Browsing by Author "Fernandes, Tito"
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- Health benefits of edible mushrooms focused on coriolus versicolor: a reviewPublication . Cruz, Aritson; Pimentel, Lígia; Rodríguez-Alcalá, Luis M.; Fernandes, Tito; Pintado, ManuelaThe biological properties present in mushrooms have been extensively studied. Besides nutritional properties, mushrooms have attracted market attention because they are a potential source of bioactive compounds able to perform several functions in organisms with benefits for consumer health. In recent years Coriolus versicolor aroused interest among researchers because of the bioactive properties demonstrated. Polysaccharopeptide (PSP) and polysaccharopeptide Krestin (PSK) have shown to be useful adjuncts to the therapy of cancer; these polysaccharides from C. versicolor have also shown prebiotic activity, stimulating the growth of probiotic bacteria. Furthermore, enzymes such as laccases produced by Pleurotus eryngii and Ganoderma lucidium can confer activity against HIV; lectins produced by Pleurotus ostreatus and Ganoderma carpense have shown anti-proliferative activity in tumour cells; superoxide dismutase present in some mushrooms has antioxidant activity. Secondary metabolites such as terpenes, steroids, anthraquinones and benzoic acid have also antitumour activity. This review article highlights the health-promoting potential of several mushroom species with special emphasis on C. versicolor.
- One health, fermented foods, and gut microbiotaPublication . Bell, Victoria; Ferrão, Jorge; Pimentel, Lígia; Pintado, Manuela; Fernandes, TitoChanges in present-day society such as diets with more sugar, salt, and saturated fat, bad habits and unhealthy lifestyles contribute to the likelihood of the involvement of the microbiota in inflammatory diseases, which contribute to global epidemics of obesity, depression, and mental health concerns. The microbiota is presently one of the hottest areas of scientific and medical research, and exerts a marked influence on the host during homeostasis and disease. Fermented foods and beverages are generally defined as products made by microbial organisms and enzymatic conversions of major and minor food components. Further to the commonly-recognized effects of nutrition on the digestive health (e.g., dysbiosis) and well-being, there is now strong evidence for the impact of fermented foods and beverages (e.g., yoghurt, pickles, bread, kefir, beers, wines, mead), produced or preserved by the action of microorganisms, on general health, namely their significance on the gut microbiota balance and brain functionality. Fermented products require microorganisms, i.e., Saccharomyces yeasts and lactic acid bacteria, yielding alcohol and lactic acid. Ingestion of vibrant probiotics, especially those contained in fermented foods, is found to cause significant positive improvements in balancing intestinal permeability and barrier function. Our guts control and deal with every aspect of our health. How we digest our food and even the food sensitivities we have is linked with our mood, behavior, energy, weight, food cravings, hormone balance, immunity, and overall wellness. We highlight some impacts in this domain and debate calls for the convergence of interdisciplinary research fields from the United Nations' initiative. Worldwide human and animal medicine are practiced separately; veterinary science and animal health are generally neither considered nor inserted within national or international Health discussions. The absence of a clear definition and subsequent vision for the future of One Health may act as a barrier to transdisciplinary collaboration. The point of this mini review is to highlight the role of fermented foods and beverages on gut microbiota and debate if the need for confluence of transdisciplinary fields of One Health is feasible and achievable, since they are managed by separate sectors with limited communication.