“Água-mel” is a honey-based product produced in Portugal for ancient times. Several attributes have been reported to “água-mel” particularly in the alleviation of simple symptoms of upper respiratory tract. Samples of “água-mel” from diverse beekeepers from different regions of Portugal were studied in what concerns antimicrobial, antioxidant and antiviral properties. The amounts of phenol and brown pigment were also evaluated and correlated with the antioxidant activities. A great variability on the levels of these compounds was found among samples which were responsible for the variability detected also on the antioxidant activities, independent on the method used. Generally, antioxidant activity correlated better with brown pigments’ amount than with phenols’ content. The antimicrobial activity found for “água-mel” samples confirm the virtues reported by popular findings. In addition, this work also reveals the antiviral properties of “água-mel” evidenced by a decrease on the infectivity of the Qβ bacteriophage.

RESUMEN El chile de agua es una hortaliza endémica de los Valles Centrales de Oaxaca, que a pesar de su importancia económica y para la nutrición humana, su contenido de compuestos bioactivos está poco estudiado. El objetivo fue determinar el contenido de compuestos bioactivos en el fruto del chile de agua (Capsicum annuum L.), cultivado en macrotúneles con diferentes materiales de cubierta. Plántulas de chile de agua del genotipo “Ejutla” fueron cultivadas con acolchado plástico y fertirriego, en macrotúneles con cubiertas de plástico transparente, plástico verde y malla blanca. Cada cubierta correspondió a un tratamiento y el cultivo a cielo abierto fue el testigo. Se utilizó un diseño experimental completamente al azar con tres repeticiones. Las variables respuesta fueron a) climáticas: temperatura, humedad relativa y radiación fotosintéticamente activa integrada (RFAI); b) compuestos bioactivos: fenoles totales, flavonoides y capacidad antioxidante. La temperatura diurna, nocturna y humedad relativa bajo plástico verde aumentaron 28.0, 6.7 y 0.5 % con respecto a campo abierto. La RFAI en campo abierto superó en 28.3 % a los materiales de cubierta. El plástico verde incrementó significativamente la concentración de fenoles totales y capacidad antioxidante, superando al testigo en 489.1 y 39.0 %, respectivamente. La concentración de flavonoides totales de los frutos cultivados en campo abierto fue mayor en al menos 47 % a los materiales de cubierta evaluados. La concentración de fenoles de los frutos de chile de agua y la capacidad antioxidante se incrementan cuando se cultivan en macrotúneles con cubierta de plástico verde. | SUMMARY The “Chile de agua” is an endemic vegetable of the central valleys of Oaxaca, but despite its importance in the economic and human nutrition field, its bioactive compounds has been poorly studied. The objective of this research was to determine the content of bioactive compounds into the fruit of the “Chile de agua” (Capsicum annuum L.), grown under macro tunnels with different cover materials. Seedlings of the “Ejutla” genotype were planted in soil with plastic mulch and fertigation under macro tunnels using transparent and green plastic covers, and white mesh. Each cover corresponded to a treatment, and the open-air cultivation was the control. The response variables were grouped into a) climatic: temperature, relative humidity and Integrated Photosynthetically Active Radiation (IPAR); b) bioactive compounds: total phenols, flavonoids and antioxidant capacity. The daytime and nighttime temperatures and relative humidity under green plastic cover increased 28.0, 6.7 and 0.5 % with respect to the control. The IPAR in open-air cultivation exceeded the cover materials by 28.3 %. The green plastic significantly increased the concentration of total phenols and antioxidant capacity by 489.1 and 39.0 % with respect to the control. The concentration of total flavonoids of the fruits grown in open-air cultivation was greater than at least 47 % to the cover materials evaluated. The phenols concentration of “Chile de agua” fruits and their antioxidant capacity increased when they are grown in macro tunnels with green plastic covers.

Horticultural production is carried out under irrigation in the area of Santa Rosa, La Pampa province, where available water sources are highly concentrated in salts. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of irrigation with high salt content water on growth, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde concentration, in seedlings of 11 lettuce genotypes. The experiment was performed in a greenhouse, where the seedlings were irrigated for 54 days with two different kinds of water, one from rain as a control and another one of high salinity. Irrigation with high salinity water caused a decrease of 11, 12 and 87% in dry weight yield for Bermella, Grand Rapid and Boltar genotypes, respectively, and a vigor reduction of 2% for Ice 15975 and 3% for Grand Rapid. A the same time, irrigation treatment with high salinity resulted in plant malondialdehyde concentration  increases of 56, 98 and 138% for Bermella, Ice 15975 and Grand Rapid, respectively. In the case of the last two genotypes, their response was associated with a SOD activity decrease. The rest of the genotypes did not show changes in malondialdehyde concentration. These results evidenced a differential response among the assayed lettuce varieties, and that malondialdehyde concentration can be used to select genotypes tolerant to irrigation with water of high salt content at seedling stage. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.19137/semiarida.2017(02).5966 | La producción hortícola en la zona de Santa Rosa, La Pampa, se realiza bajo riego, el agua disponible para tal fin tiene un alto contenido de sales. El objetivo de este trabajo es evaluar la respuesta del crecimiento, la actividad de la SOD y la concentración de malondialdehido, al riego con agua salina en 11 genotipos de lechuga. Se trabajó en invernáculo, y los plantines durante 54 días fueron regados con dos calidades de agua, de lluvia y con alta salinidad. Los genotipos Grand Rapid, Bermella y Boltar mostraron una reducción del peso seco del 12, 11 y 87% respectivamente y en Grand Rapid e Ice 15975 la reducción del vigor fue del 3 y 2% respectivamente. En Ice 15975, Gran Rapid y Bermella hubo un incremento de la concentración de malondialdehido del 98, 138 y 56% respectivamente ante el riego con agua salada. En Ice 15975 y Grand Rapid esta respuesta se asocia a una disminución de la actividad de la SOD. El resto de los genotipos no expresó cambios en la concentración de malondialdehido. Estos resultados evidencian una respuesta diferencial de los genotipos en estudio, y la concentración de malondialdehido puede usarse para seleccionar genotipos de lechuga tolerantes al riego con agua con alto contenido de sales al estado de plantines. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.19137/semiarida.2017(02).5966

To assess this study, weaned piglets (at 28 days) received three dietary treatments until 39 days of age: (1) 12,5 mg alpha tocopheryl acetate/kg feed (2) 6,75 mg/l d-alpha tocopherol in drinking water (ratio 1:2) (3) 4,5 mg/l d-alpha tocopherol in drinking water (ratio 1:3). Alpha- Tocoferol accumulation was not significantly affected in any of the tissues analysed which would indicate a more efficient absorption of natural vitamin E in drinking water than the synthetic source in feed. Moreover, the lowest supplementation in drinking water (group 1:3) led to similar concentrations of vitamin E in tissues than the group supplemented with higher concentration (group 1:2). Consequently, when weaned piglets are fed under the minimum established requirements the minimum natural vitamin E supplementation to produce an equivalent tissues vitamin E concentration would be establish at 1:3 (water:feed).

The pollution from anthropic activities has produced a pronounced alteration in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. However, because of the position that they occupy in the landscape, limnic environments are susceptible to receive large amounts of pollutants, such as pesticides. This factors combined with the low capability of dilution enhance the harmful effects of toxic substances to the organisms within this habitat. Moreover, the increasing temperature, consequence of global climatic changes, also has a direct and indirect influence on ecological studies, once it affects especially ectothermic organisms which live within continental water bodies. The decrease of water’s oxygen, generally associated with a higher temperature, for example, is responsible for the lower quality of some aquatics habitats, threatening more sensitive organisms. The pollution and variations of temperature have restricted the habitat of many species of crustaceans of the genus Aegla to water springs since they prefer clean and well-oxygenated waters. These variables have influenced the metabolism and behavior of Aegla and might modify its oxidative state and consequently the survival of this species in case of environment alteration. In this way, the aim of this study was to assess the effects of temperature variation, water quality and the oxygen concentration under behavioral and oxidative stress parameters (using biomarkers) on gills, hepatopancreas and muscles of Aegla longirostri. Thus, animals were exposed to 18ºC, 21°C, 24°C and 26ºC for 48 hours under laboratory conditions; analysis of behavior’s feedback, lethality and antioxidant defense system were made. Beyond, we verified the alterations in the antioxidant system induced by moderated (2.5 ppm OD) and severe (1.5 ppm OD) hypoxia and different qualities of water (Anthropized and natural) and also the behavioral responses and lethality. The increase of temperature has affected significantly not just the behavioral response, but also the levels of almost all the antioxidants tested in different tissues. We have demonstrated that the variation of temperature, even in a short-term experiment, can induce an alteration of behavior both on activity and reaction’s time of the crustaceans. The antioxidant activity in animals exposed to moderate and severe hypoxia have increased in relation to those who had constant oxygenation. These results demonstrate that the animals need well-oxygenated waters to survive, and a lower oxygenation affected their antioxidant system and consequently the survival, which could have an impact on populations of A. longirostri. Worst quality waters have the potential of changing the behavior, by decreasing activity at night, which could compromise foraging behavior, for example. It is evident, by the increase in activity and level of most biomarkers evaluated, that these animals are sensitive to the presence of pesticides even in very small quantities. | Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES | A poluição consequente de atividades antrópicas tem causado alteração dos ecossistemas terrestres e aquáticos. Porém, devido a posição que ocupam na paisagem, ambientes límnicos estão propensos a receber grandes cargas de poluentes, como por exemplo pesticidas. Isto, aliado a menor capacidade de diluição, potencializa os efeitos nocivos de substâncias tóxicas aos organismos que ali habitam. Além disso, a temperatura em ascendência, reflexo da alteração climática global, também exerce influência direta e indireta em estudos ecológicos, uma vez que afeta especialmente organismos ectotérmicos que vivem em corpos d’água continentais. A diminuição de oxigênio na água, geralmente associada à temperatura mais alta, por exemplo, é responsável pela baixa qualidade de alguns habitats aquáticos, ameaçando organismos mais sensíveis. A poluição e variações na temperatura têm restringido o hábitat de muitas espécies de crustáceos do gênero Aegla às nascentes, visto que possuem preferência por água límpida e bem oxigenada. Estas variáveis influenciam o metabolismo e o comportamento de Aegla, podendo alterar o estado oxidativo e consequentemente a sobrevivência desta espécie caso seu ambiente seja alterado. Desta forma, avaliaram-se os efeitos da variação de temperatura, da qualidade da água e da concentração de oxigênio sob parâmetros comportamentais e de estresse oxidativo (através de biomarcadores) em brânquias, hepatopâncreas e músculo de Aegla longirostri. Os animais foram expostos, em condições laboratoriais, a temperaturas de 18ºC, 21°C, 24°C e 26ºC durante 48 horas; foram analisadas as respostas comportamentais, letalidade e o sistema de defesa antioxidante no crustáceo de água doce A. longirostri. Além disso, verificamos as alterações no sistema antioxidante induzidas por hipóxia moderada (2,5 ppm OD) e grave (1,5 ppm OD) e em águas de diferentes qualidades (antropizadas e naturais) e também as respostas comportamentais e a letalidade. O aumento da temperatura afetou significativamente não só a resposta comportamental, mas também os níveis de quase todos os antioxidantes testados em A. longirostri em diferentes tecidos. Nós demonstramos que a variação na temperatura, mesmo em um experimento a curto prazo, é capaz de induzir uma alteração no comportamento de atividade e no tempo de reação dos crustáceos. A atividade antioxidante em animais expostos à hipóxia moderada e grave aumentou em relação àqueles com oxigenação constante. Esses resultados demonstram que esses animais realmente exigem águas bem oxigenadas para sobreviver e que uma menor oxigenação afetaria o seu sistema antioxidante e consequentemente a sua sobrevivência, podendo assim impactar as populações de A. longirostri. Águas antropizadas têm o potencial de alterar o comportamento desses eglídeos, diminuindo sua atividade durante à noite, podendo comprometer o seu comportamento de forrageio, por exemplo. Além disso, fica evidente, através do aumento da atividade e do nível da maioria dos biomarcadores avaliados, que esses animais são sensíveis à presença de pesticidas mesmo que estes estejam presentes em quantidades muito pequenas.