Browsing by Author "Rodrigues, Francisca"
Now showing 1 - 10 of 41
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Antimicrobial, Antibiofilm, and Antioxidant Properties of Boletus edulis and Neoboletus luridiformis Against Multidrug-Resistant ESKAPE PathogensPublication . Garcia, Juliana; Rodrigues, Francisca; Castro, Flávia; Aires, Alfredo; Marques, Guilhermina; Saavedra, Maria JoséMultidrug-resistant ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species) has become the most recurrent global cause of skin and soft-tissue infections, belonging to the WHO priority pathogens list. Successful therapy remains challenging and entails the assessment of novel and successful antibiotics. In this study, mushrooms are considered a valuable and unique source of natural antimicrobial compounds. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties of Boletus edulis (B. edulis) and Neoboletus luridiformis (N. luridiformis) aqueous and methanolic extracts against ESKAPE isolates from clinical wound infections. Disk diffusion and microdilution methods were used to assess the antimicrobial activity. Phytochemical characterization was achieved by analysis of total phenols, orthodiphenols content, and antioxidant activity as well as by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). Human foreskin fibroblasts-1 (HFF-1) cell viability was performed by the MTT assay. Aqueous and methanolic extracts of B. edulis and N. luridiformis showed antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties against multidrug-resistant bacteria, although with different efficacy rates. The results showed that there is a convincing relation between the content of phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity, and antimicrobial activity suggesting that the presence of phenolic compounds may explain the biological effects. HPLC analysis revealed high levels of protocatechuic acid, homogentisic acid, pyrogallol, gallic acid, p-catechin, and dihydroxybenzoic acid in the aqueous extract of B. edulis, explaining the highest antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties. Importantly, the mushrooms extracts were non-cytotoxic at all the tested concentrations. Overall, the tested mushrooms extracts are good candidates to further explore its use in the prevention of wound infection, particularly by multidrug-resistant pathogens
- Appraisal of a new potential antioxidants-rich nutraceutical ingredient from chestnut shells through in-vivo assays – A targeted metabolomic approach in phenolic compoundsPublication . Pinto, Diana; Almeida, Andreia; López-Yerena, Anallely; Pinto, Soraia; Sarmento, Bruno; Lamuela-Raventós, Rosa; Vallverdú-Queralt, Anna; Delerue-Matos, Cristina; Rodrigues, FranciscaChestnut (Castanea sativa) shells (CSS) are a source of bioactive compounds with well demonstrated in-vitro antioxidant properties. Nevertheless, no in-vivo studies have already evaluated this effect. This study evaluated the effects of the oral daily administration of an eco-friendly CSS extract (50 and 100 mg/kg per body weight (b. w.)) to rats regarding in-vivo antioxidant activity, glucose and lipids levels, and metabolomic profiling of poly- phenols by LC-ESI-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS. The results demonstrated the in-vivo antioxidant properties in the animals liver, kidney and blood serum, as well as protective effects against hemolysis and rising of blood glucose and lipids levels. New insights on metabolomic profiling of polyphenols proved their absorption and further biotransformation by phase I (hydrogenation and hydroxylation) and II reactions (glucuronidation, methylation and sulfation). This is the first study that attempted to validate a novel nutraceutical ingredient extracted from CSS by in-vivo assays, corroborating the outcomes screened by in-vitro assays
- Assessment of a Formulation Containing a Castanea sativa Shells Extract on Skin Face Parameters: In Vivo EvaluationPublication . Silva, Ana Margarida; Costa, Paulo C.; Delerue-Matos, Cristina; Rodrigues, FranciscaIn the last years, the demand for new eco-friendly ingredients has increased on the cosmetic market. Consumers are more aware of sustainable principles and, simultaneously, more conscious regarding the skin aging process. Chestnut (Castanea sativa) shells are a food by-product produced in high quantities in Europe. This waste has been described as a rich source of phenolic compounds with skin biological effects, such as antioxidant, antiradical, and anti-inflammatory activities. Despite the huge number of assays reporting the richness of chestnut shell extracts in bioactive compounds as well as the development of cosmetic formulations containing these extracts, no in vivo assays have assessed their clinical efficacy in human volunteers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect on skin face parameters of a formulation containing a chestnut shell extract in human volunteers (n = 22) who applied the product twice per day, for 56 days. For that, biophysical techniques, including Corneometer®, Cutometer®, and PrimosPremium, were employed, allowing the quantification of skin hydration and firmness, as well as of wrinkles’ depth and volume and wrinkles’ skin roughness. The results demonstrated that the formulation led to a slight decrease in roughness and wrinkles’ depth, although no significant differences with respect to a placebo were observed. In addition, a clear improvement of skin hydration was achieved (t0 = 54.00 Arbitrary Units (A.U.) and t56 = 58.62 A.U.). In contrast to the placebo, the active formulation increased skin firmness up to 31.76% in 50.00% of the volunteers, but without significant differences with respect to the placebo, probably due to the short period of treatment. A long-term use of the product is recommended to possibly observe significant differences in all parameters.
- Bioactive polysaccharides from medicinal mushrooms: A review on their isolation, structural characteristics and antitumor activityPublication . Garcia, Juliana; Rodrigues, Francisca; Saavedra, Maria José; Nunes, Fernando M.; Marques, GuilherminaMushrooms either alone or in combination with conventional cancer treatment have been enhanced the efficacy of chemotherapy and radiotherapy improving the patients' quality of life. These therapy effects have been attributed to polysaccharides; the most potent compounds found in the fungi kingdom. Due to their wide range of biological activity and the backbone of glucose residues linked by β-(1 → 3)-glycosidic bonds, often with attached side-chain glucose residues joined by β-(1 → 6) linkages, the mushroom's polysaccharides, particularly the β-glucans, are the most versatile metabolites. Lentinan, D-fraction, and schizophyllan from Lentinula edodes, Grifola frondosa, and Schizophyllum commune, respectively are well-known β-glucans, however, the precise immunomodulation and anticancer mechanisms of action remain to be uncovered. According to several studies, β-glucan can interact with certain receptors on macrophages and dendritic cells, such as dectin-1 and TLRs, producing different cytokines and, in turn, indirectly activating other immune cells including T and B cells. Moreover, recent findings have proved that β-glucans have a direct cytotoxic effect on cancer cells suppressing proliferation and enhancing apoptosis possibly via multiple pathways such as PI3K/Akt/mTOR, NF-κB-, ERK-, ERα-, caspase- and p53-dependent pathways. Indeed, this study intends to provide information on the lentinan, D-fraction, and schizophyllan by examining the extraction procedures, chemical composition, and immunostimulatory and antitumoral biological activities. Future research directions should be directed toward improving the validity and reliability of randomized trials to confirm the potential role of β-glucans on the immune system and as anticancer therapy.
- Castanea sativa shells: A review on phytochemical composition, bioactivity and waste management approaches for industrial valorizationPublication . Pinto, Diana; Cádiz-Gurrea, María de la Luz; Vallverdú-Queralt, Anna; Delerue-Matos, Cristina; Rodrigues, FranciscaCastanea 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.
- Chemical characterization and bioactive properties of a coffee-like beverage prepared from Quercus cerris kernelsPublication . Pinto, Diana; Diaz Franco, Santiago; Silva, Ana Margarida; Cupara, Snezana; Koskovac, Marijana; Kojicic, Ksenija; Soares, Sónia; Rodrigues, Francisca; Sut, Stefania; Dall'Acqua, Stefano; Oliveira, M Beatriz P PIn the present study, a coffee-like beverage was prepared from Quercus cerris seeds. Seeds presented 60.4% carbohydrates (of which 26.9% is fiber), 6.3% proteins and 4.0% fat. In the coffee-like beverage, the TPC and TFC were 2070.2 mg GAE per L and 285.3 mg CEQ per L, respectively. The IC50 values determined using FRAP and DPPH assays were, respectively, 203.1 mg L-1 and 271.6 mg L-1. Concerning the reactive species scavenging capacity, the extract was more effective against O2˙-, HClO and ˙NO (namely, IC50 = 17.24 ± 0.24 μg mL-1, IC50 = 9.25 ± 0.92 μg mL-1 and IC50 = 0.65 ± 0.06 μg mL-1). Qualitative and quantitative analyses by 1D- and 2D-NMR and LC-MS indicated high levels of ellagic acid and gallotannin or ellagitannin derivatives. The optimal range of non-cytotoxic concentrations in Caco-2 and HT29-MTX cell lines was between 0.1 and 1.0 μg mL-1. This is the first study that evaluates the Q. cerris seed extract as a beverage.
- Chemical composition and bioactivity of oilseed cake extracts obtained by subcritical and modified subcritical waterPublication . Švarc-Gajić, Jaroslava; Rodrigues, Francisca; Moreira, Manuela M.; Delerue-Matos, Cristina; Morais, Simone; Dorosh, Olena; Silva, Ana Margarida; Bassani, Andrea; Dzedik, Valentin; Spigno, GiorgiaRecovery of bioactive compounds from biowaste is gaining more and more interest in circular economy models. The oilseed cakes are usually insufficiently exploited by most technologies since they represent valuable matrices abundant in proteins, minerals, and phytochemicals, but their use is mostly limited to feed ingredients, fertilizers or biofuel production. This study was thus focused on the exploration of new valorization pathways of oilseed cakes by subcritical water, representing a safe and economic alternative in the creation of value chains. Pumpkin, hemp, and flax seed cakes were treated with subcritical water in nitrogen and carbon-dioxide atmospheres, as well as in nitrogen atmosphere with the addition of acid catalyst. The degradation of carbohydrate fraction was studied by quantifying sugars and sugar degradation products in the obtained extracts. The extracts obtained under different conditions were further compared chemically with respect to total phenols and flavonoids, as well as to the content of individual phenolic compounds. Furthermore, the effects of subcritical water treatment conditions on antioxidant, antiradical and cytotoxic properties of thus obtained extracts were defined and discussed.
- Development and Characterization of Functional Cookies Enriched with Chestnut Shells Extract as Source of Bioactive Phenolic CompoundsPublication . Pinto, Diana; Moreira, Manuela M.; Vieira, Elsa F.; Švarc-Gajić, Jaroslava; Vallverdú-Queralt, Anna; Brezo-Borjan, Tanja; Delerue-Matos, Cristina; Rodrigues, FranciscaChestnut (Castanea sativa) shells (CSs), an undervalued agro-industrial biowaste, have arisen as a source of bioactive compounds with promising health-promoting effects. This study attempted, for the first time, to develop a functional food, namely cookies, using a CS extract obtained by an eco-friendly technology (subcritical water extraction). The cookies were characterized regarding their nutritional composition, total phenolic and flavonoid contents (TPC and TFC, respectively), antioxidant/antiradical activities, phenolic profile, and sensory evaluation. The results demonstrated that the CS-extract-enriched cookies were mainly composed of carbohydrates (53.92% on dry weight (dw)), fat (32.62% dw), and fiber (5.15% dw). The phenolic profile outlined by HPLC-PDA revealed the presence of phenolic acids, flavonoids, and hydrolysable tannins, attesting to the high TPC and TFC. The in vitro antioxidant/antiradical effects proved the bioactivity of the functional cookies, while the sensory evaluation unveiled excellent scores on all attributes (≥6.25). The heatmap diagram corroborated strong correlations between the TPC and antioxidant/antiradical properties, predicting that the appreciated sensory attributes were closely correlated with high carbohydrates and phenolic compounds. This study encourages the sustainable recovery of antioxidants from CSs and their further employment as an active nutraceutical ingredient in functional cookies.
- Development and Optimization of a Topical Formulation with Castanea sativa Shells Extract Based on the Concept “Quality by Design”Publication . Oliveira, Nágilla; Cádiz-Gurrea, María de La Luz; Silva, Ana Margarida; Macedo, Catarina; Rodrigues, Francisca; Costa, PauloThe proposed study aims to develop and optimize a topical formulation with Castanea sativa shells extract considering the concept of Quality by Design, focusing on a planned development that consider the vulnerabilities of the entire process through risk analysis tools and design of experiments (DoE). A Box–Behnken design with three factors and three levels was used as a statistical tool for the execution of the DoE and the analysis of the response surface methodology responses. The independent variables studied were the quantity of sodium lauryl sulfate (%) (X1), beeswax (%) (X2) and macadamia oil (%) (X3); the dependent variables were pH (Y1), viscosity (Y2) and adhesiveness (Y3). According to the mathematical model, the optimal formulation contains 0.93% of sodium lauryl sulfate, 5.00% of beeswax and 10.00% of macadamia oil. The optimal formulation with the extract was prepared and characterized over the time, regarding organoleptic and technological characteristics, allowing conclusions to be reached regarding its stability. The formulation presented a pleasant odor and was light brown in color, it also demonstrated pseudoplastic-thixotropic behavior and a small reduction in the formulation consistency after 30 days of storage. This study demonstrated the efficiency of the Quality by Design methodology to understand the product variability, supporting that this approach favors a better understanding of the whole process and enables to design a robust development stage, reducing costs and generating high-quality products
- Discovery of a New Xanthone against Glioma: Synthesis and Development of (Pro)liposome FormulationsPublication . Alves, Ana; Correia-da-Silva, Marta; Nunes, Claúdia; Campos, João; Sousa, Emília; Silva, Patrícia; Bousbaa, Hassan; Rodrigues, Francisca; Ferreira, Domingos; Costa, Paulo; Pinto, MadalenaFollowing our previous work on the antitumor activity of acetylated flavonosides, a new acetylated xanthonoside, 3,6-bis(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-glucopyranosyl)xanthone (2), was synthesized and discovered as a potent inhibitor of tumor cell growth. The synthesis involved the glycosylation of 3,6-di-hydroxyxanthone (1) with acetobromo-α-d-glucose. Glycosylation with silver carbonate decreased the amount of glucose donor needed, comparative to the biphasic glycosylation. Xanthone 2 showed a potent anti-growth activity, with GI50 < 1 μM, in human cell lines of breast, lung, and glioblastoma cancers. Current treatment for invasive brain glioma is still inadequate and new agents against glioblastoma with high brain permeability are urgently needed. To overcome these issues, xanthone 2 was encapsulated in a liposome. To increase the well-known low stability of these drug carriers, a proliposome formulation was developed using the spray drying method. Both formulations were characterized and compared regarding three months stability and in vitro anti-growth activity. While the proliposome formulation showed significantly higher stability, it was at the expense of losing its biocompatibility as a drug carrier in higher concentrations. More importantly, the new xanthone 2 was still able to inhibit the growth of glioblastoma cells after liposome formulation.