Browsing by Author "Romeiras, Maria M."
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- Antimalarial and cytotoxic activity of native plants used in cabo verde traditional medicinePublication . Essoh, Anyse P.; Cassiano, Gustavo Capatti; Mandim, Filipa; Barros, Lillian; Gomes, Isildo; Medeiros, Márcia Melo; Moura, Monica B.M.V.; Cravo, Pedro V.L.; Romeiras, Maria M.Medicinal plants have historically been a source of drugs in multiple applications, including the treatment of malaria infections. The Cabo Verde archipelago harbors a rich diversity of native plants, most of which are used for medicinal purposes. The present study investigated the in vitro antiplasmodial activities of four native plants from Cabo Verde (i.e., Artemisia gorgonum, Lavandula rotundifolia, Sideroxylon marginatum, and Tamarix senegalensis). Traditional preparations of these medicinal plants, namely aqueous extracts (infusions) and ethanolic extracts, were tested against both chloroquine-sensitive (3D7) and chloroquine-resistant (Dd2) Plasmodium falciparum strains using the SYBR Green detection method. The in vitro cytotoxicity was evaluated in Caco-2 and PLP2 cells using a sulforhodamine B colorimetric assay. An ethanolic extract of A. gorgonum and infusions of T. senegalensis exhibited high antiplasmodial activities (EC50 < 5 g/mL) without cytotoxicity (GI50 > 400 g/mL). Extracts of L. rotundifolia and S. marginatum exhibited moderate activities, with EC50 values ranging from 10–30 g/mL. The A. gorgonum ethanolic extract showed activity toward early ring stages, and parasites treated with the T. senegalensis infusions progressed to the early trophozoite stage, although did not develop further to the late trophozoite or schizont stages. Antimalarial activities and the lack of cytotoxicity of the extracts are reported in the present study and support previous claims by traditional practitioners for the use of these plants against malaria while suggesting their ethnopharmacological usefulness as future antimalarials.
- Editorial: edible wild plants and fungi-resource to explore, preserve, and valuatePublication . Catarino, Luís; Barros, Lillian; Romeiras, Maria M.Useful plants and fungi have the potential to satisfy the basic needs of populations for food, medicine, and phytochemicals, among others, and possibly represent the most significant ecosystem provision service available for rural communities. Some wild and semi-cultivated species are traded in local and city markets but only a few have acquired economic importance. Many of them are important components in agroforestry systems and are suitable for the sustainable intensification of crop production.
- Evaluation of the Polyphenolic Composition and Bioactivities of Three Native Cabo Verde Medicinal PlantsPublication . Essoh, Anyse P.; Liberal, Ângela; Fernandes, Ângela; Dias, Maria Inês; Pereira, Carla; Mandim, Filipa; Moldão-Martins, Margarida; Cravo, Pedro V.L.; Duarte, Maria Paula; Moura, Monica B.M.V.; Romeiras, Maria M.; Barros, LillianThe use of medicinal plants in a variety of health conditions remains essential for the discovery of new treatments. The present study aimed to investigate the bioactive properties of three native plants from Cabo Verde Islands, namely Artemisia gorgonum Webb, Sideroxylon marginatum (Decne. ex Webb) Cout., and Tamarix senegalensis DC., contributing to the characterization of less- known medicinal plants and their potential benefits for human health. Known compounds, such as kaempferol, quercetin, caffeyolquinic, and apigenin derivatives, among others, were detected in the plant species under study. Overall, all species demonstrated good antioxidant capacity, especially the ethanolic extracts of A. gorgonum (EC50 = 0.149 mg/mL) in TBARS assay. Moreover, the ethanolic extracts of the studied plants showed cytotoxic properties against tumor cells, and again the A. gorgonum extract proved to be the most effective in inhibiting tumor growth, mainly in the CaCO2 (GI50 = 17.3 μg/mL) and AGS (GI50 = 18.2 μg/mL) cell lines. Only the ethanolic extracts of T. senegalensis and S. marginatum demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity, albeit weak (EC50 = 35 and 43 μg/mL, respectively). The present study contributed to increased knowledge about the bioactive properties of these plants commonly used in traditional medicine, some of which was discussed for the first time, opening new perspectives for their use in a wider range of health conditions, especially in African countries, where access to modern health care is more limited.
- Nutritional and Biochemical Assessment of Edible Fruits From Angola's Native FloraPublication . Rangel, Josefa; Liberal, Ângela; Pires, Tânia C.S.P.; Finimundy, Tiane C.; Barros, Lillian; Monteiro, Filipa; Romeiras, Maria M.; Fernandes, ÂngelaAngola's native flora hides a wealth of underexplored edible fruits with significant nutritional and bioactive potential. This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of the physicochemical and bioactive potential of some less explored edible fruits from this country, namely Annona muricata, A. squamosa, A. senegalensis, A. boehmii, Dacryodes edulis, and Strychnos spinosa. Nutritional profiling revealed carbohydrates as the predominant macronutrient, with A. muricata exhibiting the highest concentration (93.3 g/100 g dw). D. edulis, in turn, stood out for its high fat content (40.5 g/100 g dw), while A. senegalensis contained the highest protein levels (15-6 g/100 g dw). Free sugars analysis highlighted A. squamosa for its elevated fructose and glucose levels, contributing to its pronounced characteristic sweetness, whereas D. edulis exhibited minimal sugar content (1.27 g/100 g dw). Organic acid profiling revealed malic acid as dominant. Saturated fatty acids were predominant across most fruits, with A. boehmii showing the highest levels (71.6%), while A. senegalensis was enriched in monounsaturated fatty acids (45.15%). The phenolic analysis revealed a rich profile in bioactive compounds, with A. muricata and A. squamosa exhibiting significant levels of quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, while A. boehmii, S. spinosa, and D. edulis were characterized by distinct major phenolic compounds, such as cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, isorhamnetin-3-O-glucoside, and corilagin, respectively. Antioxidant activity was strongest in D. edulis and A. senegalensis (EC50 = 0.18 and 0.25 mu g/mL, respectively), while A. squamosa exhibited notable antibacterial activity (MIC = 0.3 mg/mL). This study underscores the nutritional and bioactive potential of Angola's native fruits, highlighting their applications in the food, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries.
- Phytochemical and bioactive potentials of African Annonaceae speciesPublication . Rangel, Josefa; Liberal, Ângela; Catarino, Sílvia; Costa, José Carlos; Romeiras, Maria M.; Fernandes, ÂngelaThis review aims to gather available information on the medicinal, nutritional, and bioactive profiles of Annonaceae species in the African continent, sponsoring their use worldwide and mainly in African communities, where access to food and medicines for basic health care is scarce. >60 medicinal taxa were compiled, belonging to 22 genera, namely Annickia, Annona, Anonidium, Artabotrys, Cleistochlamys, Cleistopholis, Dennettia, Duguetia, Greenwayodendron, Hexalobus, Isolona, Lettowianthus, Monanthotaxis, Monodora, Neostenanthera, Polyceratocarpus, Sphaerocoryne, Uvaria, Uvariastrum, Uvariodendron, Uvariopsis and Xylopia; the most diverse and economically important genera were the genera Annona, Uvaria and Xylopia with 7 species each. Annonaceae species hold a valuable nutritional profile, rich in proteins, fibers, and minerals, being also good sources of a wide range of bioactive compounds of high biological relevance. These compounds are especially important in developing countries, where most of these species are available for direct use as food and/or medicines by the most deprived populations.