P. nigrum L. extracts and the piperine alkaloid have important antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of P. nigrum L. extracts and piperine, a compound isolated from the extracts of P. nigrum L. Extracts obtained via maceration, soxhlet, and purification steps, in addition to isolated piperine, were used in this study. Spectroscopic methods, such as nuclear magnetic resonance, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, and differential scanning calorimetry, were used to characterize piperine. In the microbiological analyses, the extract obtained via maceration-derived sample showed high efficiency in inhibiting Salmonella spp. (MIC < 100 μg/mL). The extract obtained via a soxhlet-derived sample showed promising inhibitory activity against almost all microorganisms, with negligible inhibition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Favorable inhibition coefficients were also observed against Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella spp. (MIC < 100 μg/mL) for the extract obtained via purification of the steps-derived sample. Piperine showed an excellent inhibition coefficient against most microorganisms, with inactivity only observed against P. aeruginosa. Cytotoxicity evaluation assays in cancer cell lines revealed that piperine exhibited inhibitory potential on all tested tumor cell lines, causing a decrease in cell viability and achieving an IC₅₀ of less than 30 μg/mL. The analyzed extracts from P. nigrum L. seeds showed cytotoxic activity against tumor and non-tumor cell lines.

Gastric cancer is one of the most frequent types of neoplasms worldwide, usually presenting as aggressive and difficult-to-manage tumors. The search for new structures with anticancer potential encompasses a vast research field in which natural products arise as promising alternatives. In this scenario, piperine, an alkaloid of the Piper species, has received attention due to its biological activity, including anticancer attributes. The present work proposes three heating-independent, reliable, low-cost, and selective methods for obtaining piperine from Piper nigrum L. (Black pepper). Electronic (SEM) and optical microscopies, X-ray diffraction, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies (¹³C and ¹H NMR), and optical spectroscopies (UV–Vis, photoluminescence, and FTIR) confirm the obtention of piperine crystals. The MTT assay reveals that the piperine samples exhibit good cytotoxic activity against primary and metastasis models of gastric cancer cell lines from the Brazilian Amazon. The samples showed selective cytotoxicity on the evaluated models, revealing higher effectiveness in cells bearing a higher degree of aggressiveness. Moreover, the investigated piperine crystals demonstrated the ability to act as a good cytotoxicity enhancer when combined with traditional chemotherapeutics (5-FU and GEM), allowing the drugs to achieve the same cytotoxic effect in cells employing lower concentrations. These results establish piperine as a promising molecule for therapy investigations in aggressive gastric cancer, both in its isolated form or as a bioenhancer.

Os estudos relacionados ao emprego de biofilmes como substitutos de componentes plásticos convencionais vêm ganhando forças e recebendo considerável atenção no âmbito de recursos renováveis. A busca por embalagens alternativas, provenientes de medidas socioambientais que possam agregar bom desempenho, sem prejudicar o meio ambiente, tem sido alvo de estudos, pesquisas e investimentos. Dessa forma, este trabalho vem demonstrar a evolução de investigações relacionadas aos biopolímeros, sendo o amido a matéria-prima em foco utilizada na produção de bioplásticos, o qual é totalmente biodegradável e disponível na natureza. Para isto uma investigação foi realizada, que ilustra uma pesquisa descritiva e levantamento bibliográfico, correlacionando resultados de buscas em bancos de dados de revistas científicas disponíveis. Na revisão bibliográfica foram abordadas as bases de dados científicos PubMed (Publisher MEDLINE - National Library of Medicine), Science Direct e Periódicos Capes, utilizou-se como critérios de classificação filtros disponíveis nas próprias plataformas, onde foi definida a periodicidade de 10 anos (2012 a 2022). Em geral, os sistemas de publicações de artigos, demonstraram certa variabilidade, mas como podemos constatar, existe em todas as plataformas uma tendência crescente nas realizações de pesquisas com decorrer dos anos. Verificou-se neste estudo que a aplicação de diversas metodologias e insumos na constituição de filmes biodegradáveis apresentaram grande influência nas características mecânicas e físico-químicas dos materiais, contribuindo para o avanço em pesquisas.

Selection of an appropriate coating composition is important to increase the stability of core materials and bioactive compounds during encapsulation. This review adopted a systematic approach to critically analyze studies published up to 2023 that use carbohydrates, cellulose, and/or proteins as polymer matrix for core material wraps. After searching the electronic databases ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Scopus, Capes Periódicos and FSTA – Food Sciense and tecnology Abstracts, 29 studies were carefully included in this review. More than thirty polymers were studied: proteins from fish, rice, milk, carbohydrates such as starches, gum arabic, chitosan, among others. The most common method for encapsulation is spray drying, considered the spray dryer technique most used in the food industry to produce solid state emulsions. The core material is dispersed in a polymer solution containing the wall material. This review concluded that encapsulation efficiency, suspension characteristics and the release profile of active compounds can be influenced by the polymer/core ratio and process parameters. The products obtained (core) encapsulated from the base matrix present promising results that encourage the use of these materials for the release of active compounds. A seleção de uma composição de revestimento apropriada é importante para aumentar a estabilidade dos materiais de núcleo e dos compostos bioativos durante o encapsulamento. Esta revisão adotou uma abordagem sistemática para analisar criticamente os estudos publicados até 2023 que usam carboidratos, celulose e/ou proteínas como matriz polimérica para envoltórios de material de núcleo. Após a pesquisa nas bases de dados eletrônicas ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Scopus, Capes Periódicos e FSTA – Food Sciense and tecnology Abstracts, 29 estudos foram incluídos criteriosamente nesta revisão. Mais de Trinta polímeros foram estudados: proteínas de peixe, arroz, do leite, carboidratos como amidos, goma arábica, quitosana, dentre outros. O método mais comum para encapsulamento é a secagem por pulverização, considerada a técnica de spray dryer mais utilizada na indústria alimentícia para produzir emulsões de estado sólido. O material do núcleo é disperso em uma solução polimérica contendo o material da parede. Esta revisão concluiu que a eficiência de encapsulamento, características da suspensão e o perfil de liberação de compostos ativos podem ser influenciados pela razão polímero/núcleo e parâmetros do processo. Os produtos obtidos (núcleo) encapsulados a partir da matriz base apresentam resultados promissores que incentivam o uso desses materiais para a liberação de compostos ativos.

The biggest challenge for the food industry is the loss of quality of food products during storage. A potential alternative is the application of coatings that provide moisture barrier properties. Coating of products with solution by spraying techniques (fluidized beds and spouted) has been developed in the pharmaceutical and food industry. Materials such as proteins, carbohydrates and polysaccharides have been widely used due to their biodegradability, biocompatibility, non-toxicity and availability. This article reviews the current state of fluidized and spouted bed technology based on the search strategy to understand the development of these techniques in coating materials (particles, biopolymers, seeds, extracts and oils). This review is intended to provide information on general product coating methods such as fluidized bed spraying and spouting. This review adopted a systematic approach to carefully investigate and analyze literature studies published from initial reports through 2021. After searching Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, Capes Peridódicos and FSTA - Food Science and Technology Abstracts studies were evaluated in this study. This review concludes that an approach was carried out that produced interesting results on dry products, coating device, coated products with high biological and technological value. However, a more detailed approach is needed to advance knowledge and accelerate the development of these products to select coating materials and application methods used widely on an industrial and laboratory scale.

A doença de Alzheimer é a perda progressiva da função mental, caracterizada pela degeneração do tecido do cérebro, incluindo a perda de células nervosas, a acumulação de uma proteína anormal chamada β-amiloide e o desenvolvimento de tranças neuro fibrilares. A agregação de β-amiloide é uma característica fisiológica da doença de Alzheimer e está intimamente relacionada a neurodegeneração causada pelo Alzheimer. Recentemente novas terapias buscam compostos promissores capazes de desagregar a β-amiloide. Nanopartículas (NPs) são candidatos altamente promissores para várias aplicações biológicas importantes, como entrega de genes, imagens celulares e terapia de tumores. Entre numerosos tipos de nanomateriais, as NPs de carbono têm atraído interesses particulares, como: fulereno de dimensão zero, nanotubos de carbono unidimensionais (1D) e grafeno bidimensional (2D). Devido a isso, utilizamos molecular docking para investigar a capacidade de interação da nanopartícula de fulereno com o agregado β-amiloide. Os resultados de docking demonstraram que as principais interações estabelecidas foram hidrofóbicas. O Sistema teve energia de afinidade de -41.04 Kcal, obtido com o método MM-GBSA.