Browsing by Author "Costa, A.S.G."
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- Carotenoids content of cherry tomato fruits: a comparative studyPublication . Aires, A.B.; Arantes, M.; Costa, A.S.G.; Alves, R.C.; Ferreira da Vinha, Ana; Oliveira, M.B.P.P.Consumption of cherry tomato fruits has been increasing due to the rising public demand for convenience and awareness of fruit's health benefits. Carotenoids, natural pigments synthesized by plants and microorganisms but not by animals, contribute to the different colours of tomato fruits and are recognized as playing an important role in several biological functions. In this work, we studied some carotenoid contents (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, lycopene and beta-carotene) of five cherry tomato cultivars (red cherry chucha, red cherry, striped cherry, yellow cherry, and red cherry cacho).
- Chemical and antioxidant profiles of acorn tissues from Quercus spp.: potential as new industrial raw materialsPublication . Ferreira da Vinha, Ana; Costa, A.S.G.; Barreira, João C.M.; Pacheco, R.; Oliveira, M. Beatriz P.P.The bioactivity of different organs and tissues of Quercus spp. (Fagaceae), an important group of evergreen or deciduous trees from temperate and tropical climatic areas, represents a good starting point for possible industrial applications. Nevertheless, Quercus fruits, generally known as acorns, are currently undervalued and underexploited. Accordingly, the proximate composition, fatty acids and tocopherols profiles, chlorophyll, lycopene and β-carotene contents, as well as the antioxidant activity, were studied in different Quercus species to boost new applications in food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. In general, significant differences were found among the nutritional parameters, fatty acids and tocopherols contents and bioactivity indicators, either considering phenotypic (studied species) or botanical (acorn tissues) factors. The acorn tissues and the Quercus species that optimize the production of each nutrient and bioactive compound, as well as that allowing the highest antioxidant activity were thoroughly identified. The obtained information provides an increased knowledge to define potential industrial applications for acorn tissues, potentially offering economic advantages to this underutilized natural resource.
- Chemical characterization of coffee silverskin: in view of health and sustainabilityPublication . Costa, A.S.G.; Ferreira da Vinha, Ana; Santos, J.; Alves, R.C.; Oliveira, M.B.P.P.Laurus nobilis L. is an aromatic plant, whose leaves are frequently used as spice. Leaf extracts and essential oil have also been used in folk medicine for the treatment of several dysfunctions and in cosmetic industry.
- Comparison of the nutritional value of fresh and freeze-dried elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson) tuberPublication . Machado, L.; Costa, A.S.G.; Ferreira da Vinha, Ana; Alves, R.C.; Oliveira, M.B.P.P.Yams are members of different families, like Dioscoreae, Colocasia, Alocasia and Xanthosoma (Aracea) and are one of the oldest plants known. Elephant foot yam (Aracea) tuber has a great interest in food shortage periods for several populations.
- Dietary supplements for cognitive function improvement: control of amino acid levelsPublication . Pimentel, F.B.; Botelho, J.; Costa, C.G.; Costa, A.S.G.; Ferreira da Vinha, Ana; Alves, R.C.; Oliveira, M.B.P.P.Neurodegenerative diseases affect cognitive functions by progressive and irreversible destruction of brain cells. The medical treatment is often complemented with dietary supplementation in order to suppress the lack of nutrients that is common in these situations. Some amino acids are especially important to prevent or delay the progress of such diseases. For example, tryptophan, tyrosine, and phenylalanine are biosynthetic precursors of important neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine), and glutamate and aspartate are themselves brain neurotransmitters. The aim of this study was to evaluate the amino acids composition of commercial dietary supplements (n=8) for improvement of memory and cognitive function.
- Elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson): the effect of processing on the amino acid profilePublication . Costa, A.S.G.; Pimentel, F.B.; Fernandes, T.J.R.; Ruas, A.C.; Ferreira da Vinha, Ana; Alves, R.C.; Oliveira, M.B.P.P.The elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson) is a tropical plant from Southeast Asia, where it is cultivated, but it also grows wild in the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and other countries in the region, including East Timor. Besides being used as food, it is still used in popular medicine to treat some health problems, such as arthralgia, elephantiasis, inflammation, hemorrhoids, vomiting, asthma, dyspepsia, flatulence, colic, constipation, among others. The aim of this study was to characterize the amino acids composition of elephant foot yam from Timor. Fresh and boiled tubers were also compared to evaluate the effect of processing on the amino acids profile.
- Nutritional and phytochemical composition of Carica papaya L. byproducts: new strategies for food security and sustainabilityPublication . Soares, C.S.B.; Costa, A.S.G.; Melo, D.; Ferreira da Vinha, Ana; Oliveira, M.B.P.P.Carica papaya is a predominant plant in tropical Africa and Central America with high importance for farmer incomes. It is known as “the fruit of angels”, due to it nutritional value and low cost. It ranks second as a source of beta-carotene, containing also natural sugars, vitamins C and E, B complex vitamins, and minerals, with fair amounts of calcium and phosphorus.Low in calories, this exotic fruit promotes the health of the cardiovascular system and provide protection against colon cancer. In addition, papaya contains papain (digestive enzyme), which is used to treat sports injuries, other causes of trauma, and allergies. Nowadays, papaya is the third most consumed tropical fruit in Europe. Therefore, the fruit processing industries generate a high volume of by-products (seeds and peels). These by-products hold nutrients and phytochemicals that can be used as value added ingredients for food and pharmaceutical applications. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to evaluate the nutritional composition and antioxidants content of seeds and peels of two papaya varieties marketed in Portugal (aliança and formosa). Ash, total fat, protein and dietary fibre, expressed as g/100 g of dry weight, were determined following the AOAC methods. The free sugars were evaluated by chromatographic analysis using an HPLC-ELSD system. Fatty acids methyl esters (FAME) were prepared, in triplicate, according to ISO (12966-2:2011) and their profile determined by GC-FID.5 Total vitamin E was analysed by HPLC-DAD-FLD. The content of total phenolics, flavonoids and antioxidant activity (DPPH• and FRAP inhibition) were determined by spectrophotometric methods. The seeds of aliança and formosa fruit varieties are a rich source of proteins (29.03% and 27.14%), lipids (25.30%) and inorganic matter (8.62% and 9.50%). Sugars in the free form (glucose and frutose) were detected in low amounts, contrarily to the fibre content. Regarding the fatty acid profile, both seed fruit varieties are rich in oleic acid (18:1) (72.60 and 73.60% for aliança and formosa, respectively), a monounsaturated fatty acid linked to health benefits. Vitamin E (mainly alfa-tocopherol) ranged between 32.3-37.3 mg/kg for aliança and formosa seeds, respectively. Regarding fruit peels, both varieties also present high content of proteins (26.56% and 19.79%), significantly lower content of total fat (2.8% and 3.4%) but higher mineral content (15.8% and 13.8%, respectively). Formosa peels displays the highest content of free sugars (173.6 mg/g and 151.8 mg/g for frutose and glicose, respectively). Like seeds, the two fruit varieties peels also show considerable fibre content. The fatty acid profile in fruit peels was quite different from that described in seeds, being α-Linolenic acid (C18:3n3) the most representative one (28.1% and 30.3% for aliança and formosa, respectively). Vitamin E was significantly superior in fruit peels (615.9- 939.3 mg/kg, aliança and formosa, respectively). These high values for proximate composition make these by-products rich natural sources of nutrients. Regarding the antioxidant content, total phenolics and flavonoids were higher in the fruit peels, with no significant differences between the two studied varieties (p0.05). Despite the difference in the total content of bioactive compounds, the antioxidant activity was identical in both seeds and peels fruit varieties (28% for DPPH• and 78micromol FSE/g of dw). Moreover, the individual profile of bioactive compounds should be considered in a future study, but these results confirm the great potential for industrial recovery and related applications, such as formulation of new food ingredients.
- Nutritional and phytochemical properties of Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller fruits from PortugalPublication . Gomes, A.; Espírito-Santo, L.; Costa, A.S.G.; Nunes, M.A.; Ferreira da Vinha, Ana; Oliveira, M.B.P.P.Opuntia ficus-indica, commonly referred to a cactus pear, belongs to the Cactaceae family, characyerized by a remarkable adaptation to arid and semi-arid climates, in tropical and subtropical regions of the globe. In Portugal, it is known as "figueira do diabo". The fruit can be used in the production of jams, in cosmetic applications and folk medicine, based on its bioactive compounds and biological/pharmacological properties.
- Nutritional value and fatty acid profile from acorns (Quercus nigra): intending new alternative applicationsPublication . Pacheco, R.; Costa, A.S.G.; Pimentel, Filipa; Ferreira da Vinha, Ana; Oliveira, M.B.P.P.The development of rural areas depends on sustainability policies to promote agricultural and production systems, in order to increase those populations’ income. To attain this purpose, it is important to find new opportunities to valorize the available, but still underexploited, natural resources. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the nutritional profile of kernel, shell and the whole fruit of Quercus nigra, a Portuguese autochthonous acorn species, intending new alternative applications (functional foods). Nutritional parameters (ash, fat, protein and moisture) were measured according to AOAC methods. Total carbohydrates were calculated by difference. The fatty acid profile was also evaluated by GC/FID.
- Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller fruit from Portugal: alternative crops and food securityPublication . Gomes, A.; Espírito Santo, L.; Costa, A.S.G.; Nunes, M.A.; Ferreira da Vinha, Ana; Oliveira, M.B.P.P.The search for plant species to develop sustainable agriculture is nowadays a challenge. Opuntias (cactus), once invasive species, are now part of the natural landscape and the agricultural systems of many regions. Opuntia products (palm, flowers and fruits) are used for food, forage, energy, folk medicine, cosmetic and agronomic purposes, contributing to the food security.