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Chemical and bioactive characterization of Euterpe oleracea Mart

Publication . Oliveira, Izamara; Carocho, Márcio; Finimundy, Tiane C.; Pires, Tânia C.S.; Vaz, Josiana A.; Santos-Buelga, Celestino; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.; Heleno, Sandrina A.; Barros, Lillian

Besides the economic factor, açaí has been highlighted for its nutritional value, but also for its richness in α-tocopherol (vitamin E), phenolic compounds and for having interesting bioactive potential1. Therefore, the objective of this work was to perform the chemical and bioactive characterization of freeze-dried açaí pulp. Organic acids were determined by HPLC-DAD, tocopherols by HPLC-fluorescence, and phenolic compounds using HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS. The antioxidant potential was assessed through cellular antioxidant activity (CAA), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and radical scavenging activity (DPPH) assays; the antimicrobial capacity was evaluated using the microdilution method against pathogenic microorganisms, cytotoxicity against tumoral and non-tumoral cell lines by the sulphorhodamine B assay, and the anti-inflammatory potential using RAW cells. Citric acid (3.36 ± 0.07 g/100 g DW) was the most abundant organic acid, being fumaric acid found in the lowest concentrations (0.0117 ± 0.0001 g/100 g DW). Alpha and beta tocopherols were identified, with contents of 0.046 ± 0.001 mg/100 g DW and 0.17 ± 0.12 mg/100 g DW, respectively. Regarding the phenolic composition, taxifolin-O-deoxyhexylhexoside was the main compound (4.34 ± 0.03 mg/g of extract), followed by sinapoyl hexoside (2.27 ± 0.04 mg/g), quercetin-3-O-rutinoside (2.21 ± 0.06 mg/g) and finally isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside (0.54 ± 0.02 mg/g), presenting a total of non-anthocyanin phenolic content of 9.36 ± 0.15 mg/g of extract. Also, five anthocyanin compounds were identified, totaling 11.99 ± 0.22 mg/g of extract, where the compounds cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (4.72 ± 0.20 mg/g) and cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside (4.54 ± 0.03 mg/g) presented the highest levels, with lower, but significant, contents for pelargonidin-3-O-rutinoside (0.60 ± 0.01 mg/g). For the antioxidant potential, EC50 values of 270 ± 5 μg/mL in the DPPH and 61 ± 2 μg/mL in the TBARS assays, and 61% of oxidation inhibition at 2000 μg/mL in the CAA assay were obtained. Concerning the antimicrobial capacity, tested against food borne and clinical pathogens, the açaí extract was more active against Gram positive bacteria, with inhibition concentrations ranging from 1.25 to 10 mg/mL. As for cytotoxicity, the extract revealed activity against breast carcinoma cells (MFC-7) with IC50 values of 255 ± 22 μg/mL, while no significant effect was found against lung carcinoma cells (NCI-H460) and the normal cell culture (PLP2), for which values above the maximum concentration tested were found (>400 μg/mL). The extract also revealed anti-inflammatory activity with EC50 values of 384 ± 11 μg/mL. Taking in consideration the results obtained in the range of analyses performed, it can be concluded that the açaí pulp is an interesting source of bioactive molecules, highlighting its the antioxidant activity. Therefore, this fruit could be exploited for the development of functional formulations, besides being a candidate to explore as a natural source of colouring or preservative agents.

2022Conference object

Open access

Value-added lipids from plant foods and respective applications

Publication . Pedrosa, Mariana C.; Ueda, Jonata Massao; Heleno, Sandrina A.; Carocho, Márcio; Reis, Filipa S.; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.; Barros, Lillian

Since ancient times, man has used plants as a food source, associating their consumption with nutritional and health benefits. Among the nutrients obtained from plants, which the consumer associates more with beneficial health effects than those obtained from the animal diet, we can highlight the lipids. Lipids play a vital role in plant or animal biology, as they are a source of energy and can also act as hormones or signaling molecules. In plants, the lipid content varies according to the species, but this fraction is mainly constituted by polar and nonpolar lipids and acyl glycerides. The main classes of lipids found in plants include glycerols, phospholipids, glycolipids, sterols, free fatty acids, vitamins, waxes, carotenes, terpenes, hydrocarbons, phenolics, tocols, chlorophyll pigments, and their derivatives. Given the importance of these nutrients and their effects on human health, obtaining and using them as value-added molecules with a potential industrial application at different levels can and should be analyzed. Nowadays, several sectors (e.g. food, cosmetic, or pharmaceutical) invest in the search and characterization of different molecules to be used, such as functional and/or nutraceutical ingredients. Hence, promoting the concept of circular 92economy and sustainability of processes and products, byproducts have been identified as an excellent source of interest compounds. With these aspects in mind, this chapter presents the main vegetable sources of lipids, emphasizing food byproducts, the beneficial effects of these molecules on human health, ways of obtaining and extraction methodologies, and the potential for application in different sectors.

2023Book part

Restricted access

Nutritional profile of papaya peels, pulp, and seeds (Carica papaya L.)

Publication . Oliveira, Izamara; Heleno, Sandrina A.; Carocho, Márcio; Santos-Buelga, Celestino; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.; Barros, Lillian

Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is native to tropical America and is one of the most widely cultivated fruit plant in the world, especially in tropical areas where the average annual temperature is 25 °C. Due to its sensory characteristics, nutritional value, and functional properties (digestive and laxative), papaya is a very acceptable fruit. Nevertheless, after industrial processing peels and seeds are discarded generating waste that could be reused in the recovering of important molecules. Thus, the objective of this work was to determine the nutritional composition of papaya comparing the differences in the nutritional profile of the peels, pulp, and seeds. To achieve these results, the crude fat (Soxhlet extractor), protein (Macro-Kjedahl), ash (AOAC methodology 923.03), soluble sugars (HPLC-RI), fatty acids (GC-FID) and organic acids (HPLC-DAD) were determined. Regarding the results, for protein the values were relatively higher in seeds (43.6 ± 0.1 g/100 g dw) when compared to the peels (15.8 ± 0.3 g/100 g dw) and pulp (4.6 ± 0.2 g/100 g dw). Regarding fat, the values were also higher in the seeds (23.5 ± 0.9g/100 g dw) in comparison to the peels (1.46 ± 0.02 g/100 g dw) and pulp (0.78 ± 0.05 g/100 g dw). As for ash content, the values were higher for peels (10.6 ± 0.1 g/100 g dw), followed by seeds (8.0 ± 0.8 g/100 g dw) and pulp (4.7 ± 0.4 g/100 g dw). The carbohydrate content was higher in the pulp (89.9 ± 0.7 kcal) followed by the peel (72.2 ± 0.5 kcal) and seeds (25.0 ± 0.3 kcal). Three sugars, fructose, glucose, and sucrose were found, except for seeds that did not show the presence of sucrose. Glucose was the most abundant sugar in all fruit parts (56 ± 3 g/100 g dw for pulp; 21±1g/100 g dw for peels; 10±1 g/100 g dw for seeds). A total of 20 fatty acids were found, where linolenic acid (20.3 ± 0.4%) was the most abundant in the peels, palmitic acid (54.69 ± 0.02%) in the pulp and oleic acid (68.5 ± 0.1%) in the seeds. Four organic acids were quantified, where citric acid had the highest values in the seeds (8.0 ± 0.3 g/100 g dw), peels (3.88 ± 0.04 g/100 g dw) and pulp (2.00 ± 0.01 g/100 g dw), respectively. In general, it can be concluded that papaya has higher nutritional content in the seeds and peels when compared to the pulp, which is normally the consumable part, justified by its sweet taste and sensory aspects. However, the use of the residues of the peels and seeds would be of great value, since it has a significant nutritional potential reducing waste and enabling the creation of new products. In addition, future studies will be carried out testing its antimicrobial, ant-proliferative and antioxidant properties in cell-based assays, in order to further improve the bioactive quality of this fruit.

2021Conference object

Open access

Red pitaya (Hylocereus costaricensis) peel as a source of valuable molecules: extraction optimization to recover natural colouring agents

Publication . Roriz, Custódio Lobo; Heleno, Sandrina A.; Alves, Maria José; Oliveira, Beatriz; Pinela, José; Dias, Maria Inês; Calhelha, Ricardo C.; Morales, Patricia; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.; Barros, Lillian

Hylocereus costaricensis peel contains large amounts of betacyanins and can be exploited as a source of natural colorants. This work aimed the chemical characterization and evaluation of bioactive properties of this byproduct and the optimization of the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of betacyanins using the response surface methodology (RSM). Oxalic and malic acids and traces of fumaric acid were detected, as well as the four tocopherol isoforms, predominantly γ-tocopherol. Four betacyanins were identified and used as response criteria for UAE optimization, namely phyllocactin, isobetanin, isophyllocactin, and betanin. Sample processing at 487 W for 38 min result in the maximum betacyanin content (36 ± 1 mg/g dw). The peel extract inhibit the oxidative haemolysis, with IC50 values of 255 and 381 μg/mL for Δt of 60 and 120 min, respectively, and the growth of pathogenic bacteria, with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 5 to 20 mg/mL. Furthermore, no toxicity was observed for normal cells.

2022Journal article

Open access

Composição fenólica e atividade biológica de extratos de casca e ramos de Juniperus communis L. (zimbro comum)

Publication . Xavier, Virginie; Finimundy, Tiane C.; Amaral, Joana S.; Pinela, José; Calhelha, Ricardo C.; Oliveira, Izamara; Madiavilla, Irene; Esteban Pascual, Luis Saul; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.; Heleno, Sandrina A.; Barros, Lillian

A espécie Juniperus communis L., comumente designada “zimbro” em Portugal, é uma conífera, pertencente à familia Cupressaceae e adaptada à baixa disponibilidade de nutrientes no solo. O zimbro foi usado na medicina tradicional para tratar infeções urinárias, dermatites ou como diurético, entre outros, dada a sua composição em bioativos como compostos fenólicos, terpenóides e ácidos orgânicos. Nos últimos anos, vários estudos reportam o seu potencial antimicrobiano, antioxidante, antiinflamatório, efeitos anti-diabéticos, hipocolesterolémicos e ainda a sua ação neuroprotetora, bem como capacidade antiproliferativa contra células cancerígenas e a capacidade de ativar mecanismos hepatorrenais e gastroprotetores [1,2]. No âmbito do presente trabalho, que surge no contexto do projeto BBI-JU BeonNAT, a casca do zimbro foi separada da parte aérea e posteriormente moída à parte da restante biomassa (parte aérea composta por ramos e agulhas) para comparar estas duas frações ao mesmo tempo que se pretende aproveitar todas as partes da planta, promovendo um conceito de economia circular. Depois de moídas, as amostras foram extraídas por maceração e a composição fenólica de cada fração de biomassa foi analisada por HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS, onde 17 compostos foram identificados na casca e 14 compostos na restante biomassa. Enquanto que na casca foram apenas idenditificados flavan-3-ols, na parte aérea a maior parte dos compostos são flavonoides (10 identificados), seguido de 2 flavan-3-ois e ainda 2 ácidos fenólicos, sendo o composto maioritário, nos dois casos, um dímero de procyanidina. Para avaliar a biotividade dos extratos, realizou-se a análise antimicrobiana por microdiluição, utilizando bacterias Gram-positivas e Gram-negativas, isoladas de ambiente clínico e alimentar. A atividade antioxidante foi realizada por duas metodologías distintas: inibição da peroxidação lipídica em tecidos cerebrais de porco (TBARS) e inibição da hemólise oxidativa (OxHLIA), onde o extrato da casca de zimbro se mostrou mais promissor, apresentando um EC50 mais baixo (TBARS: EC50=11.30􀁲0.88 􀁐g/mL e OxHLIA: 14.9±0.5 􀁐g/mL) em comparação com o extracto da parte aérea (TBARS: EC50=25.89􀁲0.62 􀁐g/mL e OxHLIA: 47±1 􀁐g/mL). Por sua vez, a citotoxicidade foi avaliada numa cultura de células não tumorais: PLP2 (cultura primária de células de fígado de porco), em que ambos os extratos apresentaram toxicidade para esta linha celular. No entanto, de acordo com a aplicação-alvo, a toxicidade apresentada pelos extratos deve ser analisada mais profundamente, verificando esta condição em modelos de toxicidade específicos para cada indústria/produto. No geral, tendo em conta a composição química e as bioatividades comprovadas, os extratos quer da casca, quer da parte aérea do zimbro são potenciais matérias-primas para o desenvolvimento de produtos com aplicação na área alimentar, farmacêutica e/ou cosmética.

2022Conference object

Open access