METABOLIC PROFILING OF PORTUGUESE FICUS CARICA L. VARIETIES AND THEIR BIOACTIVITY

Funder

Organizational Unit

Publications

Chemical assessment and in vitro antioxidant capacity of Ficus carica latex

Publication . Oliveira, Andreia P.; Silva, Luís R.; Ferreres, Frederico; Pinho, P. Guedes de; Valentão, Patrícia; Silva, Branca M.; Pereira, J.A.; Andrade, Paula B.

Ficus species possess latex-like material within their vasculatures, affording protection and selfhealing from physical attacks. In this work, metabolite profiling was performed on Ficus carica latex. Volatiles profile was determined by HS-SPME/GC-IT-MS, with 34 compounds being identified, distributed by distinct chemical classes: 5 aldehydes, 7 alcohols, 1 ketone, 9 monoterpenes, 9 sesquiterpenes and 3 other compounds. Sesquiterpenes constituted the most abundant class in latex (ca. 91% of total identified compounds). Organic acids composition was also characterized, by HPLC-UV, and oxalic, citric, malic, quinic, shikimic and fumaric acids were determined. Malic and shikimic acids were present in higher amounts (ca. 26%, each). The antioxidant potential of this material was checked by distinct in vitro chemical assays. A concentration-dependent activity was noticed against DPPH, nitric oxide and superoxide radicals. Additionally, acetylcholinesterase inhibitory capacity was evaluated, but a weak effect was found.

2010Journal article

Restricted access

Characterization of Ficus carica L. cultivars by DNA and secondary metabolites analysis: Is genetic diversity reflected in the chemical composition?

Publication . Oliveira, Andreia P.; Baptista, Paula; Andrade, Paula B.; Martins, Fátima; Pereira, J.A.; Silva, Branca M.; Valentão, Patrícia

Ficus carica L. is one of the first plants cultivated by humans, having a great economic impact in many countries, the fruit being an important constituent of the Mediterranean diet. Plants' metabolome may be influenced by their genetic diversity, environmental factors and their interaction. Thus, in this study we explored the chemical and morphological profiles and the DNA of five Portuguese F. carica cultivars, to try to establish a correlation between genetics and metabolome. Morphological and molecular markers of these cultivars were assessed for the first time. Besides the observed morphological differences, the rbcL chloroplastic DNA region allowed a better clustering of the cultivars and was more successful in the identification of the species; as so, it could be helpful for authenticity purposes. Phenolic compounds, sterols and triterpenes profiles were determined by HPLC/DAD, the last revealing to be less variable among cultivars, once only a significant difference in the betulol content of “Pingo de Mel” samples was observed. For almost all the accessions studied, no correlation between genetic diversity and composition was observed.

2012Journal article

Restricted access