Alcohol y salud

It is beyond doubt that alcohol consumption, especially when it is excessive or irresponsible, has severe consequences for health. Nonetheless, there are also studies that associate the moderate intake of alcoholic drinks, namely red wine, with a lower risk of some chronic diseases and, in particular, cardiovascular disease. Those studies have received some attention by the media, which have sometimes contributed to spread a message confusing or contradictory, if not biased, in which marketing interests might be involved. This article reviews some of these aspects, both regarding the risks and the putative health benefits of moderate drinking. It is, however, important to highlight that it is far from any intention to contribute arguments that might be used to justify the consumption of alcoholic drinks with the aim of gaining health benefits.Está fuera de toda duda que el consumo de alcohol, especialmente si es excesivo o irresponsable, tiene severas consecuencias para la salud. Sin embargo, existen también estudios que relacionan el consumo moderado y responsable de bebidas alcohólicas, sobre todo de vino tinto, con un menor riesgo de sufrir determinadas enfermedades, especialmente de tipo cardiovascular. Estos estudios han recibido cierta atención por parte de los medios de comunicación, haciendo llegar a los consumidores un mensaje en ocasiones confuso o contradictorio, cuando no sesgado, al mezclarse intereses comerciales. En este artículo se revisan algunos de estos aspectos, tanto en cuanto a los riesgos para la salud como a los posibles beneficios del consumo moderado de alcohol. Es pertinente señalar que está lejos de cualquier intención aportar argumentos que puedan ser utilizados para justificar el consumo de vino u otras bebidas alcohólicas con el objeto de obtener beneficios para la salud

Anthocyanin Copigmentation: Evaluation, Mechanisms and Implications for the Colour of Red Wines

[EN]Copigmentation is the main colour-stabilizing mechanism in plants and in food products of vegetable origin. It is a spontaneous and exothermic process that consists of the stacking of an organic molecule, called copigment, on the planar polarizable moieties of the anthocyanin coloured forms. Although this phenomenon has long been described, there are some aspects that are still not well understood or controversial like the nature of the interaction pigment to copigment, the way to quantify the extent of the process, its effect on other anthocyanin properties like astringency or reactivity. In this article a review of the most significant advances achieved in the last years in the field of intramolecular and intermolecular copigmentation is presented. Also, the most recent findings regarding wine copigments and their effects on the colour of red wines are revised

Xoconostle fruit (Opuntia matudae Scheinvar cv. Rosa) by-products as potential functional ingredients

There is a lack of information on the potential use of xoconostle cultivars as sources of antioxidants for food, pharmaceutical and colorant industries. The aim of this study was to provide a phytochemical characterisation and antioxidant activity evaluation of Opuntia matudae Scheinvar cv. Rosa by-products (epicarp and endocarp mucilage's), in order to evaluate their interest as sources of functional ingredients for human or animal foods. These by-products showed a high content in glucose, citric and linoleic acids, tocopherols, and isorhamnetin-O-(di-deoxyhexosyl-hexoside) (mainly in epicarp), and presented relevant antioxidant properties. The obtained results support the use of O. matudae Scheinvar cv. Rosa agro-industrial by-products as functional food ingredients, namely for antioxidant-enriched formulations, instead of being discarded.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (Portugal) for financial support to CIMO (strategic project Pest-OE/AGR/UI0690/2011) and to L. Barros (researcher contract under “Programa Compromisso com Ciência-2008”). The authors also acknowledge the support of Mexican association CoMenTuna for providing the plant materials

Stability of pelargonidin 3-glucoside in model solutions in the presence and absence of flavanols

The stability of pelargonidin 3-g1ucoside (Pg3g1uc), the main anthocyanin in strawberry, has been studied in model citrate solutions (PH 3.5, 25°C) in the absence and presence flavanols (catechin and procyanidin B3) and/or oxygen. Changes in the solutions were monitorized by HPLC-DAD/MS and UV-visible spectra.Governo Português e Fundo Social Europeu através da medida n.º 5/Acção nº5.3 - PRODEP (III)(referência 5.3/N/199.006/00-Doutoramento)

Phenolic acids determination by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS in sixteen different portuguese wild mushrooms species

Analysis of phenolic compounds in sixteen Portuguese wild mushrooms species has been carried out by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to photodiode array detector and mass spectrometer (HPLC–DAD–ESI/MS). No flavonoids were detected in the analysed samples, but diverse phenolic acids namely protocatechuic, p-hydroxybenzoic and p-coumaric acids, and two vanillic acid isomers were found and quantified. A related non-phenolic compound, cinnamic acid, was also detected in some samples, being the only compound found in Cantharellus cibarius (14.97 mg/kg, dry matter), Lycoperdon perlatum (14.36 mg/kg) and Macrolepiota procera (21.53 mg/kg). p-Hydroxybenzoic acid was found in the majority of the samples, being the most abundant compound in Agaricus silvicola (238.7 mg/kg). Ramaria botrytis showed the highest phenolic acids concentration (356.7 mg/kg) due to the significant contribution of protocatechuic acid (342.7 mg/kg)

Mentha spicata L. infusions as sources of antioxidant phenolic compounds: emerging reserve lots with special harvest requirements

Mentha spicata L., commonly known as spearmint, is widely used in both fresh and dry forms, for infusion preparation or in European and Indian cuisines. Recently, with the evolution of the tea market, several novel products with added value are emerging, and the standard lots have evolved to reserve lots, with special harvest requirements that confer them with enhanced organoleptic and sensorial characteristics. The apical leaves of these batches are collected in specific conditions having, then, a different chemical profile. In the present study, standard and reserve lots of M. spicata were assessed in terms of the antioxidants present in infusions prepared from the different lots. The reserve lots presented the highest concentration in all the compounds identified in relation to the standard lots, with 326 and 188 μg mL−1 of total phenolic compounds, respectively. Both types of samples presented rosmarinic acid as the most abundant phenolic compound, at concentrations of 169 and 101 μg mL−1 for reserve and standard lots, respectively. The antioxidant activity was higher in the reserve lots which had the highest total phenolic compounds content, with EC50 values ranging from 152 to 336 μg mL−1. The obtained results provide scientific information that may allow the consumer to make a conscientious choice.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Characterization of the phenolic profile of Matricaria recutita L. aqueous extracts obtained by decoction

As plantas aromáticas são usualmente utilizadas no nosso quotidiano na preparação de infusões e decocções por apresentarem benefícios comprovados para a saúde do consumidor. A presença de compostos fenólicos poderá ser responsável por esses efeitos. Neste trabalho, submeteram -se amostras de Matricaria recutita L. (camomila) a uma extração por decocção para posterior caracterização química por HPLC -DAD -ESI/MS. Nessa análise foram identificados dezanove compostos fenólicos dos quais nove flavonoides e dez ácidos fenólicos. Os ácidos fenólicos representaram o grupo maioritário presente nas decocções de M. recutita (23,66±0,27 mg/g de extrato liofilizado), no qual quatro compostos foram identificados como possíveis derivados do ácido cafeoil -2,7 -anidro -3 -desoxi -2 -octulopiranosónico (CDOA), sendo o di -CDOA o ácido mais abundante (6,83±0,05 mg/g). De entre os flavonoides identificados (concentração total: 17,89±0,91 mg/g), o luteolin -O -glucurónido surgiu como o composto principal (4,80±0,54 mg/g). As flores de camomila poderão ser consideradas para obter ingredientes com propriedades bioativas para utilização individual ou incorporação em alimentos como conservantes naturais e/ou agentes funcionais.Aromatic plants are commonly used in the preparation of infusions and decoctions because they have proven benefits for consumer health. The presence of phenolic compounds may be responsible for these effects. In this work, Matricaria recutita L. (chamomile) samples, were submitted to a decoction extraction and further analyzed by HPLC -DAD -ESI/MS. In the analysis, nineteen phenolic compounds were identified including nine flavonoids and ten phenolic acids. Phenolic acids represented the major group present in M. recutita decoctions (23,66±0,27 mg/g of freeze -dried extract), in which four compounds were identified as potential derivatives ofdi -caffeoyl -2,7 -anhydro -3 -deoxy -2 -octulopyranosonic acid (CDOA), being di -CDOA the most abundant acid (6,83±0,05 mg/g). Among the identified flavonoids (total concentration: 17,89±0,91 mg/g), luteolin -O -glucuronide appeared as the major compound (4,80±0,54 mg/g). Chamomile flowers may be considered to obtain ingredients with bioactive properties for individual use or incorporation into foods as natural preservatives and/or functional agents.Os autores agradecem à Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal) e ao FEDER no âmbito do programa PT2020 pelo apoio financeiro ao CIMO (UID/AGR/00690/2013), REQUIMTE (UID/ QUI/50006/2013 – POCI/01/0145/ FERDER/007265) e pelo financiamento das bolsas de C. Caleja (SFRH/BD/93007/2013) e L. Barros (SFRH/ BPD/107855/2015).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Characterization of phenolic compounds in flowers of wild medicinal plants from Northeastern Portugal.

Crataegus monogyna, Cytisus multiflorus, Malva sylvestris and Sambucus nigra have been used as important medicinal plants in the Iberian Peninsula since a long time ago, and are claimed to have various health benefits. This study aimed to determine the phenolic profile and composition of wild medicinal flowers of those species. The analysis was performed by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS. Flavonoids, and particularly flavonols and flavones, were the main groups in almost all the studied samples. C. multiflorus sample gave the highest levels of total flavonoids (54.5 mg/g dw), being a chrysin derivative the most abundant flavone found (22.3 mg/g dw). C. monogyna revealed the highest concentration in phenolic acids (5.5 mg/g dw) that were not found in C. multiflorus sample; 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid was the most abundant phenolic acid found in the first species, being a procyanidin trimer also found (1.4 mg/g dw). Kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside (0.84 mg/g dw) and quercetin-3-O-rutinoside (14.9 mg/g dw) were the main flavonols present in M. sylvestris and S. nigra, respectively. Due to the well established antioxidant activity of phenolic compounds, the studied wild medicinal flowers could be selected for processing extracts with health-promoting properties or to be incorporate into functional beverages or products with bioactive properties related to oxidative stress

Avaliação da bioatividade e caracterização química de uma espécie de uso tópico: Juglans regia L.

As folhas de Juglans regia L. (nogueira), são consideradas uma fonte de compostos benéficos para a saúde, sendo amplamente utilizadas na medicina tradicional. Alguns dos compostos bioativos presentes e, com maior destaque, são os compostos fenólicos (antioxidantes). No presente estudo, analisou-se a composição em ácidos orgânicos, mono e oligossacáridos, e tocoferóis nas folhas de nogueira e respetiva decocção (vulgarmente utilizada para aplicações tópicas). A composição fenólica e a bioatividade foram também avaliadas na decocção e no extracto metanólico. O ácido málico, a sacarose, o α-tocoferol e os ácidos 3-O-cafeoilquínicos e quercetina O-pentósido foram, respetivamente, o ácido orgânico, dissacárido, isoforma de tocoferol e compostos fenólicos, mais abundantes. O extrato metanólico apresentou maior potencial antioxidante e antitumoral do que a decocção; nenhuma das amostras apresentou toxicidade em culturas de células primárias de fígado. Este estudo permitiu uma caracterização mais completa de compostos fenólicos de folhas de nogueira e, tanto quanto sabemos, esta é a primeira vez que a presença de procianidinas, derivados de taxifolina e tocoferóis é descrita em folhas de J. regia