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In vitro shoot cultures of pterospartum tridentatum as an alternative to wild plants as a source of bioactive compounds

Publication . Gonçalves, José Carlos; Coelho, Maria Teresa; Diogo, Maria da Graça; Alves, Vitor D.; Bronze, Maria Rosário; Coimbra, Manuel A.; Martins, Vitor Manuel Ramalheira; Moldão-Martins, Margarida

The aim of this study was to evaluate the composition of aqueous extracts of in vitro shoot cultures and wild plants of Pterospartum tridentatum in order to promote the use of this plant material as a possible source of bioactive compounds. The extraction yield from wild plants compared with in vitro shoot cultures was lower. The total phenolic contents of in vitro shoots were significantly lower compared with those of wild plants. The phenolic profiles of in vitro shoots were very similar to those of wild plants, regardless of the source. However, taxifolin-6-C-glucoside, as well as rutin and isoquercitrin, were not present in extracts of in vitro shoots. An interesting result was the higher molar percentages of rhamnose and uronic acids detected in in vitro shoots compared with the wild plants, which can make the in vitro plant material very useful for obtaining these compounds.

2018Journal article

Open access

Antioxidant capacities of flavones and benefits in oxidative-stress related diseases

Publication . Catarino, Marcelo D.; Alves-Silva, Jorge M.; Pereira, Olívia R.; Cardoso, Susana M.

Flavonoids, a group of secondary metabolites widely distributed in the plant kingdom, have been acknowledged for their interesting medicinal properties. Among them, natural flavones, as well as some of their synthetic derivatives, have been shown to exhibit several biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, anti-allergic, neuroprotective, cardioprotective and antimicrobial. The antioxidant properties of flavones allow them to demonstrate potential application as preventive and attenuating agents in oxidative stress, i.e., a biological condition that is closely associated to aging process and several diseases. Some flavones interfere in distinct oxidative-stress related events by directly reducing the levels of intracellular free radicals (hydroxyl, superoxide and nitric oxide) and/or of reactive species (e.g. hydrogen peroxide, peroxynitrite and hypochlorous acid) thus preventing their amplification and the consequent damage of other biomolecules such as lipids, proteins and DNA. Flavones can also hinder the activity of central free radical-producing enzymes, such as xanthine oxidase and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NADPH-oxidase) or inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and can even modulate the intracellular levels of pro-oxidant and/or antioxidant enzymes. The evaluation of flavones antioxidant ability has been extensively determined in chemical or biological in vitro models, but in vivo therapy with individual flavones or with flavones-enriched extracts has also been reported. The present manuscript revises relevant studies focusing the preventive effects of flavones on stress-related diseases, namely the neurological and cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes and its associated complications.

2015Journal article

Open access

Bioproducts from seaweeds: a review with special focus on the Iberian Peninsula

Publication . Cardoso, Susana M.; Carvalho, Loic G.; Silva, Paulo J.; Rodrigues, Mara Sofia; Pereira, Olívia R.; Pereira, Leonel

Seaweeds, i.e. macroalgae that occupy the littoral zone, are a great source of compounds with diverse applications; their types and content greatly determine the potential applications and commercial values. Algal polysaccharides, namely the hydrocolloids: agar, alginate and carrageenan, as well as other non-jellifying polysaccharides and oligosaccharides, are valuable bioproducts. Likewise, pigments, proteins, amino acids and phenolic compounds are also important, exploitable compounds. For the longest time the dominant market for macroalgae has been the food industry. More recently, several other industries have increased their interest in algal-derived products, e.g. cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and more recently, as a source of feedstock for biorefinery applications. This manuscript reviews the chemical composition of dominant macroalgae, as well as their potential added-value products and applications. Particular attention is devoted to the macroalgal species from the Iberian Peninsula. This is located in the Southwest of Europe and is influenced by the distinct climates of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, representing a rich spot of marine floral biodiversity.

2014Journal article

Restricted access