Forest Research Centre

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Zantaz honey “monoflorality”: chemometric applied to the routinely assessed parameters

Publication . Elamine, Youssef; Lyoussi, Badiâa; Anjos, Ofélia; Estevinho, Leticia M.; Aazza, Smail; Carlier, Jorge D.; Costa, Maria Clara; Miguel, Maria da Graça

The comparison of Zantaz honey samples harvested in Morocco in two different years was performed through chemometric analysis of routinely assessed parameters. The objective was to study how the pollen profile of this newly reported honey shapes its physicochemical characteristics as well as to determine its monoflorality threshold, which has not yet been defined. The predominance of B. spinosum pollen was confirmed in the majority of samples reaching 45%, generally requested for monoflorality declaration. The principal component analysis (PCA) was used for clustering and variables correlations. Pollen qualitative and quantitative differences could discriminate the samples belonging to both seasons when combined with the sugar analysis (59.44%) better than the combination with physicochemical parameters (pH, acidity, ash content, electrical conductivity and color) (60.62%). Positive correlation between the presence of B. spinosum pollen and melanoidins, color, fructose, moisture, trehalose, melezitose, iron, manganese and calcium could be seen. Integrating all the parameters except the pollen data allowed distinguishing two groups with significant differences (P < 0.05) in B. spinosum representability (58 ± 11.24% against 40 ± 15.98%). This may suggest that 40% is the monoflorality threshold of the Moroccan Zantaz honey, although a confirmation with sensorial analysis is required.

2019Journal article

Open access

Enzyme inhibitory potential of ligustrum lucidum aiton berries

Publication . Paula, Vanessa B.; Delgado, Teresa; Campos, Maria G.; Anjos, Ofélia; Estevinho, Leticia M.

Ligustrum lucidum Aiton and its berries have been used in Chinese traditional medicine for around two thousand years. In the present study, L. lucidium berries harvested in two regions of Portugal were studied. Haemolytic activity and inhibition of oxidative haemolysis as well as the enzyme inhibitory activities ( -amylase enzyme and acetylcholinesterase) were assessed. Results suggest that the different biological activities varied according to the region where samples were collected. Results demonstrated that the sample obtained from region R1 was the most efficient extract for all parameters evaluated, presenting the lowest values of IC50, 10.67 0.46 g/mL for the inhibition of erythrocyte oxidative haemolysis, 58.28 3.77 g/mL for the -amylase enzyme and 67.67 2.10 g/mL for the acetylcholinesterase inhibition. L. Lucidum berries may be an interesting source of compounds for use in the development of the therapeutic armamentarium for diseases where enzymatic disruption is believed to play a role.

2019Journal article

Open access