Browsing by Author "Berrada, Houda"
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- Green and Innovative Extraction: Phenolic Profiles and Biological Activities of Underutilized Plant Extracts Using Pulsed Electric Fields and MacerationPublication . Pallarés, Noelia; Berrada, Houda; Ferrer, Emilia; Rached, Wahiba; Pinela, José; Mandim, Filipa; Pires, Tânia C.S.P.; Finimundy, Tiane C.; Barba, Francisco J.; Barros, LillianUnderutilized plant species such as Asteriscus graveolens (Forssk.) Less., Haloxylon scoparium Pomel, and Ruta chalepensis L. have been historically valued in traditional medicine for their potential health benefits. These species present an untapped source of bioactive compounds with significant applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries, including the development of functional foods and additives. Recent advances in food processing have introduced innovative methods, such as pulsed electric fields (PEFs), to enhance the extraction of valuable compounds without compromising their integrity or quality. This study investigates the impact of PEF technology on the recovery of bioactive compounds from these plants, comparing it with conventional maceration (MAC) techniques. Phenolic compound profiles and biological activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic effects, were evaluated. The results demonstrated that for R. chalepensis, PEF extraction achieved comparable phenolic content (58 mg/g) to MAC (72 mg/g). However, MAC generally provided higher phenolic yields for other plants. A. graveolens extracts exhibited significant antitumoral and anti-inflammatory potentials. The antimicrobial results indicated that MAC extracts were more effective against bacterial growth, while PEF extracts outperformed MAC against A. brasiliensis (MIC: 10 mg/mL). Antioxidant potential was observed in both methods, with TBARS IC50 values ranging from 17 to 79.5 µg/mL. While MAC generally yielded superior results, PEF extraction showed great promise as an environmentally sustainable alternative, eliminating the need for organic solvents and aligning with green extraction principles.
- Nutritional and bioactive oils from salmon (Salmo salar) side streams obtained by Soxhlet and optimized microwave-assisted extractionPublication . Pinela, José; Mandim, Filipa; Heleno, Sandrina A.; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.; Barba, Francisco Jose; Berrada, Houda; Caleja, Cristina; Barros, Lillian; Fuente, Beatriz de laThe efficiency of the microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) technique on recovering nutritional and bioactive oils from salmon (Salmo salar) side streams was evaluated and compared to Soxhlet extraction. The response surface methodology (RSM) coupled with a central composite rotatable design was used to optimize time, microwave power, and solid/liquid ratio of the MAE process in terms of oil yield. The optimal MAE conditions were 14.6 min, 291.9 W, 80.1 g/L for backbones, 10.8 min, 50.0 W, 80.0 g/L for heads, and 14.3 min, 960.6 W, 99.5 g/L for viscera, which resulted in a recovery of 69% of the total lipid content for backbones and heads and 92% for viscera. The oils obtained under optimal MAE conditions showed a healthy lipid profile as well as cytotoxic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, or antimicrobial properties. These results highlight that oils from underutilized salmon by-products could be exploited by different industrial sectors under the circular economy approach.
- Sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and sea bream (Sparus aurata) head oils recovered by microwave-assisted extraction: nutritional quality and biological propertiesPublication . Fuente, Beatriz de la; Pinela, José; Calhelha, Ricardo C.; Heleno, Sandrina A.; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.; Barba, Francisco Jose; Berrada, Houda; Caleja, Cristina; Barros, LillianMicrowave-assisted extraction (MAE) and Soxhlet extraction (SE) were used to obtain oil from European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) heads. The MAE technique allowed the recovery of more than 50% of the total lipid con- tent for both fish by-products in less than 11 min extraction. Based on their fatty acid composition, all fish head oils presented a healthy lipid profile and were found to be a good source of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 11–14%). Different lipid quality indices also revealed their cardiovascular protective potential. Oils obtained by MAE showed higher antibacterial and antifungal effects against food pathogens than those extracted by SE. Cellular antioxidant activity (29–35% oxidation inhibition) and anti-inflammatory poten- tial via NO production inhibition (IC50 = 14–21 μg/mL) were evaluated using murine macrophages cells (RAW 264.7). The highest cytotoxic effect (GI50 = 38–46 μg/mL) of fish head oils was observed against breast cancer cells (MCF-7). These results showed that sea bass and gilthead sea bream heads could be exploited for the production of oil with nu- tritional and bioactive properties in line with circular bioeconomy concepts.