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)

Effects of in vitro digestion and in vitro colonic fermentation on stability and functional properties of yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis A. St. Hil.) beverages

Yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) is a plant that grows naturally in South America. From its leaves and thin stems different kinds of beverages are prepared (chimarrão, tererê and tea mate), all of them rich in bioactive substances. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion and colonic fermentation on the stability of the polyphenols and on the antioxidant, antimicrobial and antitumoral activities of the yerba mate beverages. The phenolic chromatographic profile revealed that both the in vitro digestion and the colonic fermentation caused a pronounced decrease in 3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid and 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid in the preparations. However, 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid and salvianolic acid I were only barely affected in all preparations. Despite the decrease in the phytochemicals content, yerba mate beverages maintain their functional properties such as antioxidant, antibacterial and antitumoral activities.The authors thank the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq, Proc. 3079/2015-8) and Fundação Araucária (Proc.24/2012) for funding this study. Authors V.G. Correa and G.A. Gonçalves thanks Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento do Pessoal do Ensino Superior (CAPES) for the financial support provided for their post-graduate studies in Universidade Estadual de Maringá. A. Bracht, and R.M. Peralta research grant recipients of CNPq. 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), L. Barros (SFRH/BPD/107855/2015) and M.I. Dias (SFRH/BD/84485/2012) grant. To POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006984 (LA LSRE-LCM), funded by ERDF, through POCI-COMPETE2020 and FCT.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio