Ziziphus Joazeiro Research Articles

FIRST RECORD OF Numia terebintharia GUENÉE (LEPIDOPTERA: GEOMETRIDAE) IN Ziziphus joazeiro MART. (RHAMNACEAE) IN BRAZIL

ABSTRACT Geometridae is one of the most diverse Lepidoptera families; however, little information about Geometridae species is found, even regarding their distribution and basic biology, which are in general restricted to type locality. Lists of species and their host plants are not found for the Semiarid region of the Northeast of Brazil. The present note reports the occurrence of caterpillars of the species Numia terebintharia Guenée consuming leaves of evergreen trees of Ziziphus joazeiro Mart. in a site with xerophilous deciduous Caatinga vegetation in that region. Some trees had approximately 90% of their leaves with injuries. This is the first record of N. terebintharia caterpillars occurring in Brazil and the first record of Z. joazeiro as their host plant.

Efficiency of botanical extracts against Aphis craccivora Koch (Hemiptera: Aphididae) nymphs in Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp

The present study aimed to evaluate the insecticidal activity of hydroalcoholic plant extracts on Aphis craccivora Koch nymphs in cowpea. The experiments were carried out under greenhouse conditions in a randomized block design with five repetitions. Hydrated ethanol was used as a solvent in the botanical extract preparation. Cowpea plants were infested with five female adult aphids, eleven days after planting. After 48 hours, the adults were removed from the plants, leaving the recently bred nymphs. The evaluation of the nymphs’ survival was carried out forty-eight 48 hours after the application of the plant extracts. The botanical extracts with more than 50% efficiency were: Allium tuberosum leaf, Caesalpinia ferrea leaf, Piper aduncum leaf, Carica papaya seed, Dieffenbachia picta leaf, Cucurbita moschata seed and the control treatment, Annona squamosa seed. The botanical extracts with less than 50% efficiency were: Allium sativum bulb, Anacardium occidentale leaf, Borreria verticillata leaf plus flower, Coffea arabica leaf and seed, Delonix regia leaf and flower, Euphorbia tirucalli leaf, Leucaena leucocephala leaf, Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia leaf, Nerium oleander leaf, Syzygium cumini leaf, endocarp and pericarp, Syzygium malaccense leaf, Zingiber officinale rizome and Ziziphus joazeiro leaf. The highest efficiency levels were obtained by D. picta and C. moschata, rendering these extracts suitable for field trials to further evaluate their efficieny against the cowpea black aphid.

Determinação da atividade respiratória (CO2) em frutos de Juazeiro colhidos em cinco estádios de maturação

<p>Juazeiro (Ziziphus joazeiro Mart.) is a prominent plant in the midst of adverse conditions in Caatinga. Its fruit is small, fleshy, sweet and very perishable and it has a white pulp. This condition induces a high rate of respiration to the fruit and, therefore, interferes with its ripening. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the quality and respiratory activity (CO2) in Juazeiro fruits. Juazeiro fruit were harvested from plants located at the Center of Science and Agri-Food Technology, at the Federal University of Campina Grande, Campus Pombal-PB, and taken to the Laboratory of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Food Analysis . The fruits were selected for the absence of damage and classified in five stages of maturation, being evaluated for pH, titratable acidity, soluble solids, soluble sugars, ascorbic acid and respiratory rate. Stage IV maturation fruits were stored under controlled temperature (25±2 ºC and 34±1% RH) for 4 days and evaluated on all storage days for respiratory rate, loss of fresh weight, titratable acidity and soluble solids. The advancement of maturation resulted in sweeter, slightly more acid juazeiro fruits and with a subtle reduction in the concentration of ascorbic acid. The highest respiratory rate was obtained in stage III maturation fruits, indicating that until this stage of maturation the fruits did not reach their full maturity, being probably in the final stage of growth. Regarding storage, there was a peak in the respiratory rate with 2 days of storage, indicating that the Juazeiro fruits present a climacteric behavior, reinforced by the responses observed in soluble solids and titratable acidity.</p>

Ziziphus joazeiro, a Saponin-Rich Brazilian Medicinal Plant: Pharmacognostic Characterization of Bark and Leaves

Ziziphus joazeiro Mart., Rhamnaceae, is a plant native to northeast Brazil where it is known as “juazeiro.” Its bark, rich in saponins, is widely utilized in folk medicine and as a supply to produce cosmetics. Aiming at the preservation of the species and the search for an alternative vegetal raw material, the phytochemical profiles of bark and leaves were compared by chemical techniques. The foaming index and gravimetric studies indicated that, in general, bark values were approximately twice than those of the leaves. The same occurred with the hemolysis indexes. Extracts were dereplicated by liquid chromatography with diode array detection coupled to mass spectrometry analyses using an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization source, which indicated that at least 5 saponins were common to all bark and leaf samples. The direct infusion high-resolution mass spectrometry analyses revealed at least 44 different saponins distributed between the bark and leaves of the analyzed plant, of which 40 were described for the first time. The data showed that there were similarities between the studied plant organs as demonstrated by mass spectrometry, foaming index, and hemolysis indexes. Therefore, with the application of a suitable standardization procedure the leaves could be a promising source for obtaining “juazeiro-type” saponins.

Influência do efeito de borda na herbivoria foliar de Ziziphus joazeiro Mart. em Floresta Tropical Sazonal Seca

RESUMO: A Caatinga é um bioma único e exclusivo do Brasil e, apesar disso, são poucos os estudos que buscam compreender o processo de herbivoria que ocorre em espécies vegetais, mesmo sendo este um elemento de grande importância no que tange as relações ecológicas. Considerando-se as escassas informações acerca da ação do efeito de borda na herbivoria da espécie vegetal Ziziphus joazeiro Mart. (juazeiro) em área de Caatinga, este estudo teve como objetivo verificar se existe influência do efeito de borda sobre a herbivoria em juazeiro, considerando tanto a região de borda quanto de interior de um fragmento florestal. O estudo foi desenvolvido em um fragmento de Caatinga no município de Igaci-AL, com uma área experimental dividida em 20 transectos lineares de 10m², sendo 10 transectos na região de borda da área e outros 10, no interior da área estudada. Em cada transecto foram coletados, aleatoriamente, 10 limbos foliares, separados em sacos plásticos e levados para análise, onde foram fotografados e analisados através do programa Image J. Os dados obtidos foram transformados em √x+1 e submetidos à análise de variância, sendo as médias comparadas pelo teste de Tukey a 5% de probabilidade por meio do programa SISVAR. Também foi calculada a taxa de herbivoria. Foram encontrados, ao todo, 34 indivíduos, sendo 17 no interior do fragmento e 17 na borda. Apesar de em números brutos haver diferença no nível de herbivoria entre a borda e o interior, estatisticamente não houve significância, apresentando o mesmo nível de herbivoria em ambas as regiões. Além disso, as médias da taxa de herbivoria em condições de borda e de interior também não foram estatisticamente significativas. Quanto ao percentual de folhas com herbivoria (taxa de herbivoria), estas foram classificadas na categoria 1. Dessa forma, pode-se concluir que o efeito de borda não influenciou a herbivoria da espécie neste fragmento de Caatinga.
 PALAVRAS-CHAVE: semiárido, interação planta-animal, fragmentação de hábitats.

Gastroprotective and cicatrizing activity of the Ziziphus joazeiro Mart. leaf hydroalcoholic extract.

Ziziphus joazeiro Mart., popularly known as 'juazeiro', is a species used in popular medicine for the treatment of bronchitis, gastric ulcers, skin wounds, and in the manufacture of cosmetic and food products. The objective of this study is to evaluate the gastroprotective and cicatrizing activity of the Z. joazeiro Mart. leaf hydroalcoholic extract (EHFZJ). The acute pre-clinical toxicity was determined by the single administration of the EHFZJ (2000 mg/kg/p.o.) and by assessing clinical signs of toxicity, according to established criteria by Malone, or mortality. Gastroprotective activity was identified through classical models of acute gastric lesions induced by indomethacin, absolute and acidified ethanol (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg/per os) and the physical barrier mechanism (400 mg/kg/per os or intraperitoneally). The cicatrizing activity of the EHFZJ was investigated by measuring the speed of wound closure and the percentage of contraction. The acute pre-clinical toxicity of EHFZJ showed no signs of toxicity and mortality. The EHFZJ demonstrated a gastroprotective effect at the 400 mg/kg dose in the classical models of acute gastric injury induced by indomethacin, absolute and acidified ethanol. The EHFZJ administration (orally) demonstrated significant inhibition, suggesting a possible physical barrier mechanism exists. The EHFZJ showed no significant differences in terms of percentage of contraction or the speed of wound closure during the observation times (0, 3, 7, 11 and 14 days). The results obtained in this study provide evidence of a potential gastroprotective activity for the Ziziphus joazeiro Mart. Leaf hydroalcoholic extract.

Potencial energético do carvão do Ziziphus joazeiro (Martius) e da Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC.

Visando determinar o potencial energético do carvão da Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC. e do Ziziphus joazeiro (Martius), o presente trabalho vem incrementar as informações sobre as espécies de ocorrência no semiárido brasileiro. Foram avaliados os parâmetros dendrométricos, tais como: altura total e comercial da árvore, diâmetro à altura do peito (DAP), o volume com casca e sem casca. Após as carbonizações da madeira, foram determinadas as características energéticas do carvão oriundo das espécies estudadas, tais como: poder calorífico superior, rendimento gravimétrico, densidade verdadeira e aparente, porosidade, rendimento em produto condensado, análise de química imediata (teor de materiais voláteis, cinzas e carbono fixo) e umidade, dos quais a Prosopis juliflora possui maiores valores, superando os do Ziziphus joazeiro e os das demais espécies arbóreas correlacionadas, tais como: Mimosa tenuiflora, Aspidosperma pyrifolium, Croton sonderianus, Piptadenia stipulacea, Amburana cearensis, Cemostigma bracteosum e Handroanthus impetiginosus. Ambas possuem um grande potencial para a produção de carvão vegetal, considerando os seus excelentes níveis de rendimento gravimétrico, carbono fixo e do poder calorífico.

Phytochemical characterization of the Ziziphus joazeiro Mart. metabolites by UPLC-QTOF and antifungal activity evaluation

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal and modulatory potential of the Ziziphus joazeiro bark and leaf extracts, both in isolation and in association with fluconazole, against resistant species from the Candida genus. Antifungal assays were used to determine the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of the extract in isolation and in combination with fluconazole using the broth microdilution method and spectrophotometric readings, followed by verification of the minimum fungicidal concentration by solid medium subculture. According to the cell viability curve, both extracts inhibited fungal growth in a concentration dependent manner, in addition to showing inhibitory concentrations similar to fluconazole. However, the extracts behaved in a fungistatic manner with minimum inhibitory concentration > 8.19 mg/mL and IC50 values ranging from 0.450 mg/mL to 9 mg/mL. The minimum inhibitory concentration for both extracts decreased when in combination with fluconazole, with the AEL standing out against Candida albicans URM 4387, displaying an IC50 equal to that of fluconazole (0.002 mg/mL). Nevertheless, fluconazole antagonism was observed against the tested strains. Overall, the evaluation of both extracts against Candida spp. presented inhibitory concentration values greater than fluconazole. Moreover, despite these being chemically complex crude extracts, they did demonstrate antifungal effects and properties that concur with their ethno-biological aspect.

Evaluation of honey quality of Northeast of Brazil: botanical origin and heavy metals content

A chemical and palynological study was performed on honey of Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) produced and marketed in the nine states that comprise the Northeast Region of Brazil. A total of 58 samples were obtained from markets between the years 2015 and 2017. The pollen spectra of the samples encompassed 232 pollen types of defined botanical origin, with 31 samples possessing predominant pollen in their spectra, which represent species with beekeeping potential: Angelonia, Borreria verticillata, Copaifera, Mimosa caesalpiniifolia, M. pudica, M. tenuiflora, Myrcia 1, Schinus terebinthifolia, Tapirira guianensis, Tarenaya, and Ziziphus joazeiro. Leguminosae was the most represented botanical family in all the studied honey samples, with Mimosa L. being the most diverse and frequent genus. The richness of different pollen types varied among states, but similarities in pollen spectra were minimally related to geographical proximity to the municipalities of origin. Thus, some pollen types, alone or in combination, can be considered good indicators of honey produced in Northeast Brazil. The levels of the main metallic contaminants of honey (i.e., As, Cd, Cr, Hg, and Pb) were found to be below their respective limits, suggesting that honey samples from the Northeast are safe for human consumption. The studied samples presented heterogeneous botanical constitutions that reflect the diversity of plant species of the Caatinga biome and the generalist habit of A. mellifera.

Fruiting phenology and consumption of zoochoric fruits by wild vertebrates in a seasonally dry tropical forest in the Brazilian Caatinga

This study aimed to describe and evaluate the fruit phenology of zoochoric plants and the use of this resource by wild vertebrates in a seasonally dry tropical forest in the Furna Feia National Park, an area of Brazilian Caatinga. Specifically, we described the seasonal variation in fruiting of zoochoric species and evaluated the influence of rainfall intensity on the seasonal variation of fruiting, along with the relative importance of each fruit producing species in the diet of medium- and large-sized vertebrates by analysis of fecal samples. Monthly expeditions to the study area occurred between January 2013 and June 2018, during which we monitored the phenology of 643 plants, belonging to 11 species, and collected vertebrates fecal samples. Sideroxylon obtusifolium, Cereus jamacaru, Ziziphus joazeiro, Commiphora leptophloeos and Bromelia laciniosa fruited during the rainy season, while Myracrodruon urundeuva, Licania rigida, Cissus sp. and Maytenus rigida fruited during the dry season. Phoradendron quadrangulare and Cynophalla flexuosa presenting lower seasonality in the fruiting throughout the year. The rainfall intensity influenced the fruiting of more than 50% of the zoochoric plant species, corroborating the prediction of the existence of a relationship between rainfall intensity and fruiting for Caatinga zoochoric plants. Sixteen plant species were identified in 294 fecal samples, suggesting medium- and large-sized vertebrates act potential seed dispersers of 12 plant native species. Future conservation strategies for Caatinga forests should prioritize the protection of multiple plant species to ensure fruit availability throughout the year.

Influência do armazenamento sob temperatura controlada nas características físicas de frutos de juazeiro (Ziziphus joazeiro Mart.)

Ziziphus joazeiro Mart. é uma espécie típica do Nordeste brasileiro, que produz frutos ricos em ácido ascórbico e alta concentração de compostos fenólicos, necessitando de pesquisas sobre o armazenamento pós-colheita de seus frutos, para intensificar seu consumo, industrialização e comercialização. Dessa forma, objetivou-se avaliar a influência do armazenamento sob temperatura controlada nas características físicas de frutos de juazeiro. Os frutos maduros foram colhidos de plantas localizadas no Centro de Ciências e Tecnologia Agroalimentar, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Campus Pombal/PB. Após a seleção, classificação, remoção de sujidades, retirada do pedúnculo e embalagem, os frutos foram submetidos ao armazenamento em temperatura controlada (24,5±0,5 °C e 33,5±0,5% UR), durante 4 dias. Em todos os dias de armazenamento, realizaram-se análise de características físicas (massa fresca, perda de massa fresca, comprimentos longitudinal e transversal, espessura, rendimento, firmeza e umidade). Os resultados indicam que o armazenamento afetou a maioria das características estudadas nesta pesquisa e quando comparado com trabalhos anteriores, percebe-se que o ataque da praga aos juazeiros, à época de realização deste trabalho, prejudicou tanto a floração quanto o desenvolvimento dos frutos.

In vitro evaluation of Álcool desidrogenase kinetics in Ziziphus joazeiro fruits to alleviate the harmful effects of alcohol

Ziziphus joazeiro is endemic to the brazilian Caatinga and its fruits can be used as a food supplement by accelerating the ethanol metabolism in the body and reducing the alcohol harmful effects due to high alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity. The objective was to determine the kinetics of ADH activity, in different incubation times, of Z. joazeiro mature fruits as a food supplement. Ziziphus joazeiro fruits, at the fourth maturation stage, were incubated for 0 (no incubation), 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours at room temperature. The ADH activity was determined. ADH activity was higher in fruits incubated for 0 and 3 h. The ADH activity was higher in the early incubation times, probably due to the greater availability of NAD+, which after being reduced to NADH delayed regeneration. Without the cofactor in the oxidized form, the enzymatic activity decreases. Ziziphus joazeiro fruit has the potential to be used as a food supplement accelerating the alcohol metabolism and reducing the harmful effects.

Hygroscopic Behavior and Thermodynamic Properties of Ziziphus joazeiro Mart. Kernel Flour

The hygroscopic and thermal behavior of kernel flour from Ziziphus joazeiro fruits were investigated. Adsorption isotherms were obtained at temperatures of 293, 303 and 313 K and adjusted to GAB, Oswin and Peleg models. The best fit of the experimental data was obtained with the GAB model with R² values> 0.994 and mean percentage deviation P <10%. The isotherms obtained were sigmoidal type II. Isosteric heat and other thermodynamic properties were calculated as a function of moisture content. Adsorption isosteric heat decreased exponentially with increasing moisture content and differential entropy increased with moisture content, while differential enthalpy decreased. The theory of compensation confirmed that these properties are dependent on moisture content. The isotherms presented a spontaneous and enthalpy process.

Bee Flora and Use of Resources by Africanized Bees

Abstract Beekeeping is affected by adverse climatic conditions and availability of floral resources. This study aimed to survey and characterize the flora in Sao Joao do Piaui, a semi-arid region in Piaui, Brazil, and to identify species providing resources to bees. Flowering plants were observed for 18 months, and records were taken of flowering date, growth habit, visitation and resources collected by bees. Melissopalinological analysis of honey produced in the area was performed. A total of 67 flowering plant species were recorded, of which 49 were considered as bee plants, with a predominance of herbs and shrubs. The low rainfall reduces the number of flowering species, which makes important the conservation and multiplication of species which bloom in dry season, such as Ipomoea glabra, Myracrodruon urundeuva, Sida cordifolia and Ziziphus joazeiro, as well as species that contribute to honey production such as Mimosa tenuiflora, Mesosphaerum suaveolens and Croton sonderianus.

Chemical characteristics, degradation kinetics and gas production of arboreal species for ruminants

The breeding systems of the small ruminants are extensive in the great majority, in which the animals are created in areas of native pasture named Caatinga, being necessary the knowledge on the chemical composition and its characteristics of feed degradation is crucial to increase nutrient use efficiency. Thereat, the objective of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition, the minerals, the carbohydrates and nitrogenous compounds fractionation, the degradability, in vitro dry matter digestibility and the in vitro gas production of arboreal species for ruminants, those are consumed by goats and sheeps. The species evaluated were Cnidoscolus phyllacanthus (Muell. Arg.) Pax. et K. Hoffman, Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.) Poiret, Myracrodruon urundeuva Fr. All., Poincianella bracteosa (Tul.) L.P. Queiroz, Spondias tuberosa Arr. Cam. and Ziziphus joazeiro Mart. It was found that Mimosa tenuiflora has a higher crude protein quantity (174.9 g.kg -1 DM). Spondias tuberosa and Myracrodruon urundeuva had the highest values for total carbohydrates compared to the other species analyzed. As for the fractionation of nitrogenous compounds, the highest proportion of fraction A was found for Cnidoscolus phyllacanthus (375.5 g.kg -1 CP). Among the species studied, Cnidoscolus phyllacanthus is highlighted with the highest ruminal degradation (61.63 %) and dry matter digestibility (627.1 g.kg -1 DM), reflecting higher gas production (206.02 mL.g -1 DM). Cnidoscolus phyllacanthus , Poincianella bracteosa and Myracrodruon urundeuva showed a greater availability of nutrients in the rumen which is fundamental to increase the amount of ruminal microbial protein which reaches the small intestine.

Avaliação quantitativa de atividades antioxidantes das plantas nativas da Região do Alto Oeste Potiguar/RN

No Brasil o conhecimento popular acerca das plantas com ações medicinais é motivo para diversas investigações envolvendo variadas espécies vegetais. Dentre os estudos realizados com extratos de plantas, há um interesse especial na atividade antioxidante, que atua inibindo e/ou diminuindo os efeitos desencadeados pelos radicais livres e compostos oxidantes. Diante dessa perspectiva, o presente trabalho avaliou a ação antioxidante de extratos etanólicos das espécies: Pereiro (Aspidosperma pyrifolium Mart), Juazeiro (Ziziphus joazeiro Mart), Catingueira (Caesalpinia pyramidalis Tui), Jurema Preta (Mimosa tenuiflora Willd) e Ameixa Selvagem (Ximenia americana L.) nativas da região do Alto Oeste Potiguar, no Rio Grande do Norte. A coleta das folhas e caules foi realizada no sítio Barro Vermelho, município de São Francisco do Oeste (RN), para obtenção dos extratos. Em seguida, eles foram submetidos a testes de atividade antioxidante utilizando o radical livre DPPH. Todas as amostras analisadas demonstraram uma boa porcentagem de atividade antioxidante em suas diferentes concentrações, destacando-se o EEFA, que teve o maior percentual de atividade antioxidante na menor concentração. Assim, sugere-se que a partir desses dados, essas espécies podem apresentar finalidade medicinal conforme conhecimento popular.

Prebiotic activity of monofloral honeys produced by stingless bees in the semi-arid region of Brazilian Northeastern toward Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-05 and Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12.

This study assessed the in vitro prebiotic effects of honeys from Ziziphus joazeiro Mart. (juazeiro; J) and Mimosa arenosa Willd Poir (jurema branca; JB) produced by native stingless bees, namely Melipona subnitida Ducke (jandaíra; J) and M. scutellaris Latrelle (uruçu; U), in the Brazilian Northeastern semi-arid region toward the probiotics Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-05 and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12. Cells of the probiotic strains were enumerated over 48h of cultivation in broths containing each honey (JJ, JU, JBJ or JBU) as a sole carbon source. The metabolic activities of probiotic strains in these media were assessed by measuring changes in pH values and sugars, organic acids and phenolics contents. All honeys (20 or 30g/L) exerted growth promoting effects and displayed positive prebiotic activity scores (0.94-1.22) on tested probiotics. JJ showed the highest (p<0.05) stimulatory effects on probiotics growth and prebiotic scores. At the end of the cultivation period, counts of L. acidophilus LA-05 and B. lactis BB-12 increased (p<0.05) more than 2 log in broths regardless the monofloral honey added. The pH values and sugars contents decreased (p<0.05), while the organic acids contents increased (p<0.05) during cultivation of probiotics in broths containing JJ, JU, JBJ or JBU as carbon source. After 48h of cultivation, contents of gallic, caftaric and caffeic acid, catechin and procyanidins (B1 and B2) decreased (p<0.05) in media containing JJ, JU, JBJ or JBU despite of the inoculated probiotic. JJ honey presented overall the better stimulatory effects on the growth and metabolism of L. acidophilus LA-05 and B. lactis BB-12. These results showed for the first time the potential prebiotic properties of four monofloral honeys produced by stingless bees in the Brazilian Northeastern semi-arid region.

Juá fruit (Ziziphus joazeiro) from Caatinga: A source of dietary fiber and bioaccessible flavanols.

Fruits from Ziziphus joazeiro from Mata Paraibana (MP), Borborema (BB), Agreste (AG) and Sertão Paraibano (SP) were assessed to determine their morphological characteristics, nutritional composition, content and bioaccessibility of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity. In general, juá fruits presented ovoid shape, high moisture (65.33-72.53%), low acidity, with succinic acid being the predominant organic acid, and high dietary fiber content (8.98-10.81%), mostly insoluble fibers (5.72-8.02%). Fruits from MP presented the highest amounts of free phenolic compounds (24.27mg/100g) and the highest antioxidant activity in the DPPH, FRAP and ORAC assays. In MP fruits, epigallocatechin gallate (12.04mg/100g) was the major compound, while in fruits from other states, phenolic compounds were the major compounds. The bioaccessibility of catechin, epicatechin, epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin gallate, procyanidin and syringic acid varied among fruits from different regions. Fruits from SP presented the highest phenolic content in the bioaccessible fraction and highest antioxidant activity in all assays. The findings of this study indicate that juá is a non-acidic fruit with highest moisture, source of fiber, majority insoluble fibers and bioaccessible flavanols.

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Ziziphus joazeiro leaf extract for production of antibacterial agents

The green synthesis of silver nanoparticles represents an important strategy for production of alternative antibacterial agents. Herein, the reduction of silver nanoparticles is provided by the action of leaf extract of Ziziphus joazeiro. The as-synthesized material presented pH-dependent behavior that affects the kinetics of nanoparticles nucleation and the following aggregation. Alkaline and acidic environment favors the increasing polydispersity of nanoparticles providing the production of different distribution of particle size. At neutral condition (pH 7), particles with lower size and reduced aggregation degree are obtained and present antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli. The number of viable cells for both systems (from initial culture containing 104 colonies) reached negligible counting after 5 h of interaction with silver nanoparticles prepared at neutral pH.

Controlling the cowpea black aphid (Aphis craccivora Koch) with botanical extracts

Extratos botânicos de plantas brasileiras de caatinga têm um efeito inseticida potencial e acredita-se que extratos de Ziziphus joazeiro, Caesalpinia ferrea e Mimosa caesalpiniifolia exibam atividade inseticida contra Aphis craccivora (pulgão-preto). Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar diferentes extratos botânicos dessas plantas no controle de A. craccivora em plantas de feijão-caupi. O estudo foi realizado no Departamento de Fitotecnia da Universidade Federal do Ceará, campus Pici, em Fortaleza, Ceará. Os tratamentos foram: água destilada; um inseticida botânico de eficiência comprovada, da Annona squamosa, na concentração de 0,5%; e extratos hidroalcoólicos, por dois tempos de armazenamento e concentrações de 5 e 2,5%, de diferentes partes das espécies vegetais. O delineamento de cada experimento foi em blocos casualizados, com vinte e seis tratamentos e cinco repetições. Para ambas as concentrações (5% e 2,5%), o tratamento que apresentou maior eficiência foi o extrato de Annona squamosa. Nas condições do experimento, os extratos botânicos possuem uma substância ativa que controla o pulgão.