Browsing by Author "Catarino, Marcelo D."
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- Antioxidant capacities of flavones and benefits in oxidative-stress related diseasesPublication . Catarino, Marcelo D.; Alves-Silva, Jorge M.; Pereira, Olívia R.; Cardoso, Susana M.Flavonoids, a group of secondary metabolites widely distributed in the plant kingdom, have been acknowledged for their interesting medicinal properties. Among them, natural flavones, as well as some of their synthetic derivatives, have been shown to exhibit several biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, anti-allergic, neuroprotective, cardioprotective and antimicrobial. The antioxidant properties of flavones allow them to demonstrate potential application as preventive and attenuating agents in oxidative stress, i.e., a biological condition that is closely associated to aging process and several diseases. Some flavones interfere in distinct oxidative-stress related events by directly reducing the levels of intracellular free radicals (hydroxyl, superoxide and nitric oxide) and/or of reactive species (e.g. hydrogen peroxide, peroxynitrite and hypochlorous acid) thus preventing their amplification and the consequent damage of other biomolecules such as lipids, proteins and DNA. Flavones can also hinder the activity of central free radical-producing enzymes, such as xanthine oxidase and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NADPH-oxidase) or inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and can even modulate the intracellular levels of pro-oxidant and/or antioxidant enzymes. The evaluation of flavones antioxidant ability has been extensively determined in chemical or biological in vitro models, but in vivo therapy with individual flavones or with flavones-enriched extracts has also been reported. The present manuscript revises relevant studies focusing the preventive effects of flavones on stress-related diseases, namely the neurological and cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes and its associated complications.
- Chromatography as a tool for identification of bioactive compounds in honeybee products of botanical originPublication . Catarino, Marcelo D.; Alves-Silva, Jorge M.; Falcão, Soraia; Vilas-Boas, Miguel; Jordão, M.; Cardoso, Susana M.Honey, propolis, and pollen are three important components of the beehive produced by honeybees mixing different plant parts (nectar, resin and pollen) with their own secretions, for further usage with different purposes in the hive. The fact that these natural products have been associated with numerous health benefits has attracted the attention of researchers resulting in a significant raise of scientific studies attesting their biological properties. Among the various constituents of honey, propolis and pollen, the phenolic compounds are the ones most frequently related to the beneficial properties of these products and hence, one of the main investigated groups. Their characterization is important to understand individual contribution(s) and synergistic effects of each compound for the overall biological effects of the bee product. To pursuit this goal, spectrophotometric techniques including HPLC, GC and TLC, alongside with the respective detection methods such as DAD, FLD and MS, have been developed and improved in order to offer better and more accurate separative performances. The aim of this review is to give an approach on the course that the chromatographic techniques have taken until the most recent trends on this field applied to the separation and characterization of the phenolic constituents of honey, propolis and bee pollen as well as an overall perspective of variability in terms of phenolic composition that can be found in the three bee products mentioned.
- Cytisus multiflorus and eriocephalus africanus as source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compoundsPublication . Saraiva, Susana C.; Pereira, Olívia R.; Liberal, Joana; Catarino, Marcelo D.; Batista, Maria T.; Cruz, Maria T.; Cardoso, Susana M.Historically, extracts and preparations of plants are the basis of traditional medicine and the starting point for the discovery of new therapeutic agents. Cytisus multiflorus and Eriocephalus africanus are small shrubs native from Iberian Peninsula and South Africa, respectively, and distributed in Mediterranean region. Despite their common application in folk medicine and claimed health benefits, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, there is still a lack of scientific data supporting this. In this work, phenolic-enriched extracts of Cytisus multiflorus and Eriocephalus africanus were obtained and evaluated in chemical models for their phenolic content, antioxidant capacities and their role in inflammatory process. Overall, the results from the chemical tests indicated that Cytisus multiflorus extract was more promising regarding antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties reason why this extract was then further tested for these activities in biological models. The present communication will focus on the experimental data obtained so far by our group for the phenolic-enriched extracts of Cytisus multiflorus and Eriocephalus africanus, as a valid contribution to clarify the mechanisms of action of the claimed antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of the two plants.
- Himanthalia elongata: An overview of its chemical composition and health-related benefitsPublication . Catarino, Marcelo D.; Circuncisão, Ana R.; Silva, Sónia; Pinto, Diana; Pereira, Olívia R.; Cardoso, Susana M.Himanthalia elongata, commonly known as sea spaghetti, is a brown seaweed found along the Atlantic coasts of Europe, particularly in regions such as Ireland, France, and the United Kingdom, where it is considered a delicacy and is commonly used in salads, soups, and as a pasta substitute. It is renowned for its impressive nutritional profile and potential health benefits, offering a significant amount of dietary fiber, vitamins and protein, including all essential amino acids, thus making it an excellent supplement for vegetarian and vegan diets. It is also a rich source of minerals such as iodine, calcium, magnesium, and iron, and valuable phytochemicals such as phlorotannins and fucoxanthin. The high diversity of bioactive compounds found in H. elongata makes it remarkably versatile in terms of bioactivities, including the capacity to regulate oxidative stress, inflammation, gut microbiota and several other cellular and physiological functions, thus contributing to healthy aging, risk reduction of cardiovascular disease, cancer, metabolic syndrome and other chronic diseases. This review pro- vides a comprehensive overview of the nutritional and chemical composition of H. elongata, highlighting its reported biological activities and potential applications in the food and health industries
- Mediterranean diet: a precious tool for fighting inflammatory diseasesPublication . Catarino, Marcelo D.; Alves-Silva, Jorge M.; Pereira, Olívia R.; Cardoso, Susana M.Epidemiological studies indicate that populations who consume foods rich in specific polyphenols have lower incidence of inflammatory diseases. In turn, Mediterranean diet, claimed for its several health benefits, provides a wide range of foods which are particularly enriched sources of polyphenols, some of which known for their anti-inflammatory properties. In this context, various herbs, vegetables and fruits, as well as fruit derivative products, such as wine and virgin olive oil, are believed to have an important role preventing and/or ameliorating inflammatory conditions through diet. Additionally, they are strong candidates for anti-inflammatory drugs. In general, the anti-inflammatory properties of polyphenols involve the modulation of pro-inflammatory gene expression including cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase, nitric oxide synthases and several pivotal cytokines such as TNF-α, interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), mainly by acting through nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling. Since inflammation is a phenomenon present in many chronic diseases including cancer, diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease, the modulation of the aforementioned markers by polyphenols may positively contribute for the prevention and/or amelioration of these diseases. The present chapter focus various edible Mediterranean typical foods known for their anti-inflammatory properties, as well as the main pheno-lic constituents associated to the protection process and their underlying mechanisms of action.
- Salvia elegans, Salvia greggii and Salvia officinalis Decoctions: Antioxidant Activities and Inhibition of Carbohydrate and Lipid Metabolic EnzymesPublication . Pereira, Olívia R.; Catarino, Marcelo D.; Afonso, Andrea Luísa Fernandes; Silva, Artur; Cardoso, Susana M.Salvia elegans Vahl., Salvia greggii A. Gray, and Salvia officinalis L. decoctions were investigated for their health-benefit properties, in particular with respect to antioxidant activity and inhibitory ability towards key enzymes with impact in diabetes and obesity (α-glucosidase, α-amylase and pancreatic lipase). Additionally, the phenolic profiles of the three decoctions were determined and correlated with the beneficial properties. The S. elegans decoction was the most promising in regard to the antioxidant effects, namely in the scavenging capacity of the free radicals DPPH•, NO• and O2•–, and the ability to reduce Fe3+, as well as the most effective inhibitor of α-glucosidase (EC50 = 36.0 ± 2.7 μg/mL vs. EC50 = 345.3 ± 6.4 μg/mL and 71.2 ± 5.0 μg/mL for S. greggii and S. officinalis, respectively). This superior activity of the S. elegans decoction over those of S. greggii and S. officinalis was, overall, highly correlated with its richness in caffeic acid and derivatives. In turn, the S. officinalis decoction exhibited good inhibitory capacity against xanthine oxidase activity, a fact that could be associated with its high content of flavones, in particular the glycosidic forms of apigenin, scutellarein and luteolin.
- Virgin olive oil as a source of anti-inflammatory agentsPublication . Cardoso, Susana M.; Catarino, Marcelo D.; Semião, Marta S.; Pereira, Olívia R.Virgin olive oil (VOO) has many potential health benefits, including the amelioration of inflammatory processes. In part, this is known to occur through the modification of the endothelial function, leading to a decrease of the levels of cell-adhesion molecules (CAMs), including the inter-cellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and the vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1). Importantly, virgin olive oil is able to inhibit the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), that is a key cytokine in controlling distinct types of cell functions and a particular therapeutic target for inflammatory diseases. Moreover, in vitro and in vivo assays with virgin olive oil or its main components clearly indicate a marked modulation of signaling pathways regulating the activation of pro-inflammatory mediators, including the nuclear transcriptional factor NF-κβ, the cytokines interleukin-1 (IL-1), and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and the enzymes cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). So far, the cellular and molecular anti-inflammatory mechanisms of virgin olive oil have been particular associated with its high amounts of phenolic compounds, as well as to its composition in mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Still, the available data is disperse and needs consolidation, in order to allow solid conclusions on this issue. The present chapter summarizes the epidemiological data and intervention trials focusing the effects of virgin olive oil in inflammatory processes and/or inflammatory related-diseases, as well as the main virgin olive oil constituents associated to the protection process and their underlying mechanisms of action.