60 research outputs found
Physicochemical parameters, phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of the algarvian avocado (Persea americana Mill.)
The physical, chemical and nutritional properties of Persea americana fruits variety ‘Hass’ produced in the Algarve region were studied. Edible and non-edible parts of the fruits (pulp, seeds and peel) were compared considering their possible contribution to improve the sustainability of the food and pharmaceutical industries. The nutritional contents evaluated were moisture, ash, proteins, fat, total soluble solids and acidity. It were also evaluated the contents of bioactive compounds (phenolics, flavonoids, carotenoids, ascorbic acid and vitamin E) and their influence in the antioxidant activity exhibited by the fruit material. The results of the analysis demonstrated that the Algarvian avocado has physical and chemical characteristics comparable or superior to avocados from other growing regions around the world namely, Mexico and California. With regard to the contents of bioactive compounds, the pulp of the Algarvian avocado proved to be rich in carotenoids (0.815±0.201 mg/100g), phenolic compounds (410.2±69.0 mg/100g) and flavonoids (21.9±1.0 mg/100g). The skin was superior to the pulp in the contents of all these compounds with 2.585±0.117 mg/100g of carotenoids, 679.0±117.0 mg/100g of total phenolics and 44.3±3.1 mg/100g of flavonoids. The seed, in turn, was the part of the fruit with the highest total phenolic content (704.0±130.0 mg/100g) and flavonoids (47.97±2.69 mg/100g). Regarding the concentration of vitamins C and E, the highest values were found in the pulp (5.36±1.77 mg/100g of vitamin E) and skin (4.1±2.7 mg/100g of vitamin C). The extracts obtained from the seeds demonstrated higher in vitro DPPH· assay antioxidant activity (43%) than those obtained from the skin (35%) and the fruit pulp (23%). The contents of carotenoids, phenolic compounds and flavonoids found in the non-edible parts of the Algarvian avocado demonstrated that these byproducts could be an interesting inexpensive raw material for the food and cosmetic industries.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Comparison between the phytochemical and antioxidant properties of plants used in plant infusions for medicinal purposes
It has already been acknowledged among the medical community that plant based treatments represent an
interesting contribution to modern therapeutics due to the presence in their composition of molecules with
pharmacological and antioxidant action. The aim of this study was to evaluate the contents of total phenolics,
flavonoids, and caffeine in six plants used traditionally by healers in Portugal and usually consumed as tea or
infusion namely: Camellia sinensis, Melissa officinalis, Lippia citriodora, Cymbopogon citratus, Matricaria
chamomilla, and Tilia cordata. Total phenolics ranged from 32.05 mg GAE/100g for aqueous extracts obtained
from leaves of L. citriodora to 145.28 mg GAE/100g for aqueous extracts of C. sinensis. Significant variations in
the flavonoid content were also found among analyzed plants and depending on the nature of the extract, with C. sinensis standing out again with the highest values (78.31 mg CE/100g) and the ethanolic extract obtained from the flowers of T. cordata exhibiting the lowest content (25.15 mg CE/100g). The concentration of caffeine was also very diverse and followed the sequence M. officinalis < T. cordata < C. citratus < M. chamomilla < L.
citriodora < C. sinensis. The antioxidant activity of each plant was evaluated in vitro using a standard model
system, the DPPH assay, and was found to vary according to C. citratus (90.9%) > C. sinensis (87.8%) > M.
officinalis (50.7%) > M. chamomilla (45.3%) > T. cordata (32.2%) > L. citriodora (28.0%). The aqueous extracts
presented lower antioxidant activity than the corresponding ethanolic ones.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Avocado and its by-products: natural sources of nutrients, phytochemical compounds and functional properties
Avocado (Persea americana Mill.) is a tropical and subtropical fruit that is native to Mexico and
Central America. This fruit is gaining increasing worldwide acceptance and has received extensive
marketing and a wide distribution due to its relevant nutritional benefits for human health. This work
presents relevant information on the production, composition and application of avocado, with an
emphasis on its by-products, focusing on the proper use of waste and the possibility of monetizing
waste for nutritional and environmental purposes. The entire avocado is rich in bioactive compounds
(pulp, peel and seed) and presents several health benefits, such as antimicrobial, antioxidant
and anticancer activities, as well as dermatological uses and others. Therefore, several food grade
ingredients can be obtained from avocado wastes, particularly premium-grade fats or extracts with a
high functional power. Studies should continue to identify the profiles and phytochemicals available to
the business sector, which can also be implemented to valorize the nutritional and functional potential
of avocado seeds and peels.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Evaluation of antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of the Angolan Cymbopogon Citratus essential oil with a view to its utilization as food biopreservative
It was studied the chemical composition, antioxidant, antibacterial and antifungal properties of the essential oil
obtained from the Cymbopogon citratus of Angolan origin. Its major constituents analyzed by GC-MS were
α-citral (40.55%), β-citral (28.26%), myrcene (10.50%) and geraniol (3.37%). The essential oil antioxidant
capacity was statistically identical to that of synthetic antioxidants (DPPH IC50 of 41.7 μg/ml) and superior to that of extracts obtained from fresh leaves of the plant (DPPH IC50 of 55.7 μg/ml). The oil also demonstrated to possess high antibacterial activity even against multidrug resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae and antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Non-Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis and Candida tropicalis. The results of this study, in conjunction with already published data on the properties of other Cymbopogon citratus oils, provide evidence that it could have a potential application as food preservative.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Pre-meal tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) intake can have anti-obesity effects in young women?
The effect of pre-meal tomato intake in the anthropometric indices and blood levels of triglycerides, cholesterol, glucose, and uric acid of a young women population (n = 35, 19.6 ± 1.3 years) was evaluated. During 4 weeks, daily, participants ingested a raw ripe tomato (∼90 g) before lunch. Their anthropometric and biochemical parameters were measured repeatedly during the follow-up time. At the end of the 4 weeks, significant reductions were observed on body weight (−1.09 ± 0.12 kg on average), % fat (−1.54 ± 0.52%), fasting blood glucose (−5.29 ± 0.80 mg/dl), triglycerides (−8.31 ± 1.34 mg/dl), cholesterol (−10.17 ± 1.21 mg/dl), and uric acid (−0.16 ± 0.04 mg/dl) of the participants. The tomato pre-meal ingestion seemed to interfere positively in body weight, fat percentage, and blood levels of glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, and uric acid of the young adult women that participated in this study.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Organic versus conventional tomatoes: Influence on physicochemical parameters, bioactive compounds and sensorial attributes
The effect of organic and conventional agricultural systems on the physicochemical parameters, bioactive compounds content, and sensorial attributes of tomatoes (‘‘Redondo’’ cultivar) was studied. The influence on phytochemicals distribution among peel, pulp and seeds was also accessed. Organic tomatoes were richer in lycopene (+20%), vitamin C (+30%), total phenolics (+24%) and flavonoids (+21%) and had higher (+6%) in vitro antioxidant activity. In the conventional fruits, lycopene was mainly concentrated in the
pulp, whereas in the organic ones, the peel and seeds contained high levels of bioactive compounds. Only the phenolic compounds had a similar distribution among the different fractions of both types of tomatoes. Furthermore, a sensorial analysis indicated that organic farming improved the gustative properties of this tomato cultivar
Cymbopogon citratus EO antimicrobial activity against multi-drug resistant Gram-positive strains and non-albicans-Candida species
We studied the antibacterial and antifungal activity of Cymbopogon citratus. These properties were studied on hospital isolated multidrug resistant strains Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia and their respective ATCC control strains. Pathogenic Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, and Candida tropicalis were also tested. Results of the present investigation provide evidence that the EO of Cymbopogon citratus could have a potential application in the treatment and prevention of diseases caused by Staphylococcus aureus methicillin-resistant strains and by vancomicin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis. Cymbopogon citratus EO is also effective against Candida albicans as well as the emerging Candida parapsilosis and Candida tropicalis pointing to its usefulness as an antifungal agent.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Macro and micro network metrics as indicators of training tasks adjustment to players’ tactical level
We aimed to investigate if social networks measures can be used as indicators of training tasks' adjustment level to soccer players’ tactical skills. Twenty-four U17 male soccer players (16.89 ± 0.11 years) participated in this study. The System of Tactical Assessment in Football (FUT-SAT) was used to identify players’ tactical level and to organize them into three groups: Higher tactical level (Group 01), Intermediate tactical level (Group 02) and Lower tactical level (Group 03). Then, the players performed three High difficulty Small-Sided and Conditioned Games (HD-SSCG) and three Low difficulty Small-Sided and Conditioned Games (LD-SSCG). Teams’ interaction patterns and players’ prominence were analysed based on macro (Density – D and Clustering coefficient – CC) and micro networks (Indegree, Outdegree, Total links and Eigenvector) measures. We found that Group 01 presented higher D (p = .004 and ES = 1.189) and CC (p =.004 and ES = .785) at HD-SSCG than Group 03, whereas Group 03 presented higher values of D (p = .003 and ES = 1.200) and CC (p = .037 and ES = 1.180) at LD-SSCG than Group 01. When training tasks difficulty were adjusted to players’ tactical level, teams played more collectively and players were more actively engaged in ball circulation. We concluded that macro and micro networks measures can be applied in training context as indicators of training tasks adjustment to players' tactical level.The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of thisarticle: This work was supported by the Fundacão de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo [2017/12142-5].info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
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