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Projeto de investigação
OXIGUT - OXIdized lipids and GUT balance: Finding sustainable solutions to protect food lipids and to improve human nutrition and health.
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Publicações
Characterization of Liquid Dosage Forms of Atenolol and Enalapril Maleate for Oral and Enteral Feeding Administration
Publication . Mota, Sandra; Torres, Ana; Quintas, Clara; Peres, António M.; Ferreiro, Nuno Manuel; Cruz, Rebeca; Ferreira, Helena; Almeida, Isabel F.; Casal, Susana
The limited availability of pharmaceutical formulations tailored for cardiovascular diseases in both pediatric and geriatric populations generates the need for compounded dosage forms to guarantee precise dosing and medication adherence. This study aimed to analyze the physicochemical properties and stability of formulations of atenolol and enalapril maleate prepared with a proprietary oral vehicle, SuspendIt®. To this end, palatability, injectability, pH, rheological behavior, and physical, microbiological, and chemical stability over a 180-day storage period at 25 ◦C and 5 ◦C were evaluated. Injectability tests confirmed the suitable use of both formulations for administration through enteral feeding tubes. By using a potentiometric electronic tongue, it was confirmed that the SuspendIt® vehicle effectively served as a bitter-blocking strategy for atenolol and enalapril maleate. Adequate stability throughout the storage period was confirmed in terms of the mechanical properties, pH, and effectiveness of the preservative system. The atenolol concentration remained above 90% of the initial amount, while the concentration of enalapril maleate decreased to 88% after 90 days of storage at 25 ◦C. In summary, the atenolol formulation maintained suitable chemical, physical, and microbiological stability after 180 days at both storage temperatures, while the enalapril maleate formulation remained stable up to 60 days at 25 ◦C and for 180 days at 5 ◦C.
A Reliable Molecular Diagnostic Tool for CA90 (Castanea sativa × Castanea crenata) Hybrid Identification Through SSR
Publication . Yussif, Toufiq Soale; Cruz, Nadine Evora da; Coelho, Valentim; Gouveia, Maria Eugénia; Choupina, Altino
Chestnut trees are an essential source of both food and timber. However, the severe threats from invasive pests and diseases compromise their existence and productivity. In Europe, chestnut hybridization programs have been initiated to produce resilient rootstocks in response to ink disease. However, the gap in the identification of these hybrid plants is typically based on field observations and morphological features and remains a challenge. Our study presents a marker set for distinguishing between chestnut hybrid CA90 (Castanea sativa × Castanea crenata), a hybrid with demonstrated resistance to Phytophthora cinnamomi, and other varieties using microsatellite (SSR) markers and bioinformatics tools. We used 35 chestnut samples, including three CA90 controls, hybrids sampled within Portugal, with an aim to define the profiles of the chestnut hybrids and varieties in this study based on band patterns and SSR motifs. We selected and modified nine distinct SSR primers with null allelic features from 43 already developed simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. PCR amplification and agarose gel electrophoresis were used to amplify and visualize the DNA bands. To confirm genetic variations, 27 amplified bands were sequenced by Sanger sequencing. This analysis identified 31 SSRs across 22 SSR-containing sequences, with trinucleotide (67.74%) repeats being the most common, followed by repeats of dinucleotide (22.58%), mononucleotide (6.45%), and hexanucleotide (3.23%). A total of 18 alleles were observed for the nine loci. The alleles ranged from one to three per locus for the 35 samples. The novel locus CP4 could only be found in CA90 hybrids. This tool can aid in identifying and selecting disease-resistant hybrids, thereby contributing to chestnut production and management strategies.
Exploring the bioresource potential of beech nuts (Fagus sylvatica L.) from different regions of Spain: geographical origin impact on composition and antioxidant activity
Publication . Lamas, Sandra; Rodrigues, Nuno; Herrero, Baudilio; Casal, Susana; Cruz, Rebeca; Peres, António M.; Pereira, José Alberto
Beech nuts ( Fagus sylvatica L.) are an underutilized resource with promising nutritional and functional potential. This study analysed physicochemical characteristics of nuts collected from three Spanish regions (Burgos, León, and Palencia) and applied chemometric tools to identify geographical biomarkers. All samples displayed antioxidant activity, with the highest levels observed in samples from Palencia. Although volatile compound profiling showed region-specific patterns dominated by aldehydes, the mean sensitivity achieved for repeated K-fold cross-validation (88%) led to several misclassifications, limiting its applicability as a non-invasive approach for geographical origin discrimination. The extracted oils (17–22% dw) were rich in unsaturated fatty acids, mainly oleic acid (35.2–39.3%) and linoleic acid (36.0–38.0%), with significant regional variation. Moisture and specific fatty acids (C16:1, C18:3, C20:2, C22:0, C22:1) were identified as reliable markers of geographical origin, allowing a very satisfactory predictive performance (98% for repeated K-fold-CV). Beech nut oils were also rich in tocopherols (441–551 mg/kg), with γ-tocopherol as the predominant form. The identification of region-specific differences in composition and antioxidant capacity offers clear industrial advantages by enabling the targeted selection of raw materials with tailored nutritional, functional, and quality attributes, while also supporting traceability. Overall, the findings highlight beech nuts as a promising bioresource with potential applications as a functional ingredient in different industries.
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Entidade financiadora
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Programa de financiamento
CEEC IND5ed
Número da atribuição
2022.00965.CEECIND/CP1724/CT0016