FRANCISCO JOSE TORRES DE AQUINO
@ufu.br
Professor, Chemistry
UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE UBERLANDIA
Graduated in Chemistry from the University of Brasília (1986), Master's in Chemistry from the University of Brasília (1991) and PhD in Organic Chemistry from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (1997). He did a postdoctoral internship (2009 and 2012) at the Laboratory of Organic and Biological Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, UFMG, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Adão Sabino, in the area of mass spectrometry. He is currently Associate Professor 4 (since September 2020) at the Federal University of Uberlândia and institutional assessor (since 2003) at the National Higher Education Assessment System (BASis) of the National Higher Education Assessment System (Sinaes), linked to the National Institute of Educational Studies and Research Anísio Teixeira (INEP), of the Ministry of Education (MEC). Has experience in the area of higher education in Chemistry (since 1989), in academic research, with an emphasis on Chemistry of Natural Products, acting mainly on the following themes: mass spectrometry; coffee, essential oil and plant extracts from the Brazilian cerrado; antioxidant and antimicrobial activity; bleaching of cellulose pulps; and organic synthesis.
EDUCATION
BSc Chemistry - Universidade de Brasíli-DF/Brasil -1986
MSc Organic Chemystry - Universidade de Brasíli-DF/Brasil 1991
PhD Organic chemistry -Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais/Brasil -1997
Post-Doctoral - Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais/Brasil - 2009/2012
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Natural products
Coffee chemistry
Scopus Publications
Scopus Publications
Carlos Alexandre Galinaro, Mariangela Spadoto, Francisco Wendel Batista de Aquino, Natália de Souza Pelinson, and Eny Maria Vieira
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Parabens are preservatives widely used by industry since these compounds have antifungal properties, relative low cost, and stability over a wide pH range. This study aims to quantify and assess the environmental risks of methylparaben (MP), ethylparaben (EP), propylparaben (PP), and butylparaben (BP) in surface water from a Brazilian River, Mogi Guaçu. The State of São Paulo, including the Mogi Guaçu River region, suffered from a period of intense drought and high temperatures, which caused anomalies in river flows and water supply problems. The water samples were collected from 14 locations, along 300 km of river extension, at four different seasons. Samples were previously extracted and pre-concentrated by dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) and later analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization in tandem with mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS) detector. During the sampling period, PP was detected in 89.3% of the water samples, MP in 87.5%, EP in 73.2%, and BP in 48.2%. The sum of parabens’ average levels was 42.2 μg L−1 in Winter, 41.5 μg L−1 in Summer, 36.6 μg L−1 in Autumn, and 31.5 μg L−1 in Spring. These levels can be attributed to the smaller dilution effect caused by the drought period. Also, ecological risk assessment indicated that parabens could take a low, medium, and high risk for target organisms in the measured aquatic environments, especially considering Pimephales promelas where 15% of the samples do not present potential risk, 84% of samples can present medium risk and only 1% have low risk. Besides, the risks for BP are also considerably higher, when almost 40% presents for high risks and 60% for medium risks. The present study indicates worrisome threats to the water source and to allegedly protected biodiversity and, therefore, urgent actions are needed to effectively protect.
João Junqueira, Michelle do Nascimento, Lucas da Costa, Lincoln Romualdo, Francisco de Aquino, Mustapha Abubakar, Ana Terezan, Gustavo Cunha, and Vanessa Severino
Sociedade Brasileira de Quimica (SBQ)
Xylopia aromatica (Lam.) Mart. (Annonaceae) is a typical species from the Brazilian cerrado that presents medicinal properties. The plant is distinguished by its large white flowers which produce a pleasant fragrance. X. aromatica is characterized by a wide range of medicinal application. These characteristics have motivated us to investigate the flowers volatile organic compounds (VOCs) via in vivo and in vitro protocols by a headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS‑SPME) technique combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC‑MS). Four different fibers, extraction times and temperatures were the parameters changed to lead to the maximum profiling of the volatile constituents. Data were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA). A total of 77 VOCs were extracted from the floral scent, with 52 and 68 extracted from in vivo and in vitro sampling, respectively, of which 48 were reported for the first time in the literature as volatile constituents from X. aromatica flowers. The extraction and identification of VOCs were successfully performed through HS-SPME/GC-MS. The PCA data allowed the identification of parameters that led to the maximum number of VOCs, which were polyacrylate (PA) and carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane (CAR/PDMS) fibers, 60 min extraction time and temperature of 29.0 °C. Among the volatile constituents identified, sesquiterpenes predominated, comprising about 61.04%.
Carla de Moura Martins, Sérgio A.L. de Morais, Mário M. Martins, Luís C.S. Cunha, Cláudio V. da Silva, Thaise Lara Teixeira, Mariana B. Santiago, Francisco J.T. de Aquino, Evandro A. Nascimento, Roberto Chang,et al.
Elsevier BV
Abstract The Inga genus comprises approximately 300 species that can be found from Mexico to northern Argentina. In folk medicine, Inga species are used to treat various diseases. The species Inga laurina is widely found in the Brazilian flora; however, there are few studies about its biological activity and chemical composition. The main purpose of this study was to identify and isolate the chemical constituents of Inga laurina barks and to evaluate the antifungal and cytotoxic activities. The total content of phenolics, proanthocyanidins, and flavonoids from the barks of Inga laurina were performed by spectrophotometric methods and the ethyl acetate (EAF) and n-butanol (BF) fractions showed the best results. Eleven compounds were identified in EAF by HPLC-ESI(−)-MS/MS, which showed good antifungal activity with MIC values of 23.4 and 46.8 μg mL−1, evaluated by broth microdilution method. Five new compounds of the genus Inga were isolated for the first time. Three of these compounds were isolated and reported on the literature for the first time: a proanthocyanidin B-type, gallocatechin-(4α→8)-4’-O-methylgallocatechin (XI) and two proanthocyanidins A-type, gallocatechin-(2→O→7,4→8)-4’-O-methylgallocatechin (XII) and gallocatechin-3-O-galloyl-(2→O→7,4→8)-4’-O-methylgallocatechin (XIII). The chemical study of the plant bark showed that this species is rich in phenolic compounds and it has great potential for the discovery of new bioactive compounds.
Daiane M.O. Quaresma, Allisson B. Justino, Raquel M.F. Sousa, Rodrigo A.A. Munoz, Francisco J.T. de Aquino, Mário M. Martins, Luiz R. Goulart, Marcos Pivatto, Foued S. Espindola, and Alberto de Oliveira
Elsevier BV
Banisteriopsis argyrophylla belongs to the Malpighiaceae family, which is a species from Cerrado, also known as "cipó-prata" or "cipó-folha-de-prata." Several species of this family present biological potential. This work reports the chemical identification of the ethanol extract (EE) and its fractions from B. argyrophylla leaves and shows the analysis of the antioxidant activity and inhibitory effects on activities of α-amylase, α-glucosidase and lipase, and non-enzymatic glycation. The ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) and n-butanol fraction (BF) showed antioxidant activity, with IC50 values of 4.1 ± 0.1 and 4.8 ± 0.1 μg mL-1, respectively, by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method, and IC50 values of 6046.3 ± 174.2 and 6264.2 ± 32.2 µmol Trolox eq g-1 by the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) method. Furthermore, the DPPH method with these fractions presented electroactive species with antioxidant potential, as shown by the differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) method. The inhibitory effects of the EAF and BF were demonstrated by the following results: IC50 of 5.1 ± 0.3 and 2.5 ± 0.2 μg mL-1 for α-amylase, IC50 of 1093.5 ± 26.0 and 1250.8 ± 21.9 μg mL-1 for α-glucosidase, IC50 of 8.3 ± 4.1 and 4.4 ± 1.0 μg mL-1 for lipase, and IC50 of 1.3 ± 0.1 and 0.9 ± 0.1 μg mL-1 for glycation. Some bioactive compounds were identified by (-)-ESI-MS/MS, such as catechin, procyanidins, glycosylated flavonoids, kaempferol, and megastigmane glucosides. The antidiabetic activity of B.argyrophylla has been reported for the first time.
Daiane M. Oliveira, Fabiana B. Furtado, Antoniel A. S. Gomes, Belisa R. Belut, Evandro A. Nascimento, Sérgio A. L. Morais, Carlos H. G. Martins, Vinícius C. O. Santos, Claudio V. da Silva, Thaise L. Teixeira,et al.
American Chemical Society (ACS)
Scheelea phalerata Mart. ex Spreng (Arecaceae) is a palm tree found in the Brazilian cerrado. There are no topics related to volatile oils from S. phalerata leaves in the literature. This work determines its chemical composition and evaluates the biological activity under two different seasonal conditions (dry and rainy seasons). The dry essential oil yield was 0.034 ± 0.001% and the rainy essential oil yield was 0.011 ± 0.003%. Both essential oils presented different qualitative and quantitative compositions (99.4 and 98.5%). The main constituents of the dry essential oil were phytol (36.7%), nonadecane (9.7%), linolenic acid (9.1%), (Z)-hex-3-en-1-ol (4.2%), and squalene (4.0%). The main constituents of the rainy essential oil were phytol (26.1%), palmitic acid (18.7%), hexan-1-ol (15.6%), (Z)-hex-3-en-1-ol (9.7%), and oleic acid (4.0%). The antileishmanial activity against promastigotes of Leishmania amazonensis was observed only for the rainy season essential oil (IC50 value of 165.05 ± 33.26 μg mL–1). A molecular docking study showed that alcohols exert a paramount efficacy and that the action of some essential oil compounds may be similar to that of amphotericin B. Still, only the essential oil from the dry season showed moderate antibacterial activity against S. sanguinis (MICs 200–400 μg mL–1). The cytotoxicity against Vero cells was identical (>512) for both essential oils. The novel data here for both chemical characterization and biological activity, in particular, evidence that the action of these compounds is similar to that of amphotericin B, provide valuable information to the drug-discovery field.
Edmilson de O. Rocha, Roberto Chang, Evandro A. do Nascimento, Mário M. Martins, Sérgio A.L. de Morais, Francisco José T. de Aquino, Luís C.S. Cunha, Larissa de O. Silva, Carlos H.G. Martins, Thaise L. Teixeira,et al.
Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.
Background: Banisteriopsis campestris is a Malpighiaceae, also known as “cipó-prata” or “murici”. There are some reports about the use of this plant in folk medicine. Objectives: The aim of this study is to test the Essential Oils (EOs) from leaves, stems, and roots of B. campestris for antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, and antiprotozoal activities and the inhibition of glycation and cytotoxicity on Vero cells. Methods: The plant was collected and the essential oil was obtained and tested for antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, and antiprotozoal activities and the inhibition of glycation and cytotoxicity on Vero cells, using the more adequate methods to achieve the objectives. Results: The EOs inhibited the growth of aerobic and anaerobic oral bacteria. The root oil presented the highest antibacterial activity with MIC levels ranging from 12.5 to 100 μg mL-1. The three EOs showed antiprotozoal activity against Leishmania amazonensis. The stem and root EOs presented low cytotoxicity to Vero cells. The roots and stem oils showed inhibition of glycation above 50%, with stem oil with of 79.11%. The compounds identified in the leaf EOs were palmitic acid (22.98%), phytol (22.98%), and triacontane (14.88%); in the stem–palmitic (49.79%), linoleic (11.63%), oleic (4.83%), and palmitoleic (4.15%) fatty acids; in the root–palmitic acid (57.39%), linoleic (10.38%), and oleic acids (5.47%). Conclusions: The results presented indicate that the EOs have remarkable antioxidant properties and potential antimicrobial activity and confirm the essential oils of B. campestris as an alternative source of medicinal substances.
Vanessa E. X. Martins, Evandro A. Nascimento, Luís C. S. Cunha, Carlos H. G. Martins, Thayná S. Silva, Sérgio A. L. Morais, Alberto de Oliveira, and Francisco J. T. de Aquino
Sociedade Brasileira de Quimica (SBQ)
As composicoes quimicas sazonais dos oleos das folhas de Banisteriopsis malifolia (Ness & Mart.) B. Gates foram determinadas. Terpenos (56%) e alcoois alifaticos (29,8%) estao presentes em grandes quantidades no oleo essencial da estacao chuvosa em comparacao com a estacao seca (20,93% e 20,48%, respectivamente). Por outro lado, o oleo essencial da estacao seca apresentou como compostos principais alcanos de cadeia longa (18,43%) e acidos graxos (16,03%), destacando-se o hexatriacontano (18,43%) e o acido palmitico (10,62%). O fitol foi o principal terpenoide presente em ambos os oleos essenciais (52,70% no oleo essencial das chuvas versus 15,80% no oleo essencial seco). Em geral, o oleo essencial da estacao chuvosa apresentou os melhores resultados antibacterianos (valores de MIC de 100 a 400 μg mL-1) para todas as bacterias testadas. Os efeitos sinergicos dos compostos presentes no oleo da estacao chuvosa podem ser responsaveis pelos melhores efeitos inibitorios observados. Ambos os oleos essenciais nao apresentaram nenhuma atividade anti-Candida promissora.
Carla de Moura Martins, Sérgio A. L. de Morais, Mário M. Martins, Luís C. S. Cunha, Cláudio V. da Silva, Carlos H. G. Martins, Luís F. Leandro, Alberto de Oliveira, Francisco J. T. de Aquino, Evandro A. do Nascimento,et al.
Hindawi Limited
The species Inga laurina is native to the Brazilian Cerrado. There are no studies about the chemical composition and biological activities of extracts of this endangered species. The ethanolic extract and its successive fractions are rich in phenolic compounds and presented good antifungal activities. HPLC/MS-MS/MS and H1/C13 analysis led to the identification of seventeen compounds, most of which are gallic acid derivatives, myricetin and quercetin glycosides. The ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) contained high levels of total phenolics, expressed in milligrams of gallic acid equivalents per gram of extract (475.3 ± 1.9 mg GAE gextract-1) and flavonoids expressed in milligrams of quercetin equivalents per gram of extract (359.3 ± 10.6 mg QE gextract-1). This fraction was active against fungi of the Candida genus. The EAF showed MIC value 11.7 μg mL−1 against C. glabrata and a selectivity index of 1.6 against Vero cells. The flavonol glycoside myricetin-3-O-rhamnoside was isolated for the first time from the Inga laurina. These results make I. laurina a promising plant as a source of pharmaceutical and biological active antifungal compounds.
Daiane M. Oliveira, Tomás F. R. Silva, Mário M. Martins, Sérgio A. L. de Morais, Roberto Chang, Francisco J. T. de Aquino, Claudio V. da Silva, Thaise L. Teixeira, Carlos H. G. Martins, Thaís S. Moraes,et al.
Oxford University Press (OUP)
This work aimed to evaluate the antifungal and cytotoxic activity of the EtOH extract and fractions of Banisteriopsis argyrophylla leaves, and to perform the identification of these bioactive metabolites.
Ana V. A. Lima, Mariana A. S. Barbosa, Luís C. S. Cunha, Sérgio A. L. de Morais, Francisco J. T. de Aquino, Roberto Chang, and Evandro A. do Nascimento
Sociedade Brasileira de Quimica (SBQ)
Sugarcane vinasse is the main by-product from ethanol production industries. Generated in large quantities, it is composed by water, inorganic and organic compounds and is extensively used as fertiliser in agriculture, promoting improvements in soil quality and crop yield. However, it has high pollution potential, as the high concentration of organic matter can lead to contamination of the soil and water, in addition to the risk of leaching of the mineral components. In the current study, the volatile components of vinasse were obtained by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger apparatus, then analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A waxy material was obtained, and the GC-MS analysis indicated that vinasse is rich in fatty acids, alcohols and esters. The major components were phenylethyl alcohol (22.28%), myristic acid (17.45%), palmitic acid (15.81%), ethyl palmitate (8.99%) and hexadecanol (6.06%).
Luís C.S. Cunha, Sérgio A.L. de Morais, Francisco J.T. de Aquino, Roberto Chang, Alberto de Oliveira, Mário M. Martins, Carlos H.G. Martins, Laís C.F. Sousa, Tricya T. Barros, Cláudio V. da Silva,et al.
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Abstract The antimicrobial potential of extracts of bark and leaves of Cassia bakeriana Craib, Fabaceae, against aerobic and anaerobic oral bacteria was evaluated by the microdilution broth method. For crude ethanol extracts and organic fractions tested, the bark dichloromethane phase showed a significant antibacterial effect, with MIC values ranging from 12.5 to 100 μg/ml for most of the microorganisms tested. Thus, a bioassay-guided fractionation of this fraction was performed. This fractionation led to isolation of the 1,8-dihydroxy-anthraquinone-3-carboxylic acid, also known as cassic acid or rhein. It is the first time that this bioactive anthraquinone has been isolated from this plant. Rhein exhibited good selectivity and high activity against anaerobic microorganisms, with MIC values ranging between 3.12 μg/ml (11.0 μM) and 25 μg/ml (88.0 μM). These results were considered very promising since the most active samples and rhein showed greater selectivity against oral microorganisms than toxicity to Vero cells.
Bruno C. Nunes, Mário M. Martins, Roberto Chang, Sérgio A.L. Morais, Evandro A. Nascimento, Alberto de Oliveira, Luís C.S. Cunha, Claudio V. da Silva, Thaise L. Teixeira, Maria A.L.V. Ambrósio,et al.
Elsevier BV
Abstract Banisteriopsis laevifolia (A. Juss.) B. Gates (Malpighiaceae) is largely distributed in the cerrado Brazilian biome. In this study, phytochemical screening, antimicrobial and antifungal activities of leaves extract and partitions were evaluated. Phytochemical screening tests indicated the presence of flavonoids, terpenoids, phenols, sugar, steroids, triterpenoids, and tannins compounds. No alkaloids or nitrogenated compounds were found. Antioxidant, antimicrobial and antifungal activities were tested. The extract and partitions from the B. laevifolia leaves demonstrated relevant scavenging free radical DPPH effect. The crude extract and partitions inhibit bacteria growth with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) below 400 mg L −1 for most oral microorganisms tested. Meanwhile, the antifungal activity proved to be very promising for the ethanolic extract and partitions (31–375 μg mL −1 ) against all yeasts tested. The antimicrobial activities results are very promising since the ethanol extract and the more active n -buthanol partition showed great selectivity (0.9–1.2; 0.1–0.7, respectively) against microorganisms and relatively low toxicity to Vero cells. Analysis by UHPLC-ESI–MS n from the most bioactive fractions (ethyl acetate and n -buthanol) permitted to identify ten phenolic compounds reported in the Banisteriopsis family that exert recognized antioxidant, antimicrobial and antifungal activity. Main secondary metabolites found were phenolic acids and flavonoid glycosides, mainly derivatives from quercetin and rutin. The biological activity results and MS analysis for the B.laevifolia leaves revealed that they have efficient antimicrobial agents, and contributed to knowledge of the genus.
Mário M. Martins, Francisco J.T. de Aquino, Alberto de Oliveira, Evandro A. do Nascimento, Roberto Chang, Mariane S. Borges, Geraldo B. de Melo, Claudio V. da Silva, Fabrício C. Machado, and Sérgio A. L. de Morais
Informa UK Limited
Abstract Vernonia brasiliana (L) Druce is a plant from the Asteraceae family. The essential oils obtained by hydro distillation from flowers and roots of V. brasiliana were analyzed by GC and GC-MS for the first time. The major components found in the flowers were (E)-hex-2-enal (4.04 %), hexan-1-ol (4.23 %), (Z)-hex-2-en-1-ol (6.32 %), palmitic acid (8.30 %), and hexacosane (4.91 %). The roots presented as major components modheph-2-ene (8.69% ), α-isocomene (15.41 %), α-gurjunene (9.61 %), β-isocomene (10.26 %) and trans-caryophyllene (10.42 %), α-humulene (5.36 %), and palmitic acid (5.25 %). Leaves essential oil presented as major components trans-caryophyllene (8.73 %), bicyclogermacrene (5.78 %), germacrene-D (10.19 %), and caryophyllene oxide (4.51 %). The antimicrobial activity of the essential oil from leaves, flower and roots of V. brasiliana was evaluated against the microorganisms Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) and Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), using the broth micro dilution method, and the assays have showed no positive results. However, the three essential oils showed antiprotozoal activity against Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania amazonensis, and did not display cytotoxicity against Vero (ATCC CCL 81) and RAW 264.7 (ATCC TIB 71) cell lines. Up to date, no studies have been carried out on the antitrypanosomal, antileishmanial and cytotoxic activities of the essential oils from leaves, flowers and roots of this plant.
Raquel Maria Ferreira Sousa, Sérgio A.L. de Morais, Raissa B.K. Vieira, Danielle R. Napolitano, Valeska B. Guzman, Thais Silva Moraes, Luís C.S. Cunha, Carlos H.G. Martins, Roberto Chang, Francisco J.T. de Aquino,et al.
Elsevier BV
Abstract The essential oil (EO) from leaves of Eugenia calycina Cambess. was analysed by Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS). Thirty-nine compounds accounting for 88.09% of the EO composition were identified. The EO was rich in sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated sesquiterpenes, and the major components were spathulenol (21.36%), bicyclogermacrene (19.30%), β-caryophyllene (8.57%), viridiflorol (3.43%), allo-aromadendrene (3.34%), and a mixture of the caryophyllene oxide, gleenol, and globulol (7.71%). The EO was fractioned in four fractions and the first fraction (F1) contained only sesquiterpene hydrocarbons; the second one (F2) contained one sesquiterpene hydrocarbon (1.95%) and 96.98% of oxygenated sesquiterpenes; and the other fractions (F3 and F4) contained mostly oxygenated sesquiterpenes. The antimicrobial activity of the EO and its fractions were evaluated against aerobic and anaerobic oral bacteria by microdilution method. The EO showed strong antimicrobial activity against anaerobic bacteria as Prevotella nigrescens and Porphyromonas gingivalis . Fractions F2–F4 showed values of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) ranging between 50 and 100 μg mL −1 for most oral microorganisms tested and presented higher activity than EO and F1. The EO and its fractions presented low toxicity to HeLa cells at concentrations with strong antimicrobial activity.
Carla de M. Martins, Evandro A. do Nascimento, Sérgio A. L. de Morais, Alberto de Oliveira, Roberto Chang, Luís C. S. Cunha, Mário M. Martins, Carlos Henrique G. Martins, Thaís da S. Moraes, Paulla V. Rodrigues,et al.
Hindawi Limited
Many essential oils (EOs) of different plant species possess interesting antimicrobial effects on buccal microorganisms and cytotoxic properties. EOs ofKielmeyera coriaceaMart. & Zucc. were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The EO from leaves is rich in sesquiterpenes hydrocarbons and oxygenated sesquiterpenes. The three major compounds identified were germacrene-D (24.2%), (E)-caryophyllene (15.5%), and bicyclogermacrene (11.6%). The inner bark EO is composed mainly of sesquiterpenes hydrocarbons and the major components are alpha-copaene (14.9%) and alpha-(E)-bergamotene (13.0%). The outer bark EO is composed mainly of oxygenated sesquiterpenes and long-chain alkanes, and the major components are alpha-eudesmol (4.2%) and nonacosane (5.8%). The wood EO is mainly composed of long-chain alkanes and fatty acids, and the major components are nonacosane (9.7%) and palmitic acid (16.2%). The inner bark EO showed the strongest antimicrobial activity against the anaerobic bacteriaPrevotella nigrescens(minimum inhibitory concentration-MIC of 50 µg mL−1). The outer bark and wood EOs showed MICs of 100 µg mL−1for all aerobic microorganisms tested. The EOs presented low toxicity to Vero cells. These results suggest thatK. coriacea, a Brazilian plant, provide initial evidence of a new and alternative source of substances with medicinal interest.
Francisco J.T. Aquino, Rodinei Augusti, Júnia de O. Alves, Maria E.R. Diniz, Sérgio A.L. Morais, Blyeny H.P. Alves, Evandro A. Nascimento, and Adão A. Sabino
Elsevier BV
Abstract Recognition of samples of coffee adulterated with their own husks has been a challenging task. The quite similar physical aspect of roasted grinded coffee husk when compared to ground coffee hampers a prompt visual distinction among both types of products. Several methodologies that make use of distinct analytical techniques have been developed for the authentication of coffee quality. In the present work, we demonstrate that direct infusion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) can be applied to detect counterfeit samples of roasted coffee adulterated by the addition of coffee husks (at a level of 10% w/w) in a quick and reliable way. The ESI-MS fingerprints (in both the negative and positive modes) revealed the presence of diagnostic markers, such as carbohydrates (for instance, saccharose), chlorogenic acids, caffeine, and other components related to the coffee flavor, that characterize each type of sample (coffee and rusk). Furthermore, the PCA (principal component analysis) methodology, applied to the whole set of the ESI-MS data (in the negative mode), grouped the samples into three clearly distinct categories: coffees, husks and blends. The results presented herein describe therefore an innovative and rapid methodology potentially useful in the diagnosis of such hardly-detectable type of adulteration.
Fabiana Furtado, Francisco de Aquino, Evandro Nascimento, Carla Martins, Sérgio de Morais, Roberto Chang, Luís Cunha, Luís Leandro, Carlos Martins, Mário Martins,et al.
MDPI AG
The seasonal chemical composition of essential oils from Inga laurina was determined by GC/MS. In the stem bark’s essential oil extracted during the dry season, the presence of terpenoids (30.05%) stood out, and phytol (9.76%) was the major compound identified. For the stem bark oil obtained during the rainy season, in addition to terpenoids (26.63%), a large amount of fatty acids (46.84%) were identified, in particular palmitic acid (25.40%). Regarding the leaves’ essential oil obtained in the dry season, esters (42.35%) were the main components. The main ester present was (Z)-hex-3-enyl benzoate (10.15%) and the major compound of this oil was (Z)-hex-3-en-1-ol (14.23%). Terpenoids (33.84%), long-chain alkanes (27.04%) and fatty acids (21.72%) were the main components of the essential oil from leaves in the rainy season. Phytol (33.21%), nonacosane (21.95%) and palmitic acid (15.20%) were the major compounds identified. The antimicrobial activity against aerobic and anaerobic oral bacteria was evaluated by the microdilution broth method and cytotoxic activity was carried out with Vero cells. The essential oils from the rainy season showed a better inhibition of the bacterial growth with Minimal Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) values of 25 or 50 µg·mL−1 for aerobic bacteria, and high selectivity against bacteria was observed. The large amount of fatty acids in rainy season oils may be related to the better inhibitory effects observed.
Juliana Baptista Simões, Ângelo de Fátima, Adão Aparecido Sabino, Francisco José Tôrres de Aquino, Daniel Leite da Silva, Luiz Claudio Almeida Barbosa, and Sergio Antonio Fernandes
Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
A diastereoselective three-component cascade reaction, catalyzed by p-sulfonic acid calix[4]arene, provides a unique method to access diverse julolidine derivatives in high yields. Additionally, the reaction was also monitored by mass spectrometry and the mechanistic pathway uncovered.
Luís Cunha, Sérgio de Morais, Carlos Martins, Mário Martins, Roberto Chang, Francisco de Aquino, Alberto de Oliveira, Thaís Moraes, Fabrício Machado, Cláudio da Silva,et al.
MDPI AG
The chemical composition of the essential oils from leaves, bark and wood of Cassia bakeriana Craib. was determined by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Alcohols, aldehydes and fatty acids were the major components in leaf and bark oil, while wood essential oil was rich in fatty acids. Terpenes such as linalool, (E)-nerolidol and phytol were present in low concentrations. The antimicrobial activity against aerobic and anaerobic oral bacteria was evaluated using the microdilution method, as was the cell viability test carried out with Vero cells. The oils from leaves and bark showed high antimicrobial activity, with minimum inhibitory concentrations between 62.5 and 125 µg·mL−1 for most of the tested bacteria, including Streptococcusmutans, the main etiological agent of dental caries. Leaves oil displayed the lowest cytotoxic effect (EC50 of 153 µg·mL−1), while wood oil exhibited the highest toxicity to Vero cells. C. bakeriana oils are thus a source of biologically active compounds against aerobic and anaerobic oral microorganisms. This study is the first report on the chemical composition, antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of C.bakeriana.
K. C. Lamounier, L. C. S. Cunha, S. A. L. de Morais, F. J. T. de Aquino, R. Chang, E. A. do Nascimento, M. G. M. de Souza, C. H. G. Martins, and W. R. Cunha
Hindawi Limited
Maclura tinctoria(L.) D. Don ex Steud. has one of the highest qualities among the coefficients for Brazilian woods (up to 9.6) and resistance rates equivalent to Indian teak (Tectona grandis). In this study, the macromolecular constituents and total phenols compounds as well as the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of this wood were evaluated. Total phenols and proanthocyanidin levels were higher in wood when compared with bark levels. The antioxidant activity of wood extracts (IC50= 18.7 μg/mL) was more effective than that of bark extracts (IC50= 20.9 μg/mL). Wood and bark extracts revealed a high potential for inhibition of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. The bark extracts were the most active (MIC from 20 to 60 μg/mL). Both antioxidant activity and high potential for bacteria inhibition turn these extracts promising for drug formulations, especially as antibacterial agent.
Sérgio Antônio Lemos de Morais, Francisco José Tôrres de Aquino, Priscilla Mendes do Nascimento, Evandro Afonso do Nascimento, and Roberto Chang
FapUNIFESP (SciELO)
The bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity presented by Conilon coffee (C. Canephora) variety, produced in the Espirito Santo State, Brazil, were quantified. The light roast coffee showed the highest level of total phenols, trigonelline, caffeic and chlorogenic acids. The proanthocyanidin level was the highest for dark roast coffee, while caffeine level didn't show significative changes for the light and middle roast coffees. All the Conilon coffee extracts showed antioxidant activity depending on bioactive compounds concentration and roasting degree. The coffee samples submitted to a light roasting degree showed the highest antioxidant activity.
Sérgio Antônio Lemos de Morais, Francisco José Tôrres de Aquino, Evandro Afonso do Nascimento, Grasielle Silva de Oliveira, Roberto Chang, Neide Carolina dos Santos, and Gabriel Marques Rosa
FapUNIFESP (SciELO)
This work reports the results of the investigation of bioactive compounds (chlorogenic acids, trigonelline, caffeine, total phenolics, and proanthocyanidins), total acid groups, and the antioxidant activity of the Arabian coffee (Coffea arabica) from the Brazilian cerrado (vast tropical savannah) (Minas Gerais state) and its defective beans (Black, green, and sour beans). The samples were prepared using three roasting degrees: light (180 ± 10 °C; 6,0 ± 1,0 minutes), medium (180 ± 10 °C; 8,0 ± 1,0 minutos), and dark (180 ± 10 °C; 10,0 ± 1,0 minutes). Considering the average of the three roasts per coffee and defective beans, the difference observed for the content of all constituents listed above was not significant (p > 0,05). Exceptions are the content of acid hydroxyl groups, which were slightly greater in the coffee defective beans and the content of caffeine, calculated using the semi-quantitative method, which was higher in the coffee itself. Both the coffee and its defective beans presented scavenging activity against DPPH. radical; however, the coffee antioxidant activity was always higher. The variations observed in the content of caffeine, total phenols, proanthocyanidins, phenolic acid groups, trigonelline, and chlorogenic acid levels can not explain the higher antioxidant activity observed for the medium roasted coffee (EC50 of 2,3 mg.mg-1 of DPPH.).