Propriedades nutricionais e medicinais de frutos e pedúnculos de Prunus avium L. (Cerejeira)

Prunus avium L. (cereja doce) é um dos frutos de clima temperado mais popular, sendo altamente apreciado pelos consumidores e extensamente estudado pela comunidade científica. Ao contrário dos frutos que têm sido amplamente estudados, nada se sabe sobre a composição química e propriedades bioativas dos pedúnculos de P. avium, apesar do uso na medicina tradicional de infusões e decocções preparadas a partir dessas partes. Portanto, o objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar frutos e pedúnculos de cereja doce quanto à sua composição nutricional, fitoquímicos individuais e propriedades bioativas. Foram estabelecidos os perfis cromatográficos em açúcares, ácidos orgânicos, ácidos gordos, tocoferóis e compostos fenólicos. Todas as preparações (extratos metanol/água 80:20 v/v, infusões e decocções) obtidas utilizando pedúnculos revelaram maior potencial antioxidante do que o extrato metanol/água obtido a partir dos frutos, o que certamente está relacionado com a maior concentração de compostos fenólicos (ácidos fenólicos e flavonoides) encontrada nos pedúnculos, em comparação com os frutos. O extrato metanol/água obtido a partir dos frutos foi o único a revelar potencial antitumoral, com especificidade para a linha celular humana HCT-15 (carcinoma do cólon) (GI50~74 g/mL). Este resultado pode estar relacionado com a presença de antocianinas, que só foram encontradas nos frutos e não nos pedúnculos. Nenhuma das preparações testadas mostrou hepatotoxicidade contra células normais. No geral, o presente estudo apresenta resultados inovadores em relação à caracterização química e propriedades bioativas de pedúnculos de cereja doce, e confirmou as características nutricionais e antioxidantes dos seus frutos.Prunus avium L. (sweet cherry) is one of the most popular climate fruits, being highly appreciated by consumers and studied by the scientific community. In opposition to the widely studied fruits and despite the traditional medicinal use of infusions and decoctions prepared from P. avium stems, nothing is known about their chemical composition and bioactive properties. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterise sweet cherry fruits and stems regarding nutritional composition, individual phytochemicals and bioactive properties. The chromatographic profiles in sugars, organic acids, fatty acids, tocopherols and phenolic compounds were established. All the preparations (methanol/water 80:20 v/v extracts, infusions and decoctions) obtained using stems revealed higher antioxidant potential than the tested methanol/water extract from fruits, which is certainly related with the higher phenolic compounds (phenolic acids and flavonoids) concentration found in stems, in comparison with fruits. The fruits methanol/water extract was the only one showing antitumor potential, revealing selectivity against HCT-15 (colon carcinoma) (GI50~74 g/mL). This could be related with the presence of anthocyanins that were only found in fruits and not in stems. None of the tested preparations have shown hepatotoxicity against normal primary cells. Overall, the present study reports innovative results regarding chemical characterization and bioactive properties of sweet cherry stems, and confirmed the nutritional and antioxidant characteristics of their fruits

Ethnomycological prospect of wild edible and medicinal mushrooms from Central and Southern Africa

In diferente regions of Africa, the people´s diet depends partially on edible products from wild animals, plants, or mushrooms, motivated not only by the high cost of living but also by the profusion of such products in local environment (Soro et al., 2019). In addition to being appreciated for their high nutritional value, rich in proteins, carbohydrates, elements (phosphorous, potassium, calcium, copper, magnesium, iron, zinc), vitamins, and lower fat amounts, thesse non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are the basis of various dietary, ethnic, cultural, religious, and medicinal considerations, depending on ethnic groups. Despite the rich biodiversity of the African continent, this remains largely unexplored resulting in a poor food contribution to the often malnourished populations (Yongabi et al., 2004). Thus, the aim of this review is to gather information on the wild mushroom species used in Central and Southern Africa and their main uses, with a focus on food and medicinal species.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Ethnomycological prospect of wild edible and medicinal mushrooms from Central and Southern Africa

In diferente regions of Africa, the people´s diet depends partially on edible products from wild animals, plants, or mushrooms, motivated not only by the high cost of living but also by the profusion of such products in local environment (Soro et al., 2019). In addition to being appreciated for their high nutritional value, rich in proteins, carbohydrates, elements (phosphorous, potassium, calcium, copper, magnesium, iron, zinc), vitamins, and lower fat amounts, thesse nontimber forest products (NTFPs) are the basis of various dietary, ethnic, cultural, religious, and medicinal considerations, depending on ethnic groups. Despite the rich biodiversity of the African continent, this remains largely unexplored resulting in a poor food contribution to the often malnourished populations (Yongabi et al., 2004). Thus, the aim of this review is to gather information on the wild mushroom species used in Central and Southern Africa and theirmain uses, with a focus on food and medicinal species.To the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support by national funds FCT/MCTES to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020), Claudete Bastos PhD grant (SFRH/BD/151519/2021), Â. Liberal PhD grant (2021.04585.BD), LEAF , cE3c (UIDB/00329/2020).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio