Editorial

Despite the concerns spread by the Coronavirus, the Editor-in-Chief of Eclética Química Journal is pleased to announce the second issue of the year 2020. Readers of Eclética Química Journal will find in this issue a review article on the Campomanesia genus of the Myrtaceae family, characterized by citrus-flavored fruits, which reports the literature over the period 2005-2019. Parts of these plants have been used in many specific applications in food and pharmaceutical industries. This review discusses the literature embracing topics such as secondary metabolites and phytochemistry, popular use, biological activities, toxicology and concludes with future perspectives. The following paper deals with the obtention of a leaf dichloromethane extract that was purified according to a bioguide methodology, allowing to characterize two main compounds: furanoarabinoside (Compound 1) and its 3-O-palmitoyl derivative (Compound 2), which greatly influenced the survival and the development of S. frugiperda, when compared to an in vitro test control. Sequentially, the occurrence of zearalenone (ZEN) and five metabolites in the surface waters of northern São Paulo state (Brazil) are discussed and the associated potential estrogenic contribution to the aquatic environment is evaluated. The presence of estrogenic mycotoxins in the Brazilian river waters emphasizes the need to include these substances in future public policies concerning water quality. The next paper analyzes the properties of lubricant oils derived from biodiesel, before and after they went to the engine, and evaluates the dynamic viscosities of biodiesels in the engine. The results indicate that these biodiesels are candidates for commercial lubricants with advantages for the engine and the environment. The issue is closed with the description of a chemically modified cellulose potentially applied to oil-decontamination of marine ecosystems. The modified cellulose showed a satisfactory capacity to adsorb small amounts of viscous oils, like residual oil.

As a final note, the editor announced with great satisfaction at the beginning of this issue the databases in which the readers can find the articles published in Eclética Química Journal.

Assis Vicente Benedetti

Editor-in-Chief of EQJ