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Dr. Francisca Rodrigues
REQUIMTE-LAQV-Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Instituto Politécnico do Porto

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Journal article
Published: 09 August 2021 in International Journal of Molecular Sciences
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Bacterial quorum sensing (QS) is a cell-cell communication system that regulates several bacterial mechanisms, including the production of virulence factors and biofilm formation. Thus, targeting microbial QS is seen as a plausible alternative strategy to antibiotics, with potentiality to combat multidrug-resistant pathogens. Many phytochemicals with QS interference activity are currently being explored. Herein, an extract and a compound of bioinspired origin were tested for their ability to inhibit biofilm formation and interfere with the expression of QS-related genes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. The extract, a carboxypyranoanthocyanins red wine extract (carboxypyrano-ant extract), and the pure compound, carboxypyranocyanidin-3-O-glucoside (carboxypyCy-3-glc), did not cause a visible effect on the biofilm formation of the P. aeruginosa biofilms; however, both significantly affected the formation of biofilms by the S. aureus strains, as attested by the crystal violet assay and fluorescence microscopy. Both the extract and the pure compound significantly interfered with the expression of several QS-related genes in the P. aeruginosa and S. aureus biofilms, as per reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) results. Indeed, it was possible to conclude that these molecules interfere with QS at distinct stages and in a strain-specific manner. An extract with anti-QS properties could be advantageous because it is easily obtained and could have broad, antimicrobial therapeutic applications if included in topical formulations.

ACS Style

Patrícia Coelho; Joana Oliveira; Iva Fernandes; Paula Araújo; Ana Pereira; Paula Gameiro; Lucinda Bessa. Pyranoanthocyanins Interfering with the Quorum Sensing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2021, 22, 8559 .

AMA Style

Patrícia Coelho, Joana Oliveira, Iva Fernandes, Paula Araújo, Ana Pereira, Paula Gameiro, Lucinda Bessa. Pyranoanthocyanins Interfering with the Quorum Sensing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2021; 22 (16):8559.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Patrícia Coelho; Joana Oliveira; Iva Fernandes; Paula Araújo; Ana Pereira; Paula Gameiro; Lucinda Bessa. 2021. "Pyranoanthocyanins Interfering with the Quorum Sensing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus." International Journal of Molecular Sciences 22, no. 16: 8559.

Journal article
Published: 16 July 2021 in International Journal of Molecular Sciences
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Seaweeds are one of the largest producers of biomass in the marine environment and a source of multiple bioactive metabolites with valuable health benefits. Among these, phlorotannins have been widely recognized for their promising bioactive properties. The potential antitumor capacity of Fucus vesiculosus-derived phlorotannins remains, however, poorly explored, especially in gastrointestinal tract-related tumors. Therefore, this work aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic properties and possible mechanisms by which F. vesiculosus crude extract (CRD), phlorotannin-rich extract (EtOAc), and further phlorotannin-purified fractions (F1–F9) trigger cell death on different tumor cell lines of the gastrointestinal tract, using flow cytometry. The results indicate that F. vesiculosus samples exert specific cytotoxicity against tumor cell lines without affecting the viability of normal cells. Moreover, it was found that, among the nine different phlorotannin fractions tested, F5 was the most active against both Caco-2 colorectal and MKN-28 gastric cancer cells, inducing death via activation of both apoptosis and necrosis. The UHPLC-MS analysis of this fraction revealed, among others, the presence of a compound tentatively identified as eckstolonol and another as fucofurodiphlorethol, which could be mainly responsible for the promising cytotoxic effects observed in this sample. Overall, the results herein reported contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms behind the antitumor properties of F. vesiculosus phlorotannin-rich extracts.

ACS Style

Marcelo Catarino; Iva Fernandes; Hélder Oliveira; Mylene Carrascal; Rita Ferreira; Artur Silva; Maria Cruz; Nuno Mateus; Susana Cardoso. Antitumor Activity of Fucus vesiculosus-Derived Phlorotannins through Activation of Apoptotic Signals in Gastric and Colorectal Tumor Cell Lines. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2021, 22, 7604 .

AMA Style

Marcelo Catarino, Iva Fernandes, Hélder Oliveira, Mylene Carrascal, Rita Ferreira, Artur Silva, Maria Cruz, Nuno Mateus, Susana Cardoso. Antitumor Activity of Fucus vesiculosus-Derived Phlorotannins through Activation of Apoptotic Signals in Gastric and Colorectal Tumor Cell Lines. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2021; 22 (14):7604.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marcelo Catarino; Iva Fernandes; Hélder Oliveira; Mylene Carrascal; Rita Ferreira; Artur Silva; Maria Cruz; Nuno Mateus; Susana Cardoso. 2021. "Antitumor Activity of Fucus vesiculosus-Derived Phlorotannins through Activation of Apoptotic Signals in Gastric and Colorectal Tumor Cell Lines." International Journal of Molecular Sciences 22, no. 14: 7604.

Journal article
Published: 28 June 2021 in Antioxidants
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Human skin is commonly described as a particularly dynamic and complex environment, with a physiological balance continuously orchestrated by numerous internal and external factors. Intrinsic aging, exposure to UV radiation and skin pathogens are some of the key players that account for dermatological alterations and ailments. In this regard, this study intended to explore the potential skin-health beneficial properties of a group of molecules belonging to the anthocyanin family: cyanidin- and malvidin-3-O-glucosides and some of their structurally related pigments, resulting in a library of compounds with different structural properties and color hues. The inclusion of both purified compounds and crude extracts provided some insights into their distinctive effects when tested as individual agents or as part of multicomponent mixtures. Overall, most of the compounds were found to reduce biofilm production by S. aureus and P. aeruginosa reference strains, exhibit UV-filter capacity, attenuate the production of reactive oxygen species in human skin keratinocytes and fibroblasts and also showed inhibitory activity of skin-degrading enzymes, in the absence of cytotoxic effects. Carboxypyranocyanidin-3-O-glucoside stood out for its global performance which, combined with its greater structural stability, makes this a particular interesting compound for potential incorporation in topical formulations. Results provide strong evidence of the skin protective effects of these pigments, supporting their further application for cosmeceutical purposes.

ACS Style

Patrícia Correia; Paula Araújo; Carolina Ribeiro; Hélder Oliveira; Ana Pereira; Nuno Mateus; Victor de Freitas; Natércia Brás; Paula Gameiro; Patrícia Coelho; Lucinda Bessa; Joana Oliveira; Iva Fernandes. Anthocyanin-Related Pigments: Natural Allies for Skin Health Maintenance and Protection. Antioxidants 2021, 10, 1038 .

AMA Style

Patrícia Correia, Paula Araújo, Carolina Ribeiro, Hélder Oliveira, Ana Pereira, Nuno Mateus, Victor de Freitas, Natércia Brás, Paula Gameiro, Patrícia Coelho, Lucinda Bessa, Joana Oliveira, Iva Fernandes. Anthocyanin-Related Pigments: Natural Allies for Skin Health Maintenance and Protection. Antioxidants. 2021; 10 (7):1038.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Patrícia Correia; Paula Araújo; Carolina Ribeiro; Hélder Oliveira; Ana Pereira; Nuno Mateus; Victor de Freitas; Natércia Brás; Paula Gameiro; Patrícia Coelho; Lucinda Bessa; Joana Oliveira; Iva Fernandes. 2021. "Anthocyanin-Related Pigments: Natural Allies for Skin Health Maintenance and Protection." Antioxidants 10, no. 7: 1038.

Journal article
Published: 21 June 2021 in Sustainable Materials and Technologies
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Sustainability arises as a challenge in the last decades and the cosmetic field is not an exception. The search for new cosmetic active principles extracted from food byproducts through eco-innovative technologies has emerged as a novel concept. However, the European Regulation is very restrictive and different assays should be performed to guarantee the products' efficacy and safety. Considering a multidisciplinary approach, this paper aims to compare chestnut shells extracts prepared by three different green techniques – Subcritical Water Extraction (SWE), Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction (UAE) and Supercritical Fluids Extraction (SFE) – regarding antimicrobial activity, hyaluronidase and elastase inhibitory activities, in-vitro cytotoxicity on dermal cells (HaCaT and HFF-1) and skin permeation (using Franz cells coupled to human skin). The best extract was tested on skin and ocular 3D models and through an in-vivo patch test to evaluate its irritancy and safety. The results demonstrated the antimicrobial properties of the extracts (particularly against Staphylococcus aureus) as well as the capacity to inhibit the hyaluronidase (IC50 = 0.76–54.36 mg/mL) and elastase (33.56–82.70% at 0.4 mg/mL) activities. Regarding in-vitro cell assays, UAE and SWE extracts revealed the best outcomes. Between 0.1 and 100 μg/mL, none of the extracts conducted to a decrease of cell viability in both cell lines (HaCaT and HFF-1). The ex-vivo assay proved that SWE extract led to a higher polyphenol's permeation (1061.6 μg/g dw), being selected for further assays. Ellagic acid was the major polyphenol that permeated the human skin (732.1–847.0 μg/g dw). The 3D skin and ocular models evidenced absence of irritation by SWE extract, without decreasing cell viability and releasing IL-1α. Finally, an in-vivo patch test confirmed the absence of irritation in humans based on the acute irritation index of 0.50 achieved 24 h after the patch removal. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that validated by in-vitro and in-vivo assays, and in accordance with the European Regulation 1223/2009, a new cosmetic ingredient extracted from chestnut shells.

ACS Style

Diana Pinto; María De La Luz Cádiz-Gurrea; Juliana Garcia; Maria José Saavedra; Vitor Freitas; Paulo Costa; Bruno Sarmento; Cristina Delerue-Matos; Francisca Rodrigues. From soil to cosmetic industry: Validation of a new cosmetic ingredient extracted from chestnut shells. Sustainable Materials and Technologies 2021, 29, e00309 .

AMA Style

Diana Pinto, María De La Luz Cádiz-Gurrea, Juliana Garcia, Maria José Saavedra, Vitor Freitas, Paulo Costa, Bruno Sarmento, Cristina Delerue-Matos, Francisca Rodrigues. From soil to cosmetic industry: Validation of a new cosmetic ingredient extracted from chestnut shells. Sustainable Materials and Technologies. 2021; 29 ():e00309.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Diana Pinto; María De La Luz Cádiz-Gurrea; Juliana Garcia; Maria José Saavedra; Vitor Freitas; Paulo Costa; Bruno Sarmento; Cristina Delerue-Matos; Francisca Rodrigues. 2021. "From soil to cosmetic industry: Validation of a new cosmetic ingredient extracted from chestnut shells." Sustainable Materials and Technologies 29, no. : e00309.

Journal article
Published: 11 June 2021 in Cosmetics
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The cosmetic industry is a field on rise where the search for novel antioxidant ingredients, preferably from natural matrixes, became a new challenge. The reuse of Castanea sativa shells as a source of phytochemicals with pro-healthy effects in skin care products may be a valuable alternative to valorize this underexploited agro-industrial by-product. A previous study of our research group demonstrated the antioxidant properties of chestnut shells extract obtained by ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), as well as its safeness on skin cell lines, namely keratinocytes and fibroblasts. Based on the extract richness in antioxidants, a formulation containing C. sativa shells extract obtained by this environmentally friendly technology was successfully developed in the present study. The oil-in-water (O/W) cream incorporating the chestnut shells extract was further characterized regarding organoleptic and technological properties, namely color, pH, droplets size, and viscosity. A stability study over time was also accomplished. The results demonstrate that the formulation not only displayed pleasant organoleptic characteristics attractive to consumers but also a pH compatible with skin and a suitable viscosity for topical application. The stability study revealed minor changes to droplet size and color, without affecting the general stability of the formulation. In conclusion, this study emphasized the prominent benefits of chestnut shells extract as a novel ingredient for skin care formulations.

ACS Style

Diana Pinto; Fátima Lameirão; Cristina Delerue-Matos; Francisca Rodrigues; Paulo Costa. Characterization and Stability of a Formulation Containing Antioxidants-Enriched Castanea sativa Shells Extract. Cosmetics 2021, 8, 49 .

AMA Style

Diana Pinto, Fátima Lameirão, Cristina Delerue-Matos, Francisca Rodrigues, Paulo Costa. Characterization and Stability of a Formulation Containing Antioxidants-Enriched Castanea sativa Shells Extract. Cosmetics. 2021; 8 (2):49.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Diana Pinto; Fátima Lameirão; Cristina Delerue-Matos; Francisca Rodrigues; Paulo Costa. 2021. "Characterization and Stability of a Formulation Containing Antioxidants-Enriched Castanea sativa Shells Extract." Cosmetics 8, no. 2: 49.

Journal article
Published: 08 June 2021 in International Journal of Molecular Sciences
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Tyrosinase is the central enzyme involved in the highly complex process of melanin formation, catalyzing the rate-limiting steps of this biosynthetic pathway. Due to such a preponderant role, it has become a major target in the treatment of undesired skin pigmentation conditions and also in the prevention of enzymatic food browning. Numerous phenolic-based structures from natural sources have been pointed out as potential tyrosinase inhibitors, including anthocyanins. The aim of the present study was to individually assess the tyrosinase inhibitory activity of eight purified compounds with a variable degree of structural complexity: native anthocyanins, deoxyanthocyanins, and pyranoanthocyanins. The latter two, the groups of anthocyanin-related compounds with enhanced stability, were tested for the first time. Compounds 1 to 4 (luteolinidin, deoxymalvidin, cyanidin-, and malvidin-3-O-glucoside) revealed to be the most effective inhibitors, and further kinetic studies suggested their inhibition mechanism to be of a competitive nature. Structure–activity relationships were proposed based on molecular docking studies conducted with mushroom tyrosinase (mTYR) and human tyrosinase-related protein 1 (hTYRP1) crystal structures, providing information about the binding affinity and the different types of interactions established with the enzyme’s active center which corroborated the findings of the inhibition and kinetic studies. Overall, these results support the applicability of these compounds as pigmentation modulators.

ACS Style

Patrícia Correia; Hélder Oliveira; Paula Araújo; Natércia Brás; Ana Pereira; Joana Moreira; Victor de Freitas; Nuno Mateus; Joana Oliveira; Iva Fernandes. The Role of Anthocyanins, Deoxyanthocyanins and Pyranoanthocyanins on the Modulation of Tyrosinase Activity: An In Vitro and In Silico Approach. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2021, 22, 6192 .

AMA Style

Patrícia Correia, Hélder Oliveira, Paula Araújo, Natércia Brás, Ana Pereira, Joana Moreira, Victor de Freitas, Nuno Mateus, Joana Oliveira, Iva Fernandes. The Role of Anthocyanins, Deoxyanthocyanins and Pyranoanthocyanins on the Modulation of Tyrosinase Activity: An In Vitro and In Silico Approach. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2021; 22 (12):6192.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Patrícia Correia; Hélder Oliveira; Paula Araújo; Natércia Brás; Ana Pereira; Joana Moreira; Victor de Freitas; Nuno Mateus; Joana Oliveira; Iva Fernandes. 2021. "The Role of Anthocyanins, Deoxyanthocyanins and Pyranoanthocyanins on the Modulation of Tyrosinase Activity: An In Vitro and In Silico Approach." International Journal of Molecular Sciences 22, no. 12: 6192.

Journal article
Published: 21 May 2021 in Applied Sciences
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Salicornia ramosissima J.Woods is an edible halophyte, widely distributed in the Portuguese salt marsh that has been under valorized. The aim of this study is to expand the knowledge regarding S. ramosissima bioactive composition and safety, highlighting its potential use as nutraceutical ingredient. Therefore, extracts obtained by conventional (CE) and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) were characterized regarding phenolic profile, antioxidant activity, radical scavenging capacity and intestinal cell effects. Moreover, organic pesticides were screened to guarantee the consumers safety. The highest phenolic and flavonoid contents were observed for the CE, as well as the scavenging capacity of O2•− (IC50 = 979.36 µg/mL) and HOCl (IC50 = 90.28 µg/mL). In contrast, the best antioxidant and antiradical activities were achieved by MAE (65.56 µmol FSE/g dw and 17.74 µg AAE/g dw for FRAP and ABTS assays, respectively). The phenolic composition was similar for both extracts, being characterized by the presence of phenolic acids, flavonols, flavanols, flavones and flavanones. The predominant compound for both extracts was myricetin. None of the extracts were cytotoxic in intestinal cell lines. Vestigial levels of β-endosulfan and p,p’-DDE were identified in MAE. These results support that S. ramosissima could be a source of bioactive compounds for nutraceutic industry.

ACS Style

Ana Silva; João Lago; Diana Pinto; Manuela Moreira; Clara Grosso; Virgínia Cruz Fernandes; Cristina Delerue-Matos; Francisca Rodrigues. Salicornia ramosissima Bioactive Composition and Safety: Eco-Friendly Extractions Approach (Microwave-Assisted Extraction vs. Conventional Maceration). Applied Sciences 2021, 11, 4744 .

AMA Style

Ana Silva, João Lago, Diana Pinto, Manuela Moreira, Clara Grosso, Virgínia Cruz Fernandes, Cristina Delerue-Matos, Francisca Rodrigues. Salicornia ramosissima Bioactive Composition and Safety: Eco-Friendly Extractions Approach (Microwave-Assisted Extraction vs. Conventional Maceration). Applied Sciences. 2021; 11 (11):4744.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ana Silva; João Lago; Diana Pinto; Manuela Moreira; Clara Grosso; Virgínia Cruz Fernandes; Cristina Delerue-Matos; Francisca Rodrigues. 2021. "Salicornia ramosissima Bioactive Composition and Safety: Eco-Friendly Extractions Approach (Microwave-Assisted Extraction vs. Conventional Maceration)." Applied Sciences 11, no. 11: 4744.

Review
Published: 20 April 2021 in Food Research International
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Castanea sativa is an outstanding species that represents a valuable natural resource for rural populations. C. sativa shells (CSS), an abundant agro-industrial by-product generated during chestnut peeling process, is commonly discarded or used as fuel. Nevertheless, CSS produced are not depleted by this application and huge amounts are still available, being particularly rich in bioactive compounds (polyphenols, vitamin E, lignin and oligosaccharides) with health benefits. Phytochemical studies reported not only antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, but also anti-inflammatory, anticancer, hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic and neuroprotective activities. The application of a suitable extraction technique is required for the isolation of bioactive compounds, being green extraction technologies outstanding for the industrial recovery of chestnut shells’ bioactive compounds. CSS were highlighted as remarkable sources of functional ingredients with promising applications in food and nutraceutical fields, mainly as natural antioxidants and effective prebiotics. This review aims to summarize the phytochemical composition and pro-healthy properties of CSS, emphasizing the sustainable extraction techniques employed in the recovery of bioactive compounds and their potential applications in food and nutraceutical industries.

ACS Style

Diana Pinto; María De La Luz Cádiz-Gurrea; Anna Vallverdú-Queralt; Cristina Delerue-Matos; Francisca Rodrigues. Castanea sativa shells: A review on phytochemical composition, bioactivity and waste management approaches for industrial valorization. Food Research International 2021, 144, 110364 .

AMA Style

Diana Pinto, María De La Luz Cádiz-Gurrea, Anna Vallverdú-Queralt, Cristina Delerue-Matos, Francisca Rodrigues. Castanea sativa shells: A review on phytochemical composition, bioactivity and waste management approaches for industrial valorization. Food Research International. 2021; 144 ():110364.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Diana Pinto; María De La Luz Cádiz-Gurrea; Anna Vallverdú-Queralt; Cristina Delerue-Matos; Francisca Rodrigues. 2021. "Castanea sativa shells: A review on phytochemical composition, bioactivity and waste management approaches for industrial valorization." Food Research International 144, no. : 110364.

Journal article
Published: 16 April 2021 in Molecules
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During kiwiberry production, different by-products are generated, including leaves that are removed to increase the fruit’s solar exposure. The aim of this work was to extract bioactive compounds from kiwiberry leaf by employing microwave-assisted extraction (MAE). Compatible food solvents (water and ethanol) were employed. The alcoholic extract contained the highest phenolic and flavonoid contents (629.48 mg of gallic acid equivalents (GAE) per gram of plant material on dry weight (dw) (GAE/g dw) and 136.81 mg of catechin equivalents per gram of plant material on dw (CAE/g dw), respectively). Oppositely, the hydroalcoholic extract achieved the highest antioxidant activity and scavenging activity against reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (IC50 = 29.10 μg/mL for O2 •−, IC50 = 1.87 μg/mL for HOCl and IC50 = 1.18 μg/mL for •NO). The phenolic profile showed the presence of caffeoylquinic acids, proanthocyanidin, and quercetin in all samples. However, caffeoylquinic acids and quercetin were detected in higher amounts in the alcoholic extract, while proanthocyanidins were prevalent in the hydroalcoholic extract. No adverse effects were observed on Caco-2 viability, while the highest concentration (1000 µg/mL) of hydroalcoholic and alcoholic extracts conducted to a decrease of HT29-MTX viability. These results highlight the MAE potentialities to extract bioactive compounds from kiwiberry leaf.

ACS Style

Ana Silva; Diana Pinto; Iva Fernandes; Victor Freitas; María Cádiz-Gurrea; Paulo Costa; Cristina Delerue-Matos; Francisca Rodrigues. An Insight into Kiwiberry Leaf Valorization: Phenolic Composition, Bioactivity and Health Benefits. Molecules 2021, 26, 2314 .

AMA Style

Ana Silva, Diana Pinto, Iva Fernandes, Victor Freitas, María Cádiz-Gurrea, Paulo Costa, Cristina Delerue-Matos, Francisca Rodrigues. An Insight into Kiwiberry Leaf Valorization: Phenolic Composition, Bioactivity and Health Benefits. Molecules. 2021; 26 (8):2314.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ana Silva; Diana Pinto; Iva Fernandes; Victor Freitas; María Cádiz-Gurrea; Paulo Costa; Cristina Delerue-Matos; Francisca Rodrigues. 2021. "An Insight into Kiwiberry Leaf Valorization: Phenolic Composition, Bioactivity and Health Benefits." Molecules 26, no. 8: 2314.

Journal article
Published: 12 February 2021 in Processes
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Background: Natural anthocyanins present a low solubility in lipophilic media, which compromises their effective application in lipophilic systems. In this work, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (Cy3glc) was esterified by the addition of fatty acids with increasing chain-lengths and a structure-activity relationship was performed towards the description of the best analog for skin-care applications. Methods: By enzymatic hemi-synthesis, it was possible to obtain 5 structurally related derivatives of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside with successive C2 increments in the aliphatic chain. The stability in hanks buffer and DMEM with or without FBS was followed by HPLC. The cytotoxicity against keratinocytes was evaluated by MTT assay. The antioxidant capacity was determined by using the fluorescent probe DCF-DA. The effect on enzyme activity was evaluated towards tyrosinase, collagenase, and elastase enzymes by colorimetric assays. MIC and MBC values were obtained against reference strains and against multidrug-resistant isolates. Results: In physiological conditions, cy3glc−fatty acid derivatives are more stable and may be converted to the native anthocyanin. The 5 conjugates showed lower antioxidant capacity and enzymatic inhibitory activities in comparison to the anthocyanin precursor. However, concerning the antibacterial activity, the insertion of a fatty acid chain sprouted the antibacterial activity, showing a clear biphasic effect and a more effective effect on Gram-positive bacteria. Conclusions: Cy3glc-C10 was the most effective compound considering the antimicrobial activity, although a general reduction was observed among the other activities evaluated. This work prompt further assays with a different panoply of derivatives ranging other features including saturation vs. unsaturation, even vs. odd carbon content and linear vs. branched.

ACS Style

Hélder Oliveira; Patrícia Correia; Lucinda Bessa; Marta Guimarães; Paula Gameiro; Victor Freitas; Nuno Mateus; Luís Cruz; Iva Fernandes. Cyanidin-3-Glucoside Lipophilic Conjugates for Topical Application: Tuning the Antimicrobial Activities with Fatty Acid Chain Length. Processes 2021, 9, 340 .

AMA Style

Hélder Oliveira, Patrícia Correia, Lucinda Bessa, Marta Guimarães, Paula Gameiro, Victor Freitas, Nuno Mateus, Luís Cruz, Iva Fernandes. Cyanidin-3-Glucoside Lipophilic Conjugates for Topical Application: Tuning the Antimicrobial Activities with Fatty Acid Chain Length. Processes. 2021; 9 (2):340.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Hélder Oliveira; Patrícia Correia; Lucinda Bessa; Marta Guimarães; Paula Gameiro; Victor Freitas; Nuno Mateus; Luís Cruz; Iva Fernandes. 2021. "Cyanidin-3-Glucoside Lipophilic Conjugates for Topical Application: Tuning the Antimicrobial Activities with Fatty Acid Chain Length." Processes 9, no. 2: 340.

Journal article
Published: 08 February 2021 in International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science
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Anthocyanins are known phytochemicals with beneficial properties for human health. The most important route of entry is by consumption of anthocyanins’ naturally rich food such as berries and red wine, in its natural form or as a part of recipes. The effect of cooking methods (boiling, steaming and baking) and recipe composition with two different berries, raspberry and elderberry, on the content of anthocyanins was investigated. Raspberries and elderberries were cooked either in a pan with water, in steam, or baked in the oven. Four recipes containing raspberries and elderberries were prepared: jam, crumble, muffin and mousse. Anthocyanin content was quantified by HPLC-DAD. Generally, and compared to raw fruit, a reduction of anthocyanin content after cooking was observed, independently of the heating process. Elderberries were more prone to decrease anthocyanin content after cooking process. Nevertheless, about 70% of the anthocyanins were recovered from the fruit and the water used in the cooking process. Berry anthocyanins’ content decreased the most in jam, and in recipes with baking soda. As opposed to jam, their inclusion in mousse led to almost no decrease in anthocyanin content. All cooking methods tested led to a loss of the original anthocyanin content in berries but, in recipes without a thermal treatment, anthocyanin lost was minimal. These results support the incorporation of berries in cooking processes, particularly those that do not require heat, as a valid alternative to increase phytochemical consumption such as anthocyanins.

ACS Style

Tânia Cordeiro; Iva Fernandes; Olívia Pinho; Conceição Calhau; Nuno Mateus; Ana Faria. Anthocyanin content in raspberry and elderberry: The impact of cooking and recipe composition. International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science 2021, 24, 100316 .

AMA Style

Tânia Cordeiro, Iva Fernandes, Olívia Pinho, Conceição Calhau, Nuno Mateus, Ana Faria. Anthocyanin content in raspberry and elderberry: The impact of cooking and recipe composition. International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science. 2021; 24 ():100316.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Tânia Cordeiro; Iva Fernandes; Olívia Pinho; Conceição Calhau; Nuno Mateus; Ana Faria. 2021. "Anthocyanin content in raspberry and elderberry: The impact of cooking and recipe composition." International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science 24, no. : 100316.

Journal article
Published: 05 February 2021 in Antioxidants
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Olea europaea cultivar, native in the Mediterranean basin, has expanded worldwide, mainly due to the olive oil industry. This expansion is attributed to the benefits of olive oil consumption, since this product is rich in nutritional and bioactive compounds. However, the olive industry generates high amounts of wastes, which could be related to polluting effects on soil and water. To minimize the environmental impact, different strategies of revalorization have been proposed. In this sense, the aim of this work was to develop high cosmetic value added oleuropein-enriched extracts (O20 and O30), a bioactive compound from olive byproducts, performing a comprehensive characterization using high performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and evaluate their bioactivity by in vitro assays. A total of 49 compounds were detected, with oleuropein and its derivatives widely found in O30 extract, whereas iridoids were mainly detected in O20 extract. Moreover, 10 compounds were detected for the first time in olive leaves. Both extracts demonstrated strong antioxidant and antiradical activities, although O30 showed higher values. In addition, radical oxygen and nitrogen species scavenging and enzyme inhibition values were higher in O30, with the exception of HOCl and hyaluronidase inhibition assays. Regarding cell viability, olive byproduct extracts did not lead to a decrease in keratinocytes viability until 100 µg/mL. All data reported by the present study reflect the potential of industrial byproducts as cosmetic ingredients.

ACS Style

María Cádiz-Gurrea; Diana Pinto; Cristina Delerue-Matos; Francisca Rodrigues. Olive Fruit and Leaf Wastes as Bioactive Ingredients for Cosmetics—A Preliminary Study. Antioxidants 2021, 10, 245 .

AMA Style

María Cádiz-Gurrea, Diana Pinto, Cristina Delerue-Matos, Francisca Rodrigues. Olive Fruit and Leaf Wastes as Bioactive Ingredients for Cosmetics—A Preliminary Study. Antioxidants. 2021; 10 (2):245.

Chicago/Turabian Style

María Cádiz-Gurrea; Diana Pinto; Cristina Delerue-Matos; Francisca Rodrigues. 2021. "Olive Fruit and Leaf Wastes as Bioactive Ingredients for Cosmetics—A Preliminary Study." Antioxidants 10, no. 2: 245.

Journal article
Published: 03 February 2021 in Molecules
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Dihydrochalcones, phlorizin (PZ) and its aglycone phloretin (PT), have evidenced immunomodulatory effects through several mechanisms. However, the differential metabolic signatures that lead to these properties are largely unknown. Since macrophages play an important role in the immune response, our study aimed to characterise human THP-1 macrophages under PZ and PT exposure. A multiplatform-based untargeted metabolomics approach was used to reveal metabolites associated with the anti-inflammatory mechanisms triggered by the dihydrochalcones in LPS-stimulated macrophages, for the first time. Results showed differential phenotypic response in macrophages for all treatments. Dihydrochalcone treatment in LPS-stimulated macrophages mimics the response under normal conditions, suggesting inhibition of LPS response. Antagonistic effects of dihydrochalcones against LPS was mainly observed in glycerophospholipid and sphingolipid metabolism besides promoting amino acid biosynthesis. Moreover, PT showed greater metabolic activity than PZ. Overall, the findings of this study yielded knowledge about the mechanisms of action PZ and PT at metabolic level in modulating inflammatory response in human cells.

ACS Style

Noelia Cambeiro-Pérez; Xiana González-Gómez; Carmen González-Barreiro; María Pérez-Gregorio; Iva Fernandes; Nuno Mateus; Victor de Freitas; Borja Sánchez; Elena Martínez-Carballo. Metabolomics Insights of the Immunomodulatory Activities of Phlorizin and Phloretin on Human THP-1 Macrophages. Molecules 2021, 26, 787 .

AMA Style

Noelia Cambeiro-Pérez, Xiana González-Gómez, Carmen González-Barreiro, María Pérez-Gregorio, Iva Fernandes, Nuno Mateus, Victor de Freitas, Borja Sánchez, Elena Martínez-Carballo. Metabolomics Insights of the Immunomodulatory Activities of Phlorizin and Phloretin on Human THP-1 Macrophages. Molecules. 2021; 26 (4):787.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Noelia Cambeiro-Pérez; Xiana González-Gómez; Carmen González-Barreiro; María Pérez-Gregorio; Iva Fernandes; Nuno Mateus; Victor de Freitas; Borja Sánchez; Elena Martínez-Carballo. 2021. "Metabolomics Insights of the Immunomodulatory Activities of Phlorizin and Phloretin on Human THP-1 Macrophages." Molecules 26, no. 4: 787.

Full paper
Published: 25 January 2021 in Chemistry & Biodiversity
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Hardy kiwifruit (Actinidia arguta) is a highly appreciated exotic fruit endowed with outstanding bioactive compounds. The present work proposes to characterize the pulp from A. arguta organic fruits, emphasizing its radicals scavenging capacity and effects on intestinal cells (Caco‐2 and HT29‐MTX). The physicochemical properties and phenolic profile were also screened. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents (TPC and TFC, respectively) of pulp were 12.21 mg GAE/g on dry weight (DW) and 5.92 mg CE/g DW, respectively. A high antioxidant activity was observed (FRAP: 151.41 μmol FSE/g DW; DPPH: 12.17 mg TE/g DW). Furthermore, the pulp did not induce a toxic effect on Caco‐2 and HT29‐MTX cells viability up to 1000 μg/mL. Regarding in vitro scavenging capacity, the pulp revealed the highest scavenging power against NO. (IC50=3.45 μg/mL) and HOCl (IC50=12.77 μg/mL). These results emphasize the richness of A. arguta fruit pulp to be used in different food products.

ACS Style

Diana Pinto; Stefania Sut; Stefano Dall'Acqua; Cristina Delerue‐Matos; Francisca Rodrigues. Actinidia arguta Pulp: Phytochemical Composition, Radical Scavenging Activity, and in Vitro Cells Effects. Chemistry & Biodiversity 2021, 18, 1 .

AMA Style

Diana Pinto, Stefania Sut, Stefano Dall'Acqua, Cristina Delerue‐Matos, Francisca Rodrigues. Actinidia arguta Pulp: Phytochemical Composition, Radical Scavenging Activity, and in Vitro Cells Effects. Chemistry & Biodiversity. 2021; 18 (3):1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Diana Pinto; Stefania Sut; Stefano Dall'Acqua; Cristina Delerue‐Matos; Francisca Rodrigues. 2021. "Actinidia arguta Pulp: Phytochemical Composition, Radical Scavenging Activity, and in Vitro Cells Effects." Chemistry & Biodiversity 18, no. 3: 1.

Research article
Published: 11 January 2021 in ACS Food Science & Technology
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Chestnuts (Castanea sativa) are valuable fruits that are extremely economically important for south European mountainous regions. During chestnut processing, large amounts of C. sativa shells (CSS), an undervalued byproduct, are generated without any economic or social profit. The aim of this paper was to employ microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) to recover polyphenols from CSS using different eco-friendly solvents (water and ethanol). The influence of the solvents on the total phenolic and flavonoid content (TPC and TFC, respectively) and antioxidant and antiradical activity was screened. The best extract was further characterized in terms of the phenolic profile, intestinal cell viability, and biological activities on acetylcholinesterase, amylase, and lipase to evaluate its potential use as a nutraceutical. The TPC varied between 110.96 and 173.89 mg of gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g of of dry weight (DW), while the TFC ranged from 25.50 to 68.56 mg of catechin equivalents (CE)/g of DW. Beyond the highest TPC and TFC, the aqueous extract revealed the best antioxidant activity and the highest scavenging efficiency on NO● and HOCl, which were selected for the studies. The phenolic profile was characterized by large amounts of hydrolyzable tannins and phenolic acids (ellagic and gallic acids). A stronger inhibitory effect was observed on lipase activity (IC50 = 457.17 μg/mL). Indeed, the extract did not lead to a decrease in Caco-2 or HT29-MTX cell viability up to 100 or 1000 μg/mL, respectively. Overall, these findings demonstrated the efficacy of MAE for the recovery of polyphenol-rich CSS extracts, encouraging their valorization as potential active ingredients for the food and nutraceutical industries.

ACS Style

Diana Pinto; Ana M. Silva; Vitor Freitas; Anna Vallverdú-Queralt; Cristina Delerue-Matos; Francisca Rodrigues. Microwave-Assisted Extraction as a Green Technology Approach to Recover Polyphenols from Castanea sativa Shells. ACS Food Science & Technology 2021, 1, 229 -241.

AMA Style

Diana Pinto, Ana M. Silva, Vitor Freitas, Anna Vallverdú-Queralt, Cristina Delerue-Matos, Francisca Rodrigues. Microwave-Assisted Extraction as a Green Technology Approach to Recover Polyphenols from Castanea sativa Shells. ACS Food Science & Technology. 2021; 1 (2):229-241.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Diana Pinto; Ana M. Silva; Vitor Freitas; Anna Vallverdú-Queralt; Cristina Delerue-Matos; Francisca Rodrigues. 2021. "Microwave-Assisted Extraction as a Green Technology Approach to Recover Polyphenols from Castanea sativa Shells." ACS Food Science & Technology 1, no. 2: 229-241.

Review
Published: 15 October 2020 in Antioxidants
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Phenolic compounds are one of the most widespread classes of compounds in nature, with several beneficial biological effects being associated with their anti-oxidant and anti-carcinogenic activities. Their application in the prevention or treatment of numerous chronic diseases have been studied, but a major drawback is still the low bioavailability of these compounds, as well as their instability towards pH, temperature, and light in some cases. Nanotechnology has emerged as an alternative to overcome these limitations, and the use of lipidic encapsulation systems is a promising technique to achieve an efficient drug delivery, protecting molecules from external factors and improving their bioavailability. In this review, solid lipid nanoparticles and nanostructured lipid carriers are highlighted as an important tool for the improvement of the bioavailability and stability of natural phenolic compounds, including their preparation methods and functionalization approaches and the discussion of several applications for putative use in cosmetic and pharmacologic products.

ACS Style

Alexandra Borges; Victor De Freitas; Nuno Mateus; Iva Fernandes; Joana Oliveira. Solid Lipid Nanoparticles as Carriers of Natural Phenolic Compounds. Antioxidants 2020, 9, 998 .

AMA Style

Alexandra Borges, Victor De Freitas, Nuno Mateus, Iva Fernandes, Joana Oliveira. Solid Lipid Nanoparticles as Carriers of Natural Phenolic Compounds. Antioxidants. 2020; 9 (10):998.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Alexandra Borges; Victor De Freitas; Nuno Mateus; Iva Fernandes; Joana Oliveira. 2020. "Solid Lipid Nanoparticles as Carriers of Natural Phenolic Compounds." Antioxidants 9, no. 10: 998.

Reference work
Published: 14 October 2020 in Reference Series in Phytochemistry
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Kiwano (Cucumis metuliferus E. Meyer ex Naudin) is a neglected crop from the Cucurbitaceae family with recognized nutritional and medicinal properties, especially in African countries. This review describes the recent findings regarding the nutritional and phytochemical composition of kiwano, supporting the pharmacological properties of this versatile fruit and identifying opportunities for further research. Also, the potential economic valorization of kiwano is discussed, namely, as a source of bioactive compounds for functional food and nutraceutical applications, as well as for the active food packaging sector to extend the shelf-life of packaged food. Overall, this chapter concluded that the nutritional value and functional properties, such as anticardiovascular, antidiabetic, antiulcer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimalarial, and antiviral properties associated to this crop, suggest its potential medicinal and pharmaceutical uses. Further studies should be conducted to isolate and identify the individual chemical constituents of kiwano and assess their biological efficacy. Also, the valorization of the underutilized kiwano parts (leaves, flowers, and roots) should be promoted in terms of health and waste management purposes.

ACS Style

Elsa F. Vieira; Clara Grosso; Francisca Rodrigues; Manuela M. Moreira; Virgínia Cruz Fernandes; Cristina Delerue-Matos. Bioactive Compounds of Horned Melon (Cucumis Metuliferus E. Meyer ex Naudin). Reference Series in Phytochemistry 2020, 1 -21.

AMA Style

Elsa F. Vieira, Clara Grosso, Francisca Rodrigues, Manuela M. Moreira, Virgínia Cruz Fernandes, Cristina Delerue-Matos. Bioactive Compounds of Horned Melon (Cucumis Metuliferus E. Meyer ex Naudin). Reference Series in Phytochemistry. 2020; ():1-21.

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Elsa F. Vieira; Clara Grosso; Francisca Rodrigues; Manuela M. Moreira; Virgínia Cruz Fernandes; Cristina Delerue-Matos. 2020. "Bioactive Compounds of Horned Melon (Cucumis Metuliferus E. Meyer ex Naudin)." Reference Series in Phytochemistry , no. : 1-21.

Review
Published: 10 October 2020 in International Journal of Molecular Sciences
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Due to their physical and chemical characteristics, anthocyanins are amongst the most versatile groups of natural compounds. Such unique signature makes these compounds a focus in several different areas of research. Anthocyanins have well been reported as bioactive compounds in a myriad of health disorders such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and obesity, among others, due to their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-bacterial, and anti-proliferative capacities. Such a vast number of action mechanisms may be also due to the number of structurally different anthocyanins plus their related derivatives. In this review, we highlight the recent advances on the potential use of anthocyanins in biological systems with particular focus on their photoprotective properties. Topics such as skin aging and eye degenerative diseases, highly influenced by light, and the action of anthocyanins against such damages will be discussed. Photodynamic Therapy and the potential role of anthocyanins as novel photosensitizers will be also a central theme of this review.

ACS Style

Hélder Oliveira; Patrícia Correia; Ana Rita Pereira; Paula Araújo; Nuno Mateus; Victor De Freitas; Joana Oliveira; Iva Fernandes. Exploring the Applications of the Photoprotective Properties of Anthocyanins in Biological Systems. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2020, 21, 7464 .

AMA Style

Hélder Oliveira, Patrícia Correia, Ana Rita Pereira, Paula Araújo, Nuno Mateus, Victor De Freitas, Joana Oliveira, Iva Fernandes. Exploring the Applications of the Photoprotective Properties of Anthocyanins in Biological Systems. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2020; 21 (20):7464.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Hélder Oliveira; Patrícia Correia; Ana Rita Pereira; Paula Araújo; Nuno Mateus; Victor De Freitas; Joana Oliveira; Iva Fernandes. 2020. "Exploring the Applications of the Photoprotective Properties of Anthocyanins in Biological Systems." International Journal of Molecular Sciences 21, no. 20: 7464.

Book chapter
Published: 25 September 2020 in Valorization of Fruit Processing By-products
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Castanea sativa Mill. is a species of the family Fagaceae abundant in south Europe and Asia that represents an important resource in producing countries. During chestnut processing, a large amount of waste material is generated, namely leaves, flowers, shells, and burs, which are rich in bioactive compounds. These by-products represent a major environmental issue, and their reuse and valorization is advisable. Different biological activities, such as being antioxidants, have been associated with these compounds, highlighting their potential use in different fields such as pharmaceuticals, food, or cosmetics, generating more profits, reducing pollution costs, and improving social, economic, and environmental sustainability. The aim of this chapter is to provide knowledge about the type of chestnut by-products produced, the studies concerning their chemical composition and biological activity, and to discuss other possible applications of these materials.

ACS Style

Diana Pinto; Nair Braga; Ana Margarida Silva; Paulo Jorge Cardoso da Costa; Cristina Delerue-Matos; Francisca Rodrigues. Chestnut. Valorization of Fruit Processing By-products 2020, 127 -144.

AMA Style

Diana Pinto, Nair Braga, Ana Margarida Silva, Paulo Jorge Cardoso da Costa, Cristina Delerue-Matos, Francisca Rodrigues. Chestnut. Valorization of Fruit Processing By-products. 2020; ():127-144.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Diana Pinto; Nair Braga; Ana Margarida Silva; Paulo Jorge Cardoso da Costa; Cristina Delerue-Matos; Francisca Rodrigues. 2020. "Chestnut." Valorization of Fruit Processing By-products , no. : 127-144.

Communication
Published: 26 August 2020 in International Journal of Molecular Sciences
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A covalent conjugate between an antibacterial ionic liquid and an antimicrobial peptide was produced via “click” chemistry, and found to retain the parent peptide’s activity against multidrug-resistant clinical isolates of Gram-negative bacteria, and antibiofilm action on a resistant clinical isolate of Klebsiella pneumoniae, while exhibiting much improved stability towards tyrosinase-mediated modifications. This unprecedented communication is a prelude for the promise held by ionic liquids -based approaches as tools to improve the action of bioactive peptides.

ACS Style

Ana Gomes; Lucinda J. Bessa; Patrícia Correia; Iva Fernandes; Ricardo Ferraz; Paula Gameiro; Cátia Teixeira; Paula Gomes. “Clicking” an Ionic Liquid to a Potent Antimicrobial Peptide: On the Route Towards Improved Stability. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2020, 21, 6174 .

AMA Style

Ana Gomes, Lucinda J. Bessa, Patrícia Correia, Iva Fernandes, Ricardo Ferraz, Paula Gameiro, Cátia Teixeira, Paula Gomes. “Clicking” an Ionic Liquid to a Potent Antimicrobial Peptide: On the Route Towards Improved Stability. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2020; 21 (17):6174.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ana Gomes; Lucinda J. Bessa; Patrícia Correia; Iva Fernandes; Ricardo Ferraz; Paula Gameiro; Cátia Teixeira; Paula Gomes. 2020. "“Clicking” an Ionic Liquid to a Potent Antimicrobial Peptide: On the Route Towards Improved Stability." International Journal of Molecular Sciences 21, no. 17: 6174.