Browsing by Author "Afonso, Cláudia"
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- Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory extracts from sea cucumbers and tunicates induce a pro-osteogenic effect in Zebrafish LarvaePublication . Carletti, Alessio; Cardoso, Carlos; Lobo-Arteaga, Jorge; Sales, Sabrina; Juliao, Diana; Ferreira, Inês; Chainho, Paula; Dionísio, Maria Ana; Gaudêncio, Maria J.; Afonso, Cláudia; Lourenço, Helena; Cancela, M. Leonor; Bandarra, Narcisa M.; J. Gavaia, PauloBone metabolic disorders such as osteoporosis are characterized by the loss of mineral from the bone tissue leading to its structural weakening and increased susceptibility to fractures. A growing body of evidence suggests that inflammation and oxidative stress play an important role in the pathophysiological processes involved in the rise of these conditions. As the currently available therapeutic strategies are often characterized by toxic effects associated with their long-term use, natural antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds such as polyphenols promise to be a valuable alternative for the prevention and treatment of these disorders. In this scope, the marine environment is becoming an important source of bioactive compounds with potential pharmacological applications. Here, we explored the bioactive potential of three species of holothurians (Echinodermata) and four species of tunicates (Chordata) as sources of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds with a particular focus on polyphenolic substances. Hydroethanolic and aqueous extracts were obtained from animals' biomass and screened for their content of polyphenols and their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Hydroethanolic fractions of three species of tunicates displayed high polyphenolic content associated with strong antioxidant potential and anti-inflammatory activity. Extracts were thereafter tested for their capacity to promote bone formation and mineralization by applying an assay that uses the developing operculum of zebrafish (Danio rerio) to assess the osteogenic activity of compounds. The same three hydroethanolic fractions from tunicates were characterized by a strong in vivo osteogenic activity, which positively correlated with their anti-inflammatory potential as measured by COX-2 inhibition. This study highlights the therapeutic potential of polyphenol-rich hydroethanolic extracts obtained from three species of tunicates as a substrate for the development of novel drugs for the treatment of bone disorders correlated to oxidative stress and inflammatory processes.
- Key constituents and antioxidant activity of novel functional foods developed with Skeletonema Sp. biomassPublication . Guarda, Inês; Fonseca, Inês; Pereira, Hugo; Martins, Luisa Louro; Gomes, Romina; Matos, Joana; Gomes-Bispo, Ana; Bandarra, Narcisa Maria; Afonso, Cláudia; Cardoso, CarlosA recently isolated microalgal strain of Skeletonema sp. (Skt) has shown relevant bioactivities. Novel functional foods incorporating this strain were studied: a 3%, w/w, Skeletonema cookie (Skt Ck) and a 2%, w/w, Skeletonema sauce (Skt Sc), which were compared with a control cookie (Ctl Ck) and a control sauce (Ctl Sc), respectively. The fatty acid (FA) profile of the microalgal biomass was characterized by a large share of saturated FA, followed by monounsaturated FA and polyunsaturated FA (PUFA). Within PUFA, omega-3 PUFA exceeded n6 PUFA (omega-3/omega-6 ratio of 12.7 +/- 1.1). The microalgal profile was dominated by the 14:0 and 16:1 FAs. The addition of Skeletonema sp. biomass increased 14:0 and 16:1 FAs contents in the products. The incorporation of Skeletonema sp. biomass led to a higher phenolic content in Skt Sc. Microalgal inclusion in the cookies reduced bioaccessibility in most cases. Skt Sc showed a larger functional food potential.