DIAGNOSE NUTRICIONAL E ÍNDICES FOTOSSINTÉTICOS DE ERVA-MATE SOB DIFERENTES NÍVEIS DE ADUBAÇÃO COM ZINCO

A deficiência de zinco representa um problema de saúde pública. Uma das estratégias para melhorar essa questão consiste em biofortificação agronômica. O objetivo dessa pesquisa foi avaliar o teor de Zn na parte aérea (folhas e ramos) e o limite crítico de Zn para plantas de erva-mate submetidas a adubação com sulfato de Zn. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação no município de Lages. Foi utilizado Cambissolo Háplico Distrófico Típico, o qual foi submetido a análise química (Tedesco et al., 1995) e granulométrica (EMBRAPA, 1997). O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado. As unidades experimentais foram compostas por vasos contendo 6 kg de solo, cinco doses de Zn (0, 100, 200, 300 e 400 mg.kg-1) e sete repetições, totalizando 35 unidades experimentais. Foram realizadas análises antes da colheita (Índice SPAD, altura e Infrared Gas Analyser - IRGA) e análises após a colheita (peso fresco e seco de parte aérea, teor de Ca, Mg, P, Cu, Zn na folha). Os dados foram submetidos a análise de variância, com normalidade testada pelo teste de Shapiro-Wilk e a homogeneidade de variâncias pelo teste de Levenne, a nível de significância de 5%. A aplicação de doses crescentes de Zn ao solo resultou em aumento do teor de Zn na parte aérea de forma linear. O teor médio de Zn na folha variou de 27 mg kg-1 na ausência de aplicação de Zn a 883 mg kg-1 na dose aplicado de 400 mg kg-1. Não houve diferença estatística para massa fresca, seca de parte aérea, índice SPAD, altura, condutância estomática e transpiração indicando ausência de estresse oxidativo. Não foi possível calcular o limite crítico de Zn para erva-mate. Palavras-chave: biofortificação agronômica; Cambissolo; Ilex paraguariensis. Diagnose yerba mate nutritional and photosynthetic indices under different levels of zinc fertilization ABSTRACT: Zinc deficiency represents a public health problem. One of the strategies to improve this issue is agronomic biofortification. The objective of this research was to evaluate the Zn content in the aerial part (leaves and branches) and the critical limit of Zn for yerba mate plants submitted to fertilization with Zn sulfate. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse in the municipality of Lages. A typical Dystrophic Cambisol was used, which was subjected to chemical (Tedesco et al., 1995) and granulometric (EMBRAPA, 1997) analysis. The experimental design used was completely randomized. The experimental units were composed of pots containing 6 kg of soil, five doses of Zn (0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 mg.kg-1) and seven replications, totaling 35 experimental units. Analyzes were performed before harvesting (SPAD Index, height and Infrared Gas Analyzer - IRGA) and analyzes after harvesting (fresh and dry aerial weight, and Ca, Mg, P, Cu, Zn content in the leaf). The data were submitted to analysis of variance, with normality tested by the Shapiro-Wilk test and homogeneity of variances by the Levenne test, at a significance level of 5%. The application of increasing doses of Zn to the soil resulted in a linear increase in the Zn content in the aerial part. The average Zn content in the leaf varied from 27 mg kg-1 in the absence of Zn application to 883 mg kg-1 at the applied dose of 400 mg kg-1. There was no statistical difference for fresh, dry shoot weight, SPAD index, height, stomatal conductance and perspiration indicating absence of oxidative stress. It was not possible to calculate the critical limit of Zn for yerba mate. Keywords: biofortification agronomic; Cambisol; Ilex paraguariensis.

Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Ilex Leaves Water Extracts

Plants from the Ilex genus are known for properties such as antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity, can act as antiobesity agents and thus can be helpful in medicine. Some holly species, such as Ilex paraguariensis (widely known in the form of popular beverage: yerba mate), have been investigated, while others have been partially researched or remain unknown. Therefore, we performed qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analyses and screened antimicrobial properties of lesser-studied species (I. aquifolium L., I. aquifolium ‘Argentea Marginata’ and I. × meserveae ‘Blue Angel’). I. paraguariensis was used as a standard species for comparison purposes. Investigations were performed on water extracts due to their expected activity and composition. Antimicrobial research included evaluating minimal inhibitory, bactericidal (Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli) and fungicidal concentration (Candida albicans, Alternaria alternata, Fusarium oxysporum, and Aspergillus niger) of extracts. The influence of the extracts on the production, eradication, and viability of bacterial biofilms was also analysed. It was established that Ilex paraguariensis possesses the richest profile of hydroxycinnamic acids derivatives in terms of component concentration and diversity. Ilex spp., especially I. × meserveae, contain a slightly higher amount of flavonoids and more different flavonoid derivatives than I. paraguariensis. However, the strongest antibacterial activity was shown by I. aquifolium L. and its cultivar ‘Argentea Marginata’ in terms of minimal inhibitory, bactericidal and fungicidal concentration, and biofilm assays. Extracts from both species significantly reduced the biofilm viability of S. aureus as well, which may be of use in the production of multicomponent lavaseptics, antiseptics, diuretics (supporting urinary tract infection therapy) and, due to their action on fungi, additives to growth media for specific fungi. The significant content of saponins enables Ilex extracts to be used as natural emulsifiers, for example, in cosmetics. Moreover, relatively high chlorogenic acid and rutin content may suggest use of Ilex spp. to treat obesity, digestive problems, in chemoprevention, and as preservatives in the food industry.

El consumo y la producción de yerba mate en Argentina

La yerba es el ingrediente del mate, la infusión nacional de Argentina. El mate también es popular en otros países, especialmente de la misma región. Por ello, el objetivo de este trabajo consiste en caracterizar el mercado y su historia, y describir brevemente cómo la pandemia ha afectado su consumo y los precios. Este artículo aporta evidencia a los productores para diseñar su estrategia de marketing. Palabras clave: yerba mate, concentración de mercado, consumo, inflación

El proceso de poblamiento en Misiones-Argentina: un abordaje a partir de la obra de Robert Eidt.

<p><em>Pioneer Settlement in Northeast Argentina</em>, libro escrito por el geógrafo estadounidense Robert C. Eidt en 1971, centra su atención en el proceso de poblamiento de Misiones producido a lo largo de varios siglos de historia analizando los factores intervinientes en dicho fenómeno, las relaciones de poder implícitas, los cambios espaciales suscitados y los actores involucrados. Al mismo tiempo, el libro que presenta puntos de contacto entre varias disciplinas: historia, geografía, economía, política y biología y representa una referencia prácticamente obligada para toda investigación que centre su interés ya sea en el poblamiento de Misiones como en la evolución del principal cultivo de esas tierras: la yerba mate.</p>

Kinetics of aqueous extraction of phenolic compounds from processed yerba mate leaves

In this study, the kinetics of aqueous extraction of phenolic compounds from the yerba mate leaves were analyzed. A temperature range between 40°C and 70°C and a ratio of 25 g of mate leaves in 200 mL of water were used. The extraction kinetic was studied adjustment of the kinetics models of first order, second order kinetic model and the second order diffusive model. The goodness of the fit was controlled by the magnitude of the coefficient of determination (R2), the percentage error (EP %) and the square root of the mean square error (RMSE).The second order kinetic models adequately described the extraction process, achieving the best fit with the second order diffusive model (EP%= 0,81 to 2,9; EP%= 11,24 to 14,99 and 4,72 and 6,92) that provided important information about the initial extraction process and the mechanism that occurs in the final extraction stage. The temperature influenced the kinetic parameters; however, the final equilibrium concentration of phenolic compounds was not affected by it. The results of this study allow us to obtain better overall knowledge of the times and temperatures for improved extraction rates and energy consumption for the industrialization of these compounds.

Elemental and Speciation Analyses of Different Brands of Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguariensis)

In this work, a methodology for determination of As(III), As(V), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), Fe(II) and Fe(III) in fifty-eight samples (forty-nine products of thirteen brands from three countries) commercial yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) was performed. The hyphenated high performance liquid chromatography inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (HPLC-ICP OES) technique was used. Arsenic was determined below the quantification limit in 38 samples of yerba mate. As(III) was found at the level 0.09 and 0.08 mg kg−1. The As(V) content was in the range: 0.21 to 0.28 mg kg−1. The content of DMA was found the highest of the three arsenic species in the range: 0.21 to 0.47 mg kg−1. The content of Fe(II) and Fe(III) was found in the range: 0.61 to 15.4 mg kg−1 and 0.66 to 43.1 mg kg−1, respectively and the dominance of Fe(III) was observed. Moreover, total and extractable content of 16 elements were determined. The results have been subjected to statistical analysis in order to establish relationships between samples of the same origin (country), kind (type) and composition (purity).

Ilex paraguariensisA. St.-Hil. (Yerba Mate) Differently Regulates the Lipid Mobilization and, Irisin and Lactate Levels in Sedentary and Chronic Swimming Mice

Healthy mice were submitted or not to daily chronic swimming and/or daily yerba mate (YM) infusion intake and had their bloods analyzed after four weeks. We hypothesized that daily intake of YM may act differently on lipid mobilization and, on the creatine, lactate and irisin levels in sedentary mice and those submitted to chronic exercise. The groups were (n=48): YM-non-treated control (NTC), YM-non-treated swimming control (NSC), non-roasted YM (NRY), roasted YM (RY), swimming plus non-roasted YM (SNRY), swimming plus roasted YM (SRY). No significant (P>0.05) difference was observed concerning creatine phosphoskinase (CPK) value. Lactate level decreased significantly (P<0.05) for SNRY and SRY, suggesting accelerated lipid mobilization and glycogen sparing potential. There was significant (P<0.05) body weight loss in all, except for NTC. Higher weight loss in NRY, RY, SNR and SRY indicated greater lipid mobilization. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and irisin had significantly (P<0.05) higher values for RY. This is first report that deals with the effect of YM consumption on serum irisin level. Major amounts of caffeic acid derivatives, slightly increased caffeine and less amount of rutin may be responsible by accelerated lipoperoxidation in sedentary healthy mices chronically treated with roasted YM. Chronically consumed YM plus swimming aid in healthy weight loss. Sedentary lifestyle plus roasted YM chronic consumption may cause accelerated lipid mobilization and increased TBARS production via irisin overexpression leading to an increase in lipoperoxidation.

Yerba Mate Modulates Tumor Cells Functions Involved in Metastasis in Breast Cancer Models

Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequent cancer in women and tumor metastasis is a major cause of cancer-related deaths. Our aim was to evaluate anti-metastatic properties of yerba mate extract (YMe) in BC models. 4T1, F3II, MCF-7, and MDA-MB231 cell lines were used to perform in vitro assays. The F3II syngeneic mammary carcinoma model in BALB/c mice was used to evaluate tumor progression, BC metastasis and survival. Cells were inoculated subcutaneously into the flank for the heterotopic model and into the mammary fat pad for the orthotopic model. YMe was administered p.o. in a dose of 1.6 g/kg/day. In vitro YMe inhibited cell proliferation and reduced tumor cell adhesion, migration and invasion. These biological effects were cell-line dependent. In vivo YMe reduced tumor metastasis and increased mice survival in both models. Our preclinical results suggest that YMe could modulate tumor progression and metastasis in BC models.

Synergistic anti-atherosclerotic effect of Yerba Maté (Illex Paraguariensis) polyphenols and Lox-1 silencing in foam cell model

Purpose: To elucidate the anti-atherosclerotic effect of Yerba Mate polyphenols (MP) as well as the anti-atherosclerotic effect of a combination of MP and silencing of lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 interference group (LOX)-1.Methods: The anti-atherosclerotic effects of control group (CG), simvastatin group (SG), MP group (MP), LOX-1 interference group (LOX) and MP + LOX-1 interference group (MP-LOX) were determined using Oil Red O staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot assay.Results: The levels of foam cells, intracellular lipids, viz, total cholesterol (TC), free cholesterol (FC), cholesterol ester (CE) and acyl-coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase 1 (ACAT1); LOX-1, inflammation (TNF-alpha, IL-6 and pNF-κB/NF-κB); adhesion molecular status (ICAM-1 and VCAM-1), and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 in SG and in MP, LOX and MP-LOX groups were significantly decreased, when compared with CG (p < 0.01). The levels of these parameters were much lower in MPLOX group than in SG (p < 0.01). However, they were synergistically reduced in MP-LOX group, relative to MP group or LOX group (p < 0.01). Combination of LOX-1 gene silencing with MP produced synergistic anti-atherosclerotic effect which was reflected in decreases in foam cell formation, intracellular lipids, inflammatory status, adhesion molecular status, and MCP-1-mediated migration and infiltration of macrophages in foam cells.Conclusion: The synergistic anti-atherosclerotic effects of MP and LOX-1 gene silencing may be potential tools for development of anti-atherosclerotic agents.