Browsing by Author "Oliveira, M. Beatriz P.P."
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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.
- Baobab fruit: assessment of seed kernel lipid fractionPublication . Passos, Fábio; Nunes, M. Antónia; Pimentel, Filipa; Costa, Anabela S.G.; Ferreira da Vinha, Ana; Oliveira, M. Beatriz P.P.Fruit seeds are important sources of oils for nutritional, pharmaceutical and industrial purposes, despite their differences in fatty acids composition. To study the viability of baobab seed kernel valorization as a new alternative edible oil source, it is essential to characterize its lipid fraction. Oil was obtained by Soxhlet extraction with petroleum ether (2.5 h). Fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) were then analyzed by GC, in a Shimadzu GC-2010 gas chromatograph with a flame ionization detector (Shimadzu, Columbia). Vitamin E profile (α, β, γ and δ-tocopherols and α, β, γ and δ-tocotrienols) was determined by NP-HPLC/DAD/FLD, in an HPLC integrated system (Jasco, Japan).
- 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.
- Borututu (Cochlospermum angolense): influência do processamento no teor de vitamina EPublication . Ferreira da Vinha, Ana; Pimentel, Filipa; Alves, Rita C.; Costa, Anabela; Oliveira, M. Beatriz P.P.O borututu (Cochlospermum angolense Welw.) é uma planta angolana vulgarmente utilizada na medicina popular africana para efeitos hepatoprotetores e na profilaxia da malária. Recentemente, tem sido dada alguma atenção ao potencial antioxidante desta planta, mas, até à data, não estão descritos estudos acerca do seu teor em vitamina E. A vitamina E é reconhecida pela sua elevada atividade antioxidante, nomeadamente contra a oxidação lipídica, lesões celulares e radicais livres. Neste estudo avaliou-se a influência do processamento (secagem ao sol, à sombra e liofilização) no teor e perfil de vitamina E do borututu. O teor total de vitamina E variou entre 35 e 77 mg/100 g (peso seco). O vitâmero predominante em todas as amostras foi o d-tocoferol. Observou-se um decréscimo nos teores dos diferentes vitâmeros nas amostras secas ao sol e um aumento do teor de b-tocoferol e g-tocotrienol nas amostras liofilizadas (comparação em peso seco). Os resultados sugerem que a incorporação de borututu em peloides poderá ser uma mais-valia tendo em vista o aumento da capacidade antioxidante do produto final.
- Carotenoids: natural pigments and their recovery in food wastePublication . Ferreira da Vinha, Ana; Silva, Carla Sousa e; Oliveira, M. Beatriz P.P.
- 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.
- CosmeticsPublication . Rodrigues, Francisca; Cádiz-Gurrea, María de la Luz; Nunes, M. Antónia; Pinto, Diana; Ferreira da Vinha, Ana; Borrás Linares, Isabel; Oliveira, M. Beatriz P.P.; Segura Carretero, AntonioThe cosmetic industry is a prosperous global business. According to the Cosmetics Europe—The Personal Care Association, 450 million of Europeans daily use a wide variety of cosmetic products, such as soap, shampoo, hair conditioner, toothpaste, deodorant, shaving cream, skincare, perfume, or make-up. Innovation is one of the basic principles in this field. Over the past 20 years, the innovation in cosmetic industry is enormous, resulting in a wide range of products to protect and moisturize skin as well as to combat inflammation and age signals. Also, consumers are more concerned about their appearance, trying to accept the new society paradigms. On the other hand, the demand for natural cosmetics is stronger than ever, being now widely considered a serious threat to the worldwide economy and society. These new concepts had improved the use of natural extracts as active ingredients in cosmetics, leading to the reuse of old-style active ingredients obtained from natural sources, as well as to new green compounds obtained considering sustainable principles.
- Development and evaluation of an HPLC-DAD method for the phenolic compounds from olive fruitsPublication . Ferreira da Vinha, Ana; Silva, Branca M.; Andrade, Paula B.; Seabra, Rosa M.; Pereira, José A.; Oliveira, M. Beatriz P.P.A new HPLC=DAD methodology for separating nine phenolic compounds is described. This methodology is applied to the definition of qualitative and quantitative profiles of three Portuguese olive fruit cultivars (Cobranc¸osa, Madural and Verdeal). Two different extraction methods were needed for the complete definition of their profiles, one of them including a Sep-pack C18 cleaning step.The chromatographic separation was achieved using a Spherisorb ODS2 (25.060.46 cm; 5 mm, particle size) column.The solvent system used was a gradient of water-formic acid (19:1) and methanol, with a flow rate of 0.9 mL=min. The detection limit values for phenolic compounds were between 0.04 and 4.32 mg=mL and the method was precise. As ageneral rule, the recovery values were high. This technique can also be useful in the discrimination of Portuguese olive fruit cultivars.
- Food waste and by-products recovery: nutraceuticals and health potential of carotenoids as natural pigmentsPublication . Ferreira da Vinha, Ana; Silva, Carla Sousa e; Oliveira, M. Beatriz P.P.
- Frutos da Opuntia: o fruto do futuroPublication . Gomes, Alan; Espírito Santo, Liliana; Costa, Anabela S.G.; Nunes, M. Antónia; Ferreira da Vinha, Ana; Oliveira, M. Beatriz P.P.Segundo a Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), a produção de Opuntias (catos), para além de ser bastante rentável, é uma estratégia promissora no combate à desertificação e às mudanças climáticas globais, uma vez que esta planta tem a capacidade de se adaptar a condições climáticas extremas e consegue crescer em solos severamente degradados. A procura de plantas que estejam na base de uma agricultura sustentável é hoje um desafio. Opuntias, outrora espécies invasora, fazem agora parte da paisagem natural e dos sistemas agrícolas de muitas regiões. Os produtos da Opuntia (palmas, flores e frutos) são utilizados na alimentação, forragem, energia, medicina popular, cosmética e produtos agrícolas, contribuindo para a disponibilidade de alimentos.