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Cardoso Freitas Lopes de Freitas, Ana Cristina
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- Sargassum muticum and Osmundea pinnatifida enzymatic extracts: chemical, structural, and cytotoxic characterizationPublication . Rodrigues, Dina; Costa-Pinto, Ana R.; Sousa, Sérgio; Vasconcelos, Marta W.; Pintado, Manuela M.; Pereira, Leonel; Rocha-Santos, Teresa A. P.; Costa, João P. da; Silva, Artur M. S.; Duarte, Armando C.; Gomes, Ana M. P.; Freitas, Ana C.Seaweeds, which have been widely used for human consumption, are considered a potential source of biological compounds, where enzyme-assisted extraction can be an efficient method to obtain multifunctional extracts. Chemical characterization of Sargassum muticum and Osmundea pinnatifida extracts obtained by Alcalase and Viscozyme assisted extraction, respectively, showed an increment of macro/micro elements in comparison to the corresponding dry seaweeds, while the ratio of Na/K decreased in both extracts. Galactose, mannose, xylose, fucose, and glucuronic acid were the main monosaccharides (3.2–27.3 mg/glyophilized extract) present in variable molar ratios, whereas low free amino acids content and diversity (1.4–2.7 g/100gprotein) characterized both extracts. FTIR-ATR and 1H NMR spectra confirmed the presence of important polysaccharide structures in the extracts, namely fucoidans from S. muticum or agarans as sulfated polysaccharides from O. pinnatifida. No cytotoxicity against normal mammalian cells was observed from 0 to 4 mglyophilized extract/mL for both extracts. The comprehensive characterization of the composition and safety of these two extracts fulfils an important step towards their authorized application for nutritional and/or nutraceutical purposes.
- Chemical composition of red, brown and green macroalgae from Buarcos bay in Central West Coast of PortugalPublication . Rodrigues, Dina; Freitas, Ana C.; Pereira, Leonel; Rocha-Santos, Teresa A. P.; Vasconcelos, Marta W.; Roriz, Mariana; Rodríguez-Alcalá, Luís M.; Gomes, Ana M. P.; Duarte, Armando C.Six representative edible seaweeds from the Central West Portuguese Coast, including the less studied Osmundea pinnatifida, were harvested from Buarcos bay, Portugal and their chemical characterization determined. Protein content, total sugar and fat contents ranged between 14.4% and 23.8%, 32.4% and 49.3% and 0.6–3.6%. Highest total phenolic content was observed in Codium tomentosum followed by Sargassum muticum and O. pinnatifida. Fatty acid (FA) composition covered the branched chain C13ai to C22:5 n3 with variable content in n6 and n3 FA; low n6:n3 ratios were observed in O. pinnatifida, Grateloupia turuturu and C. tomentosum. Some seaweed species may be seen as good sources of Ca, K, Mg and Fe, corroborating their good nutritional value. According to FTIR-ATR spectra, G. turuturu was associated with carrageenan seaweed producers whereas Gracilaria gracilis and O. pinnatifida were mostly agar producers. In the brown algae, S. muticum and Saccorhiza polyschides, alginates and fucoidans were the main polysaccharides found.
- Biodegradation of polyethylene microplastics by the marine fungus zalerion maritimumPublication . Paço, Ana; Duarte, Kátia; Costa, João P. da; Santos, Patrícia S.M.; Pereira, R.; Pereira, M. E.; Freitas, Ana C.; Duarte, Armando C.; Rocha-Santos, Teresa A. P.Plastic yearly production has surpassed the 300milliontons mark and recycling has all but failed in constituting a viable solution for the disposal of plastic waste. As these materials continue to accumulate in the environment, namely, in rivers and oceans, in the form of macro-, meso-, micro- and nanoplastics, it becomes of the utmost urgency to find new ways to curtail this environmental threat. Multiple efforts have been made to identify and isolate microorganisms capable of utilizing synthetic polymers and recent results point towards the viability of a solution for this problem based on the biodegradation of plastics resorting to selected microbial strains. Herein, the response of the fungus Zalerion maritimum to different times of exposition to polyethylene (PE) pellets, in a minimum growth medium, was evaluated, based on the quantified mass differences in both the fungus and the microplastic pellets used. Additionally, molecular changes were assessed through attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). Results showed that, under the tested conditions, Z. maritimum is capable of utilizing PE, resulting in the decrease, in both mass and size, of the pellets. These results indicate that this naturally occurring fungus may actively contribute to the biodegradation of microplastics, requiring minimum nutrients.
- Lipolysis in probiotic and synbiotic cheese: The influence of probiotic bacteria, prebiotic compounds and ripening time on free fatty acid profilesPublication . Rodrigues, Dina; Rocha-Santos, Teresa A. P.; Gomes, Ana M.; Goodfellow, Brian J.; Freitas, Ana C.The influence of probiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus casei-01, Bifidobacterium lactis B94), prebiotic compounds (FOS and inulin) and ripening time (0–60 days) on the free fatty acid (FFA) profile of cheese, with special emphasis on the conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) content, was investigated. After 60 days of ripening, 109–1010 cfu g 1 cheese were recorded in both probiotic and synbiotic cheeses, despite harsh conditions of low pH values (4.1–5.1) and low moisture content (<30%, w/w). Increases in total FFA and CLA were observed throughout the ripening period, especially in synbiotic cheeses containing FOS and inulin (50:50) inoculated with B. lactis B94. The addition of FOS alone or combined with inulin did not significantly affect probiotic strain growth and viability during the ripening period; however, the advantage of the addition of prebiotic compounds in probiotic cheese manufacture is that it may allow the production of cheeses with improved performance as far as functional CLA compounds are concerned, as well as an improved nutritional quality reflected in a lower atherogenicity index.
- Chemical and structural characterization of Pholiota nameko extracts with biological propertiesPublication . Rodrigues, Dina; Freitas, Ana C.; Sousa, Sérgio; Amorim, Manuela; Vasconcelos, Marta W.; Costa, João P. da; Silva, Artur M. S.; Rocha-Santos, Teresa A. P.; Duarte, Armando C.; Gomes, Ana M. P.Edible mushrooms including Pholiota nameko are excellent sources of extractable bioactive compounds with much to explore. Enzymatic extractions with Cellulase and Viscozyme were responsible for highest extraction yields (67-77%). No strong antioxidant activity was observed although extracts were able to scavenge ABTS(+) and OH(+). Potential prebiotic activity was observed in all extracts, some increasing 1.4-2 Log cycles of Lactobacillus acidophilus La-5 and Bifidobacterium animalis BB12. 30-50% α-glucosidase inhibition was observed in ultrasound, Flavourzyme and Cellulase extracts. Flavourzyme and Cellulase extracts are richer in macro (Mg, K and P) and micro elements (Zn, Mn and Fe) in comparison to mushroom. Monosaccharides content and profile varied slightly among both extracts with predominance of glucose, galactose and mannose with no uronic acids detection; Flavourzyme extract reported higher free amino acids content. Presence of α and β-glycosidic structures such as glucans and glucan-protein complexes are among the polysaccharides found in both extracts.
- Graphene based sensors and biosensorsPublication . Justino, Celine I. L.; Gomes, Ana R.; Freitas, Ana C.; Duarte, Armando C.; Rocha-Santos, Teresa A. P.Graphene has contributed to the fabrication of sensitive sensors and biosensors due to its physical and electrochemical properties. This review discusses the role of graphene and graphene related materials for the improvement of the analytical performance of sensors and biosensors. This paper also provides an overview of recent graphene based sensors and biosensors (2012–2016), comparing their analytical performance for application in clinical, environmental, and food sciences research, and comments on future and interesting research trends in this field.
- Effects of encapsulation on the viability of probiotic strains exposed to lethal conditionsPublication . Borges, Sandra; Barbosa, Joana; Camilo, Rute; Carvalheira, Ana; Silva, Joana; Sousa, Sérgio; Gomes, Ana M.; Pintado, Maria M.; Silva, José P.; Costa, Paulo; Amaral, Maria H.; Teixeira, Paula; Freitas, Ana C.The effect of microencapsulation on the viability of Lactobacillus casei, L. paracasei, L. acidophilus Ki and Bifidobacterium animalis BB-12 during exposure to lethal conditions (25% NaCl, pH 3.0 and 55–60 ºC) was evaluated. Results demonstrated that survival of probiotic strains to the imposed lethal stress conditions was strain dependent. With the exception of exposure to 25% (w ⁄ v) NaCl, L. acidophilus Ki (free and encapsulated cells) demonstrated the highest survival rates through exposure to lethal conditions of temperature and pH. For this probiotic strain exposed to heat, microencapsulated cells expressed a higher heat tolerance at 55 ºC than free cells. For the other tested bacteria, in general, encapsulation had no positive effect on survival through the tested lethal conditions.
- Enzymes in Physiological SamplesPublication . Pimentel, Lígia L.; Rodríguez-Alcalá, Luís M.; Gomes, Ana M.; Freitas, Ana C.
- Bioactive polysaccharides extracts from sargassum muticumby high hydrostatic pressurePublication . Rodrigues, Dina; Freitas, Ana C.; Queirós, Rui; Rocha-Santos, Teresa A. P.; Saraiva, Jorge A.; Gomes, Ana M. P.; Duarte, Armando C.Sargassum muticum is an important source of bioactive polysaccharides; hence, high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) was used to improve their extraction efficiency. Response surface methodology and a Box-Behnken full factorial design were employed to assess and optimize the effects of extraction conditions on the yield, total sugars, total sulfated sugars and antioxidant activity of S. muticum extracts. The extraction yield ranged between 32 and 40.4% independently of the extraction conditions or seaweed solid/liquid ratio resulting in average increases of 3.6 to 4.8-fold for total sugars and sulfated sugars, as compared to conventional extraction. Extracts displayed improved antioxidant activities, yet maximum values were achieved under different optimum conditions of HHP processing, for example, 5–5.5 min, 300 MPa and 1 g of dry seaweed for yield. In conclusion, the optimal HHP technology conditions described in this paper enables to obtain enriched bioactive polysaccharide S. muticum extracts.
- Chemical composition and nutritive value of Pleurotus citrinopileatus var cornucopiae, P. eryngii, P. salmoneo stramineus, Pholiota nameko and Hericium erinaceusPublication . Rodrigues, Dina M. F.; Freitas, Ana C.; Rocha-Santos, Teresa A. P.; Vasconcelos, Marta W.; Roriz, Mariana; Rodríguez-Alcalá, Luís M.; Gomes, Ana M. P.; Duarte, Armando C.The chemical composition and nutritive value of five mushrooms species, some less studied such as Pleurotus citrinopileatus var. cornucopiae, P. salmoneo stramineus or Pholiota nameko, were determined. Protein, sugar and fat contents ranged between 16.2 to 26.6, 52.7 to 64.9 and 2.3 to 3.5 g/100g(dry mushroom), respectively. Highest total phenolic content was observed for P. citrinopileatus var. cornucopiae with 1140 mu g cathecol equiv./g(dry mushroom). Higher content in mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids (FA) than saturated FA characterized mushrooms FA profile with high linoleic acid concentration (> 30 gFA/100g(fat)). In addition, these mushrooms may be considered good sources of K, Mg, P, highlighting K (2627-3736 mg/Kg(dry mushroom)) as the most predominant, and of Zn, Cu and Fe; some contributing over 15 % of their recommended daily intakes. beta-glucans, alpha-glucans and evidence of glucan-protein complexes were identified by FTIR-ATR. The reported values emphasize the nutritional potential of the five species to be consumed in a healthy diet.
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