Percorrer por autor "Tavaria, Freni"
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- Anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcerogenic and wound healing properties of chitosanPublication . Tavaria, Freni; Jorge, Michelle P.; Lúcia T.G. Ruiz, Ana; Pintado, M. E.; Carvalho, João E.In this study, anti-inflammatory, wound healing and anti-ulcerogenic properties of chitosan were evaluated ‘in vivo’ using wistar rats and swiss adult mice and the anti-proliferative activity was tested ‘in vitro’. The tested chitosans displayed no anti-proliferative or anti-inflammatory properties. The cytotoxic activity of chitosan was found to be non-existent towards eight tumoral cell lines and no significant differences were found in the ear edema (anti-inflammatory model) induced by croton oil and chitosan groups. However, chitosan showed good anti-ulcerative and wound healing abilities. Low molecular weight (LMW) chitosan effectively reduced ulcerative wounds induced by ethanol, while high molecular weight (HMW) chitosan helped retain the stomachal folds rendering a gastro protective effect. These results suggest that chitosan can potentially be used in the treatment of peptic ulcers. HMW chitosan also potentiated the healing process both in normal and diabetic rats, probably without induction of fibroblast growth but via collagen synthesis
- Antimicrobial activity of alginate films and coatings: a comparisonPublication . Lopes, Ana Isabel; Melo, Adma; Pereira, Eliana; Caleja, Cristina; Barros, Lillian; Tavaria, Freni; Pintado, Manuela
- Antimicrobial activity of an edible film incorporated with oregano essential oilPublication . Lopes, Ana Isabel; Melo, Adma; Pereira, Eliana; Caleja, Cristina; Barros, Lillian; Tavaria, Freni; Pintado, Manuela
- Antimicrobial activity of an edible film incorporated with oregano essential oilPublication . Lopes, Ana Isabel; Melo, Adma; Pereira, Eliana; Caleja, Cristina; Barros, Lillian; Tavaria, Freni; Pintado, Manuela
- Antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of chitosan on the oral pathogen Candida albicansPublication . Costa, Eduardo; Silva, Sara; Tavaria, Freni; Pintado, ManuelaOral candidiasis is particularly evident, not only in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, but also in elderly people with xerostomy. In general, Candida is an opportunistic pathogen, causing infections in immunocompromised people and, in some cases, when the natural microbiota is altered. Chitosan, a natural derivative of chitin, is a polysaccharide that has been proven to possess a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity that encompasses action against fungi, yeast and bacteria. While recent studies have revealed a significant antibiofilm activity upon several microorganisms, including C. albicans, little is known regarding the impact of chitosan upon the adhesive process or mature biofilms. With that in mind, the purpose of this work was to evaluate, in vitro, the capability of chitosan to inhibit C. albicans growth and biofilm formation. The results obtained showed that chitosan is capable of inhibiting C. albicans planktonic growth (HMW, 1 mg/mL; LMW, 3 mg/mL). Regarding biofilm growth, chitosan inhibited C. albicans adhesion (ca. 95%), biofilm formation (percentages above 90%) and reduced mature biofilms by ca. 65% and dual species biofilms (C. albicans and S. mutans) by ca. 70%. These results display the potential of this molecule to be used as an effective anti-Candida agent capable of acting upon C. albicans infections.
- Antimicrobial characterization of alginate edible films containing plant extractsPublication . Lopes, Ana Isabel; Tavaria, Freni; Pintado, Manuela
- Antioxidant activity of alginate edible films containing plant extractsPublication . Lopes, Ana Isabel; Silva, Sara; Barros, Lillian; Caleja, Cristina; Pereira, Eliana; Tavaria, Freni; Pintado, ManuelaNowadays, food packaging has been the target of increasing attention. Traditional food packaging is usually made of plastic and accounts for 36.9% of the plastics’ demand, being considered the largest market for plastic industry. Additionally, plastics are mostly produced with polymers from non-renewable sources and so, they contribute to environmental pollution. A way to circumvent this problem is the development of edible films. Edible films can act as complements to traditional plastics because their functional properties are able to extend food’s shelf-life1. Plant extracts are obtained by plants and possess antioxidant activity because of their high concentrations of phenolic compounds. They can be effective at low concentrations, are cost-effective and easy to apply, presenting low toxicity levels and high stability during processing and may not affect the sensory characteristics of food products2. The addition of plant extracts to edible films confers them the ability to act as food preservatives because they present antimicrobial activity against a broad spectrum of food poisoning microorganisms and antioxidant properties that helps to avoid the deterioration of fats and other food constituents 3. So, the main objective of this work was to evaluate the antioxidant activity of alginate edible films containing extracts of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.), eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus Labill.) and sage (Salvia officinalis L.). The 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and 2,2-difenil-1-picrilhidrazil (DPPH) scavenging tests were performed on the films and the results show that the films incorporated with plant extracts present antioxidant activity when compared to the control (alginate film without plant extract). The film incorporated with sage extract was the one that presented the best antioxidant activity by both ABTS (4024,169 Trolox equivalents (M)/mg film) and DPPH (3954,813 Trolox equivalents (M)/mg film), followed by the film with eucalyptus extract (ABTS: 3706,291 Trolox equivalents (M)/mg film; DPPH: 3706,291 Trolox equivalents (M)/mg film). On the other hand, the film incorporated with licorice extract (ABTS: 942,5195 Trolox equivalents (M)/mg film; DPPH: 1040,669 Trolox equivalents (M)/mg film) was the one with least antioxidant activity.
- Antioxidant activity, phenolic profile, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of plant extractsPublication . Melo, Adma N. F. de; Afonso, Tiago B.; Ribeiro, Tânia; Machado, Manuela; Carvalho, Marta; Carocho, Márcio; Tavaria, Freni; Teixeira, Paula; Barros, Lillian; Pintado, ManuelaThe outbreak of COVID-19 disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 forced the scientific world to search for new alternatives to help control the virus. Plant extracts have natural compounds that might provide a starting point for the research on the use of plants as an excellent source of new antiviral agents against viruses, including COVID-19 to be included in disinfectants, fabrics or other materials. In this study, the polyphenols content (Folin-Ciocalteu), antioxidant capacity (DPPH, ABTS and ORAC) and the phenolic profile (HPLC) of different hydroethanolic (ethanol:H2O 50:50 v/v) extracts of medicinal plants cultivated under controlled conditions in Portugal (echinacea, rosemary, laurel, thyme and rock rose) were determined, as well as the cytotoxicity effect against a keratinocyte cell line using cell viability assay by PrestoBlue and genotoxicity effect using the AMES test. According to the results, total phenolic content ranged from 204.54 ± 1.78 / 274.20 ± 3.14 (mg EAG/g extract) with the rock rose extract presenting the highest content (p < 0.05). The extracts showed a good antioxidant capacity demonstrated by the high values found for ORAC, which ranged 2855.03 ± 9.75 / 5285.35 ± 60.04 µMol Trolox/mg extract. HPLC analysis revealed the presence of different compounds in the extracts such as the kaempferol-O-glucuronide, catechin, protocatechuic acid and galloyl glucoside, representing a potential source of bioactive components with antioxidant capacity. No toxicity was observed towards the keratinocyte cells and none of them showed mutagenic effects. Based on the results of safety and high polyphenols content of the extracts they demonstrate a great potential as antimicrobial agents. This will allow the design of new experiments aimed at evaluating the antiviral activity of these extracts, especially against SARS-CoV-2.
- Antioxidant activity, phenolic profile, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of plant extractsPublication . Melo, Adma N. F. de; Afonso, Tiago B.; Ribeiro, Tânia; Machado, Manuela; Carvalho, Marta; Carocho, Márcio; Tavaria, Freni; Carvalho, Marta; Teixeira, Paula; Barros, Lillian; Pintado, Manuela
- Antioxidant properties of sterilized yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) tuber flourPublication . Sousa, Sérgio; Pinto, Jorge; Rodrigues, César; Gião, Maria; Pereira, Cláudia; Tavaria, Freni; Malcata, F. Xavier; Gomes, Ana; Pacheco, M. T. Bertoldo; Pintado, ManuelaThe objective of this research work was to investigate the antioxidant properties of sterilized yacon tuber flour. The results revealed for the first time the high antioxidant activity of sterilized yacon flour. The best extract obtained by boiling 8.9% (w/v) of yacon flour in deionised water for 10 min exhibited a total antioxidant capacity of 222 ± 2 mg (ascorbic acid equivalent)/100 g DW and a total polyphenol content of 275 ± 3 mg (gallic acid equivalent)/100 g DW associated to the presence of four main phenolic compounds: chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, coumaric acid and protocatechuic acid, as well as the amino acid tryptophan. The most abundant was chlorogenic acid, followed by caffeic acid. Biological assays revealed that the extract had indeed antioxidant protection, and no pro-oxidant activity. In conclusion, sterilized yacon tuber flour has the potential to be used in the food industry as a food ingredient to produce functional food products.