Percorrer por autor "García-Pérez, Pascual"
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- Antimicrobial, cytotoxic and antioxidante activity of Amaranthaceae plants: a renewable source of nutrients and phenolic compounds.Publication . Núñez Estévez, Bernabé; Finimundy, Tiane C.; Carpena Rodríguez, María; Otero, Paz; Barral Martínez, Marta; Pires, Tânia C.S.; Mandim, Filipa; Pinela, José; García-Pérez, Pascual; Simal-Gandara, Jesus; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.; Prieto Lage, Miguel A.; Barros, LillianSince the beginning of the 21st century, food products have been subjected to numerous tests to check their quality and presence of harmful agents. Nowadays, consumers awareness about food quality has increased dramatically, paying much attention to the identification of artificial additives, which are normally included as preservative ingredients, among others. This change is also represented in the food industry, where the use of natural food texturizers and preservatives has been replacing some commonly used artificial additives, thus motivating the search for new bioactive compounds from natural sources. Among such bioactive compounds, plant secondary metabolites, in special phenolic compounds, have been largely reported for their health-enhancing properties and preservative effect. In this study, a phytochemical and nutritional characterization of three species from the Amaranthaceae family (Alternanthera sessilis (L.) R., Dicliptera chinensis (L.) Juss. and Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants) was performed. The antioxidant and antimicrobial activities and cytotoxicity to tumour and non-tumour cell lines were also evaluated using different methodologies. The results showed a high content of flavonoids in the ethanolic extract of the three species, ranging 11.4 – 15.1 mg/g extract, with apigenin, luteolin and isorhamnetin derivatives being the most abundant compounds. On the other hand, the results from nutritional analysis showed a high protein content in the species studied (13.9- 16.9 ± 0.1 g/100 g of dry weight, dw), together with the presence of organic acids, such as oxalic and succinic acids. Concerning the reported bioactivities of the plant extracts, the results for cytotoxic activity showed GI50 values ranging from 263 ± 12 μg/mL to 188 ± 14 μg/mL towards different tumor cell lines (colon carcinoma, Caco-2; breast adenocarcinoma, MCF-7; and non-small cell lung, NCI-H460) and no cytotoxic activity in the control cell line (Vero). Moreover, with respect to antimicrobial activity, the A. sessilis extract showed minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 5 mg/mL against Morganella morganii, as well as the D. abrosioides extract against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). For the antioxidant activity determined by the oxidative haemolysis assay (OxHLIA), the D. abrosioides extract showed an IC50 of 66 ± 10 μg/mL. Overall, these results suggest that ethanolic extracts from the characterized Amaranthaceae species, exhibiting a high bioactive potential, can be considered as promising natural ingredients or additives in the food industry.
- Applications of by-products from the olive oil processing: Revalorization strategies based on target molecules and green extraction technologiesPublication . Otero, Paz; Garcia-Oliveira, Paula; Carpena Rodríguez, María; Barral Martínez, Marta; Chamorro Rivo, Franklin Noel; Echave Álvarez, Javier; García-Pérez, Pascual; Cao, Hui; Xiao, Jianbo; Simal-Gandara, Jesus; Prieto Lage, Miguel A.During the last decades, olive oil consumption has experienced a continuous increase due to its unique organoleptic properties and its related beneficial properties. Consequently, waste and by-products derived from the olive production have also increased causing environmental problems and economic losses. However, the low-cost and huge availability of these by-products is an opportunity for their valorization and the obtaining of high added-value compounds such as tyrosol, hydroxytyrosol (HT), oleocanthal, oleuropein (OLE), ligstroside, squalene, fatty acids, etc. The development of innovative extraction and characterization technologies is a key factor for the olive sector. In addition, a deeper knowledge about the biological properties of the compounds present in the recovered products and their mechanism of action is crucial to allow their reintegration in the food chain and their potential uses in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Scope and approach: This review encompasses all these aspects showing the advances achieved to date in the olive oil by-products valorization focusing on their biological properties, including cardioprotective, antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic effects. Key findings and conclusions: The by-products derived from the Olea europaea L. processing industry are secondary but valuable products, from which different biologically active molecules can be recovered by green extraction technologies (PLE, SFE, etc.) and reused for food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic purposes following the circular economy policies. One of the main advantages on recovering valuable molecules from olive by-products is their incorporation to functional foods. A direct effect was proved between the use of olive by-products in human consumption and the heath claims. In this context, different food industries have used the phenolic fraction of olive by-products, holding mostly HT and OLE, as food additives and as preserving agents due to their antioxidant properties.
- Biological properties and potential of compounds extracted from red seaweedsPublication . Carpena Rodríguez, María; García-Pérez, Pascual; García-Oliveira, Paula; Chamorro Rivo, Franklin Noel; Otero, Paz; Lourenço-Lopes, Catarina; Cao, Hui; Simal-Gandara, Jesus; Prieto Lage, Miguel A.Macroalgae have been recently used for different applications in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry since they do not compete for land and freshwater against other resources. Moreover, they have been highlighted as a potential source of bioactive compounds. Red algae (Rhodo- phyta) are the largest group of seaweeds, including around 6000 different species, thus it can be hypoth- esized that they are a potential source of bioactive compounds. Sulfated polysaccharides, mainly agar and carrageenans, are the most relevant and exploited compounds of red algae. Other potential molecules are essential fatty acids, phycobiliproteins, vitamins, minerals, and other secondary metabolites. All these compounds have been demonstrated to exert several biological activities, among which antioxidant, anti- inflammatory, antitumor, and antimicrobial properties can be highlighted. Nevertheless, these properties need to be further tested on in vivo experiments and go in-depth in the study of the mechanism of action of the specific molecules and the understanding of the structure–activity relation. At last, the extraction technologies are essential for the correct isolation of the molecules, in a cost-effective way, to facilitate the scale-up of the processes and their further application by the industry. This manuscript is aimed at describing the fundamental composition of red algae and their most studied biological properties to pave the way to the utilization of this underused resource.
- Camellia japonica: a phytochemical perspective and current applications facing its industrial exploitationPublication . González Pereira, Antía; García-Pérez, Pascual; Cassani, Lucia; Chamorro Rivo, Franklin Noel; Cao, Hui; Barba, Francisco Jose; Simal-Gandara, Jesus; Prieto Lage, Miguel A.In response to the increased popularity of medicinal plants, a number of conservation groups are recommending the investigation on poorly characterized and widely distributed species, as it is the case of camellias. In particular, Camellia japonica L. is a widespread species found in Galicia (NW Spain), where it has been largely exploited with ornamental purposes. Recent findings on its phytochemical characterization showed thousands of bioactive ingredients, mostly represented by phenolic compounds, together with terpenoids, and fatty acids. These molecules present associated biological activities, acting as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer agents. This review is aimed at describing the main bioactive compounds of C. japonica, as well as the health-enhancing properties attributed to this medicinal plant. Novel strategies are needed to implement an efficient industrialization process for C. japonica, ranging from small-scale approaches to the establishment of large plantations, thus involving important sectors, such as the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.
- Challenges for future food systems: from the Green Revolution to food supply chains with a special focus on sustainabilityPublication . Soria‐Lopez, Antón; García-Pérez, Pascual; Carpena, María; García-Oliveira, Paula; Otero, Paz; Fraga-Corral, Maria; Cao, Hui; Prieto Lage, Miguel A.; Simal‐Gandara, JesusFinding a food system to feed the growing worldwide population remains a challenge, especially in the current era, where natural resources are being dramatically depleted. From a historical point of view, the Green Revolution, together with biofortification and sustainable intensification, was established as a possible solution to counter hunger and malnutrition during the second half of the 20th century. As a solution, to overcome the limitations attributed to the Green Revolution, food supply chains were developed. The current food system, based on the long food supply chain (LFSC), is characterized by globalization, promoting several advantages for both producers and consumers. However, LFSC has been demonstrated to be unable to feed the global population and, furthermore, it generates negative ecological, environmental, logistical, and nutritional pressures. Thus, novel efficient food systems are required to respond to current environmental and consumers’ demands, as is the case of short food supply chain (SFSC). As a recently emerging food system, the evaluation of SFSC sustainability in terms of environmental, economic, and social assessment is yet to be determined. This review is focused on the evolution of food supply systems, starting from the Green Revolution to food supply chains, providing a significant perspective on sustainability.
- Characterization of in vitro antioxidant, antitumor and anti-inflammatory properties of plant species from Rosaceae familyPublication . Garcia-Oliveira, Paula; Barral Martínez, Marta; Jarboui, Amira; Oludemi, Taofiq; García-Pérez, Pascual; Pinela, José; Mandim, Filipa; Simal-Gandara, Jesus; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.; Prieto Lage, Miguel A.; Barros, LillianSince ancient times, humans have employed different plant species to prepare traditional remedies and treat diseases, due to the health-promoting effects associated with these plants. Among them, several species belonging to the Rosaceae family, namely Agrimonia eupatoria L., Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim. and Rosa canina L., which have been used in different preparations, like infusions, decoctions or tinctures, to treat diverse illnesses and diseases [1]. Nowadays, the search for natural derived ingredients has prompted the study of these traditional plants. The present work aimed to evaluate the biological properties of the above-mentioned Rosaceae species, in order to promote their applications in different sectors. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by different in vitro assays: 2,2-diphenylpycrilhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay for inhibition of lipid peroxidation, OxHLIA assay for inhibition of oxidative hemolysis, and reducing power determination. Antitumor activity was tested against four tumor cell lines: MCF-7, CaCo, AGS and NCI-H460. Finally, anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by the inhibition of inflammation on lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW264.7 murine macrophages. Considering the results, all plant extracts showed antioxidant effects in the tested assays, especially F. ulmaria. All tested extracts also displayed relevant antitumor effects against the four tested tumor cell lines, mostly F. ulmaria, which exhibited the lowest growth inhibition 50 values (GI50) ranging from 34 to 86 μg/mL of extract, presenting a noteworthy cytotoxic effect. Finally, R. canina showed significant anti-inflammatory effects, with effective concentration 50 values (EC50) of 20 μg/mL of extract. Therefore, the studied plants may be considered as promising natural sources of bioactive compounds with multifunctional biological properties for the development of several biobased applications.
- Phenolic profiling and in vitro bioactivities of three medicinal Bryophyllum plantsPublication . García-Pérez, Pascual; Ayuso, Manuel; Lozano-Milo, Eva; Pereira, Carla; Dias, Maria Inês; Ivanov, Marija; Calhelha, Ricardo C.; Soković, Marina; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.; Barros, Lillian; Gallego, Pedro PabloBryophyllum constitutes a subgenus within the genus Kalanchoe that contains several plant species used in traditional medicine worldwide for the treatment of several diseases. However, little is known about the phytoconstituents of Bryophyllum spp. and previous reports have pointed at their low in Planta concentrations of bioactive compounds. In this work, we take advantage of plant in vitro culture for the study of the phenolic compounds found in the aerial parts of Bryophyllum spp. and their associated bioactivities. Our results show that the induction of nutritional stress leads to an improved accumulation of phenolic compounds, mainly flavonols and anthocyanins, represented by myricetin and malvidin glycosides, respectively. This effect is mainly found for B. × houghtonii, whose hydroethanolic extracts promoted the highest antioxidant, cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory activities. In the case of cytotoxic activity, Bryophyllum extracts showed an enhanced activity against the MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cell line. Meanwhile, extracts from B. daigremontianum promoted a wide range of effectiveness against different bacterial and fungal strains. This study is committed to shed light about the phytochemical potential associated to this unexplored subgenus, with the aim of considering Bryophyllum spp. as a valuable source of bioactive compounds for their exploitation in food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.
- Pigment composition of nine brown algae from the iberian northwestern coastline: influence of the extraction solventePublication . García-Pérez, Pascual; Lourenço-Lopes, Catarina; Silva, Aurora; González Pereira, Antía; Fraga-Corral, Maria; Zhao, Chao; Xiao, Jianbo; Simal-Gandara, Jesus; Prieto Lage, Miguel A.Brown algae are ubiquitously distributed in the NW coastline of the Iberian Peninsula, where they stand as an underexploited resource. In this study, five solvents were applied to the extraction of pigments from nine brown algae, followed by their determination and quantification by HPLC-DAD. A total of 13 compounds were detected: Six were identified as chlorophylls, six were classified as xanthophylls, and one compound was reported as a carotene. Fucoxanthin was reported in all extracts, which is the most prominent pigment of these algae. Among them, L. saccharina and U. pinnatifida present the highest concentration of fucoxanthin (4.5–4.7 mg g-1 dry weight). Ethanol and acetone were revealed as the most efficient solvents for the extraction of pigments, showing a maximal value of 11.9 mg of total pigments per gram of dry alga obtained from the ethanolic extracts of H. elongata, followed by the acetonic extracts of L. ochroleuca. Indeed, ethanol was also revealed as the most efficient solvent according to its high extraction yield along all species evaluated. Our results supply insights into the pigment composition of brown algae, opening new perspectives on their commercial exploitation by food, pharmaceutical, and cosmeceutical industries.
- Seaweed polysaccharides: emerging extraction technologies, chemical modifications and bioactive propertiesPublication . Otero, Paz; Carpena Rodríguez, María; Garcia-Oliveira, Paula; Echave Álvarez, Javier; Soria-Lopez, Anton; García-Pérez, Pascual; Fraga-Corral, Maria; Cao, Hui; Nie, Shaoping; Xiao, Jianbo; Simal-Gandara, Jesus; Prieto Lage, Miguel A.Nowadays, consumers are increasingly aware of the relationship between diet and health, showing a greater preference of products from natural origin. In the last decade, seaweeds have outlined as one of the natural sources with more potential to obtain bioactive carbohydrates. Numerous seaweed polysaccharides have aroused the interest of the scientific community, due to their biological activities and their high potential on biomedical, functional food and technological applications. To obtain polysaccharides from seaweeds, it is necessary to find methodologies that improve both yield and quality and that they are profitable. Nowadays, environmentally friendly extraction technologies are a viable alternative to conventional methods for obtaining these products, providing several advantages like reduced number of solvents, energy and time. On the other hand, chemical modification of their structure is a useful approach to improve their solubility and biological properties, and thus enhance the extent of their potential applications since some uses of polysaccharides are still limited. The present review aimed to compile current information about the most relevant seaweed polysaccharides, available extraction and modification methods, as well as a summary of their biological activities, to evaluate knowledge gaps and future trends for the industrial applications of these compounds. Key teaching points: Structure and biological functions of main seaweed polysaccharides. Emerging extraction methods for sulfate polysaccharides. Chemical modification of seaweeds polysaccharides. Potential industrial applications of seaweed polysaccharides. Biological activities, knowledge gaps and future trends of seaweed polysaccharides.
- Thermochemical characterization of eight seaweed species and evaluation of their potential use as an alternative for biofuel production and source of bioactive compoundsPublication . Cassani, Lucia; Lourenço-Lopes, Catarina; Barral Martínez, Marta; Chamorro Rivo, Franklin Noel; García-Pérez, Pascual; Simal-Gandara, Jesus; Prieto Lage, Miguel A.Algae are underexplored resources in Western countries and novel approaches are needed to boost their industrial exploitation. In this work, eight edible seaweeds were subjected to their valorization in terms of nutritional characterization, thermochemical properties, and bioactive profile. Our results suggest that seaweeds present a rich nutritional profile, in which carbohydrates are present in high proportions, followed by a moderate protein composition and a valuable content of !-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. The thermochemical characterization of seaweeds showed that some macroalgae present a low ash content and high volatile matter and carbon fixation rates, being promising sources for alternative biofuel production. The bioactive profile of seaweeds was obtained from their phenolic and carotenoid content, together with the evaluation of their associated bioactivities. Among all the species analyzed, Porphyra purpurea presented a balanced composition in terms of carbohydrates and proteins and the best thermochemical profile. This species also showed moderate anti-inflammatory activity. Additionally, Himanthalia elongata extracts showed the highest contents of total phenolics and a moderate carotenoid content, which led to the highest rates of antioxidant activity. Overall, these results suggest that seaweeds can be used as food or functional ingredient to increase the nutritional quality of food formulations.