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- Plant-Derived Bioactive Compounds: One Health PerspectivePublication . Gonçalves, Ana Carolina Almeida ; Pinto, Ana R.; Cima, André; Olo-Fontinha, Eva; Martins, Joana; Garcia, Juliana; Lemos, André; Saavedra, Maria José; Pintado, Maria Manuela; Alves, Maria JoséThis review, within the One Health framework, compiles information on plant-derived bioactive compounds and emphasises their multifunctional role in improving environmental, animal, and human health. These compounds support sustainable health and ecological stability by influencing biological and environmental processes. Data from literature research are combined to explain the mechanisms and potential uses of different key bioactive compounds. Mechanistic insights focus on their capacity to regulate oxidative stress, inflammation, and microbial balance, linking these effects to therapeutic benefits in human health, enhanced animal productivity, and environmental sustainability. These compounds show antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and metabolic activities, helping prevent chronic diseases, strengthen immunity, and reduce reliance on antibiotics and pollution. Examples like quercetin, resveratrol, and curcumin demonstrate their roles in modulating inflammatory and metabolic pathways to foster sustainable health and ecological balance. Bioactive compounds are linked to the One Health strategy, providing benefits across biological systems. Nonetheless, challenges such as variability, bioavailability, and standardization remain. Future directions should aim to develop sustainable extraction and formulation methods, leverage omics technologies and artificial intelligence for discovery and characterization, and foster industry partnerships to validate these compounds and secure global regulatory approval.
- Optimization and Validation of the SBSE–HPLC–FLD Method for the Determination of Priority Pollutants PAHs in Several Water MatricesPublication . Fernandes-Lage, Eduardo; Alves, Maria José; Moura, Cosme; Garcia, JulianaPolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are priority pollutants in drinking and environmental waters. Their mutagenic/carcinogenic potential and ng.L-1 limits demand methods that are both sensitive and practical. We report a rapid, solvent-sparing workflow coupling stir-bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) to HPLC with fluorescence detection (FLD) for simultaneous determination of six PAHs (fluoranthene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[ghi]perylene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene) in drinking water, groundwater, and surface water. SBSE conditions were optimized, and isocratic RP-HPLC achieved baseline resolution within a 26-min cycle using similar to 39 mL solvent (similar to 20 samples day - 1). Validation under ISO/IEC 17,025 showed linear calibration (r >= 0.99941), limits of detection of 0.4-1.8 ng.L-1, and matrix-verified LOQs of 1.5-10.9 ng.L-1. Trueness and precision met predefined criteria across matrices (recoveries 63.3-109.9%; within-laboratory reproducibility <= 25% RSD), with expanded uncertainties U(k = 2) <= 47.1%. Performance satisfies EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184 requirements for benzo[a]pyrene and the regulated PAH sum. By attaining sub-10 ng.L-1 LOQs with FLD alone and documenting a complete uncertainty budget, this procedure offers a cost-effective alternative to LC-MS/MS for routine compliance and surveillance. The validated SBSE-HPLC-FLD protocol is fit-for-purpose for regulatory laboratories and environmental services requiring sensitive, robust, and scalable PAH determination across diverse water matrices.
- A Critical Review of Emerging Solutions for Food Packaging: Opportunities and ChallengesPublication . Martins, Joana; Garcia, Juliana; Guimarães, Rafaela; Gouvinhas, Irene; Alves, Maria José; Saavedra, Maria JoséThe environmental impact of conventional plastics has driven a shift toward biobased food packaging, shaped by consumer expectations, market trends, and regulatory policies within the European Union (EU). Despite extensive research on biopolymers such as starch, cellulose, chitosan, and polylactic acid (PLA), their use in commercial food packaging remains limited. A major challenge identified in the literature is the evaluation of biopolymer performance, in which environmental benefits are often considered independently of mechanical, barrier, and economic factors. This review addresses this gap by critically exploring the functional performance of biopolymers regarding their chemical structure and processing methods, with particular emphasis on the role of bioactive compounds in enhancing these materials’ properties. Although several biopolymers can achieve tensile strength values comparable to conventional petroleum-based plastics, their higher water vapor transmission rates remain an unsolved barrier to scalability. These limitations, together with challenges related to mechanical performance and production costs, are discussed to clarify their impact on industrial feasibility and to identify priorities for future research supporting scalable, cost-effective, and regulatory-compliant food packaging solutions.