Arildo José Braz de Oliveira

Bacillus coagulans is a spore-forming bacterium used as a probiotic and valued for its resistance during processing and storage, although the mechanisms underlying the probiotic effects of Bacillus spp. remain incompletely understood. This study evaluated whether B . coagulans , combined with different prebiotic substrates, suppresses the intestinal competitor Escherichia coli and characterized fermentation products by NMR spectroscopy. In agar diffusion assays, B. coagulans produced larger inhibition zones against E. coli than the tested Lactobacillus strains (10.30 ± 0.06 mm). In coculture, E. coli growth was consistently reduced in the presence of B. coagulans across all prebiotics. Inulin supported the highest B. coagulans viability (10.78 log CFU/mL) and the greatest organic-acid accumulation after 5 days, with acetate as the predominant product (21.0 g/L). The detection of 2,3-butanediol indicates metabolic versatility and suggests a potential route for future biotechnological exploration; however, yield, purity, scalability, and safety must be further evaluated before industrial application. Overall, these findings support B. coagulans as a food-grade probiotic and a promising microbial platform for producing industrially relevant metabolites.

Humulus lupulus L. (hops), belonging to the Cannabaceae family, is grown mainly for brewing, with 98% of global production directed to this sector. Moreover, large volumes of female cone residues are generated as by-products, representing a valuable source of bioactive compounds that can be valorized under green chemistry principles. This study aimed to extract bioactive compounds from hop cone residues sourced from craft breweries using ultrasound-assisted (EH-UA) and microwave-assisted (EH-MA) extraction methods. Hydroalcoholic extracts (70%) were analyzed for chemical composition, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiproliferative, nitric oxide (NO)-production inhibition, and photoprotective activities. GC-MS identified 32 compounds in EH-MA and 30 in EH-UA, including terpenes, sesquiterpenes, oxygenated sesquiterpenes, and fatty acids. Both extracts demonstrated strong antioxidant activity in cell-based (TBARS, OxHLIA) and chemical (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP) assays, particularly EH-MA. Significant antibacterial activity was observed, especially against Enterobacter cloacae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus (MIC 1–10 mg/mL), as well as antifungal activity against Aspergillus brasiliensis (MIC 2–2.5 mg/mL). Selective antiproliferative activity was observed against tumor cell lines Caco-2 and MCF-7 (GI₅₀ 25 μg/mL), without cytotoxicity toward nontumor cell lines Vero and PLP2 (GI₅₀ > 400 μg/mL). All extracts inhibited the production of the inflammation mediator NO, with EH-MA showing the most potent effect (IC₅₀ of 35 μg/mL), followed by EH-UA (IC₅₀ of 55 μg/mL). Photoprotective potential was also demonstrated, with SPF values of 19 (EH-MA) and 18 (EH-UA). In conclusion, hop cone residues can yield multifunctional extracts with antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, and photoprotective activities, which support their sustainable upcycling for pharmacological, nutraceutical, and cosmetic applications.

Several natural compounds have already been isolated from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana, the main ones are stevioside and rebaudiosides, which are used commercially in the food and pharmaceutical industries because they are considered a low-calorie alternative for sweetening. Thus, the development of different strategies to increase the production of steviol glycosides, as well as the health benefits of these compounds with a sweet characteristic, are well-documented in the literature. However, there is a limited number of published works on the other bioactive metabolites present in S. rebaudiana. The objective of this review is to report the main basal and specialized metabolites present in the plant, their biological activities, and the different biotechnological tools used to obtain these metabolites from S. rebaudiana. The use of new natural sources of bioactive compounds with functional properties, such as S. rebaudiana, is highly relevant to the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Stevia rebaudiana is a plant native to South America known for producing steviol glycosides and fructans used in low-calorie and functional foods. This study aimed to cultivate and isolate inulin from hydroponically grown S. rebaudiana roots. Seedlings were grown hydroponically for 28 days; then, roots were dried and extracted at 121 °C for 20 min. Extracts were centrifuged and lyophilized, yielding supernatant (SSR-H) and precipitate (PSR-H) fractions. Fructan yields were 21.34% (SSR-H) and 2.91% (PSR-H). HPLC, FTIR, and NMR analyses confirmed inulin-like fructans with polymerization degrees of 16 and 31, respectively. The characteristic peaks of a fructan-like-inulin were observed in the FTIR, ¹H, and ¹³C NMR spectra. These results demonstrate effective inulin extraction from hydroponically grown S. rebaudiana roots, highlighting its potential applications in the food industry.

For the quality assurance of thermolabile medicines and vaccines, it is imperative that all stages of the cold chain are satisfied. The aim of this study was to analyze the temperature of boxes containing medications and vaccines on routes between the Regional Health Facility of Apucarana, Paraná State, to the cities it serves, using the parameters of the Cold Network Manual. The temperature within the boxes remained within the recommended range (2 to 8°C) for 44.44% of the routes that were tracked, of which 30.55% had boxes assembled with medications and 13.88% had boxes containing vaccines. Therefore, for most of the routes (55.55%), the internal temperature of the boxes was outside the recommended range, i.e., below 2°C or above 8°C. It was concluded that the transport of thermolabile drugs and vaccines between the Regional and Municipal levels do not meet the technical specifications provided for in the Cold Network Manual. As the temperature within the boxes exceeded the recommended temperature range for more than half of the routes followed, it can be inferred that the processes related to the transport of these products are not being followed with the necessary rigor. Municipal managers should be aware of these needs including the modernization of measurement instruments and equipment and the investments in continued education for the team that operates the cold chain network.