Percorrer por autor "Freitas, Marisa"
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- Adansonia digitata fruit: compounds and antioxidante activity against reactive speciesPublication . Pinto, Diana; Ferreira da Vinha, Ana; Freitas, Marisa; Oliveira, M. Beatriz P.P.Baobab (Adansonia digitata) is an African native fruit, of which both chemical composition and antioxidant activity against physiologically relevant reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) were not yet investigated. It is generally accepted that the antioxidant activity of natural resources could be related with the prevention of several diseases. Baobab leaves, fruit pulp, root, stem, seeds and bark have shown medicinal properties, including diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hepato-protective, analgesic, anti-diarrhea, anti-dysentery, anti rheumatoid and antiviral activities.
- Bioactive compounds and scavenging capacity of Adansonia digitata L. (Baobab fruit) pulp extracts against ROS and RNS of physiological relevancePublication . Ferreira da Vinha, Ana; Costa, Anabela S.G.; Pimentel, Filipa B.; Santo, Liliana Espírito; Silva, Carla Sousa e; Freitas, Marisa; Fernandes, Eduarda; Oliveira, M. Beatriz P.P.Background: Baobab fruit is valued for its nutritional and medicinal benefits. Although it is acknowledged that baobab pulp is beneficial for health, studies that link its nutraceutical properties to the ability to eliminate reactive species (ROS and RNS) are scarce. Methods: The nutritional profile and the antioxidant properties of baobab pulp extracts from Angola were evaluated. Thus, for the first time, the evaluation of in vitro scavenging capacity against the most physiologically relevant reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) were the focus of inves tigation. Results: Angolan fruit pulp presented high contents of ash (8.0%) and total dietary fiber (52%). Vitamin E content was reported for the first time in fruit pulp. Green solvents were used to quantify bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity. Hydroalcoholic extracts exhibited the high est contents of phenolics (1573.0 mg/100 g) and flavonoids (768.7 mg/100 g). Thus, hydroalcoholic extracts showed higher antioxidant activity, and higher scavenging capacity for ROS (O2•−, H2O2, HOCl, ROO•) and RNS (•NO, ONOO−), being most active for •NO and ONOO−. Conclusion: For the first time, Angolan baobab fruit was described in respect to its nutritional contribution as well as its positive antioxidant effects, both as a functional food and as a nutraceutical ingredient.