Ademir da Silva Alves Junior

This study investigates the physicochemical, thermal, oxidative, and spectroscopic properties of vegetable and essential oils using an integrated multianalytical approach. Commercial samples of avocado oil, grape seed oil (samples A and B), sucupira oil (samples A and B), eucalyptus essential oil (samples A and B), and sweet orange essential oil (samples A and B) were evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), gas chromatography (GC-FID), Rancimat oxidative stability analysis, UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy, and excitation–emission fluorescence spectroscopy. Samples A and B represent different commercial samples of the same oil type obtained from different commercial products. DSC analyses revealed distinct thermal transition profiles associated with lipid composition and molecular organization. Avocado oil exhibited the most complex crystallization behavior and the highest transition enthalpy, indicating greater thermal organization. Chromatographic analysis demonstrated predominance of monounsaturated fatty acids in avocado oil, especially oleic acid, whereas grape seed and sucupira oils showed elevated concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids, mainly linoleic acid. Oxidative stability analysis showed significant differences among the samples, with avocado oil presenting the highest induction period (12.38 h), while eucalyptus, orange, and sucupira oils exhibited very low oxidative stability. UV–Vis and fluorescence analyses demonstrated distinct spectral profiles related to pigment composition, antioxidant compounds, and oxidation state. Overall, the results confirmed strong agreement among thermal, chromatographic, oxidative, and spectroscopic analyses, demonstrating the applicability of integrated analytical approaches for comprehensive characterization of vegetable and essential oils.

Hair dyes are widely used cosmetic products that can contain trace metals and metalloids, posing potential health risks through dermal exposure. This study aimed to assess and compare the concentrations of selected metals and metalloids in six brands of commercial hair dyes sold in Brazil and Paraguay and to evaluate their average daily dermal exposure doses, hazard quotients, hazard indices, and carcinogenic risk. Concentrations of Cr, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, As, Al, Pb, Ba, Ag, and Zn in hair dye were quantified by standardized analytical methods. The Paraguayan brand showed the highest levels for several elements, including As (4.17 mg/kg), Al (130.276 mg/kg), and Fe (30.033 mg/kg). Estimated dermal exposure doses reached up to 3.35 × 10⁻⁶ mg/kg/day for arsenic, 1.68 × 10⁻³ mg/kg/day for aluminum, and 8.59 × 10⁻⁸ mg/kg/day for chromium. Although all hazard indices remained below 1, suggesting low non-carcinogenic risk, the calculated carcinogenic risk for arsenic in the Paraguayan product was 1.23 × 10⁻⁵, entering the medium-risk range. These findings highlight relevant differences in raw material control and potential cumulative health risks, especially for frequent users. Continuous quality control, harmonized regulatory standards, clear labeling, and further biomonitoring studies are strongly recommended to minimize long-term exposure to toxic elements in hair dye formulations and to ensure safer consumer products.

Studies on tollbooth workers involving the concentration of metal(loid)s in highway dust are scarce. We aimed to assess the levels of metal(loid)s in soils and washed and unwashed leaves of Brachiaria decumbens on roadsides. Dust deposition and heavy metal content in the leaves are used to estimate the exposure of tollbooth workers to oral, inhalation, and dermal ingestion of metals in highway dust. The concentrations of aluminum (Al), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), and lead (Pb) in washed and unwashed soil and leaves were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. The results showed that soils along highways had a high concentration of heavy metals. Concentrations of Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, and Pb near the roundabout and tollbooth are higher than the concentrations at the points between them. The highest transfer factor values were determined for aluminum. In the case of the non-carcinogenic effect, the hazard index (HI < 1) of tollbooth workers due to oral exposure to street dust containing metal(loid)s is higher than dermal contact and inhalation. The Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk showed a high potential carcinogenic risk for As and Cd.

Pantanal is a unique biome located in Brazil, with diverse fauna and flora, being home to native species such as the rice types Oryza latifolia and Oryza rufipogon. Rice is a staple food for two-thirds of the population, with increasing consumption, especially in Asia, regions of Sub-Saharan Africa, countries in the Caribbean, and Latin America. The per capita rice consumption had an average consumption of 160 g/day. However, rice consumption may lead to the intake of other harmful substances to health, such as toxic metals/metalloids. The determination of potential hazards in native species is crucial in maintaining the local population in good health. In this study, we determined the concentration of essential elements and potentially toxic elements in seven different types of Brazilian rice grains, including the two Pantanal native species O. latifolia and O. rufipogon, using ICP-OES to identify their nutritional richness or potential toxicity. The contaminant with the highest HQ levels was chromium, with an HQ above one only in the native species. All species (commercial and native) showed carcinogenic risk considering inorganic arsenic. Rice exhibits duality in its classification, providing nutritional content and leading people to potential risks of overexposure to toxic elements. While rice can be part of a healthy and nutritious diet, more studies should be conducted on avoiding or remedying contamination with toxic elements.

O objetivo desse estudo foi analisar a implementação da Política Nacional de Plantas Medicinais e Fitoterápicos no Sistema Único de Saúde brasileiro por meio das Farmácias Vivas. A metodologia consiste em uma pesquisa documental e bibliográfica, de caráter descritivo, a partir de busca por artigos de periódicos, livros, levantamento de documentos normativos oficiais, em bases de dados como o Portal de Periódicos Capes/MEC, PubMed, Scielo, Google Acadêmico, portal do Ministério da Saúde, Diário Oficial da União, site oficiais das secretarias de saúde, da Anvisa e do IBGE. No período de março de 2020 e outubro de 2020. Para levantamento de ações, políticas públicas e regulatórias no âmbito das plantas medicinais e fitoterápicos, foram buscadas normativas entre os anos de 1982 e 2009. Foi considerado o período de 1983 a 2020 para análise da institucionalização das Farmácias Vivas. Em relação aos recursos públicos foram considerados editais no período de 2012 a 2020; e para os dados sociodemográficos, resgatou-se o período de 2012 a 2020, com as publicações do Ministério da Saúde. Como resultado, observa-se que as ações, políticas públicas e regulatórias contribuíram para a expansão dos programas de plantas medicinais e fitoterapia pelo Brasil, e das Farmácias Vivas no âmbito do SUS. Concluiu-se que os recursos financeiros foram disponibilizados com regularidade e destinação específica, porém distribuindo-se de forma desigual, considerando as necessidades sociodemográficas regionais. Seria necessário maior aporte financeiro para as regiões de maior fragilidade socioeconômica, a desburocratização dos trâmites para acesso aos recursos, e o fortalecimento das políticas públicas regionais.

The objective of the present study was to investigate metal(loid)s in soils, in the trunk xylem sap and in the leaves of the Dipteryx alata plant located near the highway with high vehicle traffic in agricultural regions and near landfills, and to assess the transfer of metal(loid)s from soil to plant and possible health risk assessment. Trunk xylem sap, leaves and soil samples were collected at three sites near the highway. The analysis of trace elements was carried out using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP OES). In the three soil sampling sites far from the highway edge, 15 elements were quantified. The concentrations of elements in the soil presented in greater proportions in the distance of 5 m in relation to 20 and 35 m. The metal(loid)s content in the study soil was higher than in other countries. The concentrations of Al, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, P, Se and Zn in the xylem sap were much higher than the leaves. The values of transfer factor of P, Mg and Mn from soil to the xylem sap and transfer factor of P from soil to leaf were greater than 1, indicating that the specie have a significant phytoremediation and phytoextraction potential. This plant has a tendency to accumulate As, Cd and Cr in its leaf tissues. The chronic hazard index (HI) values recorded in this study were above 1 for adults and adolescents. It is concluded that the soil, the trunk xylem sap and leaves of this plant are contaminated by heavy metals. Ingestion of the trunk xylem sap of this plant can cause toxicity in humans if ingested in large quantities and in the long term; therefore, its consumption should be avoided.

Plantas medicinais acumulam metais pesados e metaloides em sua estrutura e em seus metabólitos secundários. Entretanto, quando a população consome essas plantas para o tratamento ou prevenção de diferentes doenças, sem o devido controle de qualidade e quantificação de metais pesados, pode estar se expondo a riscos de toxicidade devido a ingestão de elementos químicos que estão acima dos limites seguros para o consumo humano. Esse estudo de revisão narrativa teve por objetivo descrever as regulamentações relativas ao controle de metais pesados em plantas medicinais e fitoterápicos e destacar os riscos de metais pesados quantificados em plantas medicinais, com ênfase nas espécies compreendidas na Relação de Plantas Medicinais de Interesse ao Sistema Único de Saúde Brasileiro (RENISUS), que possuem Informações Sistematizadas. De acordo com os resultados obtidos, observamos que as Informações Sistematizadas da RENISUS não consideram as informações relativas a metais em plantas medicinais, mesmo havendo dados publicados. Nesse sentido, destacamos que é necessário o monitoramento periódico de metais pesados e a fiscalização de plantas medicinais sob a forma de drogas vegetais, com o intuito de mitigar a vulnerabilidade da população que consome esses produtos procurando benefícios à saúde com base na fitoterapia.