Browsing by Author "Faria, Ana"
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- Bioavailability of phenolic compounds from blueberry leaf infusions (Vaccinium Corymbosum L.) In caco-2 cellsPublication . Silva, Sara; Norberto, Sónia; Costa, Eduardo; Pereira, Miguel; Costa, Maria do Rosário; Coelho, Marta; Faria, Ana; Pintado, M. E.; Calhau, ConceiçãoPhenolic compounds are widespread in plant-derived foodstuffs and therefore abundant in our diet. There are evidences regarding the positive association of their intake with several diseases prevention. Blueberry leaves are of particular interest as they have been described as being rich in phenolic compounds such as chlorogenic acid and quercetin glicosides. Bioavailability is a major issue regarding the biological impact of these compounds in vivo and remains unclear, with few data available on this matter. Studies in CaCo-2 cells (entrocyte cell line) tested the transport of blueberry leaf infusion (optimized to yield the highest amount total phenolics) across this cell line for different incubation times. From the different compounds originally identified only rutin (9%), quercetin-3- glucoside (Q3glu), chlorogenic (7%) and neochlorogenic acids (23%) were transported across the epithelia cells, after 60, 90 and 120 min. From these compounds, neochlorogenic acid and Q3glu exhibit the highest transport rates (23 and 22%, respectively of the original concentration) while for rutin and chlorogenic acid the transport was lower than 10% of the original amount of compound. It was interesting to note that two metabolites, that were not originally present, caffeic and p-coumaric acids were detected after 30 and 60 min, respectively. From this work it was possible to conclude that neocholorogenic acid and Q3glu are more efficiently transported through the CaCo-2 membrane and that this process resulted in the detection of some metabolites that were not originally present.
- Blueberry anthocyanins in health promotion: a metabolic overviewPublication . Norberto, Sónia; Silva, Sara; Meireles, Manuela; Faria, Ana; Pintado, Manuela; Calhau, ConceiçãoDiet has gained scientific community attention due to the crucial role in health maintenance, but also in disease treatment, and essential in disease prevention. Several food and food components, particularly phenolic rich foods, have been investigated as they present themselves as putative functional foods. In the past decades, obesity has reached epidemic proportions and consequently, metabolic syndrome (a set of disorders as impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia and high blood pressure, which increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes) incidence is increasing worldwide at an alarming rate and this phenolic rich foods, specially berries have been investigated to their potential beneficial effect in this disorders. In the present work the chemistry of blueberries (BB) (fruits of some Vaccinium species) was summarised as well as the knowledge about bioavailability and biokinetic of anthocyanins from blueberries with particular emphasis on its implications in metabolic disorders.
- EBV and MSI status in gastric cancer: does it matter?Publication . Nascimento, Catarina Neto do; Mascarenhas-Lemos, Luís; Silva, João Ricardo; Marques, Diogo Sousa; Gouveia, Catarina Ferreira; Faria, Ana; Velho, Sónia; Garrido, Rita; Maio, Rui; Costa, Andreia; Pontes, Patrícia; Wen, Xiaogang; Gullo, Irene; Cravo, Marília; Carneiro, FátimaWe investigated the impactof microsatellite instability (MSI) and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) status in gastric cancer (GC), regarding response to perioperative chemotherapy (POPChT), overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS). We included 137 cases of operated GC, 51 of which were submitted to POPChT. MSI status was determined by multiplex PCR and EBV status by EBV-encoded RNA in situ hybridization. Thirty-seven (27%) cases presented as MSI-high, and seven (5.1%) were EBV+. Concerning tumor regression after POPChT, no differences were observed between the molecular subtypes, but females were more likely to respond (p = 0.062). No significant differences were found in OS or PFS between different subtypes. In multivariate analysis, age (HR 1.02, IC 95% 1.002–1.056, p = 0.033) and positive lymph nodes (HR 1.82, IC 95% 1.034–3.211, p = 0.038) were the only prognostic factors for OS. However, females with MSI-high tumors treated with POPChT demonstrated a significantly increased OS compared to females with MSS tumors (p = 0.031). In conclusion, we found a high proportion of MSI-high cases. MSI and EBV status did not influence OS or PFS either in patients submitted to POPChT or surgery alone. However, superior survival of females with MSI-high tumors suggests that sex disparities and molecular classification may influence treatment options in GC.
- Effect of chronic consumption of blackberry extract on high-fat induced obesity in rats and its correlation with metabolic and brain outcomesPublication . Meireles, Manuela; Rodríguez-Alcalá, Luís M; Marques, Cláudia; Norberto, Sónia; Freitas, Joana; Fernandes, Iva; Mateus, Nuno; Gomes, Ana Maria; Faria, Ana; Calhau, ConceiçãoFlavonoids have been presented as potential protectors against metabolic and cognitive dysfunction. However, mechanisms underlying these 'claims' have not been sufficiently explored. To analyse the effect of long-term supplementation with blackberry extract (BE) in the context of a high-fat or a standard diet, Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups (n = 6) fed with a standard or a high-fat diet, with or without BE supplementation at 25 mg per kg body weight per day. A high-fat diet significantly impaired glucose tolerance and increased body weight, caloric ingestion, very-low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides and cholesterol. Furthermore, it was observed that a high-fat diet increased dopamine content in the prefrontal cortex and decreased brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels both in the prefrontal cortex and in plasma. BE supplementation only affected some of these aspects. BE slightly improved glucose metabolism and significantly decreased levels of lactate, independent of diet. BE decreased levels of BDNF and also interacted with the dopaminergic system, increasing dopamine turnover in the striatum, and reverting dopamine content induced by a high-fat diet in the prefrontal cortex. This study shows that, despite some particular benefits of anthocyanin supplementation, some long-term effects may not be desirable and further studies are needed to optimize ingestion conditions.
- Effect of in vitro digestion upon the antioxidant capacity of aqueous extracts of Agrimonia eupatoria, Rubus idaeus, Salvia sp. and Satureja montanaPublication . Gião, Maria S.; Gomes, Susana; Madureira, Ana R.; Faria, Ana; Pestana, Diogo; Calhau, Conceição; Pintado, Manuela E.; Azevedo, Isabel; Malcata, F. XavierAn in vitro digestion/Caco-2 cell culture model was used to assess the stability and bioavailability of phenolic compounds in aqueous extracts of four herbal infusions, traditionally used as functional drinks in Portugal. Alterations in antioxidant power were monitored by ABTS +, whereas the profile of phenolic compounds was ascertained by HPLC-DAD. The bioavailability of rutin – an important flavonoid present in such extracts, and thus a representative of those compounds, was assessed across Caco-2 cells via LC– MS/MS. Our results indicate that several antioxidant compounds are not affected by the (simulated) digestive process, whereas others undergo decreases in their activity throughout said process; a few have their antioxidant capacity hampered under stomach-like conditions. It was also found that rutin can be transported across the Caco-2 cell barrier.
- Endocrine disruptor DDE associated with a high-fat diet enhances the impairment of liver fatty acid composition in ratsPublication . Rodríguez-Alcalá, Luis M.; Sá, Carla; Pimentel, Lígia L.; Pestana, Diogo; Teixeira, Diana; Faria, Ana; Calhau, Conceição; Gomes, Ana M. P.The banned pesticide dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its main metabolite, p,p′-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), are commonly found in the food chain and in all tissues of living organisms. DDE is associated with metabolic diseases acting as an endocrine disruptor and more recently with the obesity pandemic. This study focuses on using fatty acid analysis to relate DDE exposure and metabolic dysfunction: liver and adipose tissue (visceral and subcutaneous) composition from male Wistar rats fed a standard (STD) or high-fat (HF) diet versus the addition of DDE in water. DDE exposure increased liver levels of palmitic, stearic, oleic, trans fatty, and linoleic acids having altered the n6 and n3 pathways leading to high concentrations of arachidonic acid and DHA (C22:6 n3). The results of this study confirm the close relationship between this pesticide metabolite and hepatic lipid dysfunction, underscoring its role as an emerging target for the prevention and therapy of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
- The iogeneration intervention study at Lisbon: iodine status and iodised salt consumption in school-aged childrenPublication . Mota, Inês Barreiros; Pestana, Diogo; Marques, Cláudia; Teixeira, Diana; Morais, Juliana; Faria, Ana; Cortez, Ana Paula Bidutte; Quaresma, Raquel; Pinto, Edgar; Fernandes, Virgínia Cruz; Maia, Maria Luz; Rosário, André; Keating, Elisa; Leite, João Costa; Almeida, Agostinho; Azevedo, Luís; Lima, Rui Matias; Calhau, Conceição
- Utilização da Vetiver associada a vermicomposto e a hidrogéis enriquecidos com microrganismos como estratégia de fitogestão de escombreirasPublication . Pereira, Sofia I. A.; Sousa, Ana S. S.; Faria, Ana; Rodrigues, Nadine; Castro, Paula M. L.; Moreira, Helena