Background and Objectives: The cultivation of Humulus lupulus has been encouraged in Brazil, despite the country’s climate generally being unfavorable for its development. This study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition, antioxidant activity, and photoprotective potential of four H. lupulus varieties, Cascade, Columbus, Comet, and Nugget, cultivated in the northwestern region of Paraná State, Brazil. Methods: The varieties were grown in experimental plots. Crude extracts (CEs) of cones and leaves were obtained through dynamic maceration with solvent renewal (96% ethanol), followed by concentration in a rotary evaporator. Assays for sun protection factor (SPF), total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2.2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH^•) radical scavenging activity, and 2.2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS^•⁺) were performed to assess antioxidant activity. Chemical profiling was performed using UHPLC-MS/MS. Results: UHPLC-MS/MS analysis revealed the presence of phenolic and organic acids, flavonoids, phenolic aldehydes, alkaloids, and α-benzopyrone-type lactones, with high concentrations of rutin (>500 µg/g) in both cones and leaves. Total phenolic content ranged from 69.70 to 95.95 µg gallic acid equivalent/mg CE; flavonoids from 170.53 to 696.67 µg quercetin equivalent/mg CE; DPPH^• EC₅₀ values ranged from 1.34 to 3.13 mg/mL; FRAP from 1.19 to 2.52 µM ferrous sulfate/mg; ABTS^•⁺ from 5.11 to 22.60 mM Trolox/mg CE; and SPF ranged from 16.02 to 39.48 in the CE of H. lupulus cones and leaves. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that the cultivated varieties possess antioxidant and photoprotective properties, encouraging further studies to explore their potential applications.

Background and Objectives: Baccharis dracunculifolia DC. (Asteraceae), the main botanical source of Brazilian green propolis, is recognized for its high content of bioactive secondary metabolites. Given this potential, this study aimed to characterize the chemical profile of the crude extract (CE) from the aerial parts of B. dracunculifolia and to investigate its anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, antioxidant, and photoprotective properties. Predictive computational analyses were used to assist the interpretation of the experimental findings. Methods: The CE was obtained by dynamic maceration with ethanol and chemically characterized by UHPLC-MS/MS using external calibration curves. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by inhibiting nitric oxide (NO) in RAW 264.7 macrophages, while cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) was determined in the same model. Antiproliferative activity was evaluated against the human tumor cell lines AGS, Caco-2, MCF-7, and NCI-H460, as well as non-tumor VERO cells. Additionally, antioxidant potential was investigated using classical colorimetric methods (DPPH, FRAP, and ABTS). The extract was also quantified for total phenolic and flavonoid content, as well as sun protection factor (SPF). Furthermore, complementary computational analyses included PASS prediction, SwissTargetPrediction, Gene Ontology enrichment using PANTHER, SwissADME profiling, and toxicity prediction with ProTox-III. Results: UHPLC-MS/MS analysis revealed a profile rich in flavonoids and phenolic acids and led to the identification of 14 compounds not previously reported in B. dracunculifolia according to the literature examined, notably the flavonoid morin and the phenylpropanoid coniferaldehyde detected at comparatively high concentrations (>600 µg/g). CE inhibited NO production (IC₅₀ = 62.00 µg/mL) suggesting anti-inflammatory activity, and reduced intracellular oxidation by 81% (at 2000 µg/mL) in RAW 264.7 macrophages. The extract showed total phenolic content (83.62 to 540.40 µg gallic acid equivalents/mg of CE) and high levels of flavonoids (472.00–515.00 µg quercetin equivalents/mg of CE), antioxidant activity in the DPPH assay (IC₅₀ = 0.86 mg/mL), and relevant photoprotective potential (SPF = 7.79–19.30). Antiproliferative activity was moderate to weak (GI₅₀ = 165.00–257.00 µg/mL). In silico analyses identified predicted activities, molecular targets, and enriched biological processes related to redox homeostasis, inflammation, apoptosis, and cellular responses to UV radiation, suggesting biological functions potentially associated with the identified metabolites. Conclusions: The crude extract of B. dracunculifolia demonstrated significant cellular anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, likely associated with its phenolic composition and the presence of metabolites reported in this study for the first time in this species, particularly morin and coniferaldehyde. These findings expand the phytochemical knowledge of B. dracunculifolia and reinforce its potential as a source of bioactive compounds for pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and photoprotective applications.

A busca de alimentos e até mesmo suplementos como fonte de micronutrientes vem aumentando devido a alimentação com baixo consumo de alimentos saudáveis pela população em geral. Elementos como zinco, selênio e lítio quando deficitários na alimentação podem causar problemas. A falta de zinco no organismo pode levar a efeitos adversos comportamentais, questões neurais. Já o selênio possui atividades em organismos como prevenir ou retardar o desenvolvimento do câncer, combater os radicais livres e tem atuação na tireoide. O lítio em subdoses pode agir como protetor de doenças oxidantes do sistema nervoso central. A utilização de basidiomicetos comestíveis para a produção de novos alimentos enriquecidos com nutrientes vem sendo pauta de diversos estudos nos últimos anos. Estes cogumelos possuem capacidade de bioacumulação de metais e micronutrientes o que os torna uma excelente opção para a suplementação alimentar, além das atividades biológicas como ação antimicrobiana, antioxidante, entre outros. Dentre os estudos de biofortificação de cogumelos com zinco, selênio e lítio destacam-se os pertencentes ao gênero Pleurotus. Espécies como Agaricus subrufescens, Ganoderma lucidum, Lentinus crinitus, Pleurotus eryngii também são opções de escolha para a bioacumulação. A suplementação com esses minerais pode ser considerada uma alternativa de tratamento contra deficiências nutricionais, distúrbios de humor e prevenção contra o suicídio e doenças como o Alzheimer. A fortificação da biomassa micelial gera vantagens na produção dos cogumelos para alimentação, controlando a presença de agentes tóxicos como metais pesados e agrotóxicos, além de proporcionar o ganho de outros compostos benéficos. Foi realizada uma breve revisão bibliográfica sobre biofortificação de lítio, selênio e zinco em basidiomicetos entre os anos de 2013 e 2023. Conclui-se que, a bioacumulação de metais é um campo pouco estudado, porém, promissor pensando na aplicação na indústria farmacêutica e alimentícia.

Background/Objectives: Baccharis dracunculifolia DC. is a medicinal plant and the primary botanical source of Brazilian green propolis. This study aimed to characterize the phytochemical profile of its ethanol extract and evaluate its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, and acute oral toxicity profiles. Methods: The extract was characterized by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS). Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated by complementary in vitro assays, cytotoxicity in NIH/3T3 fibroblasts, and acute oral toxicity according to OECD Guideline 423 in Wistar rats at 300 and 2000 mg/kg. Results: UHPLC-QTOF-MS analysis resulted in the tentative annotation of 54 metabolites, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, caffeoylquinic acid derivatives, diterpenes, glycolipids, and saponins. The extract showed antioxidant activity, with a DPPH IC₅₀ of 0.77 ± 0.009 mg/mL and FRAP reducing capacity of 1.24 ± 0.22 µM ferrous sulfate/mg. Anti-inflammatory activity increased with concentration, reaching 58.60 ± 0.23%, 60.84 ± 0.40%, and 57.89 ± 2.96% inhibition of hemolysis, macrophage spreading, and phagocytosis, respectively, at 600 µg/mL (p < 0.05 vs. negative control). NIH/3T3 viability remained above 70% at all tested concentrations and exposure times. No mortality, treatment-related clinical signs, or significant changes in body weight, hematological and biochemical parameters, relative organ weights, or histopathological findings were observed at doses up to 2000 mg/kg. Conclusions: The B. dracunculifolia ethanol extract exhibited antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in vitro, without relevant cytotoxicity under the tested conditions, and showed no evidence of acute oral toxicity at doses up to 2000 mg/kg.

Cattle farming is an important economic sector in Brazil, but it is impacted by the cattle tick, requiring necessary control measures by cattle farmers. This article presents the results of research carried out in three municipalities in the Northwest Region of the State of Paraná, Brazil, regarding the practices used by slaughter and dairy farmers to control Rhipicephalus microplus. The geographical delimitation of this research was the Local Agricultural Health Unit (ULSA) of the Paraná Agricultural Defense Agency - ADAPAR, Umuarama-PR Region, which includes the municipalities of Perobal, Umuarama, and Xambrê. 55 Slaughter and Dairy properties were selected, with data collected through a questionnaire that addresses questions about control practices, investigating the classes of acaricides used, their associations, dosages, and application intervals. The results indicated that the replacement of acaricides is practiced by 93% of livestock farmers, on average, every 184 days. The combination of acaricides in the same application is practiced by 33% of livestock farmers. The practice of additional dosage to the product dosages is carried out, in the order of 26% in Slaughter and 41% in Milk. Spearman's correlation demonstrated that the lineage of the breeds in each activity influences the amount of annual applications and is above that indicated by strategic control in both activities. The herds are not free of ticks, showing that the practices employed by livestock farmers do not promote effective control of R. microplus.