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- Thymus lotocephalus wild plants and in vitro cultures produce different profiles of phenolic compounds with antioxidant activityPublication . Costa, Patrícia; Gonçalves, Sandra; Valentão, Patrícia; Andrade, Paula B.; Coelho, Natacha; Romano, AnabelaWe compared the phenolic metabolites and antioxidant activities of Thymus lotocephalus G. López & R.Morales wild plants and in vitro cultures using different extraction solvents. HPLC–DAD analysis allowed the identification and quantification of phenolic (caffeic and rosmarinic) acids and flavones (luteolin and apigenin) in extracts from both sources. The in vitro cultures accumulated large amounts of rosmarinic acid. However, extracts from both sources were able to neutralise free radicals in different test systems(TEAC and ORAC assays), to form complexes with Fe2+ and to protect mouse brains against Fe2+-induced lipid peroxidation. The solvent significantly influenced the phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the extracts, water/ethanol being the most efficient for the extraction of antioxidant phytochemicals. We conclude that in vitro cultures of T. lotocephalus represent a promising alternative for the production of valuable natural antioxidants and an efficient tool for the in vitro biosynthesis of rosmarinic acid, therefore avoiding the need to exploit populations of wild plants.
- Antioxidant and anti-cholinesterase activities of Lavandula viridis L’Hér extracts after in vitro gastrointestinal digestionPublication . Costa, Patrícia; Grevenstuk, Tomás; Costa, Ana M. Rosa da; Gonçalves, Sandra; Romano, AnabelaLavandula viridis L’Hér is an aromatic shrub with relevant biological activities associated to the presence ofphenolic compounds. However, these compounds must be bioavailable to exert their biological function.Therefore, in this study, we investigated the influence of the L. viridis extract matrices on the digestion ofthe main component rosmarinic acid and their antioxidant and anti-cholinesterase activities after in vitrogastrointestinal digestion. Overall, the antioxidant and anti-cholinesterase activities were assured afterin vitro gastrointestinal processes and we observed that the L. viridis extract matrices have an importantrole in the bioactive effects of their main compound, rosmarinic acid. The L. viridis extracts and rosmarinicacid did not show any toxic effect on colon adenocarcinoma Caco-2 cell viability. Finally, the compoundsfrom L. viridis extracts were not metabolized by Caco-2 cells and were not able to permeate into them.