ESS - APCT - Anatomia Patológica, Citológica e Tanatológica
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- Betulinic acid and obesity-related disordersPublication . Azevedo, Lara; Ferraz, Ricardo; Vieira, Mónica; Prudêncio, Cristina; Fernandes, Sílvia; Ferraz, Ricardo; Almeida Vieira, Mónica Andreia; Prudêncio, Cristina; Fernandes, SílviaThe obesity epidemic is not just a health issue, it is increasingly driving a shift in the prevalence of chronic diseases, affecting 890 million adults and straining healthcare systems worldwide. Conditions such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and various cancer types are closely tied to this growing crisis. Betulinic acid has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-cancer properties and modulates key metabolic pathways such as NF-κB and AMPK signaling. This compound improves insulin sensitivity, reduces hepatic steatosis, mitigates the progression of atherosclerosis and fibrosis, and suppresses inflammatory responses, which are important in treating those obesity-related disorders. Additionally, betulinic acid use in cancer treatment has been explored due to its potential in angiogenesis and metastasis inhibition and promotion of apoptosis. This review spotlights the therapeutic potential of the natural compound betulinic acid in processes such as insulin sensitivity, glucose and lipid metabolism, adiposity, inflammation, oxidative stress, intestinal microbiota, and other mechanisms underlying different obesity-related disorders. Overall, besides strong therapeutic potential of betulinic acid, described limitations such as poor aqueous solubility, limited bioavailability, production and extraction have resulted in scarce clinical data making it premature to draw definitive conclusions regarding its application in clinical practice.
- Enhancing antifungal activity against Candida albicans using novel organic compoundsPublication . Alves, Beatriz; Silva, Rui; Vieira, Mónica; Ferraz, Ricardo; Fernandes, Silvia; Teixeira, Vitor; Pereira, Clara; Almeida Vieira, Mónica Andreia; Fernandes, SílviaCandida albicans is the predominant cause of inva-sive candidiasis, a major global health threat [1 The increasing emergence of resistance to commonly used antifungals (ex.:iazoles and polyenes) demonstrates an urgent need for alternative therapeutic strategies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antifungal activity of novel organic derivatives from bioactive natural compound, including Naphthalene, Betulinic Acid (BA) [2]; Protocatechuic Acid (PCA) and Gallic Acid (GA), alone, or in combination with conventional antifungals to investigate synergistic effects that en-hance their efficacy. Antifungal susceptibility assays were performed in C. albicans ATCC 10231 using the broth microdilution method, according to CLSI M27 guidelines, to determine Minimum Inhibitory Concen-trations (MICs) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentra-tions (MFC). The interaction between BA derivatives and amphotericin B was assessed by checkerboard assay and fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI). Naphthalene, PCA and GA derivatives showed low antifungal activity, falling within the moderate to weak bioactivity range (MIC ≥ 100 μg mL−1; [3]). Among BA derivatives, BA-4 and BA-5 exhibited the best antifungal activity, with MIC values of 0,95 and 1,91 μg mL−1, respectively, achieving 99% fungicidal activity at the same concentration. Furthermore, in combination assays, both compounds enhanced Am-photericin B activity, showing synergistic effects (FICI = 0.50), resulting in a decrease in MIC. Although most newly synthesized compounds exhibited limited anti-fungal potential, BA-4 and BA-5 demonstrated very strong bioactivity and fungicidal effects against C. albicans. The observed synergy with amphotericin B highlights their potential role as antifungal adjuvants and supports the further exploration of betulinic acid derivatives as viable approaches to overcoming anti-fungal resistance.
- Use of natural compounds in obesity: A study on knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding supplementsPublication . Castro, Bruno; Vieira, Mónica; Prudêncio, Cristina; Fernandes, Sílvia; Fernandes, Sílvia; Almeida Vieira, Mónica Andreia; Prudêncio, CristinaObesity represents a major public health challenge, being associated with high morbidity, mortality, and significant socioeconomic impact [1]. Consequently, there has been growing interest in the use of natural compounds with potential anti-obesity effects, driven by the perception that these compounds may repre-sent a safer and more accessible alternative to conven-tional therapies. Considering that scientific evidence regarding their efficacy and safety remains limited [2], the present study aims to analyze the knowledge, at-titudes, and practices of the Portuguese population regarding the use of natural compounds in obesity management. Following institutional ethical approval, data collection was carried out through an anonymous questionnaire developed on the Microsoft Forms plat-form and disseminated online through the academ-ic community of E2S|IPP. The questionnaire includes questions designed to obtain information on sociode-mographic variables, patterns of use, perceptions of efficacy and safety, level of knowledge about natural compounds, and the occurrence of adverse effects. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics in SPSS v31 to explore possible associations between variables. To date, 683 individuals have par-ticipated in the study, the majority being female (79%), with the 45–65 age group (40%) being the most rep-resented. The results show that 52% of participants reported having heard about natural compounds used for weight loss, while approximately 10% reported us-ing them, with the most common being Conjugated Linoleic Acid, Berberine, and Caffeine. Among individ-uals who reported use, 7% indicated the occurrence of adverse effects associated with consumption. The data obtained contribute to a better understanding of population behaviors and perceptions regarding nat-ural compounds, fostering the development of new educational strategies and promoting more informed, safe, and evidence-based use.