Strategic Project - UI 690 - 2011-2012

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Publications

Wild and commercial samples of Achillea millefolium L.: proximate composition and individual compounds obtained by chromatography

Publication . Dias, Maria Inês; Barros, Lillian; Carvalho, Ana Maria; Alves, Rita C.; Oliveira, Beatriz; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.

Medicinal plants have been used since ancient times and emerge nowadays as alternative to synthetic products, due to their richness in bioactive compounds. In a society that requires new and safer products, due to the growing concern with health and nutrition, medicinal plants are now being used not only in traditional medicine but also in a number of food and pharmaceutical products [1]. Achillea millefolium L., belongs to Asteraceae family and it is commonly known as yarrow, very common in mountain meadows, pathways, crop fields and homegardens. Widespread across Europe, it’s infusion, decoction and alcoholic extract are widely used as an herbal remedy to treat digestive problems, diabetes, hepato-biliary diseases and amenorrhea, showing also antitumor, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties [2,3]. In the present work, commercial and wild samples of A. millefoilum were characterized regarding the proximate composition and individual compounds namely, free sugars, organic acids, fatty acids and tocopherols, determined by chromatographic techniques coupled to different detectors (HPLC-RI, HPLC-DAD, GC-FID e HPLC-fluorescence, respectively). Carbohydrates, followed by proteins, were the major macronutrients in both samples. Commercial yarrow gave higher content of fat (and saturated fatty acids, mainly palmitic acid C16:0), proteins, ash, energetic value and total sugars (including fructose, glucose, sucrose and trehalose). Wild sample revealed higher levels of carbohydrates; it also showed raffinose (not detected in the commercial sample), polysaturated fatty acids (mainly linoleic acid, C18:2n-6) and organic acids (including malic, oxalic and quinic acids). Regarding tocopherols, both samples showed similar profile, although the wild sample gave higher levels of total tocopherols; γ-Tocopherol was the most abundant isoform; δ-Tocopherol was not found in the samples. Data obtained are clear evidence that traditional medicinal plants can be used not only in household products but also in pharmaceutical and food industry as a source of new and safer bioactive compounds.

2014Conference object

Open access

Nutritional parameters of infusions and decoctions obtained from Fragaria vesca L. roots and vegetative parts

Publication . Dias, Maria Inês; Barros, Lillian; Morales, Patricia; Sánchez-Mata, María Cortes; Oliveira, Beatriz; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.

Fragaria vesca L. (wild strawberry) roots and vegetative parts are commonly used in infusions and decoctions for different medicinal purposes. The composition in non-nutrients (mainly phenolic compounds) has previously been reported, but the contribution in nutritional compounds has not been researched. Therefore, chemical parameters with nutritional role, namely macronutrients, mineral components, some vitamins (ascorbic acid, folate and tocopherols), as well as, fatty acids, soluble sugars and organic acids, present in F. vesca roots and vegetative parts were evaluated using commercial and wild samples. Furthermore, their infusions and decoctions were also fully characterized; as well as the percentages of vitamins and minerals released for the aqueous preparations. The processing steps, the collection region and also the physiological state in which the samples were collected could influence the differences found between commercial and wild samples. The infusion and decoction preparations showed significantly high released percentages of folate and minerals, and also allowed the detection of xylose, proving to be more effective for soluble sugars extraction. Roots and vegetative parts of F. vesca, normally consumed as infusions and decoctions, can be sources of macro and micronutrients.

2015Journal article

Open access

Wild mushroom extracts potentiate the action of standard antibiotics against multiresistant bacteria

Publication . Alves, Maria José; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.; Lourenço, Inês; Castro, Ana; Pereira, Liliana; Martins, Anabela; Pintado, Manuela

The main objective of the present work was to evaluate the capacity of wild mushroom extracts to potentiate the action of standard antibiotics, through synergisms that allow a decrease in their therapeutic doses and ultimately contribute to the reduction of resistances. Methods and Results: Wild mushroom extracts were applied to different multi-resistant microorganisms (Escherichia coli, Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing (ESBL) Escherichia coli and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), combined with commercial antibiotics (Penicillin, Ampicillin, Amoxicillin/Clavulanic acid, Cefoxitin, Ciprofloxacin, Cotrimoxazol, Levofloxacin). Microdilution method was used to determine minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). The results obtained showed higher synergistic effects against MRSA than against E. coli. Mycena rosea and Fistulina hepatica were the best extracts for synergistic effects against MRSA. The efficiency of Russula delica extract against E. coli 1 (resistant to Ampicillin, Ciprofloxacin and Trimethoprim/Sulfasoxazole) and E. coli 2 (resistant to Amoxicillin/Clavulanic acid and Ampicillin) was higher than that of Leucopaxillus giganteus extract; nevertheless the latter extract exhibited better synergistic effects against ESBL E. coli. Conclusions: This study shows that, similarly to plants, some mushroom extracts can potentiate the action of antibiotics extensively used in clinical practice for Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacteria, with positive action even against multi-resistant bacteria. Significance and Impact of the Study: Mushroom extracts could decrease therapeutic doses of standard antibiotics and reduce microorganism’s resistance to those drugs.

2014Journal article

Open access

Phenolic profile and antioxidant properties of commercial and wild Fragaria vesca L. roots: A comparison between hydromethanolic and aqueous extracts

Publication . Dias, Maria Inês; Barros, Lillian; Oliveira, Beatriz; Santos-Buelga, Celestino; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.

The phenolic profile of hydromethanolic extracts, infusions and decoctions of commercial and wild samples of Fragaria vesca (wild strawberry) roots was obtained by HPLC-DAD/ESI-MS, and further correlated with their antioxidant properties. Commercial and wild samples showed similarities in terms of flavan-3-ols (TF3O), with catechin derivatives, mainly procyanidins, as major compounds in both samples. The commercial sample presented ellagic acid glycosides, whereas the wild sample presented flavonols (TF) and dihydroflavonols (TdhF, taxifolin derivatives). The infusion of wild sample gave the highest content of total phenolic compounds (TPC), DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging activity, reducing power and TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) inhibition. The antioxidant capacity (mainly β-carotene bleaching and TBARS inhibition) observed for the wild sample is correlated with TF3O, TF and TPC. Overall, the high antioxidant potential of F. vesca roots was demonstrated and could be achieved directly by consumption of infusions/decoctions or by incorporating hydromethanolic extracts in antioxidant formulations.

2015Journal article

Open access

Analysis of phenolic compounds in flowers from wild medicinal plants from northeastern Portugal.

Publication . Barros, Lillian; Dueñas, Montserrat; Carvalho, Ana Maria; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.; Santos-Buelga, Celestino

This study aimed to analyse phenolic compounds in wild medicinal flowers of Crataegus monogyna, Cytisus multiflorus, Malva sylvestris and Sambucus nigra, by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS. Flavonols and flavones were the main groups in almost all the studied samples. C. multiflorus sample gave the highest levels of flavonoids, being a chrysin derivative the most abundant flavone. C. monogyna revealed the highest concentration in phenolic acids that were not found in C. multiflorus; 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid was the most abundant phenolic acid found in the first species, being a procyanidin trimer also found. Kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside and quercetin-3-O-rutinoside were the main flavonols present in M. sylvestris and S. nigra, respectively. The studied flowers could be selected for processing extracts with health-promoting properties or to be incorporated into functional beverages or products with bioactive properties related to oxidative stress.

2012Conference object

Open access