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Percorrer por autor "Boutaleb, Rania"

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  • Valorization of Cupressus sempervirens L. fruits as a source of bioactive compounds
    Publication . Boutaleb, Rania; Reis, Filipa S.; Silveira, Tayse F. F. da; Benabbou, Taha Ahmed
    The valorization of underexploited plant resources represents an important strategy for promoting sustainability and the circular economy. In this context, the present work investigated Cupressus sempervirens L. fruits as a source of bioactive compounds, with particular emphasis on phenolic compounds, and evaluated their biological properties. Fruits collected in northeastern Portugal were subjected to hydro-methanolic extraction. Phenolic compounds were chemically characterized by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode-array detection and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. In parallel, a colorimetric assay was performed to assess the presence of saponin-like reactivity. The phenolic profile was dominated by flavan-3-ols and B-type procyanidins, with catechin, epicatechin, and procyanidin oligomers as the major constituents. The colorimetric assay suggested the presence of saponin-like compounds; however, no individual saponins were confirmed by chromatographic analysis, indicating that this response is likely associated with non-saponin secondary metabolites. Biological evaluation demonstrated significant antioxidant activity and cytocompatibility in human keratinocytes and fibroblasts, while anti-inflammatory assays using THP-1–derived macrophages showed reduced interleukin-6 production. Overall, the results highlight Cupressus sempervirens L. fruits as a valuable source of phenolic compounds with relevant biological activities, supporting their potential application in cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical fields and contributing to the sustainable valorization of forest bio-residues.
    2026Dissertação de mestrado Acesso aberto Ver mais