Pieris brassicae as laboratory of synthesis of new compounds with biological potential, starting from Brassica oleracea var. costata, Brassica oleracea var. acephala and Brassica rapa var. rapa.

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Metabolic and bioactivity insights into Brassica oleracea var. acephala

Publication . Ferreres, Frederico; Fernandes, Fátima; Sousa, Carla; Valentão, Patrícia; Pereira, J.A.; Andrade, Paula B.

Seeds of Brassica oleracea var. acephala (kale) were analyzed by HPLC/UV-PAD/MSn-ESI. Several phenolic acids and flavonol derivatives were identified. The seeds of this B. oleracea variety exhibited more flavonol derivatives than those of tronchuda cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. costata), also characterized in this paper. Quercetin and isorhamnetin derivatives were found only in kale seeds. Oxalic, aconitic, citric, pyruvic, malic, quinic, shikimic, and fumaric acids were the organic acids present in these matrices, malic acid being predominant in kale and citric acid in tronchuda cabbage seeds. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity was determined in aqueous extracts from both seeds. Kale leaves and butterflies, larvae, and excrements of Pieris brassicae reared on kale were also evaluated. Kale seeds were the most effective AChE inhibitor, followed by tronchuda cabbage seeds and kale leaves. With regard to P. brassicae material, excrements exhibited stronger inhibitory capacity. These results may be explained by the presence of sinapine, an analogue of acetylcholine, only in seed materials. A strong concentration-dependent antioxidant capacity against DPPH, nitric oxide, and superoxide radicals was observed for kale seeds.

2009Journal article

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A lagarta da couve, Pieris brassicae (L.) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae), como fonte de compostos com interesse farmacêutico

Publication . Fernandes, Fátima; Malheiro, Ricardo; Andrade, Paula B.; Valentão, Patrícia; Bento, Albino; Pereira, J.A.

A lagarta da couve, Pieris brassicae (L.), é uma praga que ataca com frequência diferentes espécies de Brassica. Nos estádios de desenvolvimento mais avançados, esta lagarta apresenta uma forte voracidade, consumindo grande quantidade de alimento e produzindo quantidade apreciável de excrementos. Nos últimos anos a procura de novas moléculas com interesse farmacêutico tem tido grande impulso, constituindo os produtos naturais fontes importantes desses compostos. Assim, o presente trabalho reúne informação sobre a possibilidade da P. brassica ser fornecedora de compostos bioactivos.

2009Conference object

Open access

Tronchuda cabbage flavonoids uptake by Pieris brassicae

Publication . Ferreres, Frederico; Sousa, Carla; Valentão, Patrícia; Pereira, J.A.; Seabra, Rosa M.; Andrade, Paula B.

The flavonoid pattern of larvae of cabbage white butterfly (Pieris brassicae L.; Lepidoptera: Pieridae) reared on the leaves of tronchuda cabbage was analysed by HPLC-DAD-MS/MS-ESI. Twenty flavonoids were identified or characterised, namely 16 kaempferol and four quercetin derivatives. Kaempferol 3-O-sophoroside, a minor component of tronchuda cabbage, was found to be the main component in P. brassicae (15.8%). Apart from this, only two other flavonoids present in significant amounts in tronchuda cabbage (kaempferol 3-O-sophoroside-7-O-glucoside and kaempferol 3-O-sophoroside-7-O-sophoroside) were found in the larvae. The larvae have high amounts of quercetin derivatives (18.5%), which were present only in trace amounts in tronchuda cabbage extracts, suggesting that P. brassicae is able to selectively sequester these flavonoids. The occurrence of a high content of flavonoids not detectable in tronchuda cabbage extracts indicates that P. brassicae larvae are able to metabolize dietary flavonoids.

2007Journal article

Open access

Evolution of Brassica rapa L. var. rapa volatile composition by HS-SPME and GC/IT-MS.

Publication . Taveira, Marcos; Fernandes, Fátima; Pinho, P. Guedes de; Andrade, Paula B.; Pereira, J.A.; Valentão, Patrícia

Brassica rapa var. rapa L. (turnip) is highly appreciated and consumed by human. In this work, the volatile profile of B. rapa var. rapa was studied during the maturation process. The volatiles of seeds, sprouts with 6 and 9 days, and adult plant were determined using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) combined with gas chromatography/ion trap-mass spectrometry (GC/IT-MS). Several constituents, including alcohols, aldehydes, esters, ketones, norisoprenoids, nitrogen and sulphur compounds were characterized, totalizing 64 compounds. Isothiocyanates are the main volatiles in all matrices, being 3-butenyl isothiocyanate the major compound. Qualitative and quantitative differences were found among the analysed materials. Nitrogen and sulphur compounds decreased during the maturation process, while terpenes, aldehydes, norisoprenoids and ester compounds were present in higher amounts during germination, especially in sprouts with 9 days of development.

2009Journal article

Restricted access

Volatile constituents throughout Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala germination

Publication . Fernandes, Fátima; Pinho, P. Guedes de; Valentão, Patrícia; Pereira, J.A.; Andrade, Paula B.

In this work, the volatile composition of kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala) and its variation during germination were monitored during the first 9 days of seedling development by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) combined with gas chromatography/ion trap-mass spectrometry (GC/IT-MS). Differences were found among the materials in the distinct analyzed periods. A total of 66 volatile compounds, distributed in several chemical classes, were determined: alcohols, carbonyl compounds (ketones, aldehydes, and esters), norisoprenoids, and terpenes, among others, sulfur compounds being the most abundant group in seeds and sprouts that exhibited allyl isothiocyanate as the major compound. Leaves of fully developed ground plant had the highest content of norisoprenoids, alcohols, and carbonyl compounds; in opposition, they showed lower levels of sulfur compounds, suggesting that these are important molecules for the development of kale, whereas the others are produced mainly during its growth.

2009Journal article

Restricted access