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- 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.
- Effects of extracts of selected medicinal plants upon hepatic oxidative stressPublication . Gião, M.S.; Pestana, D.; Faria, A.; Guimarães, J.T.; Pintado, M.E.; Calhau, C.; Azevedo, I.; Malcata, F.X.Aqueous extracts of a few medicinal plants traditionally used in Portugal have been assayed for their effects upon hepatic oxidative stress in mice. Previous in vitro studies had allowed characterization of agrimony, sage, savory, and raspberry in terms of overall antioxidant capacity and phenolic content. In the present study, the antioxidant effect and safety of these four plants were evaluated in vivo. For this purpose, mice ingested extracts in aqueous form (or water, used as the control) for 4 weeks; damage to lipids, proteins, and DNA was evaluated by oxidative cell biomarkers by the end of that period. Levels of hepatic glutathione and activities of enzymes involved in metabolism thereof were also determined. Finally, catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were quantified, as these enzymes play a crucial role in antioxidant defense. When compared with the control, both raspberry and savory produced significant lipid protection; however, protein damage was significantly lower only in raspberry-treated animals. On the other hand, DNA damage was prevented only by savory. All plants led to a decrease in catalase activity, whereas all but sage also produced a decrease in SOD activity. With regard to glutathione levels and activities of enzymes involved in its metabolism, the aforementioned extracts exhibited different effects. In general, raspberry appeared to be the most promising extract, followed by savory, sage, and agrimony, sorted by decreasing performance in protection; the latter was even slightly toxic. Hence, the plants tested possess compounds with interesting biological activities that may support eventual inclusion in food or feed as functional additives.
- 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).