Biodiesel production potential of Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms: comparison of collection sites and different alcohol transesterifications

Renewable resources have stood out as raw materials in producing biofuels. This study aimed to evaluate the parameters of alcohol transesterification (ethanol and methanol) and localization of collection of aquatic macrophyte Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms in the production of biodiesel by in situ transesterification. E. crassipes was collected in Dourados and Corumbá (Brazil) municipalities. The fatty acid ester composition of the biodiesel was characterized and quantified by gas chromatography. The biodiesel properties were estimated using the BiodieselAnalyzer© program prediction. The ethyl transesterification resulted in higher yields, but the localization of collection was the most relevant parameter in biodiesel production according to the Permutation Multivariate Analysis of Variance. The simulation and comparison of the physical-chemical properties of E. crassipes biodiesel and BD 100 (commercial biodiesel) were promising for commercial application.

Maternal-fetal safety evaluation of an aqueous extract of Casearia sylvestris leaves in rats

BACKGROUND

This study evaluated the maternal, embryotoxic, and teratogenic effects of the aqueous extract of Casearia sylvestris (AECS), a species listed in the Unique Health System of Brazil, and widely used for treating several conditions, such as diarrhea, wounds, pain, and ulcers.

METHODS

Pregnant rats were daily treated orally with 0, 175, 350, or 700 mg/kg/body weight of AECS, from gestational day (GD) 6 to 15 (organogenesis period). On GD 20, the pregnant rats were euthanized, and the litters submitted to an assessment of fetal development.

RESULTS

No clinical signs of toxicity were observed in the dams during the treatment. In the embryo-fetal development study, a significant increase in the basal zone height of the placenta was observed in the intermediate dose group. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in the relative anogenital distance measurement of female fetuses in the lowest and intermediate dose groups. Although no visceral abnormalities were observed in the treated-fetuses, skeletal anomalies evidenced by changes in the ossification of the sternum and the presence of supernumerary ribs were found in the intermediate and high dose groups.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the treatment with AECS during organogenesis at this dose level had detrimental effects on the normal development of fetuses.

Chemical composition and photoprotective potential of aqueous extract from Casearia sylvestris var. lingua (Cambess.) Eichler leaves

Casearia sylvestris var. lingua (Cambess.) Eichler is widely used in traditional medicine to treat diseases. Simultaneously, the growing search for phytocosmetics has culminated in the exploration of plant extracts. In this context, the aim of this study was to obtain the chemical composition and antioxidant and photoprotective potential of the infusion of C. sylvestris var. lingua leaves. The techniques of UV/Vis spectroscopy, gas chromatography with mass spectrometry detector (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography with diode array detector (LC-DAD) were used to get the results. The total phenolic content in the infusion of leaves from C. sylvestris var. lingua was 101.57 mg GAE g-1, flavonoids 50.37 mg RE g-1 and tannins 1.12 mg TAE g-1. Quercetin, ferulic acid, gallic acid, ellagic acid, caffeic acid, β-sitosterol, lupeol, lupeol acetate, stigmasterol and campesterol were identified and quantified in the samples. The infusion of C. sylvestris var. lingua leaves has potential for application in phytocosmetics and sunscreens, with a sun protection factor of 8.65 ± 0.45, a UVA/UVB ratio of 1.16 and a critical wavelength of 373.

Photoprotective action, antioxidant activity, and toxicity of aqueous extracts of Campomanesia sessiliflora O. Berg

Campomanesia sessiliflora O. Berg is a medicinal plant that is object of very few studies in the literature. In this context, the antioxidant activity, sun protection factor (SPF) and toxicity in Artemia salina Leachs were analysed, as well as the contents of phenolic compounds, flavonoids and tannins in aqueous extracts prepared by infusion and maceration of C. sessiliflora leaves. Maceration showed higher levels of phenolic compounds and flavonoids regarding infusion and the two samples had the same tannin content. The LD50 was similar for the extracts, both were considered as low toxicity in the test with A. salina. Infusion presented a SPF of 9.98, while maceration presented a SPF of 6.74. Maceration presented better contents of secondary metabolites and antioxidant activity and infusion presented a better SPF. The extracts have the potential of incorporation into multifunctional products.