Browsing by Author "Pacheco, R."
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- Acorns as a food resourcePublication . Pacheco, R.; Ferreira da Vinha, Ana; Oliveira, M.B.P.P.The oaks (Quercus spp.) comprise the largest genus Fagaceae, an important family of evergreen or deciduous trees of temperate and tropical climatic areas. The acorn is a one-seeded nut, the hard, dry and indehiscent fruit of oaks, derived from a unilocular ovary of fused carpels. Acorns are an interesting source of carbohydrates, fats and fibers and also contain protein, amino acids and vitamins, mostly A and C. Additionally, it has been proven its antioxidant effects. Appreciation of acorn has been increasing, because of its potential as a food resource. The goal of the present review is to compile the published information about nutritional, phytochemical and bioactive composition of acorns.
- 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.
- 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.