This study evaluated the performance, body water balance, ingestive behavior and blood metabolites in goats fed with cactus pear silage subjected to an intermittent water supply. Thirty-six goats were distributed in a randomized block design arranged as a 3 × 3 factorial with cactus pear silage in the goats’ diet (on a 0%, 21% and 42% dry matter-DM basis) and water offer frequency (ad libitum, and 24 and 48 h water restrictions). There was an interaction only between the cactus pear silage level and water offerings for drinking water. Goats fed 42% cactus pear silage had greater intake of non-fibrous carbohydrates, energy, Ca, Mg and Na minerals, water intake, urinary water excretion, body water retention and nutrient digestibility. Cactus pear silage inclusion up to a 42% rate reduced eating and ruminating time and increased the time spent idling as well as the eating and the ruminating efficiency rate. Water restriction at 48 h reduced drinking water intake. Performance and blood metabolites were not affected by cactus silage inclusion or water offering. Cactus pear silage inclusion at up to 42% for goats is recommended during periods of water shortage in semiarid and arid regions because it improves eating, the ruminating efficiency rate, and body water retention; cactus pear silage inclusion at this rate reduces water consumption and it does not affect the performance or health of the animals.

No abstract

In vitro tumor growth inhibition by the ethanol extract of Miconia fallax DC. (Melastomataceae) was evaluated in culture media containing HeLa cells at the following concentrations: 5, 15, 25, 35, and 45 µg/mL. Bioassay-guided fractionation of this extract furnished a mixture of ursolic and oleanolic acids. Both the ethanol extract and the mixture of the triterpenoid acids produced dose-dependent tumor growth inhibition. This antitumor activity was more pronounced when a mixture of the triterpene acids at a concentration of 45 µg/mL was added to a HeLa cell culture medium.

This work describes the phytochemical study of the extracts from aerial parts of Tibouchina candolleana as well as the evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of extracts, isolated compounds, and semi-synthetic derivatives of ursolic acid against endodontic bacteria. HRGC analysis of the n-hexane extract of T. candolleana allowed identification of β-amyrin, α-amyrin, and β-sitosterol as major constituents. The triterpenes ursolic acid and oleanolic acid were isolated from the methylene chloride extract and identified. In addition, the flavonoids luteolin and genistein were isolated from the ethanol extract and identified. The antimicrobial activity was investigated via determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) using the broth microdilution method. Amongst the isolated compounds, ursolic acid was the most effective against the selected endodontic bacteria. As for the semi-synthetic ursolic acid derivatives, only the methyl ester derivative potentiated the activity against Bacteroides fragilis.

The use of alternative foods, such as agroindustrial residues, for animal feeding aims to reduce production costs and increase animal productivity. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different levels of licury cake added to the diet of non-standardbred lambs (NSB). The study involved 20 male castrated NSB lambs, with an average age of 120±5 days and initial and final average weights of 25±2 kg and 34±2 kg, respectively; the lambs were kept in a feedlot and distributed in a completely random block design for 75 days. Three isonitrogenic diets (17% protein) with three levels of licury cake supplementation (8, 16 and 24%) and a control diet (0% licury cake) were used. Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) concentrate in a 50:50 ratio and the different levels of licuri cake were provided twice a day. The residue normality and variances compared by orthogonal and polynomial regression contrasts were verified for data analysis at 5% significance. The licury cake levels did not influence (P>0.05) the dry matter intake, minimum and maximum fat thickness, empty gastrointestinal tract, spleen, heart, kidneys, anterior and posterior quarters, muscle yield, marbling, other tissues or ash. There was a quadratic effect (P<0.05) for the average daily weight, skin yield and crude protein. Increasing the levels of licury cake reduced (P<0.05) real yield, loin eye area, and increased (P<0.05) leg yield, bone and moisture. A diet including up to 13% licury cake can be indicated as an alternative feeding source for feedlot NSB sheep.Index terms: Centesimal composition; byproduct; liver. RESUMOO uso de alimentos alternativos na dieta animal, como resíduos agroindustriais, tem como propósito reduzir os custos de produção e aumentar a produtividade animal. Nesse contexto, objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da inclusão de diferentes níveis de torta de licuri em dieta de cordeiros sem padrão racial definido (SPRD). Foram confinados 20 cordeiros, machos e castrados, com idade média de 120±5 dias, distribuídos em delineamento em blocos inteiramente casualizados, durante 75 dias. Foram utilizadas três dietas isonitrogenadas (17% de proteína), sendo três níveis de inclusão de torta de licuri (8, 16 e 24%) e uma ração testemunha (0%). Foi fornecido o capim elefante (Pennisetum purpureum) e concentrado na proporção de 50:50 e os diferentes níveis de torta, fornecidas duas vezes ao dia. Para análise dos dados, foi verificada a normalidade dos resíduos e as variâncias comparadas por contrastes ortogonais e regressão polinomial, considerando nível de significância de 5%. Os níveis de torta de licuri não influenciaram (P>0,05) o consumo de matéria seca, espessura de gordura mínima e máxima, trato gastrintestinal vazio, baço, coração, rins, quarto dianteiros e traseiros, rendimento de músculo, gordura intermuscular, outros tecidos e cinzas. Houve efeito quadrático (P<0,05) para ganho de peso médio diário, rendimento de pele e proteína bruta. Níveis crescentes de torta de licuri reduziram (P<0,05) o rendimento v...