Café e saúde humana: um enfoque nas substâncias presentes na bebida relacionadas às doenças cardiovasculares

[The meanings of the "Coffee Symphony:" a retelling of the song by Humberto Teixeira]

This article focuses on the lyrics of "Sinfonia do café" ("Coffee Symphony"), a song composed in 1944 by Humberto Teixeira, and attempts to analyze it from a linguistic and socio-historical perspective. The theoretical foundation of this analysis is Mikhail Bakhtin's philosophy of language, particularly his understanding of enunciation and verbal interaction. Based on the intersubjective relationship between speaker and interlocutor, we look for potential meanings in this composition and the main topic (coffee) within the context of its creation. This analysis shows the role played by the musical genre known as samba-exaltação during the New State period. Within this context, coffee and samba-exaltação were the main exports (agricultural and musical) that were intended to express the splendor of Brazilian economics and culture.

The effects of the decaffeination of coffee samples on platelet aggregation in hyperlipidemic rats

The effect of coffee on cardiovascular diseases is still controversial. It is known that the process of decaffeination may influence the chemical constitution and, therefore, the biological effects of coffee. This study thus evaluated the effects of decaffeination on the levels of total phenols and chlorogenic acids in Coffea arabica L. samples, as well as the effects of ingesting both integral and decaffeinated coffee on the lipid profile and hemostatic and hematological parameters in normal and hyperlipidemic rats. Samples of integral and decaffeinated lyophilized coffee (Coffea arabica L., planted in Brazil) were used for chemical analysis (total phenols, chlorogenic acid and caffeine contents). For the bioassays, coffee beverages were prepared with non-lyophilized samples (10% w/v) and were filtered and administered to animals by gavage (7.2 mL/kg/day) over 30 days. On the 31st day after beginning the treatment with coffee beverages, hyperlipidemia was induced to the animals by administering Triton WR-1339 (300 mg/kg body weight). On day 32, blood was taken to determine the lipid profile, platelet aggregation, prothrombin time, partially activated thromboplastin time and hemogram. The contents of both phenolic compounds and chlorogenic acid in the integral coffee beverage were significantly lower than those in the decaffeinated coffee beverage. The animals treated with Triton WR-1339 presented a mixed hyperlipidemia. Although the decaffeination process caused a relative increase in total phenols and chlorogenic acids, the coffee drinks were unable to change the lipid profile or the hemostatic and hematological parameters in the studied animals.