Browsing by Author "Castro, A."
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- Antioxidant activity and antimicrobial properties of lemon grass essential oilPublication . Ferreira da Vinha, Ana; Soares, M.O.; Barreira, Sérgio; Castro, A.; Alves, R.C.; Oliveira, M.B.P.P.Essential oils have been explored comprehensively as potential sources of compounds with antioxidant and antimicrobial activities.
- Autophagy plays a protective role in synthetic cathinones-induced nephrotoxicityPublication . Vaz, I.; Castro, A.; Araújo, A.M.; Valente, M.J.; Pinho, P. Guedes de; Bastos, M.D.L.; Carvalho, Márcia
- Cymbopogon citratus EO antimicrobial activity against multi-drug resistant Gram-positive strains and non-albicans-Candida speciesPublication . Soares, M.O.; Ferreira da Vinha, Ana; Barreira, Sérgio; Coutinho, F.; Aires-Gonçalves, S.; Oliveira, M.B.P.P.; Pires, P.C.; Castro, A.We studied the antibacterial and antifungal activity of Cymbopogon citratus. These properties were studied on hospital isolated multidrug resistant strains Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia and their respective ATCC control strains. Pathogenic Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, and Candida tropicalis were also tested. Results of the present investigation provide evidence that the EO of Cymbopogon citratus could have a potential application in the treatment and prevention of diseases caused by Staphylococcus aureus methicillin-resistant strains and by vancomicin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis. Cymbopogon citratus EO is also effective against Candida albicans as well as the emerging Candida parapsilosis and Candida tropicalis pointing to its usefulness as an antifungal agent.
- Effect of conventional heat treatment on phenolic contents and free radical scavenging activity of green leafy vegetablesPublication . Ferreira da Vinha, Ana; Castro, A.; Barreira, Sérgio; Alves, R.C.; Oliveira, M.B.P.P.Vegetables represent a higly significant source of functional substances, which might benefit physiological functions in the human metabolism.
- Qualidade da Preparação Intestinal: Um desafio para todosPublication . Moreira, António Mota; Hipólito, Marlene; Monteiro, Joana; Castro, A.; Santos, S.; Leite, D.; Magalhães, M.J.
- The interplay between autophagy and apoptosis mediates toxicity triggered by synthetic cathinones in human kidney cellsPublication . Vaz, I.; Carvalho, T.; Valente, M.J.; Castro, A.; Araújo, A.M.; Bastos, M.L.; Carvalho, MárciaSynthetic cathinones abuse remains a serious public health problem. Kidney injury has been reported in intoxications associated with synthetic cathinones, but the molecular mechanisms involved have not been explored yet. In this study, the potential in vitro nephrotoxic effects of four commonly abused cathinone derivatives, namely pentedrone, 3,4-dimethylmethcatinone (3,4-DMMC), methylone and 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), were assessed in the human kidney HK-2 cell line. All four derivatives elicited cell death in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, in the following order of potency: 3,4-DMMC > MDPV > methylone ≈ pentedrone. 3,4-DMMC and methylone were selected to further elucidate the mechanisms behind synthetic cathinones-induced cell death. Both drugs elicited apoptotic cell death and prompted the formation of acidic vesicular organelles and autophagosomes in HK-2 cells. Moreover, the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine significantly potentiated cell death, indicating that autophagy may serve as a cell survival mechanism that protects renal cells against synthetic cathinones toxicity. Both drugs triggered a rise in reactive oxygen and nitrogen species formation, which was completely prevented by antioxidant treatment with N‑acetyl‑L‑cysteine or ascorbic acid. Importantly, these antioxidant agents significantly aggravated renal cell death induced by cathinone derivatives, most likely due to their autophagy-blocking properties. Taken together, our results support an intricate control of cell survival/death modulated by oxidative stress, apoptosis and autophagy in synthetic cathinones-induced renal injury.