Honeys can be classified as polyfloral or monofloral and have been extensively studied due to an increased interest in their consumption. There is concern with the correct identification of their flowering, the use of analyses that guarantee their physicochemical quality and the quantification of some compounds such as phenolics, to determine their antioxidant and antimicrobial action. This study aims at botanical identification, physicochemical analyses, and the determination of total polyphenols, chromatographic profile and antiradical and antimicrobial activity of honey from different regions of Minas Gerais. Seven different samples were analyzed for the presence of pollen, and color determination. The physicochemical analyses performed were total acidity, moisture, HMF, reducing sugar, and apparent sucrose. The compound profile was determined by UHPLC/MS, the determination of total phenolics and antiradical activity (DPPH method) were performed by spectrophotometry, and minimum inhibitory and bacterial concentrations were determined for cariogenic bacteria. All honey samples met the quality standards required by international legislation, twenty compounds were detected as the main ones, the polyfloral honey was the only honey that inhibited all of the bacteria tested. Sample M6 (Coffee) was the one with the highest amount of total polyphenols, while the lowest was M4 (Cipó-uva). Regarding the antioxidant activity, M5 (Velame) had the best result and M4 (Cipó-uva) was the one that least inhibited oxidation. Of the polyfloral honeys, there was not as high a concentration of phenolic compounds as in the others. Coffee, Aroeira, Velame and Polyfloral have the best anti-radical actions. Betônica, Aroeira, Cipó-uva and Pequi inhibited only some bacteria. The best bacterial inhibition results are from Polyfloral.

Honey is a natural product of high nutritional and therapeutic value, whose biological properties are closely linked to its botanical origin and chemical composition. This study aimed to characterize avocado honey in terms of botanical origin, physicochemical parameters, phenolic content, antioxidant activity, chemical profile by LC-MS/MS, and antibacterial potential. Melissopalynological analysis revealed 86.21% avocado pollen, allowing classification as monofloral honey. The sample presented amber color and a high total phenolic content (269.79 ± 1.10 mg GAE 100 g⁻¹), values higher than those commonly reported for Brazilian and international honeys. Antioxidant activity, assessed by the DPPH method, confirmed the strong radical-scavenging capacity, consistent with the phenolic profile identified (EC₅₀ 10.250 ± 0.003 mg mL⁻¹). LC-MS/MS analysis allowed the annotation of nine compounds, including caffeine, scopoletin, abscisic acid, and vomifoliol, compounds associated with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and metabolic regulatory activities. Although no antibacterial effect was detected against the tested oral bacterial strains, the results highlight the chemical diversity and functional potential of avocado honey. Overall, the findings reinforce the bioactive potential of avocado honey, particularly due to its strong antioxidant capacity and diversity of metabolites, supporting its value as a natural resource of nutritional and therapeutic interest.

Diplopterys pubipetala (Malpighiaceae) is a liana native to the Brazilian Cerrado biome, traditionally used in Ayahuasca preparations. Despite its cultural importance, research on its chemical composition and biological activities, which may have therapeutic potential, is limited. This study investigated the volatile and non-volatile secondary metabolites of D. pubipetala leaves, their antioxidant capacity, and their antibacterial and antifungal activities. Volatile compounds were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) coupled to solid-phase microextraction (SPME), while non-volatile compounds were annotated using UHPLC-MS/MS-ESI-Q-TOF. Antioxidant capacity was evaluated by DPPH assay, and antimicrobial activity was assessed in vitro against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida species (C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. glabrata). GC-MS analysis revealed 25 predominant volatile compounds, including ethyl dodecanoate, ethyl tetradecanoate, nonanoic acid, and 5-methylhexan-2-one, with documented antifungal, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities. The crude extract and ethyl acetate fraction showed strong antioxidant capacity (EC₅₀ 9.83 µg/mL and 6.42 µg/mL, respectively), and antifungal effects were observed against Candida species. This study provides the first comprehensive investigation of the antioxidant capacity and antibacterial and antifungal activities of D. pubipetala, together with a detailed chemical profile of its volatile compounds.

SAPONIFICAÇÃO DO ÓLEO DE COCO MACAÚBA (Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd), COMO ESTRATÉGIA PARA O ENSINO DE QUÍMICA E BIOQUÍMICA

O Plano de Estudos Tutorados (PET) é um material desenvolvido pela Secretaria de Estado de Educação de Minas Gerais, é um material de distribuição gratuita que foi adotado pelo Regime de Ensino não presencial, ofertado a alunos da rede pública de ensino durante o período pandêmico. Neste sentido, o presente trabalho visa avaliar a qualidade do PET e sua aplicabilidade para o ensino de ciências e biologia. O material foi analisado e categorizado de acordo com as normativas de aplicabilidade além de questões relacionadas ao ensino prático, abordando habilitas previstas na Base Nacional Comum Curricular (BNCC), uso na rede pública, o contexto da prática pedagógica por investigação e a falta de aulas práticas, elemento essencial para o conhecimento de ciências e biologia. Concluímos que o material supre a necessidade para o ensino emergencial remoto, mas ainda sim apresenta pontos negativos, como a ausência de aulas práticas e questões regionais em sua construção, sendo indicada uma readequação no material de acordo com os currículos.

Background: The use of alternatives for teaching analytical chemistry in undergraduate studies has been a challenge for teachers since most methods require high-cost equipment and functional analytical skills. This work presents the use of RGB, an additive color system n digital media, as a method of quantifying of a given analyte in samples. Aim: To analyze different samples containing different concentrations of coffee, comparing them using two techniques: 1) spectrophotometry and 2) RGB, and then perform the calculations for the determination of an unknown concentration. Methods: Eight samples were prepared, six with defined concentrations of coffee, one in white, and one without a defined concentration. Method 1 used the spectrophotometer to read the absorbance at 420 nm wavelength for melanoidin reading, in method 2 the RGB was used, positioning buckets in front of a digital screen emitting light at the corresponding wavelength. Microsoft Powerpoint was used to collect RGB and Microsoft Excel data for data processing. Results: The data obtained through the analytical equipment, as well as those obtained via RGB, were able to estimate the unknown concentration of coffee, both techniques estimated a concentration between 3 and 4%, both with the equation of the line and r² capable of estimating values corresponding to the concentrations of the samples. Discussion: The RGB technique has been studied in recent decades, mainly for colorimetric analyses, since it makes the study or laboratory experiments available in an accessible way. Bringing the student closer to the spectrophotometric technique, promoting scientific development, and elaborating the hypothesis about using technology as an analysis tool. Conclusions: Experimental practices promote the development of research, which guide both teachers and students in the use of new technologies and in the development of new activities aimed at teaching, this work in question opens a range for the use of tools and methods of easy access and low cost.