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Cholesterol-based compounds: Recent advances in synthesis and applications

Publication . Albuquerque, Hélio; Santos, Clementina M.M.; Silva, Artur

This review reports on the latest developments (since 2014) in the chemistry of cholesterol and its applications in different research fields. These applications range from drug delivery or bioimaging applications to cholesterol-based liquid crystals and gelators. A brief overview of the most recent synthetic procedures to obtain new cholesterol derivatives is also provided, as well as the latest anticancer, antimicrobial, and antioxidant new cholesterol-based derivatives. This review discusses not only the synthetic details of the preparation of new cholesterol derivatives or conjugates, but also gives a short summary concerning the specific application of such compounds

2019Journal article

Open access

Effect of application of edible coating and packaging on the quality of pansies (Viola × wittrockiana) of different colors and sizes

Publication . Fernandes, Luana; Pereira, J.A.; Baptista, Paula; Saraiva, Jorge A.; Ramalhosa, Elsa; Casal, Susana

The effects of alginate edible coating on the quality of pansies (visual appearance, weight loss, water activity, color, and dimensions change) were studied during refrigerated storage (4 C). The role of pansies’ color and size, as well as packaging, was also studied. Alginate treatments resulted in a beneficial effect on the visual appearance of pansies under refrigerated storage when compared to the uncoated, delaying their degradation from 3–4 days up to 14 days, depending on the pansies’ color, probably derived from their different petal thicknesses (83 to 183 mm for yellow and red pansies). The unpackaged coated pansies had different behaviors during storage, associated with their dimensions (the larger coated pansies maintained good visual appearance during longer storage times than the smaller ones). However, the packaged pansies treated with edible coating showed to have lower weight loss and shrinkage than the unpackaged, irrespective of the color and size, with physical stability up to 14 days. In summary, the cumulative use of alginate coating with packaging under refrigerated storage may contribute to extend pansies’ shelf life.

2018Journal article

Open access

The unexplored potential of edible flowers lipids

Publication . Fernandes, Luana; Ramalhosa, Elsa; Pereira, J.A.; Saraiva, Jorge A.; Casal, Susana

Edible ﬂowers have been historically linked to traditional world cuisine and culture. They are often used as ingredients in food and beverages for medicinal or pharmaceutical purposes. However, little attention has been paid to the quality of their lipids, and therefore to their potential for oil extraction and use in the food and food supplements industries. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the lipid composition of several edible ﬂowers, including fat content, fatty acids, vitamin E, and carotenoids proﬁles. Edible ﬂower lipids were found to be rich in linoleic (C18:2) and α-linolenic (C18:3) acids, which are essential fatty acids. Furthermore, most ﬂowers are a good source of α-tocopherol and xanthophylls, such as lutein and zeaxanthin. This review provides valuable information on the lipid proﬁle of some edible ﬂowers in order to better characterize them and to increase their popularization among the food industry and consumers, boosting agriculture demand for these products.

2018Journal article

Open access

Efeito do processamento por desidratação osmótica, altas pressões hidrostáticas e sua combinação na aparência de amores-perfeitos (Viola × wittrockiana)

Publication . Fernandes, Luana; Casal, Susana; Pereira, J.A.; Ramalhosa, Elsa; Saraiva, Jorge A.

Desde há muito tempo que as flores são usadas na alimentação em diversos locais do mundo. Nos últimos anos, este segmento tem mostrado uma procura e utilização crescentes. No entanto, as flores comestíveis são muito perecíveis e com um curto tempo de vida útil. Os amores-perfeitos, uma das flores mais utilizadas na culinária (em saladas e sobremesas), são normalmente preservados com açúcar e ovo (cristalizados), armazenados sob refrigeração ou secos com ar quente. No entanto, há necessidade de se aplicarem novas tecnologias para aumentar o tempo de vida útil dos amores-perfeitos. Assim, o presente estudo teve como objectivo investigar pela primeira vez o efeito da desidratação osmótica (DO), altas pressões hidrostáticas (HHP), HHP como pré-tratamento à DO e aplicação simultânea de DO+HHP na aparência de amores-perfeitos.

2017Conference poster

Open access

Enhancement of Bioactivity of Natural Extracts by Non-Thermal High Hydrostatic Pressure Extraction

Publication . Scepankova, Hana; Martins, Margarida; Estevinho, Leticia M.; Delgadillo, Ivonne; Saraiva, Jorge A.

Natural extracts, likethose obtained from medicinal herbs, dietary plantsand fruitsare being recognized as important sources of bioactive compounds with several functionalities including antioxidant, anticancer, and antimicrobial activities. Plant extracts rich in phenolic antioxidants are currently being successfully used for several pharmaceutical applications and in the development of new foods(i.e.,functional foods),in order to enhance the bioactivity of the products and to replace synthetic antioxidants.The extraction method applied in the recovery of the bioactive compounds from natural materials is a key factor to enhance the bioactivity of the extracts. However, most of the extraction techniques have to employ heat, which can easily lead to heat sensitive compounds losing their biological activity, due to changes caused by temperature. Presently, high hydrostatic pressure (HHP)is being increasingly explored as a cold extraction method of bioactive compounds from natural sources.This non-thermal high hydrostatic pressure extraction (HHPE) technique allows one to reduce the extraction time and increase the extraction of natural beneficial ingredients, in terms of nutritional value and biological activities and thus enhance the bioactivity of the extracts.This review provides an updated and comprehensive overview on the extraction efficiency of HHPE for the production of natural extracts with enhanced bioactivity,based on the extraction yield,total content and individual composition of bioactive compounds, extraction selectivity, and biological activities of the different plant extracts, so far studied by extraction with this technique.

2018Journal article

Open access