Integrated strategies for the development of a novel functional beverage with sustainable production systems

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Influência da viabilidade das sementes de Cynara cardunculus L. var. altilis na composição fenólica e propriedades bioativas

Publication . Mandim, Filipa; Dias, Maria Inês; Pinela, José; Barracosa, Paulo; Santos-Buelga, Celestino; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.; Barros, Lillian

Cynara cardunculus L., commumente denominado por cardo, é uma planta herbácea da família Asteraceae, compreendendo três variedades: cardo selvagem (var. sylvestris), cardo cultivado (var. altilis) e alcachofra (var. scolymus).1 Esta espécie para além de ser utilizada na medicina tradicional devido às suas propriedades diuréticas, coleréticas e hepatoprotetoras, é também amplamente utilizado em diversas aplicações industriais, nomeadamente para a produção de queijo, biomassa, bioenergia, produtos farmacêuticos, etc..2 As suas propriedades e aplicações têm enaltecido o seu consumo e utilização e, consequentemente, o seu cultivo e valor económico.

2020Conference poster

Open access

Valorization of Juglans regia leaves as cosmeceutical ingredients: bioactivity evaluation and final formulation development

Publication . Besrour, Nermine; Oludemi, Taofiq; Mandim, Filipa; Pereira, Carla; Dias, Maria Inês; Soković, Marina; Stojković, Dejan; Ferreira, Olga; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.; Barros, Lillian

The cosmetic industry is constantly searching for bioactive ingredients, namely, those obtained from natural sources with environmentally friendly connotations and less toxic effects. A previous study of our research group optimized the extraction of phenolic compounds from Juglans regia by heat-assisted extraction. Due to its richness in different phenolic compounds, the present work aimed to develop a formulation containing J. regia leaf extract. The extract’s antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, cytotoxicity, and photostability properties were evaluated. The extract was then incorporated into an O/W base cream, followed by characterization of the final formulation in terms of its antioxidant properties, phenolic composition, and stability over time and at different storage conditions. The most abundant compounds in the hydroethanolic extract were 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid (18.30 0.04 mg/g), quercetin-O-pentoside (9.64 0.06 mg/g), and quercetin 3-O-glucoside (6.70 0.19 mg/g). Besides those, the extract presented antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, wound closure, and antibacterial effects against several skin pathogens. In addition, HaCaT cell viability was maintained up to 98% at 400 g/mL.Within Proteus vulgaris-infected HaCaT cells, the extract also presented an over 40% bacterial mortality rate at its nontoxic concentration (200 g/mL). After incorporating the extract, the obtained formulation presented a good physicochemical profile over time and at different storage conditions while also maintaining its antioxidant effect; as such, it can be considered stable for topical application. Future work to evaluate its performance in terms of skin permeation and detailed toxicological studies with a focus on regulatory requirements, involving skin irritation, eye irritation, genotoxicity, photoirritation, and dermal absorption, should be conducted, as the prepared formulation demonstrated relevant properties that deserve to be further explored.

2022Journal article

Open access

Propriedades bioativas e composição fenólica de diferentes partes de Cynara cardunculus L. var. altilis

Publication . Mandim, Filipa; Petropoulos, Spyridon Α.; Pinela, José; Dias, Maria Inês; Santos-Buelga, Celestino; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.; Barros, Lillian

Os recursos do nosso planeta são cada vez mais escassos e, por essa razão, a sua utilização mais eficiente e sustentável tem sido alvo de crescente atenção. Vários estudos têm demonstrado que a variedade e as condições edafoclimáticas dos locais de cultivo, bem como os diferentes tecidos vegetais, influenciam a composição química e, consequentemente, o potencial bioativo das espécies vegetais.1 Cynara cardunculus L. (Asteraceae), vulgarmente conhecida por cardo, é uma planta herbácea nativa da bacia do Mediterrânio com um importante valor económico devido às suas múltiplas aplicações industriais (incluindo produção de biomassa, bioenergia, pasta de papel e alimentos).1,2 No entanto, uma vez que alguns tecidos desta espécie encontram-se subutilizados, este trabalho teve como objetivo caracterizar o perfil fenólico e as propriedades bioativas de capítulos florais e brácteas colhidas ao longo do ciclo de crescimento da cultura.

2022Conference poster

Open access

Biological activity of 6,7-Dehydroxyroyleanone and derivatives obtained from Plectranthus aliciae (Codd) A.J.Paton

Publication . Filipe, Márcia Santos; Domínguez-Martín, Eva M.; Pires, Tânia C.S.P.; Finimundy, Tiane C.; Melgar Castañeda, Bruno; Mandim, Filipa; Isca, Vera M. S.; Pereira, Raquel; Teixidó-Trujillo, Silvia; Capote, Natalia A.; Nikolić, Milan; Filipović, Nenad; Díaz-Lanza, Ana M.; Figueiredo, Ana Cristina; Barros, Lillian; Rijo, Patrícia

The Plectranthus genus (Lamiaceae) is known to be rich in abietane diterpenes. The bioactive 6,7-dehydroxyroyleanone (DHR, 1) was previously isolated from Plectranthus madagascariensis var. madagascariensis and var. aliciae. This study aimed to explore the occurrence of DHR, 1, in P. aliciae and the potential bioactivities of new semisynthetic derivatives from DHR, 1. Several extraction methods were evaluated, and the hydrodistillation, using a Clevenger apparatus, afforded the highest yield (77.8 mg/g of 1 in the essential oil). Three new acyl derivatives (2-4) were successfully prepared from 1 (yields of 86-95%). Compounds 1-4 showed antioxidant activity, antibacterial effects, potent cytotoxic activity against several cell lines, and enhanced anti-inflammatory activity that surpassed dexamethasone (positive control). These findings encourage further exploration of derivatives 2-4 for potential mechanisms of antitumoral, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory capabilities, studying both safety and efficacy.

2024Journal article

Open access

Exploring the impacts of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) germination on the flour’s nutritional, chemical, bioactive, and technological properties

Publication . Salvati, Diogo; Paschoalinotto, B. H.; Mandim, Filipa; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.; Steinmacher, Nádia Cristiane; Pereira, Carla; Dias, Maria Inês

Germination is a natural, simple, and economical process used to improve the quality of nutritional and technological grains. In this study, native and sprouted sorghum flours were characterized regarding their technological properties (particle size distribution, water, and oil absorption capacity, swelling power and solubility, microscopy of starch granules, and pasting and thermal properties). Nutritional and phytochemical characterization profiles, including free sugars, fatty acids, organic acids, tocopherols, and phenolic compounds, were explored through chromatographic methods. The antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic activities of the respective hydroethanolic extracts were also evaluated. The results showed that the germination process caused significant changes in the flour composition and properties, causing reduced gelatinization temperature and retarded starch retrogradation; an increased content of free sugars and total organic acids; and a decreased content of tocopherols and phenolic compounds. In terms of bioactivity, the sprouted sorghum flour extract showed better lipid-peroxidation-inhibition capacity and none of the extracts revealed hepatotoxicity or nephrotoxicity, which are important results for the validation of the use of the flours for food purposes. Germination is an efficient and alternative method for grain modification that gives improved technological properties without chemical modification or genetic engineering.

2024Journal article

Open access