Chestnut and lemon balm based ingredients as natural preserving agents of the nutritional profile in matured “Serra da Estrela” cheese

Chestnut flowers, lemon balm plants and their decoctions were incorporated into "Serra da Estrela" cheese, to assess their potential to preserve its nutritional properties and provide new foodstuffs. The analyses were carried out after the normal ripening period of 1month and after 6months of storage. The most abundant nutrients were proteins and fats. The most abundant minerals were Ca and Na, while C16:0 and C18:1 were the main fatty acids. Saturated fatty acids were the most abundant, followed by the monounsaturated. Moisture seemed to be lower in the samples with the plants incorporated. The dried plants, when incorporated, seemed to be more efficient as preservers then the decoctions, although these better preserved the proteins. These plants can be regarded as promising natural preservers in foodstuffs cheese, given the preservation of key parameters and the slight impact on the nutritional value.The authors are grateful to Queijos Casa Matias, Lda and Mais Ervas, Lda. For providing the cheese and M. officinalis samples, respectively. The authors also acknowledge PRODER project No. 46577-PlantLact, the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support to the CIMO research centre (Pest-OE/AGR/UI0690/2014) and ALIMNOVA research group (UCM-951505/2012), J.C.M. Barreira acknowledges the FCT for his post-doctoral grant (BPD/72802/2010)

Effects of a Myrciaria jaboticaba peel extract on starch and triglyceride absorption and the role of cyanidin-3- O -glucoside

The purpose of this study was to perform a parallel and comparative investigation of the effects of a Myrciaria jaboticaba (common name jabuticaba) peel extract and of its constituent cyanidin-3-O-glucoside on the overall process of starch and triglyceride intestinal absorption. The peel extract inhibited both the porcine pancreactic α-amylase and the pancreatic lipase but was 13.6 times more potent on the latter (IC50 values of 1963 and 143.9 μg mL-1, respectively). Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside did not contribute significantly to these inhibitions. The jabuticaba peel extract inhibited starch absorption in mice at doses that were compatible with its inhibitory action on the α-amylase. No inhibition of starch absorption was found with cyanidin-3-O-glucoside doses compatible with its content in the extract. The extract also inhibited triglyceride absorption, but at doses that were considerably smaller than those predicted by its strength in inhibiting the pancreatic lipase (ID50 = 3.65 mg kg-1). In this case, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside was also strongly inhibitory, with 72% inhibition at the dose of 2 mg kg-1. When oleate + glycerol were given to mice, both the peel extract and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside strongly inhibited the appearance of triglycerides in the plasma. The main mechanism seems, thus, not to be the lipase inhibition but rather the inhibition of one or more steps (e.g., transport) in the events that lead to the transformation of free fatty acids in the intestinal tract into triglycerides. Due to the low active doses, the jabuticaba peel extract presents many favourable perspectives as an inhibitor of fat absorption and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside seems to play a decisive role. This journal is.This work was financially supported by grants from the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq-304090/2016-6) and Coordenação do Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal do Ensino Superior (CAPES). The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support through national funds FCT/MCTES to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020) and through the institutional scientific employment program-contract for L. Barros contract. This work was also funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Regional Operational Program North 2020, within the scope of Project Mobilizador Norte-01-0247-FEDER-024479: ValorNatural®.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Glutamine dipeptide supplementation improves clinical responses in patients with diabetic foot syndrome

The effect of glutamine dipeptide (GDP) supplementation in patients with diabetic foot syndrome was evaluated. A total of 22 patients took part in the study. GDP was supplied in 10 g sachets, and was dissolved in water immediately before use, with ingestion once a day, after lunch or after dinner (20 g/day) over a period of 30 days. Quantification of foot insensitive areas, oxidative stress, blood cytokines, and biochemical, hematological and toxicological parameters was performed before and after GDP supplementation. We observed an increase in blood levels of interferon-α (P=0.023), interferon-γ (P=0.038), interleukin-4 (P=0.003), interleukin-6 (P=0.0025), interleukin-7 (P=0.028), interleukin-12 p40 (P=0.017), interleukin-13 (P=0.001), leukocytes (P=0.037), eosinophils (P=0.049), and typical lymphocytes (

Symposium 20: Bachelor of Biochemistry in Brazil – The bachelor degree in Biochemistry at the University of Maringá: challenges and prospects

Symposium – 20 Bachelor of Biochemistry in Brazil Chair: Bayardo B. Torres, IQ-USP The bachelor degree in biochemistry at the University of Maringá (UEM) was created in 2010 with the purpose of preparing generalists in biochemistry able to work in various service branches and sectors of the biotechnology industry in addition to academic research. The curricular structure is amply supported by basic exact sciences associated with a wide range of biochemical disciplines from the traditional ones to the technological branches and emphasizes experimental skills. The curriculum additionally includes disciplines that reinforce the close union between biochemistry and molecular biology, as is already widely recognized by scientific societies. Seven years after being launched the course still remains one of only three bachelor degrees in biochemistry in Brazil. Most of the graduates have engaged in stricto sensu post-graduation courses with the purpose of pursuing academic careers. On the other hand, the inclusion of graduates in sectors of the biotechnological industry can be regarded as an important challenge faced by the bachelor's degree in biochemistry. Part of the difficulties can be attributed certainly to the narrow technological base of the Brazilian industry. In the professional sphere, on the other hand, the most serious problem is the absence of a professional career that carries the name of biochemistry. For now, biochemistry in Brazil is spread over several professions. Strategies to modify this scenario and consolidate the career of biochemistry in Brazil should include a greater offer of supervised curricular internship in biotechnological companies and an increased number of courses of bachelor degree in the national higher education system