Browsing by Author "Pinho, Paula Guedes de"
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- Chemical differences between alternative and traditional tobacco productsPublication . Monteiro, Vânia; Freitas, Inês; Silva, Diana Dias da; Pinho, Paula Guedes de; Pinto, Joana; Dias da Silva, Diana CristinaElectronic cigarettes (E-cigs) and heated tobacco products (HTPs) have gained popularity as alternatives to traditional tobacco products (TTPs), claiming to reduce harm. The carcinogenic proper-ties of chemicals in the smoke of TTPs are widely recognized. However, there is still an incomplete understanding of the different chemicals in E-cigs and HTPs and their toxicity to human cells [1]. Thus, this study aimed at characterizing and comparing the chemical composition of three different brands of E-cigs, HTPs and TTPs. We selected the three top-selling brands of E-cigs, HTPs, and TTPs in Portugal, and each brand (n=9) was analyzed in triplicate. Volatile compounds present in all brands were extracted by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and solvent extraction (di-chloromethane). The volatile compounds in the headspace and solvent extracts were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Compound annotation was performed by comparing the mass spectrum of each chromatographic peak in the sample with a mass spectral library and standards, where available. A total of 53 compounds were detected in E-cigs, 44 in HTPs and 41 in TTPs by HS-SPME. Solvent extraction revealed 43 compounds in E-cigs, 35 in HTPs and 22 in TTPs. Only 7 compounds were common to E-cigs, HTPs, and TTPs. Overall, the chemical classes included alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, esters, pyridines and others.The composition of HTPs and TTPs was similar (20 compounds in common), particularly in the classes of ketones, alcohols, terpenoids, and pyridines. In contrast, E-cigs contain a larger number of compounds than HTPs and TTPs, including several alcohols, esters, pyranones, and lactones. The volatile composition of HTPs and TPPs showed less variation be-tween different brands, whereas E-cig brands showed greater variability in their composition. HTPs have a volatile chemical composition similar tothat of TTPs in their original form, so their health effects will depend on the impact of the different types of combustion. E-cigs show a distinct chemical profile across all brands, with chemical classes that are potentially relevant for toxicological studies.
- Doping detection in animals: A review of analytical methodologies published from 1990 to 2019Publication . Moreira, Fernando Xavier; Carmo, Helena; Pinho, Paula Guedes de; Bastos, Maria de LourdesDespite the impressive innate physical abilities of horses, camels, greyhounds, or pigeons, doping agents might be administered to these animals to improve their performance. To control these illegal practices, anti-doping analytical methodologies have been developed. This review compiles the analytical methods that have been published for the detection of prohibited substances administered to animals involved in sports over 30 years. Relevant papers meeting the search criteria that discussed analytical methods aiming to detect and/or quantify doping substances in animal biological matrices published from 1990 to 2019 were considered. A total of 317 studies were included, of which 298 were related to horses, demonstrating significant advances toward the development of doping detection methods for equine sports. However, analytical methods for the detection of doping agents in sports involving other species are lacking. Due to enhanced accuracy and specificity, chromatographic analysis coupled to mass spectrometry detection is preferred over immunoassays. Regarding biological matrices, blood and urine remain the first choice, although alternative biological matrices, such as hair and feces, have been considered. With the increasing number and type of drugs used as doping agents, the analytes addressed in the published papers are diverse. It is very important to continue to detect and quantify these drugs, recognizing those that are most frequently used, in order to punish the abusers, protect animals' health, and ensure a healthier and genuine competition.
- Mineral content and volatile profiling of Prunus avium L. (sweet cherry) y-Products from Fundão Region (Portugal)Publication . Nunes, Ana R.; Gonçalves, Ana C.; Pinto, Edgar; Amaro, Filipa; Flores-Félix, José D.; Almeida, Agostinho; Pinho, Paula Guedes de; Falcão, Amílcar; Alves, Gilberto; Silva, Luís R.Large amounts of Prunus avium L. by-products result from sweet cherry production and processing. This work aimed to evaluate the mineral content and volatile profiling of the cherry stems, leaves, and flowers of the Saco cultivar collected from the Fundão region (Portugal). A total of 18 min erals were determined by ICP-MS, namely 8 essential and 10 non-essential elements. Phosphorus (P) was the most abundant mineral, while lithium (Li) was detected in trace amounts. Three different preparations were used in this work to determine volatiles: hydroethanolic extracts, crude extracts, and aqueous infusions. A total of 117 volatile compounds were identified using HS-SPME/GC MS, distributed among different chemical classes: 31 aldehydes, 14 alcohols, 16 ketones, 30 esters, 4 acids, 4 monoterpenes, 3 norisoprenoids, 4 hydrocarbons, 7 heterocyclics, 1 lactone, 1 phenol, and 2 phenylpropenes. Benzaldehyde, 4-methyl-benzaldehyde, hexanal, lilac aldehyde, and 6-methyl 5-hepten-2-one were the major volatile compounds. Differences in the types of volatiles and their respective amounts in the different extracts were found. This is the first study that describes the mineral and volatile composition of Portuguese sweet cherry by-products, demonstrating that they could have great potential as nutraceutical ingredients and natural flavoring agents to be used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries.