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Percorrer por autor "Carpena, Maria"

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  • Nutritional and safety assessment of brown seaweed species and their extracts
    Publication . Silva, Aurora; Soares, Cristina; Carpena, Maria; Fernandes, Virginia Cruz; Chamorro, Franklin; Delerue-Matos, Cristina; Barroso, M. Fátima; Prieto, M. A.; Fernandes, Virgínia
    This study examines the nutritional profiles of Bifurcaria bifurcata (BB), Ascophyllum nodosum (AN), and Fucus spiralis (FS), as well as their extracts obtained through microwave-assisted extraction. Compositional analysis covered residual water, volatiles, fixed carbon, ash, lipids, sugars, protein, and fiber. Proximate analysis revealed high protein levels in FS (9.72 %) and BB (ext) (4.95 %). Lipid content ranged from 1.26 % to 4.49 %, and fiber content averaged 52.3 %, with FS peaking at 60.2 %. The study applied indices of atherogenicity (AI), thrombogenicity (TI), and the hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic (HH) ratio to assess the cardiovascular impact, with FS exhibiting the healthiest fatty acid combination. Amino acid analysis revealed the presence of all essential amino acids except phenylalanine. Taurine, beneficial for cardiovascular health and scarce in plant sources, was found to be significantly present in BB. Additionally, the presence of polyphenols was assessed by HPLC-MS/MS. It revealed a panoply of phenolic compounds, with phlorotannins accounting for more than 50 % of the compounds detected. Acceptable risk levels were confirmed by Estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), and total cancer risk (TCR) analyses, even when considering moderate values of inorganic arsenic. The results highlight the nutritional value and safety of these macroalgae, emphasizing their potential applications in food.
    2026Artigo científico Acesso embargado Ver mais
  • Phytosome-based nanocarriers enhanced with seaweed extracts: Overcoming the blood–brain barrier
    Publication . Portela, Mariana; Silva, Aurora; Carpena, Maria; Grosso, Clara; Barroso, Maria Fátima; Oliveira, Ana Isabel; Martins, Claudia; Ribeiro, Cristina; Prieto, Miguel A.; Oliveira, Ana Isabel
    Neurodegenerative diseases impact millions of people globally and are emerging as an imminent challenge due to the rapid aging of the population. The current treatments only focus on relieving their symptoms, so it is necessary to adopt innovative strategies. However, delivering pharmacological agents directly into the brain is difficult because of the presence of the Blood–Brain Barrier (BBB). To overcome this obstacle, nanotransporters such as phytosomes have been developed. This study reports the preparation and characterization of phosphatidylcholine (PC) phytosomes based on hydroethanolic extracts of three macroalgae: Ascophyllum nodosum (L.) Le Jolis (AN), Bifurcaria bifurcata R.Ross (BB), and Fucus spiralis L. (FS). Additionally, some phytosomes were functionalized with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and apolipoprotein E (ApoE). Phytosome characterization was carried out in terms of encapsulation rate, size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, and stability, and the efficacy of passage through the BBB was tested using an in vitro transwell model based on hCMEC/D3 cells. The results showed a high percentage of extract bound to PC (from 74.9 to 80.3%), and tests conducted over three weeks showed the stability of the phytosomes developed. There was a notable distinction between the functionalized and non-functionalized phytosomes, reflected in the values of their sizes (from 117.71 to 167.73 nm for non-functionalized and from 277.07 to 361.44 nm for PEG-ApoE phytosomes), PDIs (0.286–0.411 for non-functionalized and 0.389-0.539 for functionalized phytosomes), and zeta potentials (1.91–2.22 and −3.31–−0.68 mV for non-functionalized and functionalized phytosomes), respectively. Regarding their ability to cross the BBB, the functionalization of phytosomes with ApoE did not prove to be a crucial step, perhaps due to the low amount of ApoE used (1%), as all of the nanotransporters always passed through the hCMEC/D3 cell monolayer, regardless of their formulation.
    2025-06-10Comunicação em conferência Acesso aberto Ver mais
  • Recent advances in biological properties of brown algae-derived compounds for nutraceutical applications
    Publication . Silva, Aurora; Cassani, Lucia; Grosso, Clara; Garcia-Oliveira, Paula; Morais, Stephanie; Echave, Javier; Carpena, Maria; Xiao, Jianbo; Barroso, M. Fátima; Simal-Gandara, Jesus; Prieto, Miguel A.
    The increasing demand for nutraceuticals in the circular economy era has driven the research toward studying bioactive compounds from renewable underexploited resources. In this regard, the exploration of brown algae has shown significant growth and maintains a great promise for the future. One possible explanation could be that brown algae are rich sources of nutritional compounds (polyunsaturated fatty acids, fiber, proteins, minerals, and vitamins) and unique metabolic compounds (phlorotannins, fucoxanthin, fucoidan) with promising biological activities that make them good candidates for nutraceutical applications with increased value-added. In this review, a deep description of bioactive compounds from brown algae is presented. In addition, recent advances in biological activities ascribed to these compounds through in vitro and in vivo assays are pointed out. Delivery strategies to overcome some drawbacks related to the direct application of algae-derived compounds (low solubility, thermal instability, bioavailability, unpleasant organoleptic properties) are also reviewed. Finally, current commercial and legal statuses of ingredients from brown algae are presented, considering future therapeutical and market perspectives as nutraceuticals.
    2022Artigo científico Acesso restrito Ver mais