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Browsing by Author "Resek, Eva"

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  • Halophytes: Gourmet food with nutritional health benefits?
    Publication . Barreira, Luísa; Resek, Eva; Rodrigues, Maria Joao; Rocha, Maria Isabel; Pereira, Hugo; Bandarra, Narcisa; da Silva, Manuela Moreira; J. C. or Varela J. or Varela J.C.S., Varela; Custodio, Luisa
    Although little is known about their nutritional composition, Sarcocornia perennis subsp. perennis, S. perennis subsp. alpini and Salicornia ramosissima (Salicorniaceae) as well as Arthrocnemum macro-stachyum (Amaranthaceae) are consumed in gourmet cuisine. In spite of belonging to different families, these halophytes share morphological and organoleptic characteristics. This work explored the nutritional properties and the antioxidant potential of these species using five integrative methods. All species had a nutritional profile suitable for human consumption with high levels of protein (5.20-13.2 g/100 g dw) and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (FA), particularly or alpha-linolenic acid (19.3-25.9% of total FA), and low concentration of toxic metals (below the limits imposed by the European Commission). These halophytes are also a good source of minerals, particularly sodium (64.1-109 mg/gdw), and S. ramosissima is an excellent source of manganese (204 mu g/g dw). However, due care should be taken not to exceed the legal limits for sodium ingestion. These plants showed also significant antioxidant potential, with high radical scavenging activity (RSA), iron reducing power and total phenolics content (20.5-49.2 mg GAE/g). A. macrostachyum had the highest RSA (lC(50-DPPH) = 0.84 mg/mL; IC50-NO = 0.60 mg/mL), and iron reducing potential (IC50= 0.84 mg/mL) along with high levels of alpha- and gamma-tocopherol (8.74 and 4.71 mg/100 g dw, respectively). (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
    2017-06Journal article Restricted access Show more
  • Polyunsaturated fatty acids of marine macroalgae: potential for nutritional and pharmaceutical applications
    Publication . Pereira, Hugo; Barreira, Luisa; Figueiredo, Filipe; Custodio, Luisa; Vizetto-Duarte, Catarina; Polo, Cristina; Resek, Eva; Engelen, Aschwin; Varela, Joao
    As mammals are unable to synthesize essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), these compounds need to be taken in through diet. Nowadays, obtaining essential PUFA in diet is becoming increasingly difficult; therefore this work investigated the suitability of using macroalgae as novel dietary sources of PUFA. Hence, 17 macroalgal species from three different phyla (Chlorophyta, Phaeophyta and Rhodophyta) were analyzed and their fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) profile was assessed. Each phylum presented a characteristic fatty acid signature as evidenced by clustering of PUFA profiles of algae belonging to the same phylum in a Principal Components Analysis. The major PUFA detected in all phyla were C-18 and C-20, namely linoleic, arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acids. The obtained data showed that rhodophytes and phaeophytes have higher concentrations of PUFA, particularly from the n-3 series, thereby being a better source of these compounds. Moreover, rhodophytes and phaeophytes presented. healthier. Sigma(n-6/)Sigma(n-3) and PUFA/saturated fatty acid ratios than chlorophytes. Ulva was an exception within the Chlorophyta, as it presented high concentrations of n-3 PUFA, alpha-linolenic acid in particular. In conclusion, macroalgae can be considered as a potential source for large-scale production of essential PUFA with wide applications in the nutraceutical and pharmacological industries.
    2012-09Journal article Open access Show more