A carregar...
Projeto de investigação
Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food
Financiador
Autores
Publicações
Phytochemical and bioactive potentials of African Annonaceae species
Publication . Rangel, Josefa; Liberal, Ângela; Catarino, Sílvia; Costa, José Carlos; Romeiras, Maria M.; Fernandes, Ângela
This review aims to gather available information on the medicinal, nutritional, and bioactive profiles of Annonaceae species in the African continent, sponsoring their use worldwide and mainly in African communities, where access to food and medicines for basic health care is scarce. >60 medicinal taxa were compiled, belonging to 22 genera, namely Annickia, Annona, Anonidium, Artabotrys, Cleistochlamys, Cleistopholis, Dennettia, Duguetia, Greenwayodendron, Hexalobus, Isolona, Lettowianthus, Monanthotaxis, Monodora, Neostenanthera, Polyceratocarpus, Sphaerocoryne, Uvaria, Uvariastrum, Uvariodendron, Uvariopsis and Xylopia; the most diverse and economically important genera were the genera Annona, Uvaria and Xylopia with 7 species each. Annonaceae species hold a valuable nutritional profile, rich in proteins, fibers, and minerals, being also good sources of a wide range of bioactive compounds of high biological relevance. These compounds are especially important in developing countries, where most of these species are available for direct use as food and/or medicines by the most deprived populations.
Food from the Wild—Roles and Values of Wild Edible Plants and Fungi
Publication . Catarino, Luís; Romeiras, Maria Manuel; Fernandes, Ângela
Humans have used a multitude of wild species of plants, fungi, and animals for food and medicinal purposes. However, with the widespread establishment of industrial agriculture and globalization, the numbers of consumed plant, animal, and fungi species have significantly reduced. While in most developed or urban societies, virtually only cultivated or bred species are consumed, rural communities in many countries remain familiar with and consume many wild plant and mushroom species [1].
Ethnomycological prospect of wild edible and medicinal mushrooms from Central and Southern Africa - a review
Publication . Bastos, Claudete António André; Liberal, Ângela; Moldão-Martins, Margarida; Catarino, Luís; Barros, Lillian
In several regions of Africa, the daily diet is partly dependent on the edible products from wild animals, plants, and mushrooms, driven by their availability, wide distribution in the local environment, and the low incomes of the general population. The documentation of ethnomycological information is particularly important to validate or correct the identification of specimens and the preservation of these natural resources with cultivation potential, thus improving their consumption and utilization for medicinal purposes. The number of wild edible mushroom species consumed varies between different regions of Africa, with around 300 species being documented in the literature.
However, despite its rich biodiversity, theAfrican continent is still underexploited, which is reflected in poor food contribution to populations that are often in need. Here, the safe use of mushrooms is guided by the insufficiency of studies that validate their nutritional and medicinal properties, since they are key factors in the suppression of protein deficiency in the everyday diet of the populations and a source of bioactive compounds useful for the formulation of added-value functional products. Thus, it becomes essential to investigate African mushrooms, not only from the identification point of view, but also in terms of nutritional, chemical, and bioactive characterization, hence deepen the knowledge about this valuable natural resource. Bearing these in mind, the main objective of this study is to systematize the knowledge available in scientific publications and specialized websites, thus gathering information about the valuable profits that come from using these widely appreciated natural products.
A vegetação suculenta desértica da província do Namibe
Publication . Cardoso, João Francisco; Costa, José C.; Neto, Carlos; Aguiar, Carlos; Bioret, Frederic; Schmit, Tomas; Fonseca, João Paulo
No Sudoeste de Angola, na Província do Namibe, em bioclima tropical superior, termotropical, árido, ocorre uma vegetação nano-microfanerofanerofítica formada por uma savana aberta caracterizada pela frequente presença de plantas suculentas. Assim observa-se as seguintes comunidades:
1 Boscio welwitschii-Colophospermetum mopanes: savana micro-nanofanerofítica, em solos alcalinos (pH 7-9) de textura franco-arenosa, derivados de granitos, entre os 180 e 550 m de altitude e dominada por Colophospermum mopane acompanhada de diversas árvores e arbustos também caducifólios, como Terminalia prunioides, Adenolobus garipensis, Catophractes alexandri, Acacia mellifera subsp. detinens, Boscia welwitschii, Boscia microphylla, Boscia polyantha, entre outras;
2. Euphorbio eduardoi-Moeringietum ovalifoliae: comunidade aberta em solos pedregosos graníticos, que pode atingir os 20 m de altura e dominada pelo endemismo namibiano gigante suculento espinhoso Euphorbia eduardoi e pela árvore caducifólia Moringa ovalifolia. Podem ser acompanhadas de microfanerófitos e nanofanerófitos caducifólios, alguns deles também suculentos e/ou espinhosos: Amphiasma bengallense, Commiphora angolensis, Boscia welwitschia, Croton mubango, Boscia polyantha, Commiphora glaucescens, Grewia villosa, Boscia microphylla, Phragmanthera polycrypta, Ceraria carrissoana, entre outros.
3. Sesamothamno bengallensis-Cyphostemetum uter: comunidade solos arenosos profundos derivados de granito, formada por nanofanerófitos caducifólios suculentos e ou espinhosos como Cyphostemma uter, Sterculia setigera, Boscia pestalozziana, Phaeoptilum spinosum, Petalidum glandulosum, Sesamothamnus benguellensis, Commiphora mossamedensis, Commiphora glauscecens, Commiphora anacardifolia, entre outros.
4. Euphorbietum carunculiferae: comunidade em encostas em solos profundos derivados de grauvaques avermelhados, dominada pelo microfanerófito suculento Euphorbia carunculifera que pode atingir em 4 m de altura acompanhado de diversos nanofanerófitos e caméfitos caducifólios, suculentos ou espinhosos como por exemplo Dicoma foliosa, Boscia pestalozziana, Petalidium halimoides, Cryptolepsis oblongifolia, Euphorbia subsalsa, Marcelliopsis denudata, Hoodia currorii, Euphorbia claytonioides, Ecbolium clarkei, Cardiospermum corindum, Phaeoptilum spinosum, Felicia mossamedensis, Blepharis welwitschii, Sarcostemma viminalis, Orthanthera albida, Aloe hereroensis, Schmidtia kalahariensis etc.
5. Euphorbio subsalsae-Sarcostemmetum viminalis: em solos pedregosos derivados de grauvaques, observa-se uma comunidade em que predomina o caméfito suculento Sarcostemma viminalis, acompanhado de outros caméfitos caducifólios, alguns deles também suculentos e espinhosos como Dicoma foliosa, Euphorbia subsalsa, Cardiospermum corindum, Petalidium halimoides, Boscia pestalozziana, Hoodia currorii, Euphorbia claytonioides, Felicia mossamedensis, Marcelliopsis denudata, etc.
A Meta-Analysis on the In Vitro Antagonistic Effects of Lactic Acid Bacteria from Dairy Products on Foodborne Pathogens
Publication . Loforte, Yara; Fernandes, Nathália; Almeida, André Martinho de; Cadavez, Vasco; Gonzales-Barron, Ursula
Raw milk and traditional fermented foods such as artisanal cheese represent a natural source of lactic acid bacteria (LAB). They can produce antimicrobial compounds, such as bacteriocins and lactic acid, which may be exploited in dairy biopreservation. This study aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to synthesize the inhibition diameter (ID) of LAB against L. monocytogenes, S. aureus, and Salmonella spp. Literature electronic searches were performed on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, to identify articles that reported data on in-vitro antimicrobial activity by LAB isolated from dairy foods. A total of 1665 papers were retrieved, and 20 primary studies were selected according to the selection criteria, of which 397 observations were extracted. Random-effects meta-regression models were employed to describe the effects of LAB genus, pathogen concentration, susceptibility method, incubation time, inoculation volume, agar type and pH on the IDs for L. monocytogens, S. aureus, and Salmonella spp. L. monocytogens was the most susceptible pathogen (p < 0.05) to the LAB effects, followed by S. aureus and Salmonella spp. As a whole, LAB from the Lacticaseibacillus genus were the most effective (p < 0.05) in inhibiting L. monocytogens (21.49 ± 2.654 mm), followed by S. aureus (21.06 ± 2.056 mm). Salmonella spp. presented higher (p < 0.05) susceptibility to Lactobacillus genus (19.93 ± 2.456 mm). From the results, a general trend could be observed for the well-diffusion method to produce higher (p < 0.05) ID estimates than the spot and disk methods (30.73 ± 2.530 mm vs. 21.98 ± 1.309 mm vs. 13.39 ± 1.403 mm for L. monocytogenes; 22.37 ± 1.073 mm vs. 14.91 ± 2.312 mm vs. 20.30 ± 2.319 mm for Salmonella spp.), respectively. Among the tested moderators, the pathogen’s inoculum concentration, the in vitro susceptibility assay itself, incubation time and inoculation volume on agar are determinant parameters to be looked at when designing a robust and reproducible experimental plan. The in vitro results reinforced that LAB can be useful in controlling the development of pathogenic bacteria frequently found in the dairy industry.
Unidades organizacionais
Descrição
Palavras-chave
Contribuidores
Financiadores
Entidade financiadora
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Programa de financiamento
6817 - DCRRNI ID
Número da atribuição
UIDB/04129/2020