Dizygostemon riparius (Plantaginaceae) is a new aromatic herbaceous species occurring in Maranhão State, Brazil. It is used as flavorings to remove domestic animal parasites and preventing mosquitoes. GC and GC/MS were used to analyze its essential oil, and a larvicidal bioassay was performed against Aedes albopictus larvae, a vector of arboviruses in Brazil. endo-Fenchyl acetate, endo-fenchol, (E)-caryophyllene, and caryophyllene oxide were the oil's primary constituents, totalizing 88.0 %. The two morphotypes of D. riparius, with purple and white flowers, did not present a significant difference in the oils' composition. From a chemotaxonomic point of view, D. riparius oil showed some similarities with other oils of Plantaginaceae, suggesting (E)-caryophyllene and caryophyllene oxide as possible chemical markers. The oil larvicidal action displayed the lowest and highest mortality percentage at 50 mg/L (2.0 %) and 600 mg/L (88.0 %). The fenchyl acetate and fenchol standards showed a lower and higher mortality percentage at a concentration of 300 mg/L (42.0 % and 26.0 %) and 900 mg/L (96.0 % and 98.0 %), respectively. The present study results with the D. riparius oil point to a new bioproduct with significant larvicidal activity.

The mangabeira (Hancornia speciosa Gomes) has great food and pharmaceutical values but its production is almost entirely made by people gathering fruits in forests, which increases the risk extinction, particularly in savannah regions. Thus, the objective of this study was to compare floristic, phytosociology and species diversity in five areas of natural occurrence of mangabeira. All plants with a diameter at soil level equal to or greater than five cm were selected by the quadrant method in five villages in the state of Maranhão, northeastern Brazil. The assessed variables for the whole vegetation were number of individuals, number of species, total density, the Shannon Diversity Index (H'), the Jaccard Similarity Index, total plant height and diameter at soil level. The phytosociological parameters computed for the mangabeira population were absolute and relative density, frequency and dominance; basal area, importance value and cover value. We recorded 1,696 plants from 26 species and 16 families. Anacardiaceae, Apocynaceae and Fabaceae were the families that stood out most with two species each. The species diversity was low in all villages, varying from H’= 0.659 in Santana to H’ = 1.777 in Recanto. The floristic similarity among the vegetation in all villages was low except between Patizal and Recurso (0.571). For the mangabeira population, the importance value and cover value were higher in Santana, with 79.35% and 85.28% respectively and the highest values of plant height (6.02 meters) and diameter at soil level (13.76 cm) were found in Patizal village. These results could be used for management, preservation and sustainability of the mangabeira in northeastern Brazil.

The objective of this study was to conduct chemical analyses of bioactive compounds found in the bark and leaves of Humiria balsamifera (Aubl.) A. St. Hil. and Hymenaea courbaril L. These species are found in the transitional zones between the Amazon and Cerrado Maranhense. Chemical screening was performed to detect the presence of phenols, tannins, anthocyanins, anthocyanidins, leucoanthocyanidins and other secondary metabolites. Quantification of the concentrations of phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, flavonoids, and antioxidants was performed by ultraviolet spectrophotometry through recommended methodologies. Extracts of the leaves of Humiria balsamifera (Aubl.) A. St. Hil. were found to have high concentrations of flobabénic tannins. Tannins, flavonoids, flavonols, flavonones, flavanonols, xanthones, steroids, and saponins were also found in bark extracts of the same species. The levels of phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, and flavonoids in the bark of Humiria balsamifera (Aubl.) A. St. Hil. were higher than those measured in the leaves, reflecting that the leaves greater capacity to sequester free radicals. For Hymenaea courbaril L., the main bioactive compounds found in this study were flavonones, phenols, and catechins. The plant species Humiria balsamifera (Aubl.) A. St. Hil. and Hymenaea courbaril L. showed potential for antioxidant activity and for use in the pharmacological and food industries.

Modo de acesso: World Wide Web Inclui bibliografia 1. Meio ambiente 2. Gestão.

<p>A educação nutricional começa em casa, mas na escola o professor pode auxiliar os alunos na busca de maneiras de se alimentar. Nesta pesquisa foram realizadas oficinas de alimentação alternativa em uma escola pública na cidade de São Luís – MA com alunos do 7º ano do Ensino Fundamental, com o intuito de mostrar aos alunos que alimentos desperdiçados podem ser utilizados para preparo de alimentos com alto valor nutricional. Ao avaliar a consistência, cor, aspecto global e sabor dos doces de abacaxi, geleia de laranja e bolo de banana, observou-se que não apresentaram diferença significativa a um nível de significância de p ≥ 0,05, mantendo suas características organolépticas habituais. O trabalho fortaleceu a importância de se trabalhar a escola como uma célula multiplicadora de bons hábitos alimentares, que proporcionou aos alunos momentos de descontração e aprendizagem a respeito de alimentação saudável. Portanto, a integração da temática da alimentação na escola contribuiu para o desenvolvimento de atividades de preparação de alimentos que diminuem o desperdício e como uma ferramenta para um processo de ensino participativo.</p>