PAGE (36 and 34 kDa) and one peak by gel filtration (63.6 kDa). Its N-terminal sequence indicated approximately 69% identity with soybean agglutinin to leguminous lectins. Circular dichroism (CD) spectra established that sloanin predominantly contains beta-sheet structures. Sloanin has approximately 5.5% carbohydrate and displayed hemagglutinating activity against rabbit and enzyme treated human erythrocytes, inhibited only by D-Gal containing sugars. The interaction between sloanin and storage cell-wall galactoxyloglucan was tested by affinity chromatography and fluorescence spectroscopy.

The potential of bioaffinity as a tool for the study of biological-recognition mechanisms is gaining increasing value. The search continues for alternative products that can be obtained from renewable sources, such as the bark exudate gum from the cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale L.), which grows wild in many tropical and subtropical countries. Its potential use as a chromatographic matrix and/or for bioaffinity ligand for proteins (lectins) has been investigated. The crude gum was cross-linked in order to obtain a kind of chromatographic matrix (gel). To evaluate the gum's ability to retain glycoproteins (lectins), affinity chromatography was performed and, in addition, the reological behaviour of the gum was characterized.

Peritoneal macrophage stimulation (rapid spreading on glass surface and hydrogen peroxide production) and inflammatory reaction (leukocyte accumulation) obtained in C3H/HeJ mice at 8 weeks of age, after a single ip injection of 10 micrograms concanavalin A (Con A), a lectin extracted from Canavalia ensiformis, were compared with those obtained with two other glucose/mannose-binding lectins extracted from Canavalia brasiliensis (Con Br) and Dioclea grandiflora (DGL). All lectins enhanced macrophage spreading 3- to 4-fold at 24-72 h compared to control. Stimulation of hydrogen peroxide release by Con A, Con Br and DGL lasted 1, 2 and 3 days, respectively. Leukocyte cell influx at 24-72 h after lectin injection consisted mainly of mononuclear cells. Con A induced a moderate increase in the total number of peritoneal cells, whereas administration of Con Br or DGL increased the number of peritoneal cells 2- to 3-fold. The results indicate that DGL and Con Br have more pronounced effects on macrophage stimulation and inflammatory reactions than Con A.