Semblanza: Doctora Juana Cortelezzi

La doctora Juana Cortelezzi nació en la ciudad de La Plata, donde también cursó sus estudios universitarios. Primeramente alcanzó el título de profesora de Ciencias Naturales y Química en la Facultad de Humanidades y en el año 1909 el de Farmacéutica en la Facultad de Química. Y en 1937 obtuvo el título de doctora en Química.Universidad Nacional de La Plat

Bioactive Marine Drugs and Marine Biomaterials for Brain Diseases

Marine invertebrates produce a plethora of bioactive compounds, which serve as inspiration for marine biotechnology, particularly in drug discovery programs and biomaterials development. This review aims to summarize the potential of drugs derived from marine invertebrates in the field of neuroscience. Therefore, some examples of neuroprotective drugs and neurotoxins will be discussed. Their role in neuroscience research and development of new therapies targeting the central nervous system will be addressed, with particular focus on neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. In addition, the neuronal growth promoted by marine drugs, as well as the recent advances in neural tissue engineering, will be highlighted.The authors are grateful to the financial support from the European Union (FEDER funds through COMPETE) and National Funds (FCT, Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia) through project Pest-C/EQB/LA0006/2013 and from the European Union (FEDER funds) under the framework of QREN through Project NORTE-07–0124-FEDER-000069, to CYTED Programme (Ref. 112RT0460) CORNUCOPIA Thematic Network and project AGL2011–23690 (CICYT). Clara Grosso thanks FCT for the Post-Doc fellowship (SFRH/BPD/63922/2009). We acknowledge support by the CSIC Open Access Publication Initiative through its Unit of Information Resources for Research (URICI)Peer reviewe

Alternative and efficient extraction methods for marine-derived compounds

Marine ecosystems cover more than 70% of the globe's surface. These habitats are occupied by a great diversity of marine organisms that produce highly structural diverse metabolites as a defense mechanism. In the last decades, these metabolites have been extracted and isolated in order to test them in different bioassays and assess their potential to fight human diseases. Since traditional extraction techniques are both solvent- and time-consuming, this review emphasizes alternative extraction techniques, such as supercritical fluid extraction, pressurized solvent extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction, pulsed electric field-assisted extraction, enzyme-assisted extraction, and extraction with switchable solvents and ionic liquids, applied in the search for marine compounds. Only studies published in the 21st century are considered. © 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI.The authors are grateful for the European Union (FEDER funds through COMPETE) and National Funds (FCT, Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia) through project Pest-C/EQB/LA0006/2013, to financial support from the European Union (FEDER funds) under the framework of QREN through Project NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000069, to CYTED Programme (Ref. 112RT0460) CORNUCOPIA Thematic Network and project AGL2011-23690 (CICYT). Clara Grosso thanks FCT for the FCT Investigator (IF/01332/2014). We acknowledge support by the CSIC Open Access Publication Initiative through its Unit of Information Resources for Research (URICI).Peer Reviewe

Biological potential, gastrointestinal digestion, absorption, and bioavailability of algae-derived compounds with neuroprotective activity: a comprehensive review

Currently, there is no known cure for neurodegenerative disease. However, the available therapies aim to manage some of the symptoms of the disease. Human neurodegenerative diseases are a heterogeneous group of illnesses characterized by progressive loss of neuronal cells and nervous system dysfunction related to several mechanisms such as protein aggregation, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and neurotransmission dysfunction. Neuroprotective compounds are essential in the prevention and management of neurodegenerative diseases. This review will focus on the neurodegeneration mechanisms and the compounds (proteins, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), polysaccharides, carotenoids, phycobiliproteins, phenolic compounds, among others) present in seaweeds that have shown in vivo and in vitro neuroprotective activity. Additionally, it will cover the recent findings on the neuroprotective effects of bioactive compounds from macroalgae, with a focus on their biological potential and possible mechanism of action, including microbiota modulation. Furthermore, gastrointestinal digestion, absorption, and bioavailability will be discussed. Moreover, the clinical trials using seaweed-based drugs or extracts to treat neurodegenerative disorders will be presented, showing the real potential and limitations that a specific metabolite or extract may have as a new therapeutic agent considering the recent approval of a seaweed-based drug to treat Alzheimer’s disease.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Comprehensive review on the interaction between natural compounds and brain receptors: Benefits and toxicity

Given their therapeutic activity, natural products have been used in traditional medicines throughout the centuries. The growing interest of the scientific community in phytopharmaceuticals, and more recently in marine products, has resulted in a significant number of research efforts towards understanding their effect in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's (AD), Parkinson (PD) and Huntington (HD). Several studies have shown that many of the primary and secondary metabolites of plants, marine organisms and others, have high affinities for various brain receptors and may play a crucial role in the treatment of diseases affecting the central nervous system (CNS) in mammalians. Actually, such compounds may act on the brain receptors either by agonism, antagonism, allosteric modulation or other type of activity aimed at enhancing a certain effect. The current manuscript comprehensively reviews the state of the art on the interactions between natural compounds and brain receptors. This information is of foremost importance when it is intended to investigate and develop cutting-edge drugs, more effective and with alternative mechanisms of action to the conventional drugs presently used for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, we reviewed the effect of 173 natural products on neurotransmitter receptors, diabetes related receptors, neurotrophic factor related receptors, immune system related receptors, oxidative stress related receptors, transcription factors regulating gene expression related receptors and blood-brain barrier receptors.The author A.R.S. is grateful to the authors C.G. and J.M.R for the scientific assistance and suggestions shared throughout the supervision of her B.Sc. final project. The author A.R.S. also acknowledges the Department of Biology (DB) and the Centro de Biologia Molecular e Ambiental [Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology] (CBMA) from School of Sciences (EC), University of Minho (UM), Braga, Portugal, by providing all the conditions leading to the B.Sc. in Biochemistry. The corresponding author C.G. is grateful to Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia [Foundation for Science and Technology, FCT I.P.] (FCT I.P.) for the FCT Investigator (IF/01332/2014/CP1255/CT0001). The author J.M.R. acknowledges the CBMA and the Instituto de Ciência e Inovação para a Biosustentabilidade [Institute of Science and Innovation for Biosustainability] (IBS) from University of Minho (UM), Braga, Portugal, where he recently carried out his activities as invited assistant researcher and professor. The author J.M.R. is also grateful to the Laboratório Associado para a Química Verde (LAQV) [Green Chemistry Laboratory] from REQUIMTE – Rede de Química e Tecnologia [REQUIMTE – Chemistry and Technology Network], as well as to the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry (DCB) from the Faculty of Sciences from University of Porto (FCUP), Porto, Portugal, where he is currently researcher. Regarding to the author J.M.R., this work was supported by the strategic programmes UID/BIA/04050/2013 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007569) (Research project entitled “EcoAgriFood: Innovative green products and processes to promote Agri-Food BioEconomy”) and PTDC/SAUNUT/30448/2017 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-030448) (Research project entitled “Poly4CD: Action of Dietary Polyphenols in Preventing Celiac Disease”) funded by Portuguese national funds through Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia [Foundation for Science and Technology] (FCT-I.P.)/Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior [Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education] (MCTES), and Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional [European Regional Development Fund] (FEDER), under the scope of the COMPETE2020 – Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (POCI) [COMPETE2020 – Competitiveness and Internationalization Operational Program] and by COST Action 18101 “SOURDOMICS”, supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology). C. G. and C. D.-M. are grateful for the financial support from FCT/MCTES through national funds (UID/QUI/50006/2019). C. G. and C. D.-M. would also like to thank the EU and FCT for funding through the projects: DESignBIOtecHealth - New Technologies for three Health Challenges of Modern Societies: Diabetes, Drug Abuse and Kidney Diseases (Portugal2020, Norte-01-0145-FEDER-000024) and project PTDC/OCE-ETA/30240/2017- SilverBrain - From sea to brain: Green neuroprotective extracts for nanoencapsulation and functional food production (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-030240); and to the REQUIMTE for the project “Sea_4_Brain_Food”. All the authors acknowledge the CBMA and IB-S by the financial support provided specifically for this open access publication.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Marine health-promoting compounds: recent trends for their characterization and human applications

Seaweeds represent a rich source of biologically active compounds with several applications, especially in the food, cosmetics, and medical fields. The beneficial effects of marine compounds on health have been increasingly explored, making them an excellent choice for the design of functional foods. When studying marine compounds, several aspects must be considered: extraction, identification and quantification methods, purification steps, and processes to increase their stability. Advanced green techniques have been used to extract these valuable compounds, and chromatographic methods have been developed to identify and quantify them. However, apart from the beneficial effects of seaweeds for human health, these natural sources of bioactive compounds can also accumulate undesirable toxic elements with potential health risks. Applying purification techniques of extracts from seaweeds may mitigate the amount of excessive toxic components, ensuring healthy and safer products for commercialization. Furthermore, limitations such as stability and bioavailability problems, chemical degradation reactions during storage, and sensitivity to oxidation and photo-oxidation, need to be overcome using, for example, nanoencapsulation techniques. Here we summarize recent advances in all steps of marine products identification and purification and highlight selected human applications, including food and feed applications, cosmetic, human health, and fertilizers, among others.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A Critical Comparison of the Advanced Extraction Techniques Applied to Obtain Health-Promoting Compounds from Seaweeds

Marine macroalgae are rich in bioactive compounds that can be applied in several fields, mainly food, cosmetics, and medicine. The health-promoting effects of bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, polysaccharides, carotenoids, proteins, and fatty acids, have been increasingly explored, especially regarding their antioxidant activity and improvement in human health. To extract these valuable compounds, advanced technologies that include Supercritical-Fluid Extraction (SFE), Pressurised-Liquid Extraction (PLE), Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction (UAE), Microwave-Assisted Extraction (MAE), Enzyme-Assisted Extraction (EAE), Ultrasound-Microwave-Assisted Extraction (UMAE) and Liquefied Gas Extraction (LGE) have been assessed due to their notable advantages over the conventional methods (Solid–Liquid and Soxhlet extraction). These advanced techniques are considerably influenced by different extraction parameters such as temperature, pressure, type of solvent, extraction time, solvent:solid material ratio, power (MAE, UAE, and UMAE), enzymes used (EAE), and factors related to the macroalgae matrix itself. Optimizing these process parameters for each method is critical to obtain better efficiency results for the targeted bioactive compounds. Macroalgae are natural sources with undeniable beneficial effects on human health. In this context, optimising the extraction techniques discussed in this review should prioritise exploiting these valuable resources’ wide range of bioactive propertiesThis work was financed by FEDER—Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional funds through the COMPETE 2020—Operacional Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalisation (POCI), and by Portuguese funds through FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia in the framework of the project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-030240—PTDC/OCE-ETA/30240/2017—SilverBrain-From sea to brain: Green neuroprotective extracts for nanoencapsulation and functional food production. This work was supported by projects REQUIMTE/LAQV—UIDB/50006/2020, UIDP/50006/2020, and LA/P/0008/2020 financed by FCT/Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior (MCTES), through national funds, and the project SYSTEMIC, “An integrated approach to the challenge of sustainable food systems: adaptive and mitigatory strategies to address climate change and malnutrition”. The Knowledge hub on Nutrition and Food Security received funding from national research funding parties in Belgium (FWO), France (INRA), Ger-many (BLE), Italy (MIPAAF), Latvia (IZM), Norway (RCN), Portugal (FCT), and Spain (AEI) in a joint action of JPI HDHL, JPI-OCEANS, and FACCE-JPI launched in 2019 under the ERA-NET ERA-HDHL (n° 696295). Clara Grosso (CEECIND/03436/2020) thanks FCT for fundinginfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Exploring the antiradical potential of species from Lamiaceae family: implications for functional food development in the context of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases

Neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases have become highly significant in Western societies. Unfortunately, these diseases currently lack a cure, and existing treatments merely manage the symptoms. Thus, it is imperative to explore new alternatives for either preventing these disorders or treating them effectively. One promising avenue for prevention lies in the development of neuroprotective and antioxidant functional foods. To this end, a study focused on ten species from the Lamiaceae family, which have attracted attention due to their well-known antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, and anti-cancer properties, among others. The interest in their pharmacological applications has grown significantly in recent years. In order to uncover the biological potential of these species, the study involved performing decoctions and evaluating both the total phenolic content (TPC) and antiradical activity. The results revealed that TPC values ranged from 59.97 ± 6.18 (Ocimum basilicum L. var minimum) to 374.0 ± 16.9 (Salvia officinalis L.) mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g of dry extract (dw). Additionally, the IC50 values for DPPH• and ABTS•+ scavenging activities varied between 21.55 ± 1.18 (Origanum vulgare L.) and 132.0 ± 15.3 μg/mL (O. basilicum var minimum), and from 14.79 ± 0.50 (O. vulgare) to 44.65 ± 2.34 μg/mL (O. basilicum), respectively. The observed strong antiradical activity holds great promise for the future development of functional foods aimed at combating the oxidative stress implicated in these diseases and promoting overall brain health. By harnessing the potential of these species from Lamiaceae family, we may pave the way for innovative approaches to tackle neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric conditions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Unveiling clones and integrons dynamics associated with carbapenemase-producing P. aeruginosa clinical isolates in a portuguese hospital

[Excerpt] Particular epidemic lineages (e.g. 235, 111, ST175 and 244) are associated with carbapenemase-producing P. aeruginosa (CPPA) isolates causing infections. Due to limited therapeutic options and possible carbapenemase spread, CPPA infections are of great concern. Nevertheless, the occurrence, genetic background and clonal dynamics over a long period of time of CPPA strains in Portuguese hospitals are unknown. The study aimed to assess the occurrence and the genetic background of CPPA isolates obtained from a Portuguese University Hospital. Carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates obtained from different biological samples from inpatients attending the Hospital Geral de Santo António, Porto during 2006 (n=27) and 2011-3 (n=135) were included. Carbapenemase production was searched by Blue-Carba. Carbapenemase and associated integrons were characterized by PCRs and sequencing. Antimicrobial susceptibility was performed by disc diffusion, E-test and agar dilution methods. Clonality was assessed by MLST. The bla genes location was assessed by I-CeuI/ S1 PFGE and hybridization with specific probes. Plasmid analysis included identification of incompatibility groups by PCR and electrotransformation of P. aeruginosa PAO1. [...

Herbicidal activity of volatiles from coriander, winter savory, cotton lavender, and thyme isolated by hydrodistillation and supercritical fluid extraction

The volatiles from Coriandrum sativum L., Satureja montana L., Santolina chamaecyparissus L., and Thymus vulgaris L. were isolated by hydrodistillation (essential oil) and supercritical fluid extraction (volatile oil). Their effect on seed germination and root and shoot growth of the surviving seedlings of four crops (Zea mays L., Triticum durum L., Pisum sativum L., and Lactuca sativa L.) and two weeds (Portulaca oleracea L. and Vicia sativa L.) was investigated and compared with those of two synthetic herbicides, Agrocide and Prowl. The volatile oils of thyme and cotton lavender seemed to be promising alternatives to the synthetic herbicides because they were the least injurious to the crop species. The essential oil of winter savory, on the other hand, affected both crop and weeds and can be appropriate for uncultivated fields