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Several organic salts based on the combination of two different choline derivative cations and MnCl3−, GdCl4− and TbCl4− as anions were immobilized in mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) by a two-step synthetic method.
Andreia Forte; Sandra Gago; Manuela Lopes Ribeiro Carrott; Peter J. M. Carrott; Celso Alves; Fernando Teodoro; Rui Pedrosa; Isabel M. Marrucho; Luis C. Branco. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles with manganese and lanthanide salts: synthesis, characterization and cytotoxicity studies. Dalton Transactions 2021, 50, 8588 -8599.
AMA StyleAndreia Forte, Sandra Gago, Manuela Lopes Ribeiro Carrott, Peter J. M. Carrott, Celso Alves, Fernando Teodoro, Rui Pedrosa, Isabel M. Marrucho, Luis C. Branco. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles with manganese and lanthanide salts: synthesis, characterization and cytotoxicity studies. Dalton Transactions. 2021; 50 (24):8588-8599.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAndreia Forte; Sandra Gago; Manuela Lopes Ribeiro Carrott; Peter J. M. Carrott; Celso Alves; Fernando Teodoro; Rui Pedrosa; Isabel M. Marrucho; Luis C. Branco. 2021. "Mesoporous silica nanoparticles with manganese and lanthanide salts: synthesis, characterization and cytotoxicity studies." Dalton Transactions 50, no. 24: 8588-8599.
The treatment of Parkinson´s disease (PD) has benefited from significant advances resulting from the increasing research efforts focused on new therapeutics. However, the current treatments for PD are mostly symptomatic, alleviating disease symptoms without reversing or retarding disease progression. Thus, it is critical to find new molecules that can result in more effective treatments. Within this framework, this study aims to evaluate the neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of three compounds (eleganolone, eleganonal and fucosterol) isolated from the brown seaweed Bifurcaria bifurcata. In vitro neuroprotective effects were evaluated on a PD cellular model induced by the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) on SH-SY5Y human cells, while lipopolysaccharide (LPS) − stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages were used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory potential. Additionally, the underlying mechanisms of action were also investigated. Compounds were isolated by preparative chromatographic methods and their structural elucidation attained by NMR spectroscopy. Among the tested compounds, eleganolone (0.1–1 µM; 24 h) reverted the neurotoxicity induced by 6-OHDA in about 20%. The neuroprotective effects were mediated by mitochondrial protection, reduction of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis, and inhibition of NF-kB pathway. The results suggest that eleganolone may provide advantages in the treatment of neurodegenerative conditions and, therefore, should be considered for future preclinical studies.
Joana Silva; Celso Alves; Susete Pinteus; Patrícia Susano; Marco Simões; Miguel Guedes; Alice Martins; Stephanie Rehfeldt; Helena Gaspar; Márcia Goettert; Amparo Alfonso; Rui Pedrosa. Disclosing the potential of eleganolone for Parkinson’s disease therapeutics: Neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory activities. Pharmacological Research 2021, 168, 105589 .
AMA StyleJoana Silva, Celso Alves, Susete Pinteus, Patrícia Susano, Marco Simões, Miguel Guedes, Alice Martins, Stephanie Rehfeldt, Helena Gaspar, Márcia Goettert, Amparo Alfonso, Rui Pedrosa. Disclosing the potential of eleganolone for Parkinson’s disease therapeutics: Neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory activities. Pharmacological Research. 2021; 168 ():105589.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJoana Silva; Celso Alves; Susete Pinteus; Patrícia Susano; Marco Simões; Miguel Guedes; Alice Martins; Stephanie Rehfeldt; Helena Gaspar; Márcia Goettert; Amparo Alfonso; Rui Pedrosa. 2021. "Disclosing the potential of eleganolone for Parkinson’s disease therapeutics: Neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory activities." Pharmacological Research 168, no. : 105589.
Marine natural products have exhibited uncommon chemical structures with relevant antitumor properties highlighting their potential to inspire the development of new anticancer agents. The goal of this work was to study the antitumor activities of the brominated diterpene sphaerodactylomelol, a rare example of the dactylomelane family. Cytotoxicity (10–100 µM; 24 h) was evaluated on tumor cells (A549, CACO-2, HCT-15, MCF-7, NCI-H226, PC-3, SH-SY5Y, SK-ML-28) and the effects estimated by MTT assay. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels and apoptosis biomarkers (membrane translocation of phosphatidylserine, depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential, Caspase-9 activity, and DNA condensation and/or fragmentation) were studied in the breast adenocarcinoma cellular model (MCF-7) and its genotoxicity on mouse fibroblasts (L929). Sphaerodactylomelol displayed an IC50 range between 33.04 and 89.41 µM without selective activity for a specific tumor tissue. The cells’ viability decrease was accompanied by an increase on H2O2 production, a depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential and an increase of Caspase-9 activity and DNA fragmentation. However, the DNA damage studies in L929 non-malignant cell line suggested that this compound is not genotoxic for normal fibroblasts. Overall, the results suggest that the cytotoxicity of sphaerodactylomelol seems to be mediated by an increase of H2O2 levels and downstream apoptosis.
Celso Alves; Joana Silva; Susete Pinteus; Eva Alonso; Rebeca Alvariño; Adriana Duarte; Diorge Marmitt; Márcia Goettert; Helena Gaspar; Amparo Alfonso; Maria Alpoim; Luis M. Botana; Rui Pedrosa. Cytotoxic Mechanism of Sphaerodactylomelol, an Uncommon Bromoditerpene Isolated from Sphaerococcus coronopifolius. Molecules 2021, 26, 1374 .
AMA StyleCelso Alves, Joana Silva, Susete Pinteus, Eva Alonso, Rebeca Alvariño, Adriana Duarte, Diorge Marmitt, Márcia Goettert, Helena Gaspar, Amparo Alfonso, Maria Alpoim, Luis M. Botana, Rui Pedrosa. Cytotoxic Mechanism of Sphaerodactylomelol, an Uncommon Bromoditerpene Isolated from Sphaerococcus coronopifolius. Molecules. 2021; 26 (5):1374.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCelso Alves; Joana Silva; Susete Pinteus; Eva Alonso; Rebeca Alvariño; Adriana Duarte; Diorge Marmitt; Márcia Goettert; Helena Gaspar; Amparo Alfonso; Maria Alpoim; Luis M. Botana; Rui Pedrosa. 2021. "Cytotoxic Mechanism of Sphaerodactylomelol, an Uncommon Bromoditerpene Isolated from Sphaerococcus coronopifolius." Molecules 26, no. 5: 1374.
The ever-increasing interest in keeping a young appearance and healthy skin has leveraged the skincare industry. This, coupled together with the increased concern regarding the safety of synthetic products, has boosted the demand for new and safer natural ingredients. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to evaluate the dermatological potential of the brown seaweed Carpomitra costata. The antioxidant, anti-enzymatic, antimicrobial, photoprotective and anti-inflammatory properties of five C. costata fractions (F1–F5) were evaluated. The ethyl acetate fraction (F3) demonstrated the most promising results, with the best ability to scavenge 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals (EC50 of 140.1 µg/mL) and the capacity to reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) production promoted by UVA and UVB radiation in 3T3 cells, revealing its antioxidant and photoprotective potential. This fraction also exhibited the highest anti-enzymatic capacity, inhibiting the activities of collagenase, elastase and tyrosinase (IC50 of 7.2, 4.8 and 85.9 µg/mL, respectively). Moreover, F3 showed anti-inflammatory potential, reducing TNF-α and IL-6 release induced by LPS treatment in RAW 264.7 cells. These bioactivities may be related to the presence of phenolic compounds, such as phlorotannins, as demonstrated by NMR analysis. The results highlight the potential of C. costata as a source of bioactive ingredients for further dermatological applications.
Patrícia Susano; Joana Silva; Celso Alves; Alice Martins; Helena Gaspar; Susete Pinteus; Teresa Mouga; Márcia Goettert; Željko Petrovski; Luís Branco; Rui Pedrosa. Unravelling the Dermatological Potential of the Brown Seaweed Carpomitra costata. Marine Drugs 2021, 19, 135 .
AMA StylePatrícia Susano, Joana Silva, Celso Alves, Alice Martins, Helena Gaspar, Susete Pinteus, Teresa Mouga, Márcia Goettert, Željko Petrovski, Luís Branco, Rui Pedrosa. Unravelling the Dermatological Potential of the Brown Seaweed Carpomitra costata. Marine Drugs. 2021; 19 (3):135.
Chicago/Turabian StylePatrícia Susano; Joana Silva; Celso Alves; Alice Martins; Helena Gaspar; Susete Pinteus; Teresa Mouga; Márcia Goettert; Željko Petrovski; Luís Branco; Rui Pedrosa. 2021. "Unravelling the Dermatological Potential of the Brown Seaweed Carpomitra costata." Marine Drugs 19, no. 3: 135.
Parkinsons Disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide, and is characterized by a progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. Without an effective treatment, it is crucial to find new therapeutic options to fight the neurodegenerative process, which may arise from marine resources. Accordingly, the goal of the present work was to evaluate the ability of the monoterpenoid lactone Loliolide, isolated from the green seaweed Codium tomentosum, to prevent neurological cell death mediated by the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) on SH-SY5Y cells and their anti-inflammatory effects in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Loliolide was obtained from the diethyl ether extract, purified through column chromatography and identified by NMR spectroscopy. The neuroprotective effects were evaluated by the MTT method. Cells´ exposure to 6-OHDA in the presence of Loliolide led to an increase of cells´ viability in 40%, and this effect was mediated by mitochondrial protection, reduction of oxidative stress condition and apoptosis, and inhibition of the NF-kB pathway. Additionally, Loliolide also suppressed nitric oxide production and inhibited the production of TNF-α and IL-6 pro-inflammatory cytokines. The results suggest that Loliolide can inspire the development of new neuroprotective therapeutic agents and thus, more detailed studies should be considered to validate its pharmacological potential.
Joana Silva; Celso Alves; Alice Martins; Patrícia Susano; Marco Simões; Miguel Guedes; Stephanie Rehfeldt; Susete Pinteus; Helena Gaspar; Américo Rodrigues; Márcia Goettert; Amparo Alfonso; Rui Pedrosa. Loliolide, a New Therapeutic Option for Neurological Diseases? In Vitro Neuroprotective and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of a Monoterpenoid Lactone Isolated from Codium tomentosum. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2021, 22, 1888 .
AMA StyleJoana Silva, Celso Alves, Alice Martins, Patrícia Susano, Marco Simões, Miguel Guedes, Stephanie Rehfeldt, Susete Pinteus, Helena Gaspar, Américo Rodrigues, Márcia Goettert, Amparo Alfonso, Rui Pedrosa. Loliolide, a New Therapeutic Option for Neurological Diseases? In Vitro Neuroprotective and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of a Monoterpenoid Lactone Isolated from Codium tomentosum. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2021; 22 (4):1888.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJoana Silva; Celso Alves; Alice Martins; Patrícia Susano; Marco Simões; Miguel Guedes; Stephanie Rehfeldt; Susete Pinteus; Helena Gaspar; Américo Rodrigues; Márcia Goettert; Amparo Alfonso; Rui Pedrosa. 2021. "Loliolide, a New Therapeutic Option for Neurological Diseases? In Vitro Neuroprotective and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of a Monoterpenoid Lactone Isolated from Codium tomentosum." International Journal of Molecular Sciences 22, no. 4: 1888.
The invasive macroalga Grateloupia turuturu is known to contain a diversity of bioactive compounds with different potentialities. Among them are compounds with relevant bioactivities for cosmetics. Considering this, this study aimed to screen bioactivities with cosmeceutical potential, namely, antioxidant, UV absorbance, anti-enzymatic, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activities, as well as photoprotection potential. Extractions with higher concentrations of ethanol resulted in extracts with higher antioxidant activities, while for the anti-enzymatic activity, high inhibition percentages were obtained for elastase and hyaluronidase with almost all extracts. Regarding the antimicrobial activity, all extracts showed to be active against E. coli, S. aureus, and C. albicans. Extracts produced with higher percentages of ethanol were more effective against E. coli and with lower percentages against the other two microorganisms. Several concentrations of each extract were found to be safe for fibroblasts, but no photoprotection capacity was observed. However, one of the aqueous extracts was responsible for reducing around 40% of the nitric oxide production on macrophages, showing its anti-inflammatory potential. This work highlights G. turuturu’s potential in the cosmeceutical field, contributing to the further development of natural formulations for skin protection.
Carina Félix; Rafael Félix; Ana Carmona; Adriana Januário; Pedro Dias; Tânia Vicente; Joana Silva; Celso Alves; Rui Pedrosa; Sara Novais; Marco Lemos. Cosmeceutical Potential of Grateloupia turuturu: Using Low-Cost Extraction Methodologies to Obtain Added-Value Extracts. Applied Sciences 2021, 11, 1650 .
AMA StyleCarina Félix, Rafael Félix, Ana Carmona, Adriana Januário, Pedro Dias, Tânia Vicente, Joana Silva, Celso Alves, Rui Pedrosa, Sara Novais, Marco Lemos. Cosmeceutical Potential of Grateloupia turuturu: Using Low-Cost Extraction Methodologies to Obtain Added-Value Extracts. Applied Sciences. 2021; 11 (4):1650.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCarina Félix; Rafael Félix; Ana Carmona; Adriana Januário; Pedro Dias; Tânia Vicente; Joana Silva; Celso Alves; Rui Pedrosa; Sara Novais; Marco Lemos. 2021. "Cosmeceutical Potential of Grateloupia turuturu: Using Low-Cost Extraction Methodologies to Obtain Added-Value Extracts." Applied Sciences 11, no. 4: 1650.
Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are very promising nanomaterials for treating bacterial infections when combined with pharmaceutical drugs. Herein, we report the preparation of two nanomaterials based on the immobilization of ciprofloxacin in mesoporous silica nanoparticles, either as the counter-ion of the choline derivative cation (MSN-[Ch][Cip]) or via anchoring on the surface of amino-group modified MSNs via an amide bond (MSN-Cip). Both nanomaterials were characterized by TEM, FTIR and solution 1H NMR spectroscopies, elemental analysis, XRD and N2 adsorption at 77 K in order to provide the desired structures. No cytotoxicity from the prepared mesoporous nanoparticles on 3T3 murine fibroblasts was observed. The antimicrobial activity of the nanomaterials was determined against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis) and Gram-negative (Klebsiella pneumoniae) bacteria and the results were promising against S. aureus. In the case of B. subtilis, both nanomaterials exhibited higher antimicrobial activity than the precursor [Ch][Cip], and in the case of K. pneumoniae they exhibited higher activity than neutral ciprofloxacin.
Blanca De Juan Mora; Luís Filipe; Andreia Forte; Miguel Santos; Celso Alves; Fernando Teodoro; Rui Pedrosa; Manuela Ribeiro Carrott; Luís Branco; Sandra Gago. Boosting Antimicrobial Activity of Ciprofloxacin by Functionalization of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles. Pharmaceutics 2021, 13, 218 .
AMA StyleBlanca De Juan Mora, Luís Filipe, Andreia Forte, Miguel Santos, Celso Alves, Fernando Teodoro, Rui Pedrosa, Manuela Ribeiro Carrott, Luís Branco, Sandra Gago. Boosting Antimicrobial Activity of Ciprofloxacin by Functionalization of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles. Pharmaceutics. 2021; 13 (2):218.
Chicago/Turabian StyleBlanca De Juan Mora; Luís Filipe; Andreia Forte; Miguel Santos; Celso Alves; Fernando Teodoro; Rui Pedrosa; Manuela Ribeiro Carrott; Luís Branco; Sandra Gago. 2021. "Boosting Antimicrobial Activity of Ciprofloxacin by Functionalization of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles." Pharmaceutics 13, no. 2: 218.
The majority of antibiotics display low oral bioavailability due to reduced solubility in water and/or inefficient permeability across biological membranes. Their efficiency is further limited by the frequent presence of polymorphic structures with different pharmaceutical activities. In this communication, we present our latest results on the development of organic salts and ionic liquids from fluoroquinolones (FQ-OSILs) as highly efficient ionic formulations of this family of antimicrobials. Ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin were used as anions and as cations, by combination with biocompatible organic counter-ions. In vitro bioavailability studies showed that all prepared FQ-OSILs presented higher solubility in water than the original drugs. All compounds were found to be isomorphic and with tailorable antimicrobial activity according to the cation–anion combination against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Klebsiella pneumoniae strains.
Diogo Madeira; Celso Alves; Joana Silva; Catarina Florindo; Alexandra Costa; Željko Petrovski; Isabel Marrucho; Rui Pedrosa; Miguel Santos; Luís Branco. Fluoroquinolone-Based Organic Salts and Ionic Liquids as Highly Bioavailable Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobials. Proceedings 2020, 78, 3 .
AMA StyleDiogo Madeira, Celso Alves, Joana Silva, Catarina Florindo, Alexandra Costa, Željko Petrovski, Isabel Marrucho, Rui Pedrosa, Miguel Santos, Luís Branco. Fluoroquinolone-Based Organic Salts and Ionic Liquids as Highly Bioavailable Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobials. Proceedings. 2020; 78 (1):3.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDiogo Madeira; Celso Alves; Joana Silva; Catarina Florindo; Alexandra Costa; Željko Petrovski; Isabel Marrucho; Rui Pedrosa; Miguel Santos; Luís Branco. 2020. "Fluoroquinolone-Based Organic Salts and Ionic Liquids as Highly Bioavailable Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobials." Proceedings 78, no. 1: 3.
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, and is characterized by a progressive degeneration of the dopaminergic neurons in the substantianigra. Although not completely understood, several abnormal cellular events are known to be related with PD progression, such as oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of Codium tomentosum enriched fractions in a neurotoxicity model mediated by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) on SH-SY5Y human cells, and the disclosure of their mechanisms of action. Additionally, a preliminary chemical screening of the most promising bioactive fractions of C. tomentosum was carried out by GC-MS analysis. Among the tested fractions, four samples exhibited the capacity to revert the neurotoxicity induced by 6-OHDA to values higher or similar to the vitamin E (90.11 ± 3.74% of viable cells). The neuroprotective effects were mediated by the mitigation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, mitochondrial dysfunctions and DNA damage, together with the reduction of Caspase-3 activity. Compounds belonging to different chemical classes, such as terpenes, alcohols, carboxylic acids, aldehydes, esters, ketones, saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons were tentatively identified by GC-MS. The results show that C. tomentosum is a relevant source of neuroprotective agents, with particular interest for preventive therapeutics.
Joana Silva; Alice Martins; Celso Alves; Susete Pinteus; Helena Gaspar; Amparo Alfonso; Rui Pedrosa. Natural Approaches for Neurological Disorders—The Neuroprotective Potential of Codium tomentosum. Molecules 2020, 25, 5478 .
AMA StyleJoana Silva, Alice Martins, Celso Alves, Susete Pinteus, Helena Gaspar, Amparo Alfonso, Rui Pedrosa. Natural Approaches for Neurological Disorders—The Neuroprotective Potential of Codium tomentosum. Molecules. 2020; 25 (22):5478.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJoana Silva; Alice Martins; Celso Alves; Susete Pinteus; Helena Gaspar; Amparo Alfonso; Rui Pedrosa. 2020. "Natural Approaches for Neurological Disorders—The Neuroprotective Potential of Codium tomentosum." Molecules 25, no. 22: 5478.
Infectious diseases remain one of the leading global causes of death, mainly due to the increasing number of multi-resistant microorganisms. Therefore, novel antimicrobials are continuously needed. Marine organisms have already proven to be a rich source of bioactive compounds which can be used for the development of novel pharmacological drugs. Within these, seaweeds are an important resource still underexplored. Asparagopsis armata is a marine invasive seaweed that has spread along several coastlines of the world, inducing negative pressures in marine ecosystems. Therefore, it is crucial to develop strategies to counteract their impacts. In this work, A. armata was extracted with methanol and dichloromethane (1:1) and fractionated by column chromatography with different polarity solvents, providing 8 fractions (F1-F8). All the fractions were evaluated for their antimicrobial potential against important human pathogens, namely Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enteritidis, and Candida albicans. Additionally, their capacity to inhibit biofilms formation and the effects on cytoplasmatic membrane and DNA integrity were also assessed. The most active fractions were further purified and submitted to GC–MS analysis. The results showed that A. armata produces compounds with a high inhibitory activity against S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and C. albicans growth, possibly mediated by cytoplasmatic membrane disruption and DNA damage. GC–MS analysis suggested that the most active fractions were mainly composed of bromoditerpenes and fatty acids. The attained results point to the relevance of the invasive A. armata as a source of antimicrobial substances with broad-spectrum activity. The use of invasive species to obtain natural bioactive compounds presents a two-folded opportunity - high availability of the biological material for the extraction of bioactive compounds and, through specimen collection, the mitigation of the negative effects caused by invasive species, contributing to ecosystem integrity and sustainability.
Susete Pinteus; Marco F.L. Lemos; Marco Simões; Celso Alves; Joana Silva; Helena Gaspar; Alice Martins; Américo Rodrigues; Rui Pedrosa. Marine invasive species for high-value products' exploration – Unveiling the antimicrobial potential of Asparagopsis armata against human pathogens. Algal Research 2020, 52, 102091 .
AMA StyleSusete Pinteus, Marco F.L. Lemos, Marco Simões, Celso Alves, Joana Silva, Helena Gaspar, Alice Martins, Américo Rodrigues, Rui Pedrosa. Marine invasive species for high-value products' exploration – Unveiling the antimicrobial potential of Asparagopsis armata against human pathogens. Algal Research. 2020; 52 ():102091.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSusete Pinteus; Marco F.L. Lemos; Marco Simões; Celso Alves; Joana Silva; Helena Gaspar; Alice Martins; Américo Rodrigues; Rui Pedrosa. 2020. "Marine invasive species for high-value products' exploration – Unveiling the antimicrobial potential of Asparagopsis armata against human pathogens." Algal Research 52, no. : 102091.
Biofouling is a complex phenomenon that affects all maritime dependent industries. The accumulation of both micro and macro-organisms in immerged structures increases significantly the maintenance expenses, and thus the use of antifouling substances is inevitable. Although with recognized antifouling properties, the available antifouling coatings are known to induce negative impacts in aquatic ecosystems. Therefore, greener alternatives are urgently required. Living underwater, marine organisms are prone to biofouling and some have developed strategies to defend themselves against undesirable organisms, which include the production of bioactive substances. As a result, marine organisms are promising sources of natural antifouling substances. Within this framework, the marine invasive seaweeds Sargassum muticum and Asparagopsis armata were addressed for antifouling compounds biodiscovery. Both seaweeds revealed antifouling properties against microfoulers, namely algicidal and anti-biofilm activities; however Asparagopsis armata stand out for its capacity to inhibit marine bacteria and microalgae growth, to decrease biofilm formation, and for acting as a neurotransmitter disruptor through the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity. By addressing invasive species, the problematic of the biological material supply for industrial purposes is surpassed while mitigating the negative impacts of invasive species through specimen's collection.
Susete Pinteus; Marco F.L. Lemos; Celso Alves; Joana Silva; Rui Pedrosa. The marine invasive seaweeds Asparagopsis armata and Sargassum muticum as targets for greener antifouling solutions. Science of The Total Environment 2020, 750, 141372 .
AMA StyleSusete Pinteus, Marco F.L. Lemos, Celso Alves, Joana Silva, Rui Pedrosa. The marine invasive seaweeds Asparagopsis armata and Sargassum muticum as targets for greener antifouling solutions. Science of The Total Environment. 2020; 750 ():141372.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSusete Pinteus; Marco F.L. Lemos; Celso Alves; Joana Silva; Rui Pedrosa. 2020. "The marine invasive seaweeds Asparagopsis armata and Sargassum muticum as targets for greener antifouling solutions." Science of The Total Environment 750, no. : 141372.
As the development of novel antibiotics has been at a halt for several decades, chemically enhancing existing drugs is a very promising approach to drug development. Herein, we report the preparation of twelve organic salts and ionic liquids (OSILs) from ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin as anions with enhanced antimicrobial activity. Each one of the fluoroquinolones (FQs) was combined with six different organic hydroxide cations in 93–100% yield through a buffer-assisted neutralization methodology. Six of those were isomorphous salts while the remaining six were ionic liquids, with four of them being room temperature ionic liquids. The prepared compounds were not toxic to healthy cell lines and displayed between 47- and 1416-fold more solubility in water at 25 and 37 °C than the original drugs, with the exception of the ones containing the cetylpyridinium cation. In general, the antimicrobial activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae was particularly enhanced for the ciprofloxacin-based OSILs, with up to ca. 20-fold decreases of the inhibitory concentrations in relation to the parent drug, while activity against Staphylococcus aureus and the commensal Bacillus subtilis strain was often reduced. Depending on the cation–drug combination, broad-spectrum or strain-specific antibiotic salts were achieved, potentially leading to the future development of highly bioavailable and safe antimicrobial ionic formulations.
Miguel Santos; Celso Alves; Joana Silva; Catarina Florindo; Alexandra Costa; Željko Petrovski; Isabel Marrucho; Rui Pedrosa; Luís Branco. Antimicrobial Activities of Highly Bioavailable Organic Salts and Ionic Liquids from Fluoroquinolones. Pharmaceutics 2020, 12, 694 .
AMA StyleMiguel Santos, Celso Alves, Joana Silva, Catarina Florindo, Alexandra Costa, Željko Petrovski, Isabel Marrucho, Rui Pedrosa, Luís Branco. Antimicrobial Activities of Highly Bioavailable Organic Salts and Ionic Liquids from Fluoroquinolones. Pharmaceutics. 2020; 12 (8):694.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMiguel Santos; Celso Alves; Joana Silva; Catarina Florindo; Alexandra Costa; Željko Petrovski; Isabel Marrucho; Rui Pedrosa; Luís Branco. 2020. "Antimicrobial Activities of Highly Bioavailable Organic Salts and Ionic Liquids from Fluoroquinolones." Pharmaceutics 12, no. 8: 694.
Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease, represent a biggest challenge for medicine, imposing high social and economic impacts. As a result, it is of utmost importance to develop new therapeutic strategies. The present work evaluated the neuroprotective potential of seaweeds extracts on an in vitro dopamine (DA)-induced neurotoxicity cellular model. The neuroprotective effects on SH-SY5Y cells' viability were estimated by the MTT assay. Changes in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), caspase-3 activity, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production were determined. DA (30–3000 µM; 24 h) treatment decreased SH-SY5Y cells’ viability in concentration and time-dependent manner, increasing the H2O2 production, MMP depolarization, and caspase-3 activity. On the other hand, DA (1000 µM; 24 h) toxicity was reduced (10–15%) with Sargassum muticum and Codium tomentosum extracts (1000 µg/mL; 24 h). The highest neuroprotective activity was exhibited by a methanolic extract obtained from Saccorhiza polyschides, which completely blunted DA effects. Results show that the marine seaweed S. polyschides contain substances with high neuroprotective potential against the toxicity induced by DA, exhibiting anti-apoptotic effects associated with both mitochondrial protection and caspase-3 inhibition. S. polyschides reveals, therefore, to be an excellent source of bioactive molecules, for new drugs development aiming PD therapeutics.
Joana Silva; Celso Alves; Susete Pinteus; Susana Mendes; Rui Pedrosa. Seaweeds’ neuroprotective potential set in vitro on a human cellular stress model. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry 2020, 473, 1 -10.
AMA StyleJoana Silva, Celso Alves, Susete Pinteus, Susana Mendes, Rui Pedrosa. Seaweeds’ neuroprotective potential set in vitro on a human cellular stress model. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry. 2020; 473 (1-2):1-10.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJoana Silva; Celso Alves; Susete Pinteus; Susana Mendes; Rui Pedrosa. 2020. "Seaweeds’ neuroprotective potential set in vitro on a human cellular stress model." Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry 473, no. 1-2: 1-10.
Skin aging is a biological process influenced by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The last ones, mainly exposure to UV radiation, increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) production leading to a loss of extracellular matrix, also enhanced by enzymatic degradation of matrix supporting molecules. Thus, and with the growing demand for eco-friendly skin products, natural compounds extracted from brown seaweeds revealed to be good candidates due to their broad range of bioactivities, especially as antioxidants. The aim of this study was to assess the dermo-cosmetic potential of different fractions obtained from the brown seaweed Fucus spiralis. For this purpose, in vitro antioxidant (Total Phenolic Content (TPC), 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC)), anti-enzymatic (collagenase, elastase and hyaluronidase), antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory (NO production) and photoprotective (ROS production) capacities were evaluated. Although nearly all fractions evidenced antioxidant effects, fraction F10 demonstrated the highest antioxidant ability (EC50 of 38.5 µg/mL, DPPH assay), and exhibited a strong effect as an inhibitor of collagenase (0.037 µg/mL) and elastase (3.0 µg/mL). Moreover, this fraction was also the most potent on reducing ROS production promoted by H2O2 (IC50 of 41.3 µg/mL) and by UVB (IC50 of 31.3 µg/mL). These bioactivities can be attributed to its high content of phlorotannins, as evaluated by LC-MS analysis, reinforcing the potential of F. spiralis for further dermatological applications.
Rafaela Freitas; Alice Martins; Joana Silva; Celso Alves; Susete Pinteus; Joana Alves; Fernando Teodoro; Helena Ribeiro; Lídia Gonçalves; Željko Petrovski; Luís Branco; Rui Pedrosa. Highlighting the Biological Potential of the Brown Seaweed Fucus spiralis for Skin Applications. Antioxidants 2020, 9, 611 .
AMA StyleRafaela Freitas, Alice Martins, Joana Silva, Celso Alves, Susete Pinteus, Joana Alves, Fernando Teodoro, Helena Ribeiro, Lídia Gonçalves, Željko Petrovski, Luís Branco, Rui Pedrosa. Highlighting the Biological Potential of the Brown Seaweed Fucus spiralis for Skin Applications. Antioxidants. 2020; 9 (7):611.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRafaela Freitas; Alice Martins; Joana Silva; Celso Alves; Susete Pinteus; Joana Alves; Fernando Teodoro; Helena Ribeiro; Lídia Gonçalves; Željko Petrovski; Luís Branco; Rui Pedrosa. 2020. "Highlighting the Biological Potential of the Brown Seaweed Fucus spiralis for Skin Applications." Antioxidants 9, no. 7: 611.
Cancer is one of the major threats to human health and, due to distinct factors, it is expected that its incidence will increase in the next decades leading to an urgent need of new anticancer drugs development. Ongoing experimental and clinical observations propose that cancer cells with stem-like properties (CSCs) are involved on the development of lung cancer chemoresistance. As tumour growth and metastasis can be controlled by tumour-associated stromal cells, the main goal of this study was to access the antitumor potential of five bromoterpenes isolated from Sphaerococcus coronopifolius red alga to target CSCs originated in a co-culture system of fibroblast and lung malignant cells. Cytotoxicity of compounds (10–500 μM; 72 h) was evaluated on monocultures of several malignant and non-malignant cells lines (HBF, BEAS-2B, RenG2, SC-DRenG2) and the effects estimated by MTT assay. Co-cultures of non-malignant human bronchial fibroblasts (HBF) and malignant human bronchial epithelial cells (RenG2) were implemented and the compounds ability to selectively kill CSCs was evaluated by sphere forming assay. The interleucine-6 (IL-6) levels were also determined as cytokine is crucial for CSCs. Regarding the monocultures results bromosphaerol selectively eliminated the malignant cells. Both 12S-hydroxy-bromosphaerol and 12R-hydroxy-bromosphaerol steroisomers were cytotoxic towards non-malignant bronchial BEAS-2B cell line, IC50 of 4.29 and 4.30 μM respectively. However, none of the steroisomers induced damage in the HBFs. As to the co-cultures, 12R-hydroxy-bromosphaerol revealed the highest cytotoxicity and ability to abrogate the malignant stem cells; however its effects were IL-6 independent. The results presented here are the first evidence of the potential of these bromoterpenes to abrogate CSCs opening new research opportunities. The 12R-hydroxy-bromosphaerol revealed to be the most promising compound to be test in more complex living models.
Celso Alves; Eurico Serrano; Joana Silva; Carlos Rodrigues; Susete Pinteus; Helena Gaspar; Luis M. Botana; Maria C. Alpoim; Rui Pedrosa. Sphaerococcus coronopifolius bromoterpenes as potential cancer stem cell-targeting agents. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy 2020, 128, 110275 .
AMA StyleCelso Alves, Eurico Serrano, Joana Silva, Carlos Rodrigues, Susete Pinteus, Helena Gaspar, Luis M. Botana, Maria C. Alpoim, Rui Pedrosa. Sphaerococcus coronopifolius bromoterpenes as potential cancer stem cell-targeting agents. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy. 2020; 128 ():110275.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCelso Alves; Eurico Serrano; Joana Silva; Carlos Rodrigues; Susete Pinteus; Helena Gaspar; Luis M. Botana; Maria C. Alpoim; Rui Pedrosa. 2020. "Sphaerococcus coronopifolius bromoterpenes as potential cancer stem cell-targeting agents." Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy 128, no. : 110275.
Natural products are still a promising source of bioactive molecules. Food and Drug Administration data showed that approximately 49% of the approved molecules originate naturally or chemically-resemble these substances, of which more than 70% are being used in anticancer therapy. It is noteworthy that at present there are no scientific studies to prove the effectiveness and safety of a number of plants used in folk medicine such as in the case of Calyptranthes grandifolia O. Berg (Myrtaceae) originally from South America. The aim of the present study was to determine the biological potential and toxicological effects of the aqueous leaf extract of C. grandifolia. The main detected phytoconstituents were condensed tannins and flavonoids and a high quantity of polyphenols. Regarding the antimicrobial potential, the extract exerted inhibitory activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The results also revealed the extract induced DNA damage in a concentration-dependent manner in RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, C. grandifolia produced cytotoxicity in leukemia cell lines (HL60 and Kasumi-1) without affecting isolated human lymphocytes but significantly inhibited JAK3 and p38α enzyme activity. Taken together, these findings add important information on the biological and toxicological effects of C. grandifolia, indicating that aqueous extract may be a source of natural antimicrobial and antileukemic constituents.
Fernanda Majolo; Shanna Bitencourt; Bruna Wissmann Monteiro; Gabriela Viegas Haute; Celso Alves; Joana Silva; Susete Pinteus; Roberto Christ Vianna Santos; Heron Fernandes Vieira Torquato; Edgar Julian Paredes Gamero; Jarbas Rodrigues Oliveira; Claucia Fernanda Volken de Souza; Rui Pedrosa; Stefan Laufer; Márcia Inês Goettert. Antimicrobial and antileukemic effects: in vitro activity of Calyptranthes grandifolia aqueous leaf extract. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A 2020, 83, 289 -301.
AMA StyleFernanda Majolo, Shanna Bitencourt, Bruna Wissmann Monteiro, Gabriela Viegas Haute, Celso Alves, Joana Silva, Susete Pinteus, Roberto Christ Vianna Santos, Heron Fernandes Vieira Torquato, Edgar Julian Paredes Gamero, Jarbas Rodrigues Oliveira, Claucia Fernanda Volken de Souza, Rui Pedrosa, Stefan Laufer, Márcia Inês Goettert. Antimicrobial and antileukemic effects: in vitro activity of Calyptranthes grandifolia aqueous leaf extract. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A. 2020; 83 (8):289-301.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFernanda Majolo; Shanna Bitencourt; Bruna Wissmann Monteiro; Gabriela Viegas Haute; Celso Alves; Joana Silva; Susete Pinteus; Roberto Christ Vianna Santos; Heron Fernandes Vieira Torquato; Edgar Julian Paredes Gamero; Jarbas Rodrigues Oliveira; Claucia Fernanda Volken de Souza; Rui Pedrosa; Stefan Laufer; Márcia Inês Goettert. 2020. "Antimicrobial and antileukemic effects: in vitro activity of Calyptranthes grandifolia aqueous leaf extract." Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A 83, no. 8: 289-301.
Fucus spiralis is an edible brown seaweed (SW) found in the Portuguese Coast. It has been reported to have high antioxidant activity, which may elicit a potential use for the food industry. However, little information is available on how the SW behaves during the digestive process and how the freeze-drying process might affect the bioaccessibility of the different compounds. Therefore, antioxidant activity, total polyphenols, lipid, and fatty acid contents were measured before and after in vitro simulation of the human digestive process, both in fresh and freeze-dry SW. F. spiralis had a lipid content of 3.49 ± 0.3% of dry weight (DW), which is a usual amount described for this SW genus. The total lipid bioaccessibility was 12.1 ± 0.1%. The major omega-3 fatty acid detected was eicosapentaenoic acid, 7.5 ± 0.1%, with a bioaccessibility percentage of 13.0 ± 1.0%. Four different methods—total phenolic content (TPC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH)—were used to assess the antioxidant activity of F. spiralis. The bioaccessibility of the antioxidants studied, ranged between 42.7% and 59.5%, except the bioaccessibility of polyphenols in freeze-dried SW (23.0% ± 1.0%), suggesting that the freeze-drying process reduces the bioaccessibility of these compounds.
João Francisco; André Horta; Rui Pedrosa; Cláudia Afonso; Carlos Cardoso; Narcisa M. Bandarra; Maria M. Gil. Bioaccessibility of Antioxidants and Fatty Acids from Fucus Spiralis. Foods 2020, 9, 440 .
AMA StyleJoão Francisco, André Horta, Rui Pedrosa, Cláudia Afonso, Carlos Cardoso, Narcisa M. Bandarra, Maria M. Gil. Bioaccessibility of Antioxidants and Fatty Acids from Fucus Spiralis. Foods. 2020; 9 (4):440.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJoão Francisco; André Horta; Rui Pedrosa; Cláudia Afonso; Carlos Cardoso; Narcisa M. Bandarra; Maria M. Gil. 2020. "Bioaccessibility of Antioxidants and Fatty Acids from Fucus Spiralis." Foods 9, no. 4: 440.
Although in the last decades significant advances have been made to improve antifouling formulations, the main current options continue to be highly toxic to marine environment, leading to an urgent need for new safer alternatives. For anti-adherence studies, barnacles and mussels are commonly the first choice for experimental purposes. However, the use of these organisms involves a series of laborious and time-consuming stages. In the present work, a new approach for testing antifouling formulations was developed under known formulations and novel proposed options. Due to their high resilience, ability of surviving in hostile environments and high abundance in different ecosystems, medusa polyps present themselves as prospect candidates for antifouling protocols. Thus, a complete protocol to test antifouling formulations using polyps is presented, while the antifouling properties of two invasive seaweeds, Asparagopsis armata and Sargassum muticum, were evaluated within this new test model framework. The use of medusa polyps as model to test antifouling substances revealed to be a reliable alternative to the conventional organisms, presenting several advantages since the protocol is less laborious, less time-consuming and reproductive. The results also show that the seaweeds A. armata and S. muticum produce compounds with anti-adherence properties being therefore potential candidates for the development of new greener antifouling formulations.
Susete Pinteus; Marco F.L. Lemos; Rafaela Freitas; Inês M. Duarte; Celso Alves; Joana Silva; Sónia C. Marques; Rui Pedrosa. Medusa polyps adherence inhibition: A novel experimental model for antifouling assays. Science of The Total Environment 2020, 715, 136796 .
AMA StyleSusete Pinteus, Marco F.L. Lemos, Rafaela Freitas, Inês M. Duarte, Celso Alves, Joana Silva, Sónia C. Marques, Rui Pedrosa. Medusa polyps adherence inhibition: A novel experimental model for antifouling assays. Science of The Total Environment. 2020; 715 ():136796.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSusete Pinteus; Marco F.L. Lemos; Rafaela Freitas; Inês M. Duarte; Celso Alves; Joana Silva; Sónia C. Marques; Rui Pedrosa. 2020. "Medusa polyps adherence inhibition: A novel experimental model for antifouling assays." Science of The Total Environment 715, no. : 136796.
The International Symposium on Marine Natural Products (MaNaPro) happened for the first time in 1975 in the city of Aberdeen, Scotland, organized by Professor Ronald H
Rui Pedrosa; Susana P. Gaudêncio; Vitor Vasconcelos. XVI International Symposium on Marine Natural Products|XI European Conference on Marine Natural Products. Marine Drugs 2020, 18, 40 .
AMA StyleRui Pedrosa, Susana P. Gaudêncio, Vitor Vasconcelos. XVI International Symposium on Marine Natural Products|XI European Conference on Marine Natural Products. Marine Drugs. 2020; 18 (1):40.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRui Pedrosa; Susana P. Gaudêncio; Vitor Vasconcelos. 2020. "XVI International Symposium on Marine Natural Products|XI European Conference on Marine Natural Products." Marine Drugs 18, no. 1: 40.
Neurodegenerative diseases are multifactorial debilitating disorders of the nervous system affecting approximately 30 million individuals worldwide. Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress have also been implicated in causing neurodegeneration. As life expectancy is increasing, neurodegenerative disorders are becoming a major social issue. None of the drugs currently available for treatment are capable of healing the patient. This means that new molecules should be explored. Plants have been used for treatment of countless medical conditions and extensive research is being carried out on species of the Myrtaceae family, widely used in traditional medicine. To date, Myrciaria plinioides D. Legrand has not been studied for its therapeutic use. To evaluate the neuroprotective effect of aqueous and ethanol extracts of this plant, we investigated the protective effects in human neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y). High-performance liquid chromatography fingerprinting of extracts revealed the presence of phenolic compounds and flavonoids. Extracts showed antioxidant activity in the ORAC, DPPH, FRAP and GAE methods. Ethanol extract presented a strong inhibitory activity toward p38 and JNK3 MAPKs and AChE activity and also toward TNF-α release in human whole blood. None of the extracts significantly affected cell viability; the ethanol extract, however, reversed 6-OHDA-induced toxicity. Particularly the ethanol extract suggests neuroprotective effects by preventing membrane depolarization and by significantly decreasing H2O2 production and caspase-3 activity. The present results indicate that the ethanol extract protects SH-SY5Y cells against oxidative damage and apoptosis, as shown by the antioxidative activity of the extract as well as by the inhibition of important proteins such as caspase-3, p38 and JNK3 and the cytokine TNF-α.
Diorge Jonatas Marmitt; Celso Alves; Joana Silva; Susete Pinteus; Taiane Schneider; Roberto Christ Vianna Santos; Elisete Maria De Freitas; Rui Pedrosa; Stefan Laufer; Márcia Inês Goettert. Neuroprotective potential of Myrciaria plinioides D. Legrand extract in an in vitro human neuroblastoma model. Inflammopharmacology 2019, 28, 737 -748.
AMA StyleDiorge Jonatas Marmitt, Celso Alves, Joana Silva, Susete Pinteus, Taiane Schneider, Roberto Christ Vianna Santos, Elisete Maria De Freitas, Rui Pedrosa, Stefan Laufer, Márcia Inês Goettert. Neuroprotective potential of Myrciaria plinioides D. Legrand extract in an in vitro human neuroblastoma model. Inflammopharmacology. 2019; 28 (3):737-748.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDiorge Jonatas Marmitt; Celso Alves; Joana Silva; Susete Pinteus; Taiane Schneider; Roberto Christ Vianna Santos; Elisete Maria De Freitas; Rui Pedrosa; Stefan Laufer; Márcia Inês Goettert. 2019. "Neuroprotective potential of Myrciaria plinioides D. Legrand extract in an in vitro human neuroblastoma model." Inflammopharmacology 28, no. 3: 737-748.