Browsing by Author "Silva, Jani"
Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Alkaloids from fungiPublication . Silva, Jani; Garcia, Juliana; Guimarães, Rafaela; Palito, Cátia; Lemos, André; Barros, Lillian; Alves, Maria JoséThe prospection of unusual sources and undiscovered habitats is valuable in natural product research. Indeed, the fungi kingdom has received special attention since its ability to produce novel and intriguing secondary metabolites with various biological uses. Among secondary metabolites, alkaloid-derived structures present a wide range of bioactivities, including antineurodegenerative, antidepressive, anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, and insecticidal properties. Furthermore, various studies showed particular properties of those alkaloids in reducing nicotine addiction and alcohol dependence. Alkaloids are categorized into several groups based on their heterocyclic ring system and biosynthetic precursor, such as indole, isoxazoles, and muscarine. Therefore, this chapter focuses on those fungi’s bioactive alkaloids with emphasis on pharmacokinetics as well as the current analytical approaches for extraction and compound identification. Furthermore, the main biological activities and action mechanisms of these fungus alkaloids will also be discussed.
- Antibiofilm potential of medicinal plants against Candida spp. oral biofilms: a reviewPublication . Guimarães, Rafaela; Milho, Catarina; Liberal, Ângela; Silva, Jani; Fonseca, Carmélia; Barbosa, Ana Carolina; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.; Alves, Maria José; Barros, LillianThe use of natural products to promote health is as old as human civilization. In recent years, the perception of natural products derived from plants as abundant sources of biologically active compounds has driven their exploitation towards the search for new chemical products that can lead to further pharmaceutical formulations. Candida fungi, being opportunistic pathogens, increase their virulence by acquiring resistance to conventional antimicrobials, triggering diseases, especially in immunosuppressed hosts. They are also pointed to as the main pathogens responsible for most fungal infections of the oral cavity. This increased resistance to conventional synthetic antimicrobials has driven the search for new molecules present in plant extracts, which have been widely explored as alternative agents in the prevention and treatment of infections. This review aims to provide a critical view and scope of the in vitro antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of several medicinal plants, revealing species with inhibition/reduction effects on the biofilm formed by Candida spp. in the oral cavity. The most promising plant extracts in fighting oral biofilm, given their high capacity to reduce it to low concentrations were the essential oils extracted from Allium sativum L., Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume. and Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf.
- Antimicrobials from medicinal plants: an emergent strategy to control oral biofilmsPublication . Milho, Catarina; Silva, Jani; Guimarães, Rafaela; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.; Barros, Lillian; Alves, Maria JoséOral microbial biofilms, directly related to oral diseases, particularly caries and periodontitis, exhibit virulence factors that include acidification of the oral microenvironment and the formation of biofilm enriched with exopolysaccharides, characteristics and common mechanisms that, ultimately, justify the increase in antibiotics resistance. In this line, the search for natural products, mainly obtained through plants, and derived compounds with bioactive potential, endorse unique biological properties in the prevention of colonization, adhesion, and growth of oral bacteria. The present review aims to provide a critical and comprehensive view of the in vitro antibiofilm activity of various medicinal plants, revealing numerous species with antimicrobial properties, among which, twenty-four with biofilm inhibition/reduction percentages greater than 95%. In particular, the essential oils of Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf and Lippia alba (Mill.) seem to be the most promising in fighting microbial biofilm in Streptococcus mutans, given their high capacity to reduce biofilm at low concentrations.
- Avaliação da qualidade de vida e de sono dos termalistas do balneário termal de chavesPublication . Pereira, Sandra Cristina Soares; Silva, Jani; Gonçalves, C.; Guimarães, Rafaela; Milho, Catarina; Galvão, Ana Maria; Alves, Maria JoséAtualmente, cada vez mais as pessoas recorrem ao termalismo para melhorar a saúde na sua ampla dimensão, com destaque para o bemestar, incluindo o relaxamento, alívio de stress, depressão, e mesmo recuperação e reservatório de energias. Os tratamentos termais proporcionam uma harmonia corporal integral e condições para prevenir possíveis patologias, inclusive de cariz mental e social, visando uma melhor qualidade de vida e do sono. Objetivo: Este estudo teve com objetivo aprofundar os conhecimentos sobre termalismo, avaliar a qualidade de vida e de sono em dois momentos distintos, antes e após os 14 dias de tratamentos termais. Metodologia: Para responder ao objetivo traçado, realizou-se um estudo exploratório, quantitativo, descritivo, inferencial e longitudinal. Aplicou-se um questionário presencial, aleatoriamente, a 90 termalistas que frequentaram o termalismo clássico nas termas de Chaves entre junho e outubro de 2020. O questionário incluiu variáveis socioprofissionais, um instrumento genérico de avaliação da qualidade de vida (SF-36v2) e o instrumento de avaliação da qualidade de sono, (Índice de Qualidade de Sono de Pittsburgh). Resultados: Os dados recolhidos foram submetidos a tratamentos de análise estatística, recorrendo a uma análise descritiva e inferencial
- High prevalence of high-risk HPV infection in University students from the Northeast region of Portugal using self-samplingPublication . Sousa, Hugo; Sousa, Ana Saraiva; Silva, Jani; Medeiros, Rui; Alves, André; Nogueira, Augusto; Alves, Maria José; Rodrigues, Andreia; Sá, SílviaO Vírus do Papiloma Humano (HPV) é responsável por diversas patologias anogenitais. Está associado ao cancro do colo do útero, cancro da cabeça e pescoço, cancro de pele e verrugas anogenitais. A principal via de transmissão deste vírus é através do contacto sexual. O sexo oral é a principal via de transmissão de HPV na cavidade oral. Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar a prevalência de HPV na cavidade oral e a influência dos fatores de risco em estudantes portugueses e não portugueses a frequentar a Escola Superior de Saúde de Bragança. Métodos: A metodologia utilizada foi a extração de DNA e deteção de HPV por Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) em amostras orais recolhidas da orofaringe. Resultados: Da totalidade das amostras analisadas, 1,09% (n=3) foram positivas para HPV na cavidade oral. Foram encontrados 3 tipos de HPV de baixo risco e 1 tipo de HPV de alto risco. A amostra foi caracterizada de acordo com as características sociodemográficas e comportamentais tais como hábitos tabágicos e consumo de álcool, atividade sexual, número de parceiros sexuais, história de doenças sexualmente transmissíveis (DST) e vacinação. ConclusãoFoi encontrada uma baixa prevalência de HPV na cavidade oral na população jovem e não se observou associação com os fatores de risco como tabaco, álcool e comportamentos sexuais.
- A novel approach to assess balneotherapy effects on musculoskeletal diseases - an open interventional trial combining physiological indicators, biomarkers, and patients’ health perceptionPublication . Silva, Jani; Martins, José; Nicomédio, Cristina; Gonçalves, Catarina; Palito, Cátia; Gonçalves, Ramiro Manuel; Fernandes, Paula Odete; Nunes, Alcina; Alves, Maria JoséThe present study aimed to evaluate whether a 14-day period of balneotherapy influences the inflammatory status, health-related quality of life (QoL) and quality of sleep, underlying overall health state, and clinically relevant benefits of patients with musculoskeletal diseases (MD). The health-related QoL was evaluated using the following instruments: 5Q-5D-5L, EQ-VAS, EUROHIS-QOL, B-IPQ, and HAQ-DI. The quality of sleep was evaluated by a BaSIQS instrument. Circulating levels of IL-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured by ELISA and chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay, respectively. The smartband, Xiaomi MI Band 4, was used for real-time sensing of physical activity and sleep quality. MD patients improved the health-related QoL measured by 5Q-5D-5L (p < 0.001), EQ-VAS (p < 0.001), EUROHIS-QOL (p = 0.017), B-IPQ (p < 0.001), and HAQ-DI (p = 0.019) after balneotherapy; the sleep quality was also improved (BaSIQS, p = 0.019). Serum concentrations of IL-6 were markedly decreased after the 14-day balneotherapy (p < 0.001). No statistically significant differences were observed regarding the physical activity and sleep quality data recorded by the smartband. Balneotherapy may be an effective alternative treatment in managing the health status of MD patients, with a decrease in inflammatory states, along with positive effects on pain reduction, patient’s functionality, QoL, quality of sleep, and disability perception status.
- Sulfur-containing compounds from fungiPublication . Garcia, Juliana; Silva, Jani; Gouvinhas, Irene; Guimarães, Rafaela; Bovolini, Antonio; Saavedra, Maria José; Alves, Maria JoséSulfur contributes greatly to the chemical richness of nature and, due to its unique properties, enables essential biological interactions that no other element can. Sulfur-containing compounds are bioactive/nutraceuticals substances from different sources, including fungi. They comprise sulfur atoms that are cyclically or noncyclically bonded to a cyanate group or a carbon atom. Sulfur-containing compounds, already identified in various mushrooms species, include compounds such as ergothioneine (EGT), glutathione (GSH), and lenthionine (LT). These compounds exhibit important therapeutic properties such as antioxidant, antiinflammatory, anti-neurodegenerative, and antiplatelet characteristics potentially useful in the treatment of a variety of disorders and diseases, including neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases and even diabetes. The purpose of this chapter is to explain the generally recognized sulfur-containing compounds from fungi covering the distribution in species, and genera, as well as the extraction and identification by contemporary analytical techniques. The biosynthetic elements of fungal sulfur compounds, as well as the state of art concerning their biological activities, are also discussed.
- Thermalism as A Determinant of Quality of Life and Sleep: A Novel Approach to The Sector Using SF-36v2 and Pittsburgh IndexPublication . Pereira, Sandra; Silva, Jani; Marques, Catarina; Galvão, Ana Maria; Alves, Maria JoséThermalism has been used to improve health status, with emphasis on well-being, including relaxation, stress relief, depression, and even recovery and energy reserve. This study aimed to evaluate the perception of quality of life (QOL) by SF 36v2, and the quality of sleep, using the Pittsburgh Index, in individuals who attended the therapeutic thermalism at Chaves thermal Spa, in different treatment time points, pre-and post-treatment for 14 days. Methodology: Thermal Spa patients attending therapeutic thermalism at Chaves thermal Spa (N=90) completed a questionnaire with information on sociodemographic data, on health-related quality of life (SF-36v2), and on quality of sleep (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)). Results: In the thermal pre-treatment evaluation, participants revealed a good quality of life in the physical and social functioning, vitality, emotional role functioning, and mental health domains. In the post-treatment assessment, there all QOL indexes were improved, physical functioning, physical role functioning, bodily pain, and emotional role functioning. The participants revealed a good sleep quality in the following dimensions: sleep duration and efficiency, use of sleeping medications, and daytime dysfunction. In the second evaluation time-point, there was an improvement of all sleep quality indices, except for the sleep duration component. Regarding the quality of life and sleep by sociodemographic variables, data revealed that men had a better quality of life and sleep than women. Conclusion: Thermal treatments provided significant benefits for the quality of life and sleep. These results may contribute to improve the knowledge on the potentialities of thermal treatments and, ultimately to attract tourists seeking the benefits of thermal waters on its holistic vision.