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Rhipicephalus microplus is among the most important ectoparasites for livestock. The use of synthetic acaricides has raised some concerns due to the selection of tick populations that are resistant to acaricides and environmental contamination. Therefore, plant extracts have been used as alternatives for the treatment of animals infested with ticks. In this study, R. microplus populations from seven different dairy farms were collected and assessed for their resistance to the acaricides cypermethrin or trichlorfon. Larvae of the most resistant population were used in assays to evaluate the acaricide effect of leaf extracts from plants of the Brazilian savanna. The most active extracts were also tested against fully engorged females. Among seven tick populations, five and three showed resistance level ≥ III for cypermethrin or trichlorfon, respectively. The most resistant tick population was evaluated in mortality assays with the plants Piptadenia viridiflora, Annona crassiflora, Caryocar brasiliense, Ximenia americana, and Schinopsis brasilienses. The ethanolic extracts of C. brasiliense, X. americana and S. brasilienses showed higher larvicidal effects in comparison to the other extracts and cypermethrin. The ethanolic extract of X. americana showed 60.79 % efficacy against fully engorged females of the acaricide resistant tick strain. The ethanolic extracts of C. brasiliense, X. americana, and S. brasilienses showed peaks in HPLC-DAD, indicating the presence of tannins and flavonoids. Three of the plants showed promising results and should be explored in further studies to develop novel tools to control R. microplus in cattle., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study aimed to characterize the antioxidant properties of Rama Forte persimmon, a tannin-rich fruit variety produced in Brazil. Extracts prepared with lyophilized pulps from fruits obtained in local markets were analyzed individually to evaluate the extent of antioxidant protection and investigate the antioxidant mechanism. Iron-mediated hydroxylation of 5,5-dimethyl-1-pirrolidine-N-oxide, determined by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and oxidative degradation of 2-deoxyribose (2-DR) were inhibited by fruit extracts in a dose-dependent manner. There was a considerable individual variability in inhibition of 2-DR degradation by individual fruits. Higher protection of 2-DR degradation (by the extracts) was observed in Fe(III)-citrate/ascorbate in comparison with Fe(III)-EDTA/ascorbate system; however, antioxidant effectiveness of fruit extracts was not diminished by increasing EDTA concentration by 10-fold. Other competition experiments using the 2-DR assay (varying pre-incubation time and 2-DR concentration) indicated that protection comes mainly from free radical scavenging, rather that metal chelation antioxidant activity. Persimmon extracts prevented iron-mediated lipid peroxidation in rat liver homogenates, which correlated significantly with the inhibition of 2-DR oxidation. Finally, sugar content of individual fruits correlated inversely with inhibition of 2-DR degradation, which could indicate that maturation decreases soluble antioxidant concentration or efficiency. In conclusion, lipid peroxidation, 2-DR and EPR experiments indicated that extracts from commercial fruits showed mainly radical-scavenger activity and relevant antioxidant activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Guarana (Paullinia cupana Kunth var. sorbilis (Mart.) Ducke) has been traditionally consumed by indigenous communities of the Amazon region. It is valued mainly for its stimulant property because of its high content of caffeine, which can be up to 6% in the seeds. Aim of the review: The purpose of this review is to revisit this typically Brazilian plant, addressing economic considerations, the chemical makeup of the seeds and pharmacological properties so far investigated. Results: Guarana is primarily produced in the Brazilian states of Amazonas and Bahia, and approximately 70% of the production is used by the industry of soft and energy drinks. The other 30% becomes guarana powder for direct consumption in capsules or dilution in water, or it serves as a raw material for the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries. In addition to its stimulant property, guarana has other therapeutic properties, which have aroused the interest of the scientific community. Conclusion: This review shows that other guarana properties may be explored and how scarce are the studies regarding agronomic, plant pathology, physiology and breeding. So far, caffeine has been the main reason to study guarana and still will lead the researches because the demand for this alkaloid by food and pharmaceutical industry, and a strongly growing market related with beauty products. However, guarana has other components and there is great interest in studies designed to elucidate the effects of guarana′s bioactive components and their potential pharmacological applications. Significant part of the guarana production in Brazil still comes from Indians tribes in the Amazon State, and any improvement in this plant, in any aspect, may propitiate a positive economic impact in their lives. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Recent features of a car wash wastewater reclamation system and results from a full-scale car wash wastewater treatment and recycling process are reported. This upcoming technology comprises a new flocculation-column flotation process, sand filtration, and a final chlorination. A water usage and savings audit (22 weeks) showed that almost 70% reclamation was possible, and fewer than 40 L of fresh water per wash were needed. Wastewater and reclaimed water were characterized by monitoring chemical, physicochemical and biological parameters. Results were discussed in terms of aesthetic quality (water clarification and odour), health (pathological) and chemical (corrosion and scaling) risks. A microbiological risk model was applied and the Escherichia co/i proposed criterion for car wash reclaimed water is 200 CFU 100 mL-1. It is believed that the discussions on car wash wastewater reclamation criteria may assist institutions to create laws in Brazil and elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Bark extracts of Stryphnodendron adstringens (Mart.) Coville a Leguminosae species, well known in Brazil as barbatimão, are popularly used as healing agent. The objective of this work was to determine the genetic diversity of S. adstringens populations and to correlate genetic distances to the production of tannins. S. adstringens accessions from populations found in Cerrado regions in the states of Goiás, Minas Gerais and São Paulo were analyzed using the AFLP (Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism) technique. A total of 236 polymorphic bands were scored and higher proportion of genetic diversity was found inter populations (70.9%), rather than intra populations (29.1%). F ST value was found to be significantly greater than zero (0.2906), demonstrating the complex genetic structure of S. adstringens populations. Accessions collected in Cristalina, GO, showed higher percentage of polymorphic loci (87.3%) and the highest genetic diversity. The lowest genetic variability was detected among accessions from the population growing in Caldas Novas, GO. The genetic distance among populations was estimated using the Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean (UPGMA), which grouped populations into 3 clusters. Moreover, chemotypes with tannin concentration above 40% showed higher genetic similarity. AFLP analysis proved to be an efficient gene mapping technique to determine the genetic diversity among remaining populations of S. adstringens. Obtained results may be employed to implement further strategies for the conservation of this medicinal plant. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Recent features on car wash wastewater reclamation and results obtained in a full-scale car wash wastewater treatment and recycling are reported. The technique employed comprises a new flocculation-column flotation (FCF), sand filtration and final chlorination. Water usage and savings audits (20 weeks) showed that almost 70% reclamation was possible, and less than 40L of fresh water per wash was attained. Wastewater and reclaimed water were fully characterized by monitoring chemical, physicochemical and biological parameters. Results were discussed in terms of reclamation aesthetic quality (water clarification and odour), health (pathological) and chemical (corrosion and scaling) risks. Noteworthy, this work showed a high count of fecal and total coliforms both in the wastewater and in the treated water, making the need of a final disinfection mandatory. The cost-benefit analysis shows that, for a car wash wastewater reclamation system in Brazil, at least 8 months were needed for the FCF-SC equipment amortization, when considering a demand over 30 washes per day. It is believed that the discussions on car wash wastewater reclamation criteria may assist alerting wash cars units and institutions to create laws in Brazil and elsewhere. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The objective of this study was to evaluate antiproliferative activity, antioxidant capacity and tannin content in plants from semi-arid northeastern Brazil (Caatinga). For this study, we selected 14 species and we assayed the methanol extracts for antiproliferative activity against the HEp-2 (laryngeal cancer) and NCI-H292 (lung cancer) cell lines using the (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazole) (MTT) method. In addition, the antioxidant activity was evaluated with the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) assay, and the tannin content was determined by the radial diffusion method. Plants with better antioxidant activity (expressed in a dose able to decrease the initial DPPH concentration by 50%, or IC50) and with higher levels of tannins were: Poincianella pyramidalis (42.95 ± 1.77 μg/mL IC50 and 8.17 ± 0.64 tannin content), Jatropha mollissima (54.09 ± 4.36μg/mL IC50 and 2.35 ± 0.08 tannin content) and Anadenanthera colubrina (73.24 ± 1.47 μg/mL IC50 and 4.41 ± 0.47 tannin content). Plants with enhanced antiproliferative activity (% living cells) were Annona muricata (24.94 ± 0.74 in NCI-H292), Lantana camara (25.8 ± 0.19 in NCI-H292), Handroanthus impetiginosus (41.8 ± 0.47 in NCI-H292) and Mentzelia aspera (45.61 ± 1.94 in HEp-2). For species with better antioxidant and antiproliferative activities, we suggest future in vitro and in vivo comparative studies with other pharmacological models, and to start a process of purification and identification of the possible molecule(s) responsible for the observed pharmacological activity. We believe that the flora of Brazilian semi-arid areas can be a valuable source of plants rich in tannins, cytotoxic compounds and antioxidant agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]