Browsing by Author "Velho, Manuela Vaz"
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- Chemical composition and industrial applications of maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) bark and other non-wood partsPublication . Alonso-Esteban, José Ignacio; Carocho, Marcio; Barros, Diana; Velho, Manuela Vaz; Heleno, Sandrina A.; Barros, LillianMaritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) is native to the western Mediterranean basin and has an economic importance in southwestern Europe. This importance is based on the use of its wood in the construction, furniture, and paper industries. Bark and other parts of the plant, such as resin, needles, and cones, are by-products with potential industrial application. These parts of the tree stand out because of the presence of secondary metabolites, the main ones being phenolic compounds and terpenes. Bark contains both, while other parts of the plant are mainly composed of terpenes. All these compounds have biological potential, mainly antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The bark has the widest range of industrial applications, and it can be used to obtain dietary supplements and functional foods, adsorbents, and bio-based resins and foams. Resin has a prominent industrial role too, especially in chemical industry. In this manuscript, an overview of these applications is described, opening an innovation opportunity for enterprises to use the by-products and residue of maritime pine. Still, albeit the described application, maritime pine has further applications that are right now being studied under the premises of circular economy.
- Phenolic compounds and antioxidant and cytotoxic properties of maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) bark extractsPublication . Alonso-Esteban, José Ignacio; Finimundy, Tiane C.; Pereira, Carla; Velho, Manuela Vaz; Vaz, Josiana A.; Carocho, Márcio; Barros, LillianMaritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) is a pine species native to the western Mediterranean basin which has an economic importance in southwestern Europe due to the industrial uses of its wood. Other parts of the tree, including the bark, are considered by-products, and they stand out because of the presence of secondary metabolites, such as phenolic compounds. These compounds have biological potential, making them suitable to produce food supplements and functional foods, among other applications [1]. Two extracts were obtained from maritime pine bark by microwave assisted extraction (MAE) and ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE), and their phenolic compound content and antioxidant and cytotoxic properties were analysed. Phenolic compounds analysis was carried out by HPLD-DADESI/ MS [2]. Antioxidant properties were measured via thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) formation inhibition method in brain cell homogenates, cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) in murine macrophage cells RAW 246.7, and oxidative haemolysis inhibition assay (OxHLIA) in sheep blood erythrocytes [2,3]. The cytotoxic properties of the extracts were screened in tumour and non-tumour cells by the sulforhodamine B assay [3]. The MAE showed a greater yield of extraction, three times higher than UAE. Major phenolic compounds in maritime pine extracts were catechin and B-type procyanidins, and some A-type procyanidins and taxifolin derivatives were also found in both extracts. The best antioxidant activity results were observed in the TBARS method and OxHLIA, especially in the case of the extract obtained by MAE, although it did not showed CAA at the maximum concentration studied (2 mg/mL), unlike the extract obtained by UAE, which showed some activity at that concentration. Regarding cytotoxic properties, the two extracts showed similar results since they presented activity in tumour and nontumour lines with IG50 values higher than those observed with the positive control (ellipticine). Therefore, MAE was a better extraction method for obtaining a functional extract from maritime pine bark.
- The chemical characterisation of the maritime pine bark cultivated in Northern PortugalPublication . Barros, Diana; Fernandes, Elia; Jesus, Meirielly; Barros, Lillian; Alonso-Esteban, José Ignacio; Pires, Preciosa; Velho, Manuela VazMaritime pine, scientifically known as Pinus pinaster, holds a vital role in Iberian Peninsula forests, primarily as a source of wood for panels, paper, and cellulose production. Recently, there has been a growing interest in utilising agroforestry by-products to yield valuable chemicals for applications in various sectors, including the food, pharmaceutical, and bioenergy industries. This study aimed to assess the value of the primary by-product of Pinus pinaster from the Minho region of northwestern Portugal, i.e., the bark. The research extensively examined the bark’s chemical and thermal characteristics, including ash content, extractives, lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, fatty acids, and mineral composition. Additionally, various analytical techniques like FTIR, SEM, DSC, DTG, and XRD were used to observe chemical structure differences. The results reveal that the Pinus pinaster bark primarily consists of lignin (51.15%) and holocellulose (46.09%), with extractives mainly soluble in toluene–ethanol, followed by water, and a small amount of them are soluble in ethanol. The bark contained around 0.44% ash, and heavy metals such as Cd and Pb were not found. During degradation, Pinus pinaster experienced a 10% mass loss at 140 °C. In terms of crystallinity, holocellulose and cellulose showed similar percentages at approximately 25.5%, while α-cellulose displayed the highest crystallinity index at 41%.