A carregar...
Projeto de investigação
Exploring salt tolerant plants as sources of innovative food additives
Financiador
Autores
Publicações
Protective properties of the edible halophyte Carpobrotus edulis (L.) N.E.Br. towards neoformed food contaminants-related oxidative stress and genotoxicity
Publication . Oliveira, Daniela; Hayrapetyan, Ruzanna; Dias, Maria Inês; Barros, Lillian; Séverin, Isabelle; Custódio, Luísa; Chagnon, Marie-Christine; Oliveira, Rui P.
Carpobrotus edulis (L.) N.E.Br. is an edible halophyte native to South Africa, where it has been traditionally consumed as food, revealing its nutritional value, and used in the treatment of human diseases probably due to the accumulation of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols. These compounds have potential to display valuable biological activities that could bring several benefits to the human being, including the mitigation of toxicity induced by food contaminants. Therefore, this study investigated biological activities with health-promoting potential of a C. edulis ethanol extract (CEE), such as antioxidant, antigenotoxic, and antimutagenic. CEE was shown by LC-DAD-ESI/MSn to be composed of 16 polyphenols. The extract exhibited antioxidant properties by protecting Saccharomyces cerevisiae viability and improving the redox state of HepG2 cells under oxidative stress. Antigenotoxicity of CEE against H2O2-induced oxidative damage was detected in HepG2 and Caco-2 cells by comet assay and subsequently observed in the dominant deletion assay in S. cerevisiae. Antigenotoxicity and antimutagenicity of CEE towards the neoformed contaminant benzo[a]pyrene was found in HepG2 and Caco-2 cells by comet assay and in Salmonella typhimurium using the Ames test, respectively. The disclosed antigenotoxic and antimutagenic properties of C. edulis further advance its potential for application in food and nutraceutical industries for health benefits.
Harnessing the bioactive potential of Limonium spathulatum (Desf.) kuntze: insights into enzyme inhibition and phytochemical profile
Publication . Youssef, Seria; Custódio, Luísa; Rodrigues, Maria João; Pereira, Catarina G.; Calhelha, Ricardo C.; Jekő, József; Cziáky, Zoltán; Ben Hamed, Karim
This study assessed the halophyte species Limonium spathulatum (Desf.) as a possible source
of natural ingredients with the capacity to inhibit enzymes related to relevant human health disorders
and food browning. Extracts using food-grade solvents such as water and ethanol were prepared by
maceration from dried L. spathulatum leaves. They were evaluated for in vitro inhibition activity of
enzymes such as acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), -glucosidase, tyrosinase
and lipase, related to Alzheimer’s disease, type-2-diabetes mellitus, skin hyperpigmentation,
and obesity, respectively. These extracts were also appraised for in vitro acute toxicity on tumoral and
non-tumoral cell lines and their chemical composition by high-performance liquid chromatography
coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS). The extracts were
more effective towards BChE than AChE. The best results were obtained with the hydroethanolic and
water extracts, with IC50 values of 0.03 mg/mL and 0.06 mg/mL, respectively. The hydroethanolic
extract had the highest capacity to inhibit -glucosidase (IC50: 0.04 mg/mL), higher than the positive
control used (acarbose, IC50 = 3.14 mg/mL). The ethanol extract displayed the best inhibitory activity
against tyrosinase (IC50 = 0.34 mg/mL). The tested samples did not inhibit lipase and exhibited
low to moderate cytotoxic activity against the tested cell lines. The hydroethanolic extract had a
higher diversity of compounds, followed by the ethanol and water samples. Similar molecules were
identified in all the extracts and were mainly hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, and
flavonoids. Taken together, these results suggest that L. spathulatum should be further explored as a
source of bioactive ingredients for the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries.
Persistence of antioxidant properties of Carpobrotus edulis L. extract after in vitro digestion
Publication . Oliveira, Daniela; Dias, Maria Inês; Barros, Lillian; Custódio, Luísa; Oliveira, Rui
The human being is unknowingly cxposcd to many toxic chcrnicals through diet, which
can trigger an excessive pra ductian a f reactive oxygen and ni trogen species that can cause a
redax imbalance and generate oxidativc stress in thc gastrointcstin al tract, potcntially
contri buting to the development of degenerative discases. In fact, oxidative stress has becn
indi cated to contribute to ali three phases a f carcinogenesis. Thus, the attenuation of oxidative
strcss could contribute to the prevention of cancer in itiation.
Halophytes are associated wi th strong ant ioxidant capacity, which makes them excellent
candidates to anen uale lhe oxidative stress in the gaslrointestinal tracl. For instance,
Carpobrotus edulis L is an edible halophyte 1hal has been reported for its antioxidant properties
and high content in phenolic compounds. However, most of these stud ies did not consider the
impact of digeslion, which can alter the chemical structure of the phytochemicals and possibly
their biaacti vilics. To our knowledge, there are no studies considering the efTect of digestion on
lhe antiox idant properti es of C. edulis.
The objecti ve of th is work was to evaluate the impact of digestion on the chemical
compos ition and ant ioxidant capacity of C. edulis aerial part ethanol extract (CEE). The extract
was subjected to in vilro simulation of human digestion (IVO) and aI the end we obtained the
digesled extracl lhat becomes avai lable in lhe colon (DCEE). Both forms of lhe extract were
subjected to chemical characterization by lhe Folin-Ciocalteu melhod and by LC-DADESI/
MS· to delect alterations caused by IVO. The anti oxidant capacity ofCEE and DCEE was
evaluated in vi/ro by determ in ati an of scavenging of ni lric oxide (NO) and 2,2-diphenyl- l picrylhydrazyl
(DPPH) rad icaIs and in viab il ity assays again st hydrogen peroxide (H,O,) in the
yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The resu lts showed Ihat lhe phenolic composition ofCEE was
severely affected by IVO. as wel! as the capacity to scavenge the OPPH radical In oppositian,
the capac ity to scavenge the NO rad ical increased. Moreover, CEE protected yeast cel ls against
1-1,0" corroborating the antioxidant propert ies reported in the li leralure. These properties seem
to pers isl after IVO, bUl at a lower extent. Thus, although the IVD s ignificantly altered the
chemi cal compos it ion of CEE and decreased the antioxidant capacity, lhe beneficiai effect is
still relevant since it provided pratect ion against oxidative stress in the viabi lity assay in S.
cerevisiae. Thercforc. C. edlllis scems to have potent ia l to be included in the human diet to
decrease the oxidative stress generated in the gastrointestinal tract due to lhe recurrent
consumption of contaminated foods and lhus could play a role in the prevention of
carcinogenesis.
Persistence of antioxidant, antimutagenic, and antigenotoxic properties of Polygonum maritimum L. extract after in vitro digestion supports its high potential as a functional food ingredient
Publication . Oliveira, Daniela; Hayrapetyan, Ruzanna; Dias, Maria Inês; Rodrigues, Maria João; Correa, Vanesa Gesser; Carvalho, António Paulo; Corre, Ludovic Le; Séverin, Isabelle; Peralta, Rosane Marina; Santos, Miguel Machado; Custódio, Luísa; Chagnon, Marie-Christine; Oliveira, Rui
Continuous exposure to xenobiotic-contaminated food causes adverse effects that may lead to health complications, including cancer. Halophytes are rich in polyphenols that exhibit notable biological properties and may contribute to cancer prevention. However, digestion can modify the chemical structure of polyphenols, potentially reducing their biological properties. This study investigated the protective effects of a polyphenol-rich extract from the halophyte Polygonum maritimum L. (PME) against contaminants-induced toxicity and assessed the persistence of these properties following in vitro digestion. LC-DAD-ESI/MSn analysis revealed that the phenolic composition of PME decreased considerably after digestion. Nevertheless, the antioxidant activity of PME, measured as a decrease in reactive oxygen species levels in H2O2-challenged HepG2 cells, persisted post-digestion. The extract showed enhanced anti-inflammatory activity after digestion, as shown by the ability to reduce (NO)-N-center dot production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The antigenotoxicity of PME against the contaminant benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) in Caco-2 and HepG2 cells remained significant following upper gastrointestinal tract digestion (DPME), whereas the antigenotoxicity against H2O2 only persisted in Caco-2 cells. After colonic fermentation (FPME), antigenotoxicity was observed against H2O2 in HepG2 cells. PME also displayed antimutagenicity towards BaP in Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100 strains, which remained relevant in DPME, but was drastically reduced in FPME. Furthermore, Danio rerio fed with PME and BaP showed reduced negative effects in terms of size and lipid peroxidation. These results suggest that PME can protect against contaminants-induced toxicity along the gastrointestinal tract, maintaining bioactivity until colonic fermentation. Thus, PME can be a promising functional food ingredient for health improvement.
Unidades organizacionais
Descrição
Palavras-chave
Contribuidores
Financiadores
Entidade financiadora
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Programa de financiamento
Concurso para Financiamento de Projetos de Investigação Científica e Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Todos os Domínios Científicos - 2020
Número da atribuição
PTDC/BAA-AGR/1391/2020