Biotechnological, nutritional and therapeutic uses of Pleurotus spp. (Oyster mushroom) related with its chemical composition: a review on the past decade findings

The particular characteristics of growth and development of mushrooms in nature result in the accumulation of a variety of secondary metabolites, several of them with biological activities. The genus Pleurotus is a cosmopolitan group of mushrooms with high nutritional value and therapeutic properties, besides a wide array of biotechnological and environmental applications. Scope and approach: The present report aims to provide a critical review on aspects related to chemical compounds isolated from the genus Pleurotus with possible biotechnological, nutritional and therapeutic uses. Investigations on the genus have immensely accelerated during the last ten years, so that only reports published after 2005 have been considered. Key findings and conclusions: The most important Pleurotus species cultivated in large scale are P. ostreatus and P. pulmonarius. However, more than 200 species have already been investigated to various degrees. Both basidiomata and mycelia of Pleurotus are a great renewable and easily accessible source of functional foods/nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals with antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antitumor and immunomodulatory effects. A series of compounds have already been precisely defined including several polysaccharides, phenolics, terpenes and sterols. However, intensification of structure determination is highly desirable and demands considerable efforts. Further studies including clinical trials need to be carried out to ascertain the safety of these compounds as adequate alternatives to conventional drugs. Not less important is to extend the search for novel bioactives to less explored Pleurotus species.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FTC, Portugal) for financial support to CIMO (Pest-OE/AGR/UI0690/2014). R.C.G. Correa thanks CAPES Foundation, Ministry of Education of Brazil (CAPES fellow, process number BEX 3974/14-6). R.M. Peralta and A. Bracht are Research Fellows of CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico)

New phytochemicals as potential human anti-aging compounds: reality, promise, and challenges

Aging is an inevitable process influenced by genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors. Indirect evidence shows that several phytochemicals can have anti-aging capabilities, although direct evidence in this field is still limited. This report aims to provide a critical review on aspects related to the use of novel phytochemicals as anti-aging agents, to discuss the obstacles found when performing most anti-aging study protocols in humans, and to analyze future perspectives. In addition to the extensively studied resveratrol, epicatechin, quercetin, and curcumin, new phytochemicals have been reported to act as anti-aging agents, such as the amino acid L-theanine isolated from green tea, and the lignans arctigenin and matairesinol isolated from Arctium lappa seeds. Furthermore, this review discusses the application of several new extracts rich in phytochemicals with potential use in anti-aging therapies. Finally, this review also discusses the most important biomarkers to test anti-aging interventions, the necessity of conducting epidemiological studies and the need of clinical trials with adequate study protocols for humans.R.C.G. Correa thanks Coordena¸c~ao de Aperfei¸coamento do Pessoal do Ensino Superior (CAPES) and Funda¸c~ao Arauc aria for the financial support provided for her postgraduate studies in Federal Technological University of Paran a (contract 100/2014). R.M. Peralta (Project number 307944/2015-8), C.W.I. Haminiuk (Project number 303238/2013-5), and A. Bracht (Project number 302615/2011-3) are research grant recipients of Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÍfico e Tecnologia (CNPq). The authors are also grateful to (FCT, Portugal) and FEDER-COMPETE/ QREN/EU for financial support through the research project PEst-OE/ AGR/UI0690/2014.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A natural food ingredient based on ergosterol: Optimization of the extraction from: Agaricus blazei, evaluation of bioactive properties and incorporation in yogurts

In recent years, mycosterols have emerged as potential functional ingredients for the development of sterol-enriched food products and dietary supplements. Agaricus blazei is a mushroom rich in bioactive compounds. For commercial purposes, their fruiting bodies must obey rigid morphological criteria. Those not conforming to these criteria are usually discarded, although this does not mean impairment of their content in bioactives. The aim of the present work was to propose the use of commercially discarded A. blazei fruiting bodies for obtaining an extract rich in ergosterol as a fortifier ingredient for yogurts. For extraction, the Soxhlet technology was used and the highest ergosterol yield (around 12%) was achieved in the 5th cycle, yielding 58.53 ± 1.72 μg of ergosterol per 100 g of mushroom (dry weight). The ergosterol rich extract presented notable antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, besides showing no hepatotoxicity. When added to the yogurts it significantly enhanced their antioxidant properties. Furthermore, it did not significantly alter the nutritional or the individual fatty acid profiles of the final dairy products. Thus, A. blazei fruiting bodies that do not conform to the commercial requirements of the market and are normally discarded could be exploited for obtaining a natural high added-value food additive, following the circular bioeconomy concept.R. C. G. Correa thanks the CAPES Foundation, Ministry of Education, Brazil (CAPES fellow, process number 88881.120010/2016-01), for the financial support provided for her postdoctoral research in the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança. The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) and the FEDER under Programme PT2020 for financial support to CIMO (UID/AGR/ 00690/2013), L. Barros contract and A. Fernandes grant (SFRH/ BPD/114753/2016). This work was also funded by the European Structural and Investment Funds (FEEI) through the Regional Operational Program North 2020, within the scope of Project Mobilizador ValorNatural®. Rosane Marina Peralta and Adelar Bracht are recipients of scientific productivity research grants from CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Brazil), grants numbers 307944/2015- 8 and 304090/2016-6, respectively. M. Sokovic is grateful for financial support to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of Republic of Serbia, Grant No. 173032.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

An overview of structural aspects and health beneficial effects of antioxidant oligosaccharides

Background: Non-digestible oligosaccharides are versatile sources of chemical diversity, well known for their prebiotic actions, found naturally in plants or produced by chemical or enzymatic synthesis or by hydrolysis of polysaccharides. Compared to polyphenols or even polysaccharides, the antioxidant potential of oligosaccharides is still unexplored. The aim of the present work was to provide an up-to-date, broad and critical contribution on the topic of antioxidant oligosaccharides. Methods: The search was performed by crossing the words oligosaccharides and antioxidant. Whenever possible, attempts at establishing correlations between chemical structure and antioxidant activity were undertaken. Results: The most representative in vitro and in vivo studies were compiled in two tables. Chitooligosaccharides and xylooligosaccharides and their derivatives were the most studied up to now. The antioxidant activities of oligosaccharides depend on the degree of polymerization and the method used for depolymerization. Other factors influencing the antioxidant strength are solubility, monosaccharide composition, the type of glycosidic linkages of the side chains, molecular weight, reducing sugar content, the presence of phenolic groups such as ferulic acid, and the presence of uronic acid, among others. Modification of the antioxidant capacity of oligosaccharides has been achieved by adding diverse organic groups to their structures, thus increasing also the spectrum of potentially useful molecules. Conclusion: A great amount of high-quality evidence has been accumulating during the last decade in support of a meaningful antioxidant activity of oligosaccharides and derivatives. Ingestion of antioxidant oligosaccharides can be visualized as beneficial to human and animal health.This work was funded by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientffico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Brazil; grants numbers 40898/2016-5 and 307944/2015-8).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Effects of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion and colonic fermentation on a rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L) extract rich in rosmarinic acid

The potential phytochemical losses occurring throughout the sequential steps of in-vitro gastrointestinal digestion and colonic fermentation of a rosemary aqueous extract were investigated. Crude (CE), digested (DE) and fermented (FE) extracts were characterized in terms of their phenolic profile and biological activities. Rosmarinic acid was the phytochemical that underwent the most significate transformation during digestion and fermentation, which amounted to 60% compared to the 26% degradation of the total phenolics. Overall, the simulated digestion step decreased the antioxidant activity estimated by DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, ORAC and TBARS assays. Both CE and DE did not present antiproliferative potential, however, FE exhibited a pronounced cytotoxic activity (GI50 = 116 µg/mL) against HeLa cells. CE and DE showed to be moderate inhibitors of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA), S. aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, whilst the FE acted as a moderate inhibitor of MRSA and MSSA.G.A. Gonçalves and V.G. Correa thank Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) for the financial support provided for their post-graduate studies in the State University of Maringá. R.C.G. Corrêa thanks Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnologia ( CNPq ) for financing her postdoctoral research at State University of Maringá (Process number 167378/2017-1). R.M. Peralta (Project number 307944/2015-8) and A. Bracht (Project number 304090/2016-6) are CNPq research grant recipients. The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) and FEDER under Programme PT2020 for financial support to CIMO (UID/AGR/00690/2013), L. Barros and R. Calhelha contracts; and also thank to FEDER-Interreg España-Portugal programme for financial support through the project 0377_Iberphenol_6_E. Appendix Ainfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Biological activities and chemical constituents of Araucaria angustifolia: An effort to recover a species threatened by extinction

Background: Araucaria angustifolia (Bert.) O. Kuntze (A. brasiliensis), known as Paraná pine, is the sole native gymnosperm of the Atlantic forest in Brazil and has great economic, cultural and social importance. Its seed, known as pinhão, has been consumed since prehistoric times. Besides the nutritional aspects, different parts of A. angustifolia are also used in the Brazilian folk medicine for the treatment of rheumatism, respiratory infections, fatigue, anemia, among other disorders. Timber exploration has dramatically reduced the species population, and currently, A. angustifolia is classified as vulnerable regarding the risk of extinction. Scope and Approach: This review presents the most recently uncovered details about the chemical composition of the various parts of the plant. Emphasis is given to the main isolated and identified compounds or fractions and their corresponding bioactivities. Key Findings and Conclusions:.Apart from the nutritional properties of the pinhão, particularly as a starch source, this review reveals that a number of biological activities have been found in different parts of A. angustifolia (leaves, bark and pinhão coat), such as protection against DNA UV-induced damage, antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antiviral and digestive enzyme inhibiting activities. Further investigations should include parts of A. angustifolia that are currently discarded, such as the bark, bracts and the pinhão coat, with potential for use in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Studies on A. angustifolia must combine two important elements: the need for preservation of a typical ecosystem and the implementation of the A. angustifolia forests as a true economic alternative for local residents.The authors thank the Fundação Araucária for funding this study. R.F. Oliveira, R.C.G. Correa, L. Bertonha and V.G. Correa thank Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento do Pessoal do Ensino Superior (CAPES) for the financial support provided for their post-graduate studies in Universidade Estadual de Maringá. R.M. Peralta and A. Bracht are research grant recipients of Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnologia (CNPq)

Merlot grape pomace hydroalcoholic extract improves the oxidative and inflammatory states of rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis

Grape pomace is an agro-industrial residue produced worldwide. The purpose of this study was to identify and quantify the main phenolics present in an hydroalcohlic extract of a Merlot grape pomace and to investigate its effect on the oxidative and inflammatory states of adjuvant-induced arthritic rats. Daily doses of 250 mg of the extract per kg body weight were administered during 23 days. Several oxidative stress indicators in arthritic rats were maintained at their normal or closely normal levels in the plasma, liver and brain by the treatment. Additionally, the grape pomace also showed significant anti-inflammatory effects. From the 25 phenolics identified in the grape pomace extract the most abundant ones were catechin and catechin derivatives, which are possibly the most important antioxidant agents. The results suggest a potential applicability of the Merlot grape pomace hydroalcoholic extract in the improvement of the oxidative and inflammatory states in arthritic patients.The authors which to thank Anacharis Babeto de Sá-Nakanishi, Jurandir Fernando Comar and Leomara Floriano Ribeiro for their expert technical assistance. This work was financially supported by grants from the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq, Proc. 302615/2011-3 and Proc. 307944/2015-8) and Fundação Araucária (Proc. 215/2014). Andréia A. Soares and Rúbia C. G. Corrêa were post-doc fellowship recipients of the Coordenação do Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal do Ensino Superior (CAPES) and Fundação Araucária. The authors are also thankful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) and FEDER under Program PT2020 for financial support to CIMO (UID/AGR/00690/2013) and L. Barros (SFRH/BPD/107855/2015) grant. To POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006984 (LA LSRE-LCM), funded by ERDF, through POCI-COMPETE2020 and FCT.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Nutritional, chemical and bioactive profiles of different parts of a Portuguese common fig (Ficus carica L.) variety

This study aims to give an unprecedented contribution on the chemical composition and bioactivities of the most produced and appreciated Portuguese fig variety (“Pingo de Mel”) with the view of expanding the knowledge on its potentialities. An advanced characterization of its peel and pulp parts was carried out. Four free sugars (glucose, fructose, trehalose and sucrose), 5 organic acids (oxalic, quinic, malic, citric, and succinic acids), tocopherols in all their 4 forms, besides 23 fatty acids were detected in the samples. Fifteen different phenolic components were found in the peel hydroethanolic extract; whereas 12 were detected in the pulp hydroethanolic extract. Quercetin-3-O-rutinoside (rutin) was the major constituent of the peel, accounting for 33.8% of its phenolic content, followed by 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid and vanillic acid malonyl di-deoxyhexoside. Caffeic acid derivatives, such as caffeic acid hexosides, were the major components of pulp, followed by vanillic acid derivatives and O-caffeoylquinic acid. Both extracts displayed promising antioxidant capacities in all methods used, namely the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical-scavenging, the reducing power, the inhibition of β-carotene bleaching assays, the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances assay and the oxidative haemolysis inhibition assay; however, the peel presented significantly lower IC50 values than pulp. The extracts showed practically identical antibacterial capacities, being effective against methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MICs=2.5 mg/mL), besides methicillin-resistant S. aureus, Escherichia coli and Morganella morganii (MICs=5 mg/mL). The obtained results evidence that the fig peel is superior to the corresponding pulp as it relates to nutritional and phenolic profiles as well as bioactivities, endorsing the urgency in valorising and exploiting this usually discarded industrial by-product.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) and FEDER under Programme PT2020 for financial support to CIMO (UID/AGR/00690/2019); national funding by FCT, P.I., through the institutional scientific employment programcontract for L. Barros, R. C. Calhelha, and M.I. Dias contracts, and Carla Pereira's contract though the celebration of program-contract foreseen in No. 4, 5 and 6 of article 23° of Decree-Law No. 57/2016, of 29th August, amended by Law No. 57/2017, of 19th July; to FEDER-Interreg España-Portugal programme for financial support through the project 0377_Iberphenol_6_E; the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Regional Operational Program North 2020, within the scope of Project NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-023289: DeCodE.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

By-products of camu-camu [Myrciaria dubia (Kunth) McVaugh] as promising sources of bioactive high added-value food ingredients: functionalization of yogurts

Camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia (Kunth) McVaugh) is a fruit economically relevant to the Amazon region, mostly consumed in the form of processed pulp. Our aim was to perform an unprecedented comparative study on the chemical composition and bioactivities of the camu-camu pulp and industrial bio-residues (peel and seed), and then the most promising fruit part was further explored as a functionalized ingredient in yogurt. A total of twenty-three phenolic compounds were identified, with myricetin-O-pentoside and cyanindin-3-O-glucoside being the main compounds in peels, followed by p-coumaroyl hexoside in the pulp, and ellagic acid in the seeds. The peel displayed the richest phenolic profile among samples, as well as the most significant antibacterial (MICs = 0.625–10 mg/mL) and anti-proliferative (GI50 = 180 g/mL against HeLa cells) activities. For this reason, it was selected to be introduced in a food system (yogurt). Taken together, our results suggest the possibility of using the camu-camu peel as a source of food additives.Part of this work was supported by the Instituto Federal do Rondônia (IFRO) (Grant nº 81/PROPESP/IFRO). The authors are grateful to FCT—Portugal and FEDER, under Programme PT2020, for financial support to CIMO (UID/AGR/00690/2019) and B. Albuquerque research grant (SFRH/BD/136370/2018); national funding by FCT, P.I., through the institutional scientific employment program-contract for L. Barros and R.C. Calhelha contracts; C. Pereira contract though the celebration of program-contract foreseen in No. 4, 5, and 6 of article 23º of Decree-Law No. 57/2016, of 29 August, amended by Law No. 57/2017, of 19 July; to FEDER-Interreg España-Portugal for financial support through the projects 0377_Iberphenol_6_E and 0612_TRANS_CO_LAB_2_P; FEDER through the Regional Operational Program North 2020: project Mobilizador Norte-01-0247-FEDER-024479 (ValorNatural®).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Food bioactive compounds and emerging techniques for their extraction: Polyphenols as a case study

Experimental studies have provided convincing evidence that food bioactive compounds (FBCs) have a positive biological impact on human health, exerting protective effects against noncommunicable diseases (NCD) including cancer and cardiovascular (CVDs), metabolic, and neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs). These benefits have been associated with the presence of secondary metabolites, namely polyphenols, glucosinolates, carotenoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, saponins, vitamins, and fibres, among others, derived from their antioxidant, antiatherogenic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antithrombotic, cardioprotective, and vasodilator properties. Polyphenols as one of the most abundant classes of bioactive compounds present in plant-based foods emerge as a promising approach for the development of efficacious preventive agents against NCDs with reduced side effects. The aim of this review is to present comprehensive and deep insights into the potential of polyphenols, from their chemical structure classification and biosynthesis to preventive effects on NCDs, namely cancer, CVDs, and NDDS. The challenge of polyphenols bioavailability and bioaccessibility will be explored in addition to useful industrial and environmental applications. Advanced and emerging extraction techniques will be highlighted and the high-resolution analytical techniques used for FBCs characterization, identification, and quantification will be considered.FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia) through the CQM Base Fund-UIDB/00674/ 2020, the Programmatic Fund- UIDP/00674/2020, and the PhD fellowship SFRH/BD/116895/2016 granted to João Gonçalves. Madeira 14–20 Program, project PROEQUIPRAM-Reforço do Investimento em Equipamentos e Infraestruturas Científicas RAM (M1420-01-0145-FEDER-000008), ARDITIAgência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação Tecnologia e Inovação through the project M1420-01-0145-FEDER-000005-Centro de Química da Madeira-CQM+ (Madeira 14–20 Program) and Project M1420-09-5369-FSE-000001 for the Post-Doctoral fellowship granted to JAMP. Núcleo Regional da Madeira da Liga Portuguesa Contra o Cancro (NRM-LPCC) for the professional internship granted to Joselin Aguiar. FCT for financial support by national funds FCT/MCTES to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020). National funding by FCT, P.I., through the institutional scientific employment program-contract for L. Barros, and B.R. Albuquerque research grant (SFRH/BD/136370/2018). European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Regional Operational Program North 2020, within the scope of the project Mobilizador Norte-01-0247-FEDER-024479: ValorNatural®. FEDER-Interreg España-Portugal programme for financial support through the project 0377_Iberphenol_ 6_E and TRANSCoLAB 0612_TRANS_CO_LAB_2_P. R.C.G. Corrêa is a research grant recipient of Cesumar Institute of Science Technology and Innovation (ICETI).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio