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The inflammatory process is a biological response of the organism to remove injurious stimuli and initiate homeostasis. It has been recognized as a key player in the most severe forms of SARS-CoV-2, characterized by significantly increased pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, the so-called "cytokine storm" that appears to play a pivotal role in this disease. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to select clinical trials with anti-inflammatory plants and relate the activity of these plants to inflammatory markers of SARS-CoV-2 infection. PRISMA guidelines are followed, and studies of interest are indexed in PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov databases. As a result, 32 clinical trials encompassing 22 plants were selected. The main anti-inflammatory mechanisms described in the studies are the inhibition of inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6, TNF-a, IFN-γ, and IL-1; decreased CRP and oxidative marker levels; increased endogenous antioxidant levels; modulation of cardiovascular risk markers. The data found are not directly related to SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, they provide possibilities for new studies as plants have a wide array of phytochemicals, and detecting which ones are responsible for anti-inflammatory effects can provide invaluable contribution to studies aiming to evaluate efficacy in scenarios of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

There is a trend toward the use of natural substances present in plants and vegetables. In general, foods rich in antioxidants are complex matrices; therefore, understanding its absorption effects is extremely relevant to know its bioactive potential. Thus, this systematic review focused on clinical trials involving plants (or compounds) registered on the National List of Medicinal Plants of Interest to the Unified Health System (RENISUS) with antioxidant properties. Following the reporting guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyzes studies of interest indexed in the PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov databases were analyzed. Of the 59 clinical trials found, Allium sativum and Curcuma longa are the plant species with the highest percentage of clinical research. Prevention/attenuation of oxidative stress was one of the main antioxidant mechanisms indicated in the studies. The most tested compounds of the RENISUS plants in clinical trials were curcumin and soy isoflavone. In this review, we selected studies in advanced stages that highlight plants' value in optimizing antioxidant status; however, even with high-quality studies, it is not prudent to overstate the clinical efficacy of these plants.

Medicinal plants synthesize various secondary metabolites thatcan be used for therapeutic and antimicrobial purposes. In Brazil,the Unified Health System (SUS) offers several herbal medicines asan alternative in the treatment of various diseases. Considering theimportance of these plants in the production of chemicals that expandtherapeutic options and improve the health of SUS users, this reviewwas carried out to quantitatively determine the antifungal activity ofplants used as phytotherapeutics at RENAME. The selection of paperswas performed at three distinct stages: examining and choosing titlesrelated to antifungal action, reading the abstracts, and reading thewhole selected articles. This review selected 22 studies of interest;12 of them were conducted in Brazil and 10 were carried out in othercountries. The papers chosen tested the growth inhibitory effect ofplants against fungal species of agricultural and health importance,ranging from filamentous to yeast-like fungi, and Candida albicanswas the most tested species. The growth of 39 fungal species wereinhibited by some concentration of the extract used, with either anincrease or decrease in antifungal activity depending on the extractused. The most frequently analyzed plant was the species Schinusterebinthifolius Raddi., studied in seven papers. The results founddemonstrate the importance of analyzing medicinal plants andincorporating plant-based medicines in healthcare as an alternativesource of treatment, highlighting the need for studies that evaluatethe mechanisms action of their cytotoxicity and therapeutic effectsin the human body. As plantas medicinais produzem uma série de metabólitos secundáriosque podem ser usados para fins terapêuticos e antimicrobianos.No Brasil, o SUS disponibiliza uma série de medicamentos fitoterápicoscomo alternativa ao tratamento de diversas enfermidades.Considerando a importância da utilização dessas plantas na produçãode medicamentos que ampliem as opções terapêuticas e melhorema atenção à saúde de usuários do sistema, elaborou-se este estudode revisão com o objetivo de estimar quantitativamente a atividadeantifúngica das plantas utilizadas como fitoterápicos contidas naRENAME. A seleção de artigos deu-se por meio de três etapas distintas:leitura e escolha de títulos relacionados à ação antifúngica, leitura dosresumos e leitura na íntegra dos artigos selecionados. Esta revisãoselecionou 22 estudos de interesse, sendo 12 elaborados no Brasil e 10em outros países. Os artigos escolhidos testaram a ação inibitória dasplantas contra espécies de fungos de importância agrícola e sanitária,entre filamentosos e leveduriformes, sendo Candida albicans aespécie mais testada. Trinta e nove espécies foram inibidas por algumaconcentração do extrato utilizado, havendo aumento ou diminuição daatividade antifúngica conforme substância extratora utilizada. A plantamais analisada foi a espécie Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi., estudadaem sete artigos. Os resultados encontrados demonstram a importânciada análise de plantas medicinais e da incorporação de medicamentosà base de plantas como fonte alternativa de tratamento, salientandoa necessidade de estudos que demonstrem sua citotoxicidade emecanismos de ação terapêutica no organismo humano.

Cancer is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Scientific advances, coupled with potential flaws in current treatments, are driving research into the discovery of new bioactive molecules. This systematic review focused on scientific studies with clinical trials and patents registered on the National Relation of Medicinal Plants of Interest to the Unified Health System (RENISUS) plants (or derivative compounds) with antitumor potential. Studies with 19 different forms of cancer were found, the prostate being the organ with the highest research incidence and the species Glycine max, Curcuma longa, and Zingiber officinale, beside the phytochemicals curcumin and soy isoflavone were the most tested in clinical trials/patents.

Myrciaria plinioides D. Legrand (Myrtaceae) is a native plant of Southern Brazil, which have potential in the food industry due to its edible fruits. Many plants belonging to this genus have been used for a variety of illnesses, including inflammatory disorders due to antioxidant properties. However, therapeutic uses of M. plinioides have been poorly studied. The aim of study was to assess the anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant activities of the ethanol leaf extract of M. plinioides. In M. plinioides extract-treated RAW 264.7 cells, assessments of cell viability, TNF-α release and p38 MAPK pathway-dependent protein expression were detected. In addition, rat paw edema models were used to analyze the anti-inflammatory effect of the extract. Macrophages cell line treated with M. plinioides extract showed a slight decrease in cell viability. In LPS-stimulated macrophages treated with different concentrations of the extract for 24 h, TNF-α release was inhibited, while modulation of p38 signaling pathway and inhibition of NF-κB p65 protein expression were dose-dependent. In rats, the extract inhibited the formation of paw edema, while an inhibitory effect on trypsin-like enzymes derived from mast cells was seen. Furthermore, the extract presented anticoagulant activity via extrinsic pathway, being able to block specifically factor Xa and thrombin. The study suggests that extract possess potent anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant effects. M. plinioides present great biological potential as a source for the development of anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant drugs. Additional studies can be proposed to better elucidate the mechanism by which M. plinioides exerts its effects.

Neurodegenerative diseases are multifactorial debilitating disorders of the nervous system affecting approximately 30 million individuals worldwide. Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress have also been implicated in causing neurodegeneration. As life expectancy is increasing, neurodegenerative disorders are becoming a major social issue. None of the drugs currently available for treatment are capable of healing the patient. This means that new molecules should be explored. Plants have been used for treatment of countless medical conditions and extensive research is being carried out on species of the Myrtaceae family, widely used in traditional medicine. To date, Myrciaria plinioides D. Legrand has not been studied for its therapeutic use. To evaluate the neuroprotective effect of aqueous and ethanol extracts of this plant, we investigated the protective effects in human neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y). High-performance liquid chromatography fingerprinting of extracts revealed the presence of phenolic compounds and flavonoids. Extracts showed antioxidant activity in the ORAC, DPPH, FRAP and GAE methods. Ethanol extract presented a strong inhibitory activity toward p38 and JNK3 MAPKs and AChE activity and also toward TNF-α release in human whole blood. None of the extracts significantly affected cell viability; the ethanol extract, however, reversed 6-OHDA-induced toxicity. Particularly the ethanol extract suggests neuroprotective effects by preventing membrane depolarization and by significantly decreasing H2O2 production and caspase-3 activity. The present results indicate that the ethanol extract protects SH-SY5Y cells against oxidative damage and apoptosis, as shown by the antioxidative activity of the extract as well as by the inhibition of important proteins such as caspase-3, p38 and JNK3 and the cytokine TNF-α. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

As úlceras de membros inferiores são complicações do Diabetes mellitus que demandam um alto custo para os serviços de saúde. A seiva de Croton lechleri Müll. Arg, planta conhecida como Sangue de Dragão, tem demonstrado um grande potencial para o tratamento de úlceras. O objetivo deste estudo foi acompanhar a evolução de úlceras crônicas nos membros inferiores de pessoas com diabetes, submetidas a um tratamento de três meses com pomada à base de seiva de C. lechleri. É um estudo piloto experimental, com abordagem quantitativa, cuja amostra foi composta por quatro pessoas. Os dados foram coletados por meio de registro fotográfico, exames laboratoriais e um instrumento semiestruturado. Para a análise dos dados foi utilizada estatística descritiva. A pomada não apresentou efeito antimicrobiano, todavia, observou-se uma redução do tamanho médio das úlceras, no entanto são necessárias análises adicionais para determinar a melhor formulação, tempo de tratamento e quantidade de aplicação.

Cancer is one of the largest causes of morbimortality in the world and due to its prevalence the discovery of novel anticancer drugs in of great importance. The past century brought great advances in the field of plant and microbiology research, with the development of several compounds used in cancer treatment protocols. Many successful anticancer drugs that are in clinical use and have demonstrated significant efficacy are derived from natural products as plants, marine organisms, and microorganisms. With the recent advances in proteomics and metabolomics, there was a boost in the identification of new therapeutic targets offering new therapeutic perspectives. More than 50% of the total molecules approved between 1981–2014 are either natural product or derived from this, with the majority acting as antitumor agents. In this context, natural products have been acknowledged as abundant and successful sources for development of new anticancer therapies. The present review emphasizes the importance of the discovery of new plant-derived metabolites for use in cancer therapeutics and highlights the anticarcinogenic potential of natural products. The most important natural-derived drugs launched on the pharmaceutical market are also discussed.

Background Diosgenin is an isospirostane derivative, which is a steroidal sapogenin and the product of acids or enzymes hydrolysis process of dioscin and protodioscin. Galactomannans are heteropolysaccharides composed of D-mannose and D-galactose, which are major sources of locust bean, guar, tara and fenugreek. Methods Literature survey was accomplished using multiple databases including PubMed, Science Direct, ISI web of knowledge and Google Scholar. Results Four major sources of seed galactomannans are locust bean (Ceratonia siliqua), guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba), tara (Caesalpinia spinosa Kuntze), and fenugreek (T.foenum-graecum). Diosgenin has effect on immune system, lipid system, inflammatory and reproductive systems, caner, metabolic process, blood system, blood glucose and calcium regulation. The most important pharmacological benefits of galactomannan are antidiabetic, antioxidant, anticancer, anticholinesterase, antiviral activities, and appropriate for dengue virus and gastric diseases. Conclusions Considering the importance of diosgenin and galactomannans, the obtained findings suggest potential of diosgenin and galactomannans as natural products in pharmaceutical industries.

The chronic metabolic disorder diabetes mellitus is a fast-growing global problem with huge social, health, and economic consequences, having one of the highest morbidities and mortality rates. Prolonged use of many available medications can produce undesirable side effects. Thus, plants appear as an important source of bioactive resources for the discovery of new treatments for diabetes.In this sense, this systematic review focused on clinical trials involving plants of National List of Medicinal Plants of Interest to the Unified Health System (RENISUS) (or compounds) with antidiabetic properties. We analyzed indexed studies in PubMed following the reporting guidelines of PRISMA.Of the 51 clinical trials found

Introduction The COVID-19 global pandemic is a public health emergency due to its high virulence and mortality. Many vaccine development studies at clinical trials are currently conducted to combat SARS-CoV-2. Plants are a rich source of phytochemicals with different biological activities, including antiviral activities, which are the focus of many studies. Areas covered This review shows compounds of traditional plants listed on RENISUS list have therapeutic properties against SARS-CoV-2 targets. Expert Opinion The rise of new variants, more pathogenic and virulent, impacts in the increase of mortality from SARS-CoV-2 infection, and thus, the control of the outbreaks of disease remains a global challenge. Other’s drug and vaccines development is an essential element in controlling SARS-COV-2. Therefore, it is imperative that approach to tackle this pandemic has to be solidly evidence-informed. It should be noticed that the immune system does play critical roles in fighting viruses. Studies show that T cells levels decreased continuously as the disease progressed. T cell-mediated cellular immune response, probably by immunological memory, is essential for direct virus eradication after infection whilst B cells functions in producing antibodies that neutralize virus.But, have distinct patterns of T cell response exist in different patients, suggesting the possibility of distinct clinical approaches. Efforts are concentrated to elucidate the underlying immunological mechanisms in SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis and progression for better design of diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive strategies. We seek to identify biomolecules with the potential to act in biomarkers that predict how severe the disease can get. But it is important to warn that the plants that produce the compounds mentioned here should not be used without a physician prescription. Finally, we speculate that these compounds may eventually attract the attention of physicians and researchers to perform tests in specific contexts of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and if they show positive results, be tested in Clinical trials.

Many efforts are being made to find biomolecules extracted from plants to be useful therapeutic agents to replace the drugs traditionally used in clinical medicine with known side effects and high financial investment, thus offering greater safety and less risk to the population. However, the presence of toxic substances such as alkaloids, amino acids, amides, glycosides, saponins, and tannins are the main reasons for the poisonous activity of some medicinal plants. In this sense, understanding plants constituents and lethal doses can be important source in managing several diseases in human life. This review aimed to present extracts, fractions, and/or compounds of plants of Brazil and Asia regions that have reported toxicity to in vitro and in vivo models. The results presented here contribute to warning the population about the toxicological characterization of some plants, however, further high-quality studies are needed to firmly establish the clinical efficacy of the plants (or compounds).

Marine natural products have exhibited uncommon chemical structures with relevant antitumor properties highlighting their potential to inspire the development of new anticancer agents. The goal of this work was to study the antitumor activities of the brominated diterpene sphaerodactylomelol, a rare example of the dactylomelane family. Cytotoxicity (10–100 µM, 24 h) was evaluated on tumor cells (A549, CACO-2, HCT-15, MCF-7, NCI-H226, PC-3, SH-SY5Y, SK-ML-28) and the effects estimated by MTT assay. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels and apoptosis biomarkers (membrane translocation of phosphatidylserine, depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential, Caspase-9 activity, and DNA condensation and/or fragmentation) were studied in the breast adenocarcinoma cellular model (MCF-7) and its genotoxicity on mouse fibroblasts (L929). Sphaerodactylomelol displayed an IC50 range between 33.04 and 89.41 µM without selective activity for a specific tumor tissue. The cells’ viability decrease was accompanied by an increase on H2O2 production, a depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential and an increase of Caspase-9 activity and DNA fragmentation. However, the DNA damage studies in L929 non-malignant cell line suggested that this compound is not genotoxic for normal fibroblasts. Overall, the results suggest that the cytotoxicity of sphaerodactylomelol seems to be mediated by an increase of H2O2 levels and downstream apoptosis.

Ulcers development in lower limbs is a potential complication known in Diabetes mellitus patients. Conventional medicines frequently do not show desired efficacy, resulting in adverse effects. In this sense, the seek for natural treatments, effective, easy to obtain and handle and at the same time with low cost, becomes a therapeutic alternatives for the ulcers treatment. The aim of this study was to verify the healing potential of a cream made with Croton lechleri Müll.Arg. sap, when applied in diabetic patients ulcers. It is concluded that the cream made with Croton lechleri Müll.Arg. sap showed healing potential, however, several variables should be evaluated and considered simultaneously, since diabetes is a multifactorial disease.

Objective: The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the healing potential of medicinal plants belonging to the Brazilian National List of Medicinal Plants of Interest to the Unified Health System (RENISUS). Method: PubMed and ScienceDirect databases were searched for relevant articles, regardless of the language, from 2010 to June 2016. Two reviewers independently assessed study eligibility. Articles were included if they presented evidence of healing potential of medicinal plants. Only those available as full and open access texts were considered. Results: A total of 1381 articles met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 156 studies were considered eligible and were reviewed as full text. Following full analysis, 64 studies were included in this review. The studies covered 27 of the 71 plants belonging to RENISUS, nine of which are native to Brazil. In addition, two species are currently available in the Brazilian public health system as herbal medicine. Conclusion: This review may encourage and contribute to the appropriate use of medicinal plants in the public health system in Brazil.

Nitric oxide (NO) has an essential role in endothelial function and, besides its well-established vasodilating propriety, it is involved in several biological processes, including neurotransmission and cellular immunity. NO is endogenously produced by four different isoforms of nitric oxide synthase (NOS): the neuronal (nNOS), the endothelial (eNOS), the inducible isoform (iNOS), and the new isoform responsible for the NO production in the mitochondria (mtNOS). In past years, a growing body of evidence has been implicating an abnormal NO signaling in a variety of pathological conditions, most of them related to the cardiovascular system but also to cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, inflammation, and even psychiatric disorders. Therefore, modulating NO pathway may be important for the treatment of several diseases, which makes this pathway a potential target for new drug development. Some strategies have been proposed to enhancing NO bioavailability, mainly acting on NOS cofactors or avoiding NO breakdown and, in this context, there are already different drugs that act on the NO downstream signaling targets. In the context of natural products, some compounds present in medicinal herbs, vegetables, fruits, soy, tea and red wine, have been shown to induce NO formation and, some of them, to suppress the induction of the inducible NOS in inflammation and infection. As an example, and a widely known medicinal herb, the ginseng, and its saponins ginsenosides have been shown to relax blood vessels (effect of ginseng as a blood pressure lowering) and corpus cavernosum, thus playing a possible role in the treatment of men who have erectile dysfunction. Here, we will discuss the potential therapeutic effects of some natural products, and their bioavailable constituents, metabolites, and crude extracts, on NO and NOS, in the context of different biological processes. Our focus is to summarize the central role of this molecule and identify further, or new perspectives, of natural products on modulating NO pathway. In the period of 1981–2014, of the 1562 medicines produced, approximately 70% were originated from natural products and their derivatives. In the period from 2005 to 2010, 19 drugs based on natural products were approved for marketing, among which seven are classified as natural products, 10 as semi-synthetic natural products and 2 as drugs derived from natural products. Additionally, this chapter will explore the most recent patents (2010–18) containing biomolecules in products and processes related to NO modulation deposited in the Espacenet, EPO and WIPO databases.

Grape polyphenols are studied for their bioactive activities and health benefits. Grape juice clarification produces a colored non-pomace solid residue that is rich in polyphenols and may have potential for nutraceutical applications. This study therefore firstly investigated antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory properties of the non-pomace sediment of Bordo and Isabel grape juices before and after the gastrointestinal simulation, and evaluated the effects of the main individual phenolic compounds found in these sediments in regards to their antiproliferative action in healthy and cancer cells. The non-pomace sediments inhibited significantly the proliferation of colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (Caco-2) cells, whereas their digested fractions inhibited proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells. However, the exposure to treatments caused no cell toxicity to healthy cells. When tested individually, the phenolic compounds quercetin and myricetin showed antiproliferative activity and led to cell viability of 56.47 and 51.07 % in Caco-2 cells and of 33.96 and 27.03 % in HepG2 cells, respectively. The non-pomace sediments and its digested fractions exhibited anti-inflammatory action by inhibiting the release of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in murine macrophages. These encouraging data suggests the potential use of this residue as dietary supplement or as a promising chemotherapy for antitumor therapies.

This work was supported by University of Vale do Taquari (Univates)CNPq, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnológico(CNpq)45645/2014/8 and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) 001. The composition of microbiota may influence the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). In addition, probiotics can decrease the chance of developing cancer or its progress. For that reason, it is encouraging to assess the influence of plant extracts as adjuvants of the health-promoting effects of probiotics. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the in vitro beneficial properties of Calyptranthes tricona leaf ethanol extract in association or not with the lactic yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus on colon adenocarcinoma Caco-2 cells. C. tricona extract inhibited the in vitro p38α MAPK activity and exhibited immunomodulation on isolated human lymphocytes. Further, the extract did not induce cytotoxicity towards K. marxianus or Caco-2 cells; leading to an increased yeast adhesion to cells in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, this preliminary study demonstrates that C. tricona extract has effects on enzyme inhibition and immune function. In addition, when associated with K. marxianus, C. tricona may possess beneficial properties for application as enhancer of probiotic’s protective role on CRC cells. However, further studies are necessary in order to elucidate the mechanisms involved. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Bauhinia forficata Link, conhecida popularmente como “pata-de-vaca”, e utilizada na medicina popular pelo potencial hipoglicemiante. E confundida com a especie Bauhinia variegata L., em virtude desta especie tambem ser conhecida popularmente como “pata-de-vaca”. Estudos anteriores apontam os flavonoides como responsaveis pela atividade hipoglicemica atribuida a B. forficata, sendo o metabolito secundario, kaempferitrina, o marcador quimico e farmacologico de excelencia. A avaliacao fitoquimica dos constituintes de tres especimes desta planta, junto com um especime de B. variegata L., objetivou avaliar a presenca do flavonoide kaempferitrina e foi realizada empregando extrato aquoso das folhas dos exemplares analisados. A prospeccao fitoquimica apontou a presenca de taninos condensados e flavonoides. Os tres especimes de B. forficata avaliados possuem o metabolito kaempferitrina, enquanto que o especime de B. variegata, nao possui tal metabolito.

O estudo teve por objetivo, identificar espécies e conhecer a estrutura da comunidade de algas da Praia da Vigia, Garopaba, Santa Catarina, pertencentes aos filos Rhodophyta (algas vermelhas), Phaeophyta (algas pardas) e Chlorophyta (algas verdes). Foram distribuídas 100 unidades amostrais de 0,25 m² de modo aleatório em nove pontos ao longo da praia, considerando locais de submersão contínua e imersão temporária. Foram registradas 15 espécies. O filo Rhodophyta foi representado por sete espécies, seguido por Chlorophyta e Phaeophyta, com cinco e três espécies cada. Os índices de diversidade estimados pelo Shannon (H’) e equabilidade de Pielou (J) foram, respectivamente, 1,95 nats.ind.-1 e 0,72. Os resultados obtidos indicam que a espécie de maior valor de importância foi Ulva lactuca, seguida por Chaetomorpha antennina e Sargassum cymosum. Além dos baixos valores de diversidade, houve pouca diferença na estrutura da comunidade e a distribuição das espécies entre os locais de inundação constante e temporária foi pequena.

Theory and practice about biotechnology-related issues have been topics of workshops for students and teachers of the Post Graduate in Biotechnology UNIVATES to secondary education students. We held ten different workshops aimed at the food production and health, among which stands out in this study, the workshop entitled "Antioxidants: the fountain of youth?", which evaluated the antioxidant potential of natural juice orange select and pearl pineapple. Previously, a protocol was structured on the practice, which aimed to evaluate the juice antioxidant potential of the fruit orange select and pearl pineapple, which was compared with the antioxidant reference compound, ascorbic acid, with adaptations according to spectrophotometric method in vitro DPPH. The workshops about antioxidants have 180 minutes duration and have been taught by three monitors responsible for assisting students throughout the activity. The workshops involved 388 students from seven schools in six municipalities of Taquari-RS Valley, and the workshop about antioxidants had 62 participants. This activity aimed to promote interaction and diffusion of knowledge among students of higher education and secondary education. Teoria e prática sobre assuntos relacionados à Biotecnologia foram temas de oficinas realizadas por discentes e docentes do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia da UNIVATES a estudantes de Ensino Médio. Foram ministradas dez diferentes oficinas voltadas à produção de alimentos e à saúde, entre as quais destaca-se, neste estudo, a oficina intitulada “Antioxidantes: a fonte da juventude?”, que avaliou o potencial antioxidante do suco natural da laranja seleta e do abacaxi pérola. Previamente, foi estruturado um protocolo sobre a prática, a qual objetivou avaliar o potencial antioxidante do suco das frutas laranja seleta e abacaxi pérola, o qual foi comparado com o composto antioxidante de referência, ácido ascórbico, com adaptações segundo o método espectrofotométrico in vitro DPPH. As oficinas sobre antioxidantes tiveram duração de 180 minutos e foram ministradas por três monitores responsáveis por auxiliar os alunos durante toda a atividade. As oficinas envolveram 388 alunos de sete escolas de seis municípios do Vale do Taquari-RS, sendo que a oficina sobre antioxidantes contou com 62 participantes. Tal atividade buscou promover a interação e difusão de conhecimento entre alunos de Ensino Superior e de Ensino Médio.

Introduction: The injury or liver dysfunction is considered a serious health problem. Synthetic drugs available to treat liver diseases are expensive and can cause adverse effects with prolonged use. Thus, the hepatoprotective effects of plants have been investigated. Objectives: To quantify the research that refer therapeutic potential for liver diseases from the study with RENISUS plants, published between 2010 and May 2014 in two scientific databases (SciELO and Science Direct) and one publisher of scientific journals, Springer. Methodology: The initial search resulted in the selection of 21,357 articles found in the databases. The analysis was first carried out from reading the title of publications. The articles selected in this step were evaluated by reading the abstracts. Finally, the texts of the articles selected in the previous step were read in their entirety, having been selected pre-clinical and clinical studies which have shown hepatoprotective therapeutic potential. Results: This selection resulted in 13 articles of interest, of which five studies were conducted with the Curcuma longa plant. Conclusions: The results provide theoretical basis for discussions in the field of Public Health on alternative treatments based on medicinal plants as a therapeutic adjuvant. In this sense, the correct use of these plants, added to conventional therapy, can help improve the health of patients with liver disorders.

The inflammation is a response to acute tissue injury responsible for producing characteristic symptoms that lead to changes in tissue homeostasis and blood flow, as a defense mechanism of the immune system. However, chronic inflammation is a cause of many diseases like cancer, arteriosclerosis, diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases. Most anti-inflammatory drugs exert significant side effects that may limit their use. An alternative to such drugs are the medicinal plants, which provide an important approach for the identification of bioactive compounds. This systematic review aimed to quantify the clinical studies that relate therapeutic potential for inflammatory diseases from the study of plants RENISUS, published between 2010 and February 2013 in three scientific databases (SciELO, Science Direct and Springer). Of the 21 357 articles found in databases, analysis of articles was originally made from the title of journal reading, the chosen articles were subsequently assessed for Abstract. Finally, Articles chosen at this stage, the full text was analyzed. This analysis resulted in the selection of 44 studies of interest, which dealt with 20 different plants RENISUS.

Teoria e prática sobre assuntos relacionados à Biotecnologia foram temas de oficinas realizadas por discentes e docentes do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia da UNIVATES a estudantes de Ensino Médio. Foram ministradas dez diferentes oficinas voltadas à produção de alimentos e à saúde, entre as quais destaca-se, neste estudo, a oficina intitulada “Antioxidantes: a fonte da juventude?”, que avaliou o potencial antioxidante do suco natural da laranja seleta e do abacaxi pérola. Previamente, foi estruturado um protocolo sobre a prática, a qual objetivou avaliar o potencial antioxidante do suco das frutas laranja seleta e abacaxi pérola, o qual foi comparado com o composto antioxidante de referência, ácido ascórbico, com adaptações segundo o método espectrofotométrico in vitro DPPH. As oficinas sobre antioxidantes tiveram duração de 180 minutos e foram ministradas por três monitores responsáveis por auxiliar os alunos durante toda a atividade. As oficinas envolveram 388 alunos de sete escolas de seis municípios do Vale do Taquari-RS, sendo que a oficina sobre antioxidantes contou com 62 participantes. Tal atividade buscou promover a interação e difusão de conhecimento entre alunos de Ensino Superior e de Ensino Médio.

Introdução: O gengibre (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) é uma planta originária da Ásia, que tem sido usada como tempero e composto medicinal há milhares de anos, sendo que vários de seus compostos já foram isolados, identificados e estudados por seus efeitos farmacológicos. Objetivos: Quantificar os estudos clínicos que referem alguma forma de ação terapêutica a partir do emprego da planta Z. officinale, listada na Relação Nacional de Plantas Medicinais de Interesse ao Sistema Único de Saúde, que tenham sido publicados entre 2010 e 2013, em três bases de dados científicas (SciELO, Science Direct e Springer). Material e Métodos: A partir da pesquisa nas bases de dados com o descritor Zingiber officinale Roscoe, foram encontradas 757 publicações nas bases de dados consultadas. Posteriormente, realizou-se a leitura do título dos artigos, selecionando-se os trabalhos que continham o termo Zingiber officinale ou termos relacionados, como “ginger”, “gingerol”, “gingerols”, “gengibre” e “jengibre”. Os artigos destacados nessa etapa foram analisados através da leitura do Abstract, sendo selecionados os que mencionavam algum tipo de tratamento terapêutico. Na última fase, os artigos selecionados na etapa da avaliação do Abstract foram lidos integralmente a fim de eleger os que comprovavam potencial terapêutico a partir do estudo com Z. officinale. Resultados: A avaliação resultou em 30 artigos de interesse sobre o gengibre. A atividade antioxidante foi a terapia que teve a maior quantidade de estudos, seis. Conclusão: Com os resultados obtidos, espera-se ser possível orientar novas pesquisas sobre a espécie em questão, inclusive com outras enfermidades ainda não exploradas.

Objetivo: mensurar o sub-registro de acidentes de trabalho típicos fatais (ATTF) no Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade (SIM) em Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil, em 2011. Métodos: utilizou-se o método de captura-recaptura para estudo de todos os ATTF registrados no município, por residência e/ou ocorrência, mediante relacionamento probabilístico dos dados de três fontes – SIM, Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (Sinan) e Banco de Necropsias do Instituto Médico Legal de Belo Horizonte. Resultados: entre os 54 casos encontrados, a maioria foi de homens (n=53) e a metade ocorreu com motoristas e trabalhadores da construção civil (n=28); os acidentes de transporte (n=18) e as quedas (n=10) foram as causas mais comuns de óbito; houve subnotificação de 15 óbitos no SIM. Conclusão: a utilização do método de captura-recaptura contribuiu para a detecção do sub-registro de ATTF. Objective: to measure underreporting of typical fatal occupational accidents (FOA) on the Mortality Information System (SIM) in Belo Horizonte city, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, in 2011. Methods: the capture-recapture method was used to assess all FOA recorded among city residents and/or occurring in the city, using probabilistic linkage of three data sources: SIM, the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN) and the Belo Horizonte Forensic Medicine Institute Autopsy Database. Results: the majority of the 54 cases found occurred in males (n=53), with drivers and construction workers accounting for half of them (n=28); the most common causes of death were traffic accidents (n=18) and falls (n=10); 15 deaths were underreported on SIM. Conclusion: the use of the capture-recapture method contributed to the detection of FOA underreporting.