https://repositorio.ufpb.br/jspui/handle/tede/4157 PPGCN 2026-10-12T07:33:25Z https://repositorio.ufpb.br/jspui/handle/123456789/39403 Título: Terapêutica do diabetes mellitus gestacional com suplementação de farinha de inhame (D. Cayennensis) : um ensaio clínico randomizado Autor(es): Melo, Tássia Santos de Orientador: Vianna, Rodrigo Pinheiro de Toledo Abstract: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is the most common metabolic problem during pregnancy and has a prevalence of 3 to 25%. Although the use of hypoglycemic drug treatments is promising, concerns remain about their long-term safety for mother and child, in addition to the fact that they alone are not controlling GDM. In this context, yam has important dietary characteristics, due to its excellent fiber content, low glycemic index and load, in addition to a variety of nutritional and functional compounds. Yam (Dioscorea spp.) and its associated extracts have been shown to have a variety of biological activities and have been identified as beneficial in controlling glycemia in patients with diabetes mellitus. General objective. The objective of the present study is to verify the impact of yam flour (IF) supplementation for glycemia control in pregnant women with GDM and, specifically, to analyze gestational biochemical exams, evaluate ultrasound parameters, birth weight, gestational age at delivery and presence of hypoglycemia at birth. This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II experimental clinical study. This study had 28 participants, 14 in the control group and 14 in the experimental group, selected in a simple randomization manner. The yam was dehydrated and crushed, and the flour obtained was placed in capsules to facilitate consumption. Participants in both groups received enough capsules for 3 weeks (21 days) of treatment, 5.8 g of yam flour or placebo (cornstarch) per day. Anthropometric and clinical assessments were applied at the beginning (T0) and at the end of three weeks of treatment (T21). Participants who received yam flour capsules during treatment had improvements in glycemic means in all capillary glycemia measurements and in glycemic peaks. There were also improvements in fetal parameters such as amniotic fluid, abdominal circumference, percentile, and birth weight. However, supplementation with yam flour capsules enhance the benefits of diet therapy, contributing to a better quality gestational course and lower fetal risks, in addition to having proven effective in the daily glycemic control of women with GDM. Editor: Universidade Federal da Paraíba Tipo: Dissertação 2025-02-26T00:00:00Z https://repositorio.ufpb.br/jspui/handle/123456789/39259 Título: Aplicação de revestimento formulado com alginato de sódio e cultura mista de bactérias láticas para controle de antracnose e preservação da qualidade pós-colheita em goiaba e manga Autor(es): Fernandes, Karina Felix Dias Orientador: Souza, Evandro Leite de Abstract: Guava and mango are widely marketed tropical fruits; however, as climacteric fruits, they undergo physiological changes that make them more susceptible to pathogens. Anthracnose, caused by fungi of the genus Colletotrichum, is one of the main post-harvest diseases of these fruits. Although conventional disease control involves the use of chemical fungicides, the deleterious impacts associated with the continuous use of these compounds have driven the search for sustainable alternatives. In this context, the use of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as biocontrol agents, combined with edible coatings such as sodium alginate (SA), stands out as an innovative and effective strategy for inhibiting phytopathogens and biopreserving fruits. This thesis aimed to develop, characterize, and apply a new SA-based coating and LAB mixed culture to control anthracnose and preserve the post-harvest quality of guava (cv.) Paluma and mango (cv.) Palmer. The effect of a mixed culture composed of three strains of different LAB species (Levilactobacillus brevis 59, Lactiplantibacillus pentosus 129, and Limosilactobacillus fermentum 263) was evaluated in vitro against ten Colletotrichum isolates. Subsequently, a formulation containing AS and a mixed culture of lyophilized LAB (AS+LAB) was developed, which was characterized in terms of thermal, morphological, physicochemical, and biodegradability properties. The survival, as well as the physiological and metabolic responses of the LAB incorporated into the coating and film, were also evaluated under different storage conditions (15 days at 25 °C and 4 °C). The effect of coatings on controlling the development of anthracnose lesions in guava and mango, as well as on maintaining post -harvest quality indicator parameters, was evaluated during 15 days of storage at 25 °C. The mixed culture inhibited mycelial growth of all isolates tested, achieving up to 100% effectiveness in the well diffusion method. Film characterization demonstrated that the incorporation of LAB promoted modifications in the polymeric matrix, resulting in greater thermal stability, a more homogeneous surface, and no pores. The AS+LAB film showed lower roughness, thickness, moisture content, water solubility, hygroscopicity, and water activity, without alteration in color parameters, when compared to the film without LAB. Furthermore, the ABTS•+, DPPH•, and FRAP assays indicated an increase in antioxidant capacity after the incorporation of LAB into the films. Both films demonstrated high biodegradability in soil, freshwater, and seawater, with almost complete degradation in 20 days. Samples stored under refrigeration showed viable cell counts >7.5 log CFU/g, and 31.73% and 55.85% of cell subpopulations with non-permeabilized membranes and enzymatic activities (viable cells), respectively, at the end of storage. The application of the AS+BAL coating to guava and mango delayed the development and reduced the diameter of anthracnose lesions by up to 78.94% in guava and 83.44% in mango after 15 days of storage (15 days; 25 ± 0.5 °C). In the coated fruits, preservation of post -harvest quality was observed, evidenced by less weight loss and greater maintenance of color, as well as ascorbic acid and carotenoid content at the end of storage. Additionally, fruits treated with AS+BAL showed better preservation of sensory characteristics, especially color, aroma, and texture, as well as less perceived ripening throughout the storage period. The results highlight that the AS+BAL coating can be effective for post-harvest biocontrol of anthracnose in guava and mango. Furthermore, this coating may be a sustainable alternative for preserving fruit quality during the post-harvest period. Editor: Universidade Federal da Paraíba Tipo: Tese 2026-06-18T00:00:00Z https://repositorio.ufpb.br/jspui/handle/123456789/38434 Título: Aplicação de revestimentos formulados com alginato de sódio e extratos hidroalcoólicos de subprodutos de frutas fermentados com bactérias láticas para o controle de antracnose em mangas e goiabas Autor(es): Queiroga, Talita Silveira Orientador: Souza, Evandro Leite de Abstract: Anthracnose is a fungal disease that affects the quality of fruits such as mangoes and guavas. The use of fungicides, the main strategy applied to control anthracnose, presents health and environmental risks, which requests for studies into sustainable and safe strategies applied to the management of phytopathogens. Preparing plant extracts from fruit by-products is a viable alternative for formulating natural antifungals. In addition, the fermentation of these by-products with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) can enhance the production of bioactive compounds. Coatings with natural products have also been used as innovative strategies to control post-harvest diseases, and can be used as carriers of active substances for application to fruit. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of a coating formulated with sodium alginate and extracts of fruit by-products fermented by LAB to control anthracnose on Palmer mango and Paluma guava. For this purpose, by-products of acerola, cashew, mango and grape were collected from fruit pulp processing industries, sterilized (121 °C, 1 atm, 15 minutes), freeze-dried and stored (-18 ± 0.5 °C). To the fermentation process, the by-products were diluted 1:5 in sterilized distilled water, autoclaved and then inoculated with a mixed LAB culture (Levilactobacillus brevis 59, Lactiplantibacillus pentosus 129 and Limosilactobacillus fermentum 263) at a concentration of approximately 9 log CFU/mL. The fermentation process took place at 37ºC for 24 hours on an orbital shaker (200 rpm) under aerobic conditions. The fermented fruit by-products were mixed with ethanol (70% or 80%; 1:10 v/v), and homogenized at 37 °C, 200 rpm for 2 hours. These solutions were centrifuged, the liquid part was recovered and the solvent was removed using a rotary evaporator. Viable LAB cell counts on the fermented product and physicochemical analyses of the extracts obtained were performed. The extracts obtained were used to assess antifungal activity using the agar well diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration, with results expressed as % mycelial growth inhibition (%MGI). The extracts with the best in vitro results were incorporated into a coating formulated with sodium alginate (1.5%) and applied to mangoes and guavas to assess their potential to reduce anthracnose lesion diameter (%ALDR). The fermented hydroalcoholic extracts of acerola (75 and 100 mg/mL) and mango by-products (75 and 100 mg/mL) showed the highest rate of mycelial growth inhibition (%MGI 35.00-82.75) in all the isolates of Colletotrichum tested in vitro. With regard to the physicochemical characteristics, the extracts showed variations in acidity, pH, total soluble solids and ascorbic acid, with a higher acidification in the fermented hydroalcoholic extracts (pH 3.28-3.47). Color analysis indicated significant differences associated with fruit pigmentation. Variations in the content of total phenolic compounds, flavonoids and antioxidant activities were also observed. The application of sodium alginate coatings added to the fermented hydroalcoholic extracts of acerola and mango (100 mg/mL) delayed the development of anthracnose in mangoes and guavas during storage (%ALDR xx-75.80). These results indicate that coatings formulated with fermented fruit by-products extracts could be innovative and sustainable strategies for managing post-harvest anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum in fruits. Editor: Universidade Federal da Paraíba Tipo: Dissertação 2025-02-24T00:00:00Z https://repositorio.ufpb.br/jspui/handle/123456789/38417 Título: Intervenção combinando exercício físico e educação alimentar e nutricional modula o microbioma intestinal e melhora a inflamação e a função autonômica cardíaca na obesidade infantil: uma abordagem translacional Autor(es): Costa, Paulo César Trindade da Orientador: Alves, José Luiz de Brito Abstract: Children with obesity are more likely to develop cardiovascular and metabolic alterations in adulthood. Physical exercise and food and nutrition education are important strategies for preventing and/or treating obesity and associated disorders. However, the effectiveness of these strategies in promoting weight loss, modulating the gut microbiome, and improving metabolic and cardiovascular parameters in children with obesity is not fully understood. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention consisting of physical exercise and food and nutrition education in improving body composition, metabolic and inflammatory parameters, and cardiovascular health in schoolchildren with obesity. Children aged 7 to 10 were recruited from schools in João Pessoa, Paraíba, for the study. Before the intervention, students with normal-weight and obesity were assessed for cross-sectional analyses. After the intervention, the students with obesity were reassessed for body composition, inflammatory profile, blood pressure, heart rate variability (HRV), metabolomics, and gut microbiota. Additionally, an experimental protocol involving physical exercise in rats was developed to better understand the biomolecular mechanisms involved in the observed physiological effects. Cross-sectional analyses revealed that obese children exhibit cardiac autonomic dysfunction and a proinflammatory profile compared to normal-weight children. Heart rate was found to be a reliable indicator of cardiac autonomic dysfunction in schoolchildren. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth was also found to be related to the consumption of large quantities of ultra-processed foods. However, the systematic review found that the most effective type of physical exercise for improving HRV in children with obesity remains unclear, though all analyzed types demonstrated beneficial effects on some indices. The intervention study found a reduction in the body mass index z-score for age, body fat percentage, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and improvements in HRV, inflammatory and metabolic profiles, as well as the composition of the gut microbiome in children with obesity. In rats, the results showed that physical exercise improved gut microbiota, cardiac autonomic function, and the expression of genes related to autonomic function and inflammation in the colon and brainstem of rats fed a high-fat diet. The results indicate that this strategy is fundamental in combating childhood obesity and its associated complications, elucidating the physiological and biomolecular mechanisms involved in this process. The evidence obtained in this study could support the implementation of public policies that ensure regular physical exercise combined with food and nutrition education in schools. Editor: Universidade Federal da Paraíba Tipo: Tese 2025-09-12T00:00:00Z