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- Nanoencapsulation of polyphenols towards dairy beverage incorporationPublication . Silva, Sara; Veiga, Mariana; Costa, Eduardo M.; Oliveira, Ana L.; Madureira, Ana Raquel; Pintado, ManuelaPhenolic compounds, while widely recognized for their biological potential, when added into food matrixes may interact with food constituents. One example of this is the interaction between phenolic compounds and proteins, that may result in the formation of complexes and alter the bioavailability of both phenolic compounds and the nutrient availability. Moreover, when adding compounds to improve the functionality of a food matrix, these interactions may compromise the perceived benefits of the additions. Nanoencapsulation has been considered one of the means to circumvent these interactions, as they may function as a physical barrier between the phenolic compounds and the matrix (preventing not only the loss of bioactivity, but eventual sensorial alterations of the foods), protect phenolic compounds through the gastrointestinal tract, and may enhance phenolic absorption through cellular endocytosis. However, despite these advantages the food industry is still limited in its nanotechnological solutions, as special care must be taken to use food-grade encapsulants which will not pose any deleterious effect towards human health. Therefore, this review aims to provide an encompassing view of the existing advantages and limitations of nanotechnology, associated with the inclusion of phenolic compounds in dairy beverages
- Natural-based antioxidant extracts as potential mitigators of fruit browningPublication . Dias, Cindy; Fonseca, Alexandre M. A.; Amaro, Ana L.; Vilas-Boas, Ana A.; Oliveira, Ana; Santos, Sónia A. O.; Silvestre, Armando J. D.; Rocha, Sílvia M.; Isidoro, Nélson; Pintado, ManuelaFruit enzymatic browning (EB) inhibition continues to be a challenge in the Food Industry. This physiological disorder results mainly from the oxidation of natural phenolic compounds by polyphenoloxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POX) leading to the formation of brown pigments. EB can be controlled with the application of antioxidants, reducing/inhibiting the activity of these oxidative enzymes. In this study, strawberry tree (leaves and branches) and apple byproduct were the natural-based extracts (NES) selected, as potential tissue browning inhibitors, within a first screening of fifteen natural-based extracts with antioxidant properties. Phenolic profile, total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the selected extracts were also performed as well as their depletion effect on the oxidative enzyme’s activity and browning inhibiton in fresh-cut pears. Strawberry tree extracts (leaves and branches) revealed higher total phenolic content (207.97 ± 0.01 mg GAE.gNES−1 and 104.07 ± 16.38 mg GAE.gNES−1, respectively), confirmed by the plethora of phenolic compounds identified by LC-ESI-UHR-QqTOF-HRMS and quantified by HPLC. This phytochemical composition was reflected in the low IC50 against PPO and POX obtained. Despite the lower phenolic content (6.76 ± 0.11 mg GAE.gNES−1) and antioxidant activity (IC50 = 45.59 ± 1.34 mg mL−1), apple byproduct extract showed potential in delaying browning. This study highlights the opportunity of byproducts and agricultural wastes extracts as novel anti-browning agents.
- A chemical valorisation of melon peels towards functional food ingredients: bioactives profile and antioxidant propertiesPublication . Gómez-García, Ricardo; Campos, Débora A.; Oliveira, Ana; Aguilar, Cristóbal N.; Madureira, Ana R.; Pintado, ManuelaThe goal of this work was to characterize the profile of bioactive compounds and the antioxidant activity of inodorus melon peels. Melon peels were divided into three fractions: a solid fraction with a higher content of carbohydrates (84.81%); a liquid fraction with a higher ash content (11.5%); and a pellet fraction with a higher protein content (34.90%). The structural carbohydrates study revealed a composition of cellulose (27.68%), hemicellulose (8.2%) and lignin (26.46%) in the solid fraction. The liquid fraction had the highest antioxidant activity based on results from DPPH, ABTS and ORAC assays. Flavones, hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids were the main phenolic classes found in all fractions. In addition, β-carotene, lutein, β-cryptoxanthin and violaxanthin had also been quantified. Melon fractions were rich in nutrients and bioactive substances and could be useful in the development of novel functional products, considering the growing market demand for safe and healthy food products.
- Chlorogenic acids composition and the impact of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion on espresso coffee from single-dose capsulePublication . Vilas-Boas, Armando; Oliveira, Ana; Jesus, Diva; Rodrigues, Carla; Figueira, Cláudia; Gomes, Ana; Pintado, ManuelaThe single-dose coffee capsule is the most successful technology used to prepare espresso coffee (EC). However, the characterization of ECs extracted using this technology, regarding chlorogenic acids (CGAs) composition, antioxidant activity and stability during gastrointestinal digestion (GID), are still limited. The aim of this research work was: (i) to characterize the phenolic profile and antioxidant activity of 11 commercial ECs from single-dose capsule system and (ii) to evaluate the impact of the in vitro GID on the stability of CGAs. Within all the ECs analysed it was detected the presence of 4 caffeoylquinic acids (CQAs), 1 feruloylquinic acids, 2 caffeoylshikimic acids and 3 diCaffeoylquinic acids (di-CQAs). The major compound in all ECs was 5-CQA, followed by 4-CQA and 3-CQA. The di-CQAs were found in lower concentration than CQAs (4,5-diCQA > 3,4-diCQA > 3,5-diCQA). The total CQAs and diCQAs content of the ECs analyzed ranged from 1.86 ± 0.19 to 2.42 ± 0.28 and 0.26 ± 0.02 to 0.42 ± 0.06 mg/mL of EC, respectively. The high antioxidant activity of the ECs is related with the high CGAs concentration, which ranged from 4.92 ± 0.29 to 7.28 ± 0.25 mg AAE/mL of EC and from 6.13 ± 0.37 to 10.07 ± 0.17 mg TE/mL of EC for ABTS° and DPPH° methods, respectively. The principal component analysis showed that the coffee variety used in ECs preparation explained 74.8% of the results’ variation and that 6 of the total number of ECs were related with high CGAs contents and antioxidant activity. The GID induced a decrease in most CGAs, which had a direct impact on the antioxidant activity, therefore concerning EC ingestion the CGAs bioaccessible concentration decreased in comparison with a non-digested EC. Nevertheless, the CGAs concentration available after GID is still sufficiently high to exert antioxidant activity (measured in vitro) that may exert a potential beneficial effect on humans health.