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- Sea knotgrass (Polygonum maritimum L.) as a potential source of innovative industrial products for skincare applicationsPublication . Rodrigues, Maria Joao; Matkowski, Adam; Slusarczyk, Sylwester; Magne, Christian; Poleze, Thatyana; Pereira, Catarina Guerreiro; L, CustódioSeveral Polygonum species and related genera display diverse skincare properties and were considered as active cosmetic ingredients. Thus, this work explored the halophyte sea knotgrass (Polygonum maritimum L.) as source of phenolics and flavonoids-enriched extracts with skincare properties, for the cosmetic industry. To improve the content in these compounds, different extraction solvents and methodologies were used, and the resulting extracts were tested for total contents of phenolics (TPC) and flavonoids (TFC). The acetone extract made on an ultrasound bath for 30 min had the highest TPC (275 mg of gallic acid equivalents [GAE]/g of dry weight [DW]), TFC (48.0 mg of rutin equivalents [RE]/g DW), and yield (20.3%). This extract was selected and evaluated for its in vitro antioxidant (total antioxidant, superoxide radical-scavenging and lipid peroxidation), anti-inflammatory (nitric oxide [NO] reduction on lipopolysaccharide [LPS]-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages), anti-wrinkles (elastase), anti-acne (lipase), antimicrobial (Escherichia colt Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida cdbicctris), anti-melanogenic (anti-tyrosinase and reduction of melanin production on B16 4A5 melanoma cells). The extract was also appraised for toxicity, and its chemical profile was determined by ultra-high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHRMS). The acetone extract showed a high O-2(-center dot) scavenging (half maximal inhibitory concentration [IC50] = 40.4 mu g/mL), total antioxidant capacity (TAC
- Euphorbia-derived natural products with potential for use in health maintenancePublication . Salehi, B.; Iriti, M.; Vitalini, S.; Antolak, H.; Pawlikowska, E.; Kręgiel, D.; Sharifi-Rad, J.; Oyeleye, S.; Ademiluyi, A.; Czopek, K.; Staniak, M.; Custódio, Luísa; Coy-Barrera, E.; Segura-Carretero, A.; Cádiz-Gurrea, M.; Capasso, R.; Cho, W.; Seca, A.Euphorbia genus (Euphorbiaceae family), which is the third largest genus of angiosperm plants comprising ca. 2000 recognized species, is used all over the world in traditional medicine, especially in the traditional Chinese medicine. Members of this taxa are promptly recognizable by their specialized inflorescences and latex. In this review, an overview of Euphorbia-derived natural products such as essential oils, extracts, and pure compounds, active in a broad range of biological activities, and with potential usages in health maintenance, is described. The chemical composition of essential oils from Euphorbia species revealed the presence of more than 80 phytochemicals, mainly oxygenated sesquiterpenes and sesquiterpenes hydrocarbons, while Euphorbia extracts contain secondary metabolites such as sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, sterols, flavonoids, and other polyphenols. The extracts and secondary metabolites from Euphorbia plants may act as active principles of medicines for the treatment of many human ailments, mainly inflammation, cancer, and microbial infections. Besides, Euphorbia-derived products have great potential as a source of bioactive extracts and pure compounds, which can be used to promote longevity with more health.
- A comparative study of the in vitro enzyme inhibitory and antioxidant activities of Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub. and Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Poiret from Pakistan: New sources of natural products for public health problemsPublication . Baessa, M.; Rodrigues, Maria João; Pereira, Catarina; Santos, T.; Neng, N. da Rosa; Nogueira, J. M. F.; Barreira, Luísa; Varela, J.; Ahmed, H.; Asif, S.; Boukhari, S. A.; Kayani, W. K.; Ahmad, Khawaja Shafique; Zengin, G.; Mollica, A.; Custódio, LuísaInfusions, decoctions and tinctures were prepared from flowers of Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub. and Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Poiret and evaluated for in vitro inhibition of enzymes implicated on the onset of neurological diseases (acetylcholinesterase: AChE and butyrylcholinesterase: BuChE), diabetes (alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase), obesity (lipase) and skin hyperpigmentation (tyrosinase). Extracts were also appraised for radical scavenging activity (RSA) on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radicals, and for metal chelating activity on copper and iron ions. Samples were evaluated for their total contents in different phenolics groups by spectrophotometric methods, for phenolic profile by high performance liquid chromatography e diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) and for mineral contents by microwave plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (MP-AE). Regarding B. monosperma, the tincture allowed for a moderate inhibition of AChE, the decoction was able to inhibit alpha-glucosidase and no activity was observed towards BuChE, alpha-amylase or lipase. All extracts had a low or moderate inhibition towards tyrosinase, and significant RSA and metal chelating potential. As for S. grandiflora, only the decoction inhibited AChE, none of the extracts was able to inhibit BuChE, all samples inhibited alpha-glucosidase and infusions and decoctions had similar inhibitory properties towards alpha-amylase. None of the extracts was active against lipase, but all were able to inhibit tyrosinase. Extracts had also significant RSA, moderate copper chelation and decoctions had the capacity to chelate iron. The most abundant macroelements in both species were potassium and calcium, while iron was the prevalent microelement, especially in B. monosperma. Both species had significant levels of phenolic compounds, and the main components in decoctions and infusions of B. monosperma were syringic and salicylic acids, while the major compound identified in tinctures was the flavonoid luteolin-7-O-glucoside. In S. grandiflora the most abundant were chlorogenic and neochlorogenic acids and catechin hydrate. Molecular docking studies on the most abundant molecules in S. grandiflora, (+)-catechin, chlorogenic acid and neochlorogenic acid, indicate that these compounds are able to dock to alpha-glucosidase in a similar manner than acarbose. Our results suggest that flowers of both species are a promising source of high value-added compounds with enzyme inhibitory and antioxidant properties. (c) 2018 SAAB. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
- Searching for new sources of innovative products for the food industry within halophyte aromatic plants: In vitro antioxidant activity and phenolic and mineral contents of infusions and decoctions of Crithmum maritimum L.Publication . Pereira, Catarina Guerreiro; Barreira, Luísa; Neng, Nuno da Rosa; Florencio Nogueira, Jose Manuel; Marques, Catia; Santos, Tamara; Varela, J.; Custódio, LuísaAromatic halophyte plants are an outstanding source of bioactive compounds and natural products with potential use in the food industry. This work reports the in vitro antioxidant activity, toxicity, poly phenolic profile and mineral contents of infusions and decoctions from stems, leaves and flowers of Crithmum maritimum L, an aromatic and edible maritime halophyte (sea fennel). Aspalathus linearis (Burm.f.) Dahlg. (rooibos) herbal tea was used as a reference. Sea fennel's tisanes, particularly from leaves, were rich in phenolic compounds and five of them (p-hydroxybenzoic and ferulic acids, epicatechin, pyrocatechol and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde) were here described in C maritimum for the first time. Chlorogenic acid was the dominant phenolic determined. Na was the most abundant mineral in all tisanes followed by Ca and Mg in leaves' tisanes and K in flowers. Sea fennel's samples had a similar antioxidant activity than those from A. linearis, and had no significant toxicity towards four different mammalian cell lines. Altogether, our results suggest that sea fennel can be a source of products and/or molecules for the food industry with antioxidant properties and minerals in the form, for example, of innovative health-promoting herbal beverages.
- Antigenotoxic properties of the halophyte Polygonum maritimum L. highlight its potential to mitigate oxidative stress-related damagePublication . Oliveira, Daniela; Dias, Maria Inês; Barros, Lillian; Custódio, Luísa; Oliveira, RuiLong-term exposure to dietary xenobiotics can induce oxidative stress in the gastrointestinal tract, possibly causing DNA damage and contributing to the initiation of carcinogenesis. Halophytes are exposed to constant abiotic stresses, which are believed to promote the accumulation of antioxidant metabolites like polyphenols. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant and antigenotoxic properties of the ethanol extract of the aerial part of the halophyte Polygonum maritimum L. (PME), which can represent a dietary source of bioactive compounds with potential to attenuate oxidative stress-related damage. The PME exhibited a high antioxidant potential, revealed by the in vitro capacity to scavenge the free radical DPPH (IC50 = 2.29 +/- 0.10 mu g/mL) and the improved viability of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae under oxidative stress (p < 0.001, 10 min). An antigenotoxic effect of PME against H2O2-induced oxidative stress was found in S. cerevisiae (p < 0.05) with the dominant deletion assay. In vitro colorimetric assays and LC-DAD-ESI/MSn analysis showed that PME is a polyphenol-rich extract composed of catechin, (epi)catechin dimer and trimers, quercetin and myricetin glycosides. Hence, P. maritimum is a source of antioxidant and antigenotoxic metabolites for application in industries that develop products to provide health benefits.
- A comparative study on biological properties and chemical profiles of different solvent extracts from Centaurea bingoelensis, an endemic plant of TurkeyPublication . Uysal, Ahmet; Zengin, Gokhan; Mahomoodally, Mohamad Fawzi; Picot-Allain, Carene; Jeko, Jozsef; Cziaky, Zoltan; Rodrigues, Maria Joao; Ak, Gunes; Polat, Ridvan; Urusan, Zeynep; Sinan, Kouadio Ibrahime; Custódio, LuísaThis study focused on the biological evaluation and chemical characterization of Centaurea bingoelensis, an endemic plant to Turkey. Different solvent extracts (hexane, dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EA), methanol, hydro-methanol, and water extracts) were prepared. The antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities were investigated. The hydro-methanol extract, possessing high phenolic content (41.57 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g extract), showed highest reducing capacity (136.87 and 82.16 mg Trolox equivalent [TE]/g extract, for cupric reducing antioxidant capacity and ferric reducing antioxidant power, respectively) and radical scavenging potential (70.72 and 76.53 mg TE/g extract, against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl and 2,2' -azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), respectively). Ultra performance liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometer (UHPLC/MS/MS) analysis revealed the presence of 67 and 62 compounds in the methanolic and water extracts, respectively. According to the broth microdilution results, DCM and EA extracts showed significant antimicrobial activity with Sarcina lutea being the most sensitive bacterium to the extracts (MIC = 0.19 (DCM) and 0.097 mg/mL (EA)). Most extracts showed promising antifungal activity against Candida albicans. The methanol extract was most toxic against human hepatocarcinoma (HepG2) cells, and also significantly reduced the cell viability of the non-tumoral murine bone marrow stromal (S17) cells. This study has provided valuable scientific data on this endemic plant which can be considered as a promising candidate for the development of novel phyto-pharmaceuticals.
- Juncaceae species as sources of innovative bioactive compounds for the food industry: In vitro antioxidant activity, neuroprotective properties and in silico studiesPublication . Rodrigues, Maria João; Gangadhar N. Katkam, Dr.; Zengin, Gokhan; Mollica, Adriano; Varela, João; Barreira, Luísa; L, CustódioSeveral Juncus species are traditionally used as sedative and to treat health problems like insomnia. This work was based on the hypothesis that Juncus acutus, J. maritimus and J. inflexus may have molecules with bioactivities relevant for the improvement of cognitive functions and thus with potential use as food additives and/or nutraceuticals. Therefore leaves and roots extracts of those species were evaluated for radical scavenging (RSA) and metal chelating activities, and for in vitro inhibition of acetyl-(AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE). The bioactive compound was isolated and identified by HPLC-DAD, and its anticholinesterase capacity was determined by different assays. Docking studies were performed to elucidate its inhibitory mechanism. The dichloromethane root extract of J. acutus had the highest RSA against DPPH and ABTS radicals, and the dichloromethane extract of J. maritimus leaves had the uppermost FRAP. The dichloromethane extract from J. acutus leaves had the strongest BuChE inhibition. Juncunol was the bioactive compound, exhibiting dual anticholinesterase capacity on enzyme-based assays and AChE inhibition in neuronal and glial cells in vitro. Molecular docking studies indicate juncunol as a competitive reversible inhibitor. Our results suggest that Juncus spp. can be sources of bioactive compounds with application in the food industry as cognitive-enhancer nutraceuticals. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
- Exploring the potential of using Marine-Derived Ingredients: From the extraction to Cutting-Edge CosmeticsPublication . Costa, João Pedro; L, Custódio; Reis, Catarina PintoThe growing understanding and knowledge of the potential of marine species, as well as the application of “blue biotechnology” have been motivating new innovative solutions in cosmetics. It is widely noted that that marine species are important sources of compounds with several biological activities that are yet to be discovered. This review explores various biological properties of marine-derived molecules and briefly outlines the main extraction methods. Alongside these, it is well known the legislative and normative framework of cosmetics is increasingly being developed. In this research segment, there is a growing concern with sustainability. In this sense, “blue biotechnology”, together with the use of invasive species or marine waste products to obtain new active ingredients, haven been emerging as innovative and sustainable solutions for the future’s cosmetics industry. This review also examines the regulatory framework and focus on the recent advancements in “blue biotechnology” and its relevance to the sustainable development of innovative cosmetics.
- Bursatella leachii from Mar Menor as a source of bioactive molecules: preliminary evaluation of the nutritional profile, In vitro biological activities, and fatty acids contentsPublication . Braga, Tiago; Rodrigues, Maria Joao; Pereira, Hugo; Varela, João; Barreira, Luísa; Gonzalez-Wanguemert, Mercedes; Custódio, LuísaMarine invertebrates contain nutritionally important elements that make them suitable to be included in the human diet, and they are considered an outstanding source of secondary metabolites with multiple biotechnological uses. The sea hare Bursatella leachii is an invasive species in Mar Menor that can be managed through the control of its reproduction and/or by massive biomass removal. In this context, this work evaluated the possible use of biomass from B. leachii in the food and cosmetics industries. Biomass was appraised for nutritional properties, and extracts were prepared and evaluated in vitro for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity, cholinesterase and tyrosinase inhibition, and for total contents in different phenolic groups. It had a moderate moisture level, low ash and fat levels, and an adequate protein amount and protein/lipid ratio. The fatty acids (FA) profile was mainly saturated, dominated by palmitic acid. The methanol extract had the highest acetylcholinesterase inhibition. The acetone extract had the strongest capacity to scavenge 1,1-diphenyl-2 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, reduce iron, inhibit tyrosinase, decrease nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated microglia cells, and the upmost levels of total phenolics, flavonoids, and tannins. Our results suggest multiple biotechnological applications for B. leachii biomass in different economic areas.