Contaminações microbiológicas

A qualidade alimentar é uma preocupação crescente dos produtores, fabricantes e das autoridades públicas, com intervenção na área de controlo da qualidade alimentar. Apesar disso, tem-se verificado um aumento das toxinfecções alimentares em todo o mundo. Os custos pessoais deste tipo de doenças são acrescidos dós custos sociais, que acarretam, nomeadamente absentismo e diminuição da produtividade. Também os prejuízos económicos são cada vez mais importantes devido à deterioração de géneros alimentícios decorrentes de condições deficientes de fabrico, transporte, armazenamento e distribuição. Torna-se, portanto, imprescindível um controlo eficaz de modo a evita danos para a saúde e para a economia, consequentemente, todos os fabricantes, manipuladores e consumidores devem ter a responsabilidade de garantir alimentos próprios para consumo

A survey of the in vitro antifungal activity of heather (Erica sp.) organic honey

Monofloral heather (Erica sp.) honey samples (n = 89), harvested in Portugal according to European organic beekeeping rules, were analyzed to test their antifungal effect against Candida albicans, Candida krusei, and Cryptococcus neoformans. A synthetic honey solution was also tested to determine antifungal activity attributable to sugars. The specific growth rate (l) values showed that growth of all the yeasts was reduced in the presence of honey. The honey concentration (% wt/vol) that inhibited 10% of the yeast growth (Xmin) was 13.5% for C. albicans, 20.5% for C. krusei, and 17.1% for C. neoformans. The respective concentrations of heather honey and synthetic honey in the C. krusei culture medium above 60% (wt/vol) that inhibited 90% of the yeast growth (Xmax) and Xmin, respectively, were established, whereas C. albicans and C. neoformans were more resistant because Xmax values were not reached over the range tested (10–60%, wt/vol). Heather honey might be tapped as a natural resource to look for new medicines for the treatment of mycotic infections. Further studies are now required to demonstrate if this antifungal activity has any clinical application

Estudo do mel do Parque Natural de Montesinho

Desde a Antiguidade que o mel é conhecido como alimento natural. Substância açucarada produzida pelas abelhas melíferas a partir do néctar das flores ou das secreções provenientes de outras partes vivas das plantas ou que se encontram sobre elas e que as abelhas recolhem, transformam e combinam com substâncias específicas próprias, armazenam e deixam amadurecer nos favos da colmeia (Norma Regional Europeia-1969)

Effects of benomyl and cimoxamil in growth and cell viability: A comparative study in Zygosaccharomyces bailii and Saccharomyces cereviseae

The use of fungicides is a common practice in viticulture. However, the presence of fungicides residues in wine can have negative effects on its quality, specially if the treatment is applied from 8 to 15 days before the harvest. This practice can result in a modification of the native flora of the grapes and in an alteration of the metabolic activity of the fermentative yeast which can lead to the formation of sulphurous odors and inhibition of the alcoholic fermentation

Mel e saúde

Desde tempos imemoriais que o homem se apropriou do mel armazenado nos favos das colmeias, quer como alimento, quer para lhe dar outras aplicações, algumas delas já esquecidas ou superadas pela viragem dos tempos

An overview of the bioactive compounds, therapeutic properties and toxic effects of apitoxin

Apitoxin, also known as bee venom (BV), is produced in two specialized abdominal glands of worker bees and is used as a defence weapon of bees’ colony (Choi et al., 2015; Zhang et al., 2016). In addition, this natural product has been used since the ancient times to relieve pain and to treat chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, tendinitis, bursitis, skin conditions and even neurologic disorders (Moreno and Giralt, 2015). This natural product is a light-yellow liquid, characterized by a bitter taste, pungent smell and a pH ranging from 4.5 to 5.5 (Eze et al., 2016; Hossen et al., 2017). Some studies have described that 88% of BV is water, yet its specific composition varies depending on bee’ species and season (Moreno and Giralt, 2015). Indeed, BV has been reported to contain a complex of biologically active compounds among which enzymes (phospholipase A2 [PLA2], lysophospholipase, hyaluronidase, acid phosphomonoesterase; α-glucosidase, dipeptidyl peptidase IV and vitellogenin), peptides (melittin [MLT], apamin, mast cell degranulating [MCD], mastocytolytic peptide, scapin, adolapin, minimine; apidaecin; tertiapin; melittin F; cadiopep; procamine A, B, pamine, and proteaseinhibitors), biogenic amines (histamine, dopamine, noradrenaline, norepinephrine, neurotransmitters) and other compounds such as amino acids (γ-aminobutyric acid, α-amino acids), carbohydrates (glucose, fructose), pheromones (Iso-pentyl acetate, n-buttyl acetate, iso-pentanol, n-hexyl acetate, n-octyl acetate, 2-nonanol, n-decyl acetate, benzyl acetate, benzyl alcohol and (2)-11 –eicosen-1-ol) and minerals (P, Ca and Mg) (Nguyen et al., 2015; Tusiimire et al., 2015; Rady et al., 2017; Moga et al., 2018; Lee et al., 2018). Among these compounds, MLT is the main therapeutic ingredient of BV, representing between 40 and 60% of the dry weight (Abd-Elhakim et al., 2014).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Os projectos de combate ao insucesso e abandono escolar: uma utopia ou uma realidade

O trabalho que vou apresentar é sobre o programa da turma de alunos de etnia cigana de Bragança de 2004, constituída por 19 alunos com idades compreendidas entre os 13 e os 18 anos, sendo alguns de etnia cigana, que foi integrada na Escola EB 2,3 Augusto Moreno, em Bragança, e a problemática que se originou à sua integração na mesma escola, motivando grande discussão na cidade e país. A esta distância de tempo, procuro fazer uma abordagem sobre a problemática originada analisando as suas causas e consequências. Procurarei ao mesmo tempo avaliar o sucesso deste programa neste grupo de alunos e as suas implicações no mundo do trabalho. Avaliar os benefícios que este programa trouxe a estes jovens? Onde se encontram hoje e quais os seus percursos de vida seguidos entretanto

Research of fungicides residues in grapes and wine: growth effects on Saccharomyces cerevisae

The grape disease caused by Bofryfis cinerea Fungi is one of the principal diseases of wine, being responsible for large damage in the green wine region, and others, specially in sensible sorts.The grape disease caused by Botrytis cinerea Fungi is one of the principal diseases of wine, being responsible for large damage in the green wine region, and others, specially in sensible sorts. This disease is usually fought with fungicides. If this practice is made 8 to 15 days before harvest could leave some fungicides residues in the wine or could contribute to stop fermentation

Efeitos terapêuticos do propólis

o própolis na actualidade é considerado um dos produtos naturais de maior destaque nos estudos famlacológicos. Como já foi referido no artigoanterior, é um produto conhecido pelas diversas propriedades biológicas que possui: antimicrobiana, antiviral, antiprotozoárica, antioxidante, anti-inflamatória, imunomodulatória e anti-tumoral (Lustosa et aI., 2008; Sforcin, 2007; Simoes et aI. , 2008a)

Scientifically advanced solutions for chestnut ink disease

On the north regions of Portugal and Spain, the Castanea sativa Mill. culture is extremely important. The biggest productivity and yield break occurs due to the ink disease, the causal agent being the oomycete Phytophthora cinnamomi. This oomycete is also responsible for the decline of many other plant species in Europe and worldwide. P. cinnamomi and Phytophthora cambivora are considered, by the generality of the authors, as the C. sativa ink disease causal agents. Most Phytophthora species secrete large amounts of elicitins, a group of unique highly conserved proteins that are able to induce hypersensitive response (HR) and enhances plant defense responses in a systemic acquired resistance (SAR) manner against infection by different pathogens. Some other proteins involved in mechanisms of infection by P. cinnamomi were identified by our group: endo-1,3-beta-glucanase (complete cds); exo-glucanase (partial cds) responsible by adhesion, penetration, and colonization of host tissues; glucanase inhibitor protein (GIP) (complete cds) responsible by the suppression of host defense responses; necrosis-inducing Phytophthora protein 1 (NPP1) (partial cds); and transglutaminase (partial cds) which inducts defense responses and disease-like symptoms. In this mini-review, we present some scientifically advanced solutions that can contribute to the resolution of ink disease