Evaluation the Potential of Onion/Laponite Composites Films for Sustainable Food Packaging with Enhanced UV Protection and Antioxidant Capacity

Agro-industrial residues have attracted attention for their applications in the field of biodegradable packaging. Recently, our research group has developed onion-based films with promising properties for this type of application due to their non-toxicity, biocompatibility and biodegradability. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effect of Laponite clay concentration on the physicochemical and antioxidant properties of the onion-based films, which were prepared by a casting method. The XRD and FTIR data confirm the presence of the mineral clay in the onion-based films. These findings are consistent with those obtained from FE-SEM analysis, which revealed the presence of typical Laponite grains. In terms of wettability, the results show that the clay decreases the hydrophilic character of the material but slightly increases the water vapor permeation. Optical characterization revealed that the materials exhibited zero transmittance in the UV region and increased opacity in the visible region for composites containing 5% and 10% Laponite. Furthermore, the antioxidant test demonstrated higher antioxidant potential in the composites compared to the pure films. Consequently, these results suggest that the formation of Laponite and onion composites could be an essential strategy for developing natural polymers in the field of food contact packaging.

Advanced Glycation End Product Inhibition by Alkaloids from Ocotea paranapiacabensis for the Prevention of Skin Aging

A bioassay-guided study aiming at identifying inhibitors of the glycation process on the leaves of Ocotea paranapiacabensis afforded four benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (1-4), with 1 and 2 identified as new naturals products, while 3 and 4 were previously described in the literature, with 3 being identified as magnocurarine. Purification was performed by column chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including UV, NMR, and HRMS. The process of skin aging has been recently associated with advanced glycation end products (AGEs), and strategies inhibiting their formation have been addressed by pharmaceutical companies for the development of novel antiaging compounds. Alkaloids 1-4 were evaluated for their potential to inhibit AGE formation and showed inhibition of 62.9%, 83.3%, 26.1%, and 98.2% (150 μM), respectively. The antiaging potential of compounds 1 and 4 were evaluated with a reconstructed human skin model in vitro, and results showed a decrease in dermis contraction (8.7% and 4.2% respectively for 1 and 4) when compared to the glycated control (57.4%). Additionally, absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) and toxicity properties were predicted using in silico methods, and the results were considered significantly promising for alkaloids 1 and 4 to continue the development of these alkaloids with skincare properties.

Leaves of Eugenia brasiliensis Used as a Folk Medicine Contain Cyclooxygenase Enzyme and Lipid Peroxidation Inhibitory Compounds

Tea prepared from leaves of Eugenia brasiliensis has been used as a folk medicine in Brazil to alleviate inflammation and pain. In this study, tea and methanolic extract inhibited cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and -2) enzymes and lipid peroxidation (LPO). Therefore, bioassay-guided purification of methanolic extract was carried out and afforded a new lignan ( aR,8S,8'R-7,8,7’,8'-tetrahydro-8,8'-dimethyl-3,3'-dimethoxy-4,4'-dihydroxy-dibenzocyclooctadiene) and three known C-methylated flavonoids (stropopinin; demethoxymatteucinol; myrigalone G). All isolates at 37.5 μg/mL inhibited COX enzymes, similar to aspirin and ibuprofen used as controls at 108 and 12 μg/mL, respectively. Most of the isolates also showed strong LPO inhibition at 5μg/mL.

NuBBEDB: an updated database to uncover chemical and biological information from Brazilian biodiversity

The intrinsic value of biodiversity extends beyond species diversity, genetic heritage, ecosystem variability and ecological services, such as climate regulation, water quality, nutrient cycling and the provision of reproductive habitats it is also an inexhaustible source of molecules and products beneficial to human well-being. To uncover the chemistry of Brazilian natural products, the Nuclei of Bioassays, Ecophysiology and Biosynthesis of Natural Products Database (NuBBE_DB) was created as the first natural product library from Brazilian biodiversity. Since its launch in 2013, the NuBBE_DB has proven to be an important resource for new drug design and dereplication studies. Consequently, continuous efforts have been made to expand its contents and include a greater diversity of natural sources to establish it as a comprehensive compendium of available biogeochemical information about Brazilian biodiversity. The content in the NuBBE_DB is freely accessible online (https://nubbe.iq.unesp.br/portal/nubbedb.html) and provides validated multidisciplinary information, chemical descriptors, species sources, geographic locations, spectroscopic data (NMR) and pharmacological properties. Herein, we report the latest advancements concerning the interface, content and functionality of the NuBBE_DB. We also present a preliminary study on the current profile of the compounds present in Brazilian territory.