a b s t r a c tEthnopharmacological relevance: Schinus molle L. has been used in folk medicine as antibacterial, antiviral, topical antiseptic, antifungal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumoural as well as antispasmodic and analgesic; however, there are few studies of pharmacological and toxicological properties of Schinus molle essential oils. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Schinus molle leaf and fruit essential oils, correlated with their chemical composition and evaluate their acute toxicity. Materials and methods: The chemical composition of Schinus molle leaf and fruit essential oils were evaluated by GC-FID and GC-MS. Antioxidant properties were determined using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical and β-carotene/linoleic acid methods. Antimicrobial properties were evaluated by the agar disc diffusion method and minimal inhibitory concentration assay. Toxicity in Artemia salina and acute toxicity with behavioural screening in mice were evaluated. Results: The dominant compounds found in leaf and fruit essential oils (EOs) were monoterpene hydrocarbons, namely α-phellandrene, β-phellandrene, β-myrcene, limonene and α-pinene. EOs showed low scavenging antioxidant activity by the DPPH free radical method and a higher activity by the β-carotene/linoleic acid method. Antimicrobial activity of EOs was observed for Gramþ, GramÀ pathogenic bacteria and food spoilage fungi. EOs showed totoxicity for Artemia salina and lower toxicity in Swiss mice. Conclusions: The result showed that EOs of leaves and fruits of Schinus molle demonstrated antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, suggesting their potential use in food or pharmaceutical industries.

This exploratory-descriptive study aims at elaborating a protocol, using therapeutic play, for the preparation of preschool children to venous puncture and also at testing its efficiency and applicability. The children that attended the play session were more cooperative when they were punctured. They understood the need and technical aspects of this clinical procedure; manifested their feelings, elaborated familiar and hospital situations that resulted in a better relationship with the other children and the nursing team. Authors concluded that this protocol is feasible and useful and suggested that it should be incorporated in the nursing care plan to hospitalized children.

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The aim of this work was the material characterisation of wall paintings and biodegradation assessment, including the analysis of microbial growth and the effect of microbial proliferation, in view of their conservation. The methodology was applied to the study of frescoes dated from 1531, located in the ancient parish church of Santo Aleixo, Southern Portugal. The combined use of optical microscopy, SEM-EDS and A-XRD showed that the painting palette is composed of red and yellow ochres, malachite, azurite and bone black. The pigments do not show signs of chemical deterioration, except malachite that punctually have transformed to black copper oxide (tenorite). The microbiological study allowed the identification of several bacterial strains (eg Gram+ cocci, Gram+ bacilli, Actinomycetes sp.), yeast strains and filamentous fungi of the genera Penicillium, Cladosporium, Aspergillus among others the microflora present in the paintings.Their metabolic activity is the main responsible for the physical disruption of paint layers and underneath mortars. The combined approach using SEM analysis and enzymatic dehydrogenase measurement allowed the evaluation of microflora proliferation and the biodeterioration diagnosis of the mural paintings. Additionally, the effect of some commercial biocides was evaluated for the main predominant strains in order to select the most efficient biocide.

The early development of cardiovascular diseases, one of the major death causes in Europe, is clearly associated with high plasmatic cholesterol levels. However, it is demonstrated that the ingestion of phytosterolsenriched milk and yogurts could reduce cholesterolemia. The purpose of the present work was to assess the commercially available phytosterols-enriched milk and yogurts. As such, the available three milk and seven yogurt presentations in Portuguese market were collected during 2008 and analyzed through gas chromatography coupled with mass detection. All the analyzed milk samples were in agreement with the proportion established by the European Commission, with β-sitosterol as the more abundant phytosterol. However, and contrarily to milk, the different yogurt manufacturers had different options in the phytosterols added to the dairy foods commercialized.