Phenolic compounds characterization by LC-DAD- ESI/MSn and bioactive properties of Thymus algeriensis Boiss. & Reut. and Ephedra alata Decne

Scientific research has been focused on finding natural occurring molecules from plant origin. Herein, infusion, decoction and hydroethanolic extracts of Thymus algeriensis Boiss. & Reut. and Ephedra alata Decne. from Algeria were phytochemically characterized by LC-DAD-ESI-MSn, and evaluated regarding bioactive properties (antioxidant and antibacterial). Flavonol and flavone glycoside derivatives and phenolic acids, specially rosmarinic acid and kaempferol-O-glucuronide were the major compounds in T. algeriensis extracts. Otherwise, E. alata presented isoflavones and flavonol derivatives as main compounds, being hydroxypuerarin isomer 1 the major molecule. Aqueous extracts had significantly higher antioxidant activity, being this activity correlated with the amount of phenolic compounds. Antimicrobial activity of the extracts was tested against multi-resistant bacteria strains from clinical isolates. The obtained MIC values indicate that the hydroethanolic extracts revealed the highest effect, especially the one of T. algeriensis against Gram-positive bacteria. Hence, these plant extracts could be used in the development of bioactive ingredients.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), S. Heleno grant (SFRH/BPD/101413/2014) and L. Barros contract. The authors are also grateful to the Interreg España-Portugal for financial support through the project 0377_Iberphenol_6_E.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

ARQUITETURA FOLIAR DE ESPÉCIES ARBÓREAS DO BOSQUE AUGUSTE DE SAINT-HILAIRE, GOIÂNIA, GOIÁS, BRASIL

Para a conservação das espécies, a precisão no processo de identificação é altamente relevante para saber se está sendo explorada uma espécie rara ou em via de extinção ou até mesmo se ainda não é conhecida pela ciência. A grande variedade de espécies vegetais, com suas inúmeras características taxonômicas, torna a problemática da identificação morfológica um dos principais desafios para a conservação das mesmas. Para minimizar as dificuldades na identificação de espécies arbóreas, a utilização de novas ferramentas pode minimizar a complexa tarefa de identificação, desses problemas. O estudo da arquitetura foliar pode contribuir muito para o estudo da biodiversidade e conservação de espécies vegetais. Foram estudadas as lâminas foliares de 10 espécies arbóreas distribuídas em seis famílias distintas, ocorrentes no Bosque Auguste de Saint-Hilaire, Goiás, com o objetivo caracterizar seus padrões de venação e identificar caracteres úteis para a taxonomia dos grupos. A técnica de diafanização utilizada seguiu metodologia de Shoder e Lester (com algumas modificações. O padrão de venação de segunda, terceira, quarta e quinta ordens foram descritos e ilustrados para as 10 espécies, detalhando-se a ilustração das aréolas. Sendo o padrão broquidódroma constante entre as espécies estudas. Foram avaliados aspectos relativos ao tipo e número de lados das aréolas e a presença ou não de vênulas. A arquitetura foliar como ferramenta taxonômica mostrou-se capaz de fornecer características diagnósticas entre as espécies coletadas, principalmente entre as vênulas

Phenolic profile and effects of acetone fractions obtained from the inflorescences of: Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull on vaginal pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria

The phenolic profile and the antibacterial activity against pathogenic commensal vaginal bacteria exhibited by different fractions of the acetone extract of heather was assessed. The acetone extract of Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull was fractionated by silica gel column chromatography through an eluent system of increasing polarity, obtaining 10 different fractions (Fr 1 to Fr 10). The phenolic profile was analyzed by HPLCDAD- ESI/MS. Type B (epi)catechin dimers, (-)-epicatechin and (+)-catechin were the main phenolic compounds present in the fractions. The antibacterial activity was also analyzed against pathogenic bacteria and the effect in the beneficial microflora was also accessed. Some of the obtained fractions revealed the capacity to inhibit pathogenic microorganisms without affecting the beneficial microflora, especially Fr 7 and Fr 8. For instance, Neisseria gonorrhoeae was inhibited by both of the fractions, while Fr 7 was more active against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Morganella morganii, and Fr 8 against methicillin resistance Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), without affecting Lactobacillus strains. This study corroborates the therapeutic use of this matrix in traditional medicine.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) and FEDER under Programmer PT2020 for financial support to CIMO (UID/AGR/00690/2019), CQ-VR (UID/QUI/00616/2013), and to FEDER-Interreg España-Portugal program for financial support through the project 0377_Iberphenol_6_E. The authors are also grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for Sandrina A. Heleno (SFRH/BPD/101413/2014) grant and L. Barros contract.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Valorização de produtos de montanha do ponto de vista nutricional e bioativo: estudos de caso em plantas, cogumelos e frutos secos

Atualmente, os consumidores reconhecem a relação entre nutrição e saúde, aumentando a sua preferência por “alimentos funcionais” e “nutracêuticos”. Neste sentido, vários produtos de montanha são utilizados não apenas pelas suas propriedades nutricionais mas também pelo seu enorme potencial bioativo. Alguns exemplos incluem plantas e cogumelos silvestres do Nordeste de Portugal, bem como frutos secos que se tornam alvos extremamente interessantes quer pelos benefícios diretos que podem trazer aos consumidores, quer pelo potencial de incorporação noutros alimentos de forma a conferir-lhes propriedades bioativas e permitir o desenvolvimento de novos produtos/novas formulações. O grupo BioChemCore do Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO) já estudou as propriedades químicas, nutricionais e bioativas de dezenas destes produtos e alguns dos resultados mais recentes relativos às espécies comestíveis são apresentados e discutidos no presente capítulo.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Diversidade de frutos e sementes em fitofisionomias de Cerrado e suas implicações para a conservação na Serra Dourada, Goiás, Brasil

This study investigated carpological types and dispersal syndromes of species across distinct phytophysionomies of Cerrado within Serra Dourada, Mossâmedes, Goiás state, Brazil. The survey was conducted along two transects with an altitudinal gradient, comprising five phytophysionomies and sampling 66 species. In the natural grasslands, the fruits were dry and light, facilitating autochory and anemochory dispersal syndromes. In the forests, caryopses, nuculania and legumes emerged as the predominant fruit types, with a prevalence of autochory and zoochory dispersal syndromes. Understanding the distribution pattern of fruit and seed types across the phytophysiognomies in Serra Dourada can optimise seed harvesting and contribute to the restoration of degraded areas.Neste estudo, foram investigados os tipos carpológicos e as síndromes de dispersão de espécies em diferentes fitofisionomias de Cerrado na Serra Dourada, Mossâmedes, Goiás, Brasil. O levantamento foi realizado ao longo de dois transectos com gradiente de altitude, abrangendo cinco fitofisionomias e amostrando 66 espécies. Nas fitofisionomias campestres, os frutos foram predominantemente secos e leves, associados às síndromes de dispersão autocórica e anemocórica. Nas fitofisionomias florestais, os tipos de frutos mais comuns foram cariopses, nuculânios e legumes, com predominância de espécies com síndromes de dispersão autocórica e zoocórica. A compreensão do padrão de distribuição dos tipos de frutos e sementes nas fitofisionomias da Serra Dourada poderá maximizar a colheita de sementes e contribuir para a restauração de áreas degradadas

Betacyanins from Gomphrena globosa L. flowers: Incorporation in cookies as natural colouring agents

A betacyanin rich extract was obtained from the flowers of Gomphrena globosa L. by ultrasound-assisted extraction and dried either by lyophilization or spray-drying, was tested as a natural colourant in cookies and compared to a commercial colourant. The extracts were characterized in terms of betacyanin content and antioxidant potential. The effects of the colourants incorporation in the cookies were assessed through proximate composition, soluble sugars, fatty acids, color, texture and microbial load, over a shelf life of 30 days. Considering all the assays and analyzing the results through a 2-way analysis of variance, the cookies incorporated with spray-dried colourant showed the most intense pink coloration while cookies incorporated with lyophilized extract lost less color intensity over time. Thus, betacyanin extracts have potential as pink natural alternatives to synthetic colourants in the food industry.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support by national funds FCT/MCTES to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020); C. L. Roriz PhD’s grant (SFRH/BD/117995/2016), L. Barros and Isabel P. Fernandes to FCT, P.I., through the institutional scientific employment program-contract for their contract and the individual scientific employment program contract for S.A. Heleno’s contract. The authors are also grateful to 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®. M. Carocho also acknowledges ValorNatural® for his contract. Finally, P. Morales is also grateful to UCM ALIMNOVA Research Group (GR105/18).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio