This paper reviews current knowledge on the occurrence of several types of pollen grains in the sediments of honey samples, propolis and bee loads of Apiinae and Meliponinae in Brazil. After a short historical introduction about research activities in Melissopalynology using Brazilian samples, bee products were analyzed in respect to the greater Brazilian regions (South, Southeast, Northeast and North), emphasizing monofloral honeys and the green propolis. Numerous bibliographic references and a short glossary of the technical terms used is presented.

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Melissopalynology in Brazil: a review of pollen analysis of honeys, propolis and pollen loads of bees

Biomolecules-mediated synthesis of selenium nanoparticles using Aspergillus oryzae fermented Lupin extract and gamma radiation for hindering the growth of some multidrug-resistant bacteria and pathogenic fungi.

The present study aimed at determining the antioxidant activity, total phenols and flavonoids and to evaluate the antiproliferative activity of ethanolic extract of Matricaria recutita L. (chamomile). The antioxidant activities were measured using the 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The total phenolic content was measured by the Folin–Ciocalteu assay. The flavonoid content was determined using the aluminum chloride method. The MTT assay was used to estimate the antiproliferative activities against human hepatoma (HepG2) cancer cell line. We assessed the mode of action of the extract as a cancer preventive agent and reported its ability to regulate tumor angiogenesis by down regulating in a dose dependent manner the expression of some proteins involved in the process. The percentage inhibition of DPPH scavenging activity was dose-dependent ranging between (94.8% ± 0.03) at 1.50 mg/mL and (84.2% ± 0.86) at 0.15 mg/mL. It showed high polyphenols (21.4 ± 0.327 mg GAE/g) and high flavonoids content (157.9 ± 2.22 mg QE/g). Effect of extract was investigated against HepG2 cells. A dose-dependent reduction in cell viability was recorded in cells treated with the extract. The IC50 was ~ 300 µg/mL. It significantly inhibited the level of important prerequisite angiogenesis markers both in HepG2 cells and ex vivo.

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Antioxidant and anticancer activities of chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.).

Here, we determined in vitro antioxidant activity, total phenols and flavonoids and evaluated antiproliferative activity of three medicinal plant extracts: Trigonella foenum-graecum (Fenugreek), Cassia acutifolia (Senna) and Rhazya stricta (Harmal). The leaves of the three medicinal plants were extracted with 70% ethanol. Antioxidant activities of the extracts were determined by using DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) assay. Total flavonoid and phenolic contents were determined using colorimetric assays. MTT assay was used to estimate the antiproliferative activities of the extracts against human hepatoma (HepG2) cancer cell line. In addition, the effects of R. stricta extract on cell cycle, colony formation, and wound healing of HepG2 cells and tube formation of HUVEC cells were assessed. Percentage inhibition of DPPH scavenging activity were dose-dependent and ranged between (89.9% ± 0.51) and (28.6% ± 2.07). Phenolic contents ranged between (11.5 ± 0.013) and (9.7 ± 0.008) mg GAE/g while flavonoid content ranged between (20.8 ± 0.40) and (0.12 ± 0.0.01) mg QE/g. Antiproliferative results of the extracts were found to be consistent with their antioxidant activity. Among the extracts evaluated, that of R. stricta showed the best antioxidant, antiproliferative and antimetastatic activities at low concentration. It also inhibited the colony-formation capacity of HepG2 cells and exhibited antiangiogenic activity. Cell cycle analysis showed significant arrest of cells at G2/M phase 12 and 48 h after treatment and significant arrest at G1/S phase after 24 h of treatment. Consistent data were observed in western blot analysis of protein levels of Cdc2 and its cyclin partners. These findings introduce R. stricta as a potentially useful anti-metastatic agent and a novel potential anti-tumour agent for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment.

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Antioxidant and anticancer activities of Trigonella foenum-graecum, Cassia acutifolia and Rhazya stricta

Color, flavonoids, phenolics and antioxidants of Omani honey.

The total phenolic and flavonoid content, color, and antioxidant activity were evaluated from ten honey samples from Apis mellifera L. collected from Roraima State, Brazil. The total phenolic content was determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and ranged from 250 to 548 mg gallic acid kg –1 of honey. The total flavonoid content was obtained using two methods: total flavones/flavonols were determined with aluminum chloride, and flavonones/dihydroflavonols were determined with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine. The results ranged from 9 to 48.6 mg of quercetine kg –1 of honey and 1805 to 2606 mg of pinocembrin kg –1 of honey, respectively. Antioxidant activity was measured with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavengers, and the results of the IC 50 ranged from 3.17 to 8.79 mg/mL. Statistical analysis demonstrated positive correlations between color intensity, flavone and flavonol content, and phenolic content and negative correlations with antioxidant capacity.

/pdf/color-phenolic-and-flavonoid-content-and-antioxidant-2l3ers3knh.pdf

Color, phenolic and flavonoid content, and antioxidant activity of honey from Roraima, Brazil

Foram analisadas amostras de mel de um apiario localizado na Aldeia do Contao, Roraima, Brasil. As amostras foram obtidas das colheitas nos meses de outubro e dezembro de 1996 e janeiro, fevereiro e marco de 1997. Foram identificados um total de 20 tipos polinicos distribuidos em 18 generos e 13 familias. As familias: Mimosaceae (4 especies), Anacardiaceae (3 especies), Sterculiaceae (2 especies), Caesalpiniaceae (2 especies) e Amaranthaceae (2 especies) foram as mais representadas, as demais por uma unica especie. Os tipos polinicos mais frequentes foram: Mimosa polydactyla H.B.K (outubro e dezembro de 1996), Curatella americana L. (janeiro, fevereiro e marco de 1997). Encontrou-se tres correlacoes significativas entre as frequencias dos tipos polinicos de: Curatella americana L. X Mimosa polydactyla H.B.K (r = -0,99), Curatella americana L. X Astronium sp (r = 0,95) e Mimosa polydactyla H.B.K e Astronium sp (r = -0,91)

https://www.scielo.br/pdf/aa/v30n4/1809-4392-aa-30-4-0579.pdf

Silvio José Reis da Silva

Papers

Color, phenolic and flavonoid content, and antioxidant activity of honey from Roraima, Brazil

Análise do pólen encontrado em amostras de mel de Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera, Apidae) em uma área de savana de Roraima, Brasil