The surplus value of Azorean Camellia sinensis flowers as an important contributor affecting the nutraceutical benefits of green tea quality

Leaves from Camellia sinensis have been used to make teas for a long time, however, less attention has been paid to the flowers, which is a waste of an abundant resource that should be valorized. This study evaluates the representative tea metabolites content (dry weight basis) and antioxidant properties of Azorean C. sinensis flowers as compared to commercial Gorreana green tea (GorGT), the only one produced in Europe. We determined the variability of catechins, caffeine and L-theanine (THEA) by RP-HPLC/DAD and the confirmation of THEA by GC/MS. The antioxidants activities were determined by FRSA, FRAP and FIC methods. The total phenolics and total flavonoids were determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu and colorimetric methodologies. The results showed that flowers presented higher L-theanine (5.88 mg/g) but lower caffeine (4.10 mg/g) contents than GorGT (2.59 and 12.42 mg/g, respectively) and, therefore, a lower caffeine/theanine ratio (0.70 versus 4.80). The esterified catechins content (in percentage of total catechins) showed similar values for flowers (85.34%) and GorGT (86.45%), and the individual catechins decreased as follows: epigallocatechin-3-gallate > epicatechin-3-gallate ≫ gallocatecin-3-gallate. In antioxidant assays, GorGT presented better FRSA and FRAP but similar FIC as compared to flowers. Also, the total phenolics and flavonoids contents of dried extract presented higher values in GorGT: 321.56 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g and 47.17 mg rutin equivalents (RE)/g as compared to 141.94 mg GAE/g and 24.14 mg RE/g, respectively, for flowers. This study represents the first contribute to Azorean C. sinensis flowers valorization as a new-added material with nutraceutical benefits.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Investigation of the Azorean Camellia sinensis Processing Conditions to Maximize the Theaflavin 3,3'-di-O-Gallate Content as a Potential Antiviral Compound

ABSTRACT: The molecular constituents of Camellia sinensis, in particular epigallocatechin‐3‐O‐gallate (EGCG) and, more remarkably, the galloylated theaflavins, mainly theaflavin‐3,3′‐di‐O‐gallate (TF‐3,3′‐DG), have been reported to inhibit SARS‐CoV‐2 3‐chymotrypsin‐like protease (3CLpro), an enzyme required for the cleavage of its polyproteins, to produce vital individual functional proteins for viral cell replication. Our results for total catechin content revealed the values of 174.72, 200.90, and 211.75 mg/g dry weight (DW) in spring, and the values of 183.59, 191.36, and 215.09 mg/g DW in summer, for tea plantation zones 1, 2, and 3, respectively. For the TF‐3,3′‐DG content, the values of 2.68, 1.13, and 3.72 mg/g DW were observed in spring, and the values of 3.78, 2.06, and 8.91 mg/g DW in summer for zones 1, 2, and 3, respectively. In the same zone, different contents of TF‐3,3′‐DG were observed across plucking months of April, June, and August, with values of 1.13, 2.77, and 4.18 mg/g DW, respectively, showing higher values in summer. Different values of TF‐3,3′‐DG contents were also observed in the same tea plantation zone but from different plant parts, revealing higher values in the bud and the first and second leaves (3.62 mg/g DW) and lower values in the third and fourth leaves (1.14 mg/g DW). The TF‐3,3′‐DG content increased from 3.31 to 4.98 mg/g DW with increased fermentation time from 1 to 3 h, respectively, and increased for lower temperature and longer fermentation time. The aim of this study was to investigate the processing conditions that lead to maximum TF‐3,3′‐DG content and, given its potential impact as an inhibitor of the 3CLpro enzyme, to create a novel antiviral Azorean black tea.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Variability of antioxidant properties, catechins, caffeine, L-theanine and other amino acids in different plant parts of Azorean Camellia sinensis

During Camellia sinensis tea processing, manufacturers usually remove the internodes, which are classified as waste. This study presents the first determination of plant part contribution, particularly internodes, to green tea quality, in order to find the best blend to maximize impact on human health. Catechins, caffeine and free amino acid (FAA) profiles were determined by RP-HPLC/DAD, total phenolics (TPC) and total flavonoids (TFC) by FolinCiocalteu and colorimetric methodologies, respectively, and antioxidant activities by free radical-scavenging activity (FRSA), ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and ferrous ion-chelating (FIC) methods. Individual esterified catechins content decreased as follows: epicatechin-3-gallate > epigallocatechin-3-gallate ≫ gallocatecin-3-gallate, and epicatechin derivatives content ranged from 63.91 to 91.22% of total catechins. Caffeine content was higher in internodes. L-theanine, histidine, asparagine, phenylalanine, glutamic acid and methionine were the major FAAs, and internodes contained the highest amounts of L-theanine and histidine (17 and 13.73 mg/g of sample, respectively). TPC ranged from 201.51 to 265.48 mg gallic acid equivalents/g dry extract (DE) and TFC ranged from 23.84 to 72.02 mg rutin equivalents/g DE. Internodes presented the lowest FRSA (EC50 ¼ 6.10–13.50 μg/mL), FRAP (EC50 ¼ 5.70–11.40 μg/mL) and FIC activity (36.96–79.21%). Bud presented the highest FRSA and FRAP, and budþ1stþ2ndleaves þ internodes the highest FIC activity. The results revealed the potential contribution of the internodes to green tea quality and, consequently, to human health.This study was supported by PO Açores 2020 and by the Community Structural Funds FEDER and FSE for the 2014-2020 programming period, with implementation in the Azores Region, under the project "ACORES-01-0247-FEDER-000014".info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Os efeitos benéficos do chá de Camellia sinensis (L.) na saúde humana

A secção UAciência é coordenada pelo Professor Universitário Armindo Rodrigues.Originária da China, a planta do chá (Camellia sinensis) expandiu-se gradualmente por vários países subtropicais e, desde a última década do século XIX, o chá é também produzido e comercializado num único lugar na Europa, a Ilha de São Miguel, Açores. O chá de C. sinensis tem recebido muita atenção, particularmente da comunidade científica, devido aos seus diversos efeitos benéficos na saúde humana, nomeadamente: redução do risco do cancro, pois inibem o desenvolvimento de células cancerígenas, e incentivam a sua autodestruição; diminuição do risco de doenças cardiovasculares, arteriosclerose, hipercolesterolemia e doenças neurodegenerativas, nomeadamente doença de Alzheimer e doença de Parkinson; prevenção da diabetes e propriedades antibacterianas e antivirais, entre outros efeitos terapêuticos. Os polifenóis do chá, devido às suas potentes propriedades antioxidantes, são os principais responsáveis pela ampla variedade de benefícios do chá na saúde humana. […].info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Influence of Seasonal and Yearly Variation on Phenolic Profiles, Caffeine, and Antioxidant Activities of Green Tea (<i>Camellia sinensis</i> (L.) Kuntze) from Azores

This study compares the antioxidant properties (RSADPPH–DPPH radical scavenging activity, FRAP–ferric reducing activity power, and FIC–ferrous ion-chelating activity), the total phenolics (TP), total flavonoids (TF), and catechin profiles, as well as the caffeine content of Azorean Camellia sinensis green tea collected in seasons of two different years. The RSADPPH showed some variation between 2019 and 2020, and presented, in general, better results in 2020 as well as during the summer seasons. The FRAP was also noted to be at its highest in July and August of the two investigated years (6.64 and 6.40 µg/mL in 2019 and 5.85 and 5.46 µg/mL in 2020). According to FIC activity, the August 2019 sample exhibited the highest value (76.18%). The TP varied between 291.14 and 326.93 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g of dried extract (DE) in 2019 and between 300.25 and 320.58 mg GAE/g DE in 2020. Concerning the TF, the values varied between 51.85 and 67.93 mg rutin equivalents (RE)/g DE in 2019 and between 50.27 and 69.57 mg RE/g DE in 2020. Epicatechins derivatives, determined by HPLC, presented higher values in all samples from 2020 compared to 2019, and the same was observed for esterified catechins. The epigallocatechin-3-gallate content was also higher in all samples from 2020 (214.52–240.16 mg/g DE) compared to 2019 (140.91–210.83 mg/g DE). Regarding caffeine content (12.86–20.45 mg/g DE in 2019 and 13.19–29.35 mg/g DE in 2020), the samples from April and June exhibited similar values in both years. In general, green tea samples exhibited better results in 2020 than in 2019, with the exception of FIC activity, while the varied TP and TF contents in certain months reflect the impact of climatic variation on tea quality

Investigation of the Azorean <i>Camellia sinensis</i> Processing Conditions to Maximize the Theaflavin 3,3′-di-<i>O</i>-Gallate Content as a Potential Antiviral Compound

The molecular constituents of Camellia sinensis, in particular epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG) and, more remarkably, the galloylated theaflavins, mainly theaflavin-3,3′-di-O-gallate (TF-3,3′-DG), have been reported to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro), an enzyme required for the cleavage of its polyproteins, to produce vital individual functional proteins for viral cell replication. Our results for total catechin content revealed the values of 174.72, 200.90, and 211.75 mg/g dry weight (DW) in spring, and the values of 183.59, 191.36, and 215.09 mg/g DW in summer, for tea plantation zones 1, 2, and 3, respectively. For the TF-3,3′-DG content, the values of 2.68, 1.13, and 3.72 mg/g DW were observed in spring, and the values of 3.78, 2.06, and 8.91 mg/g DW in summer for zones 1, 2, and 3, respectively. In the same zone, different contents of TF-3,3′-DG were observed across plucking months of April, June, and August, with values of 1.13, 2.77, and 4.18 mg/g DW, respectively, showing higher values in summer. Different values of TF-3,3′-DG contents were also observed in the same tea plantation zone but from different plant parts, revealing higher values in the bud and the first and second leaves (3.62 mg/g DW) and lower values in the third and fourth leaves (1.14 mg/g DW). The TF-3,3′-DG content increased from 3.31 to 4.98 mg/g DW with increased fermentation time from 1 to 3 h, respectively, and increased for lower temperature and longer fermentation time. The aim of this study was to investigate the processing conditions that lead to maximum TF-3,3′-DG content and, given its potential impact as an inhibitor of the 3CLpro enzyme, to create a novel antiviral Azorean black tea

The Politics of Food. Mobilization, Consumer behavior and Motives of Participants of the Wir habe es satt! protest 2020

Die von dem Bündnis Meine Landwirtschaft organisierte Großdemonstration Wir haben es satt! findet seit zehn Jahren zum Auftakt der Agrarmesse Grüne Woche in Berlin statt. Das Bündnis setzt sich für eine nachhaltige, faire Landwirtschaft und Lebensmittelproduktion ein und unterstützt deutschlandweit bäuerliche Betriebe. Am 18. Januar 2020 haben Forscher*innen der Freien Universität Berlin in Kooperation mit dem Institut für Protest- und Bewegungsforschung eine umfassende Befragung der Beteiligten der Wir haben es satt!-Demonstration durchgeführt. Die so gewonnenen Daten geben Aufschluss darüber, wer die Demonstrant*innen waren, was ihre Anliegen und politischen Haltungen sind und, nicht zuletzt, wie sie durch ihr eigenes Verhalten in Konsum und Lebensführung eine andere Landwirtschaft unterstützen. Ein Großteil der Befragten der Wir haben es satt!-Demonstration identifizierte sich als weiblich und ordnete sich politisch als links der Mitte ein. Ältere Kohorten waren insgesamt etwas stärker vertreten. Wie bei vielen Protesten in Deutschland stellen die Befragten einen spezifischen sozio-ökonomischen Ausschnitt der Bevölkerung dar: zwei Drittel geben an, einen Universitätsabschluss zu haben, die meisten verfügen über ein mittleres bis hohes Einkommen. Vor allem waren die Demonstrant*innen stark politisch engagiert; viele von ihnen sind Mitglieder in politischen Organisationen, sehr erfahrene Demonstrant*innen und vertraut mit den gesellschaftspolitischen Kämpfen zu Klima- und Umweltpolitik. Für weniger als zwei Prozent war dies die erste Demonstration überhaupt. Da es bei der Demonstrationsbefragung nicht möglich war, auch den an die Wir haben es satt!-Demonstration angegliederten Traktoren-Umzug fußläufig zu befragen, handelt es sich zudem bei den Teilnehmer*innen der Befragung vor allem um Konsument* innen. Nur sehr wenige der Befragten produzieren selbst Lebensmittel zu kommerziellen Zwecken. Diese spezifische Gesellschaftsgruppe kann als ernährungsbewusst bezeichnet werden. Sie trifft ethische Kaufentscheidungen und hat ein großes Interesse daran hat, die eigenen Anliegen zu äußern.The large-scale protest Wir haben es satt! (We‘re fed up!), organized by the Meine Landwirtschaft (My Agriculture) coalition, has been held for ten years to mark the start of the Green Week agricultural fair in Berlin. The coalition advocates for sustainable agriculture and fair food production and supports farmers throughout Germany. On January 18, 2020, researchers from Freie Universität Berlin, in cooperation with the Institute für Protest- und Bewegungsforschung, conducted a comprehensive survey of participants in the Wir haben es satt! protest. The resulting data shed light on who the protesters are, their concerns and political attitudes, and, last but not least, how they support a different kind of agriculture through their own consumption and lifestyle choices. A large proportion of respondents identified themselves as female and classified themselves politically as left of center. The majority of respondents were representative of an older demographic. As with many protests in Germany, respondents represent a specific socio-economic segment of the population: two-thirds reported having a university degree and most reported a medium to high income. Above all, the protestors surveyed reported consistent political engagement. Many stated they were members of political organizations, experienced demonstrators, and familiar with the socio-political issues related to climate and environmental policy. In fact, less than two percent reported Wir Haben es satt! being their first protest. The respondents are mainly consumers. Very few respondents produce food for commercial purposes. This specific social group can be described as food conscious. They make ethical consumer decisions and have a great interest in expressing their own concerns. Here is to note, that it was not possible to survey the tractor convey attached to the protest by foot.überarbeitete Versio

Organic matter composition in density fractions of Cerrado Ferralsols as revealed by CPMAS 13C NMR: Influence of pastureland, cropland and integrated crop-livestock

7 páginas.-- 4 tablas.-- 40 referenciasIntegrated crop-livestock (ICL) is a promising land use system for the Brazilian Cerrado, but little is known about what this system might change in chemical composition of soil organic matter. In three long-term experiments (9–11 years old), located on Cerrado Ferralsols in Dourados, Maracaju and Campo Grande (Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil), we assessed the impact of continuous cropland (CC), ICL, and permanent pasture of Brachiaria decumbens (PP) on the C concentration and composition of the free light fraction (FLF), occluded light fraction (OLF) and heavy fraction (HF) of soil in the 0–5 cm layer. CPMAS13C NMR spectroscopy was used to determine the percentage of alkyl, O-alkyl, aromatic and carboxyl C types. In Dourados and Maracaju, PP had the highest concentrations of organic C in whole soil and physical fractions, while ICL was intermediate and CC lowest. In Campo Grande, soil organic C concentration was similar among management systems. Distribution of organic C across physical fractions was not affected by management nor by experimental site, and on average the FLF, OLF and HF contained 7%, 26% and 67% of the total storage, respectively. Signal peaks of the four main C types appeared in all CPMAS 13C NMR spectra, but at different intensities. O-alkyl was the major C type (about 50%), carboxyl was the minor representative (generally less than 10%) and alkyl and aromatic C were intermediates. From FLF to OLF, the alkyl and aromatic C concentrations increased, possibly due to selective preservation of waxes, resins, cutin, suberin and lignin. The HF had greater O-alkyl and lower aromatic C concentrations than OLF, which might have been related to the accumulation of microbial carbohydrates on mineral surfaces of the HF. Along the sequence CC–ICL–PP, the most evident changes were greater of O-alkyl and lower alkyl C types, practically in all fractions and sites. In FLF and OLF, these changes were attributed to greater biomass input and less seed drill-induced disturbance of soil surface (lower decomposition of residues) in the PP and ICL. Additionally, in OLF, greater O-alkyl concentration in PP and ICL was attributed to physical protection of particulate organic matter derived from grass roots occluded inside soil aggregates. Our results suggest that PP and ICL systems increased or maintained soil organic C concentrations compared to CC, associated with a qualitative increase of the chemically labile O-alkyl C type which was possibly related to greater biomass addition and less soil disturbance.Peer reviewe

Soil aggregation and aggregate stability under crop-pasture systems in mato grosso do sul state, brazil

Sistemas de manejo do solo, incluindo lavouras em plantio direto, lavouras (soja) em rotação com pastagens em plantio direto e pastagens permanentes (Brachiaria sp.), foram avaliados quanto à agregação do solo e estabilidade dos agregados. Em três experimentos de longa duração (9 e 11 anos) localizados em Mato Grosso do Sul, o solo foi amostrado nas camadas de 0 a 5, 5 a 10 e 10 a 20 cm, para determinação da estabilidade dos agregados em água e a seco. Foram calculados o diâmetro médio ponderado (DMP) e o índice de estabilidade dos agregados (IEA). Em todos os experimentos, nos sistemas com pastagens, seja de forma isolada ou em rotação com lavouras, foi verificado maior volume do solo, constituindo agregados com tamanho superior a 4,76 mm. Os sistemas com pastagens também apresentaram maior DMP e maior IEA em todos os experimentos. O sistema apenas com lavouras apresentou, nos três experimentos, o maior volume de solo com agregados de tamanho entre 0,25 e 2,00 mm. Esses efeitos ocorreram de forma semelhante em todas as profundidades avaliadas. Entre os locais, observou-se o efeito do teor de argila na agregação, sendo maior em Maracaju e menor em Campo Grande. Foi observada estreita relação entre a estabilidade dos agregados e o teor de C no solo. A formação de macroagregados parece estar relacionada à presença de raízes, que são mais abundantes sob pastagem de gramíneas.Soil management systems, with crops under no-tillage (NT), crops (soybean) in rotation with pastures under NT and permanent pastures (Brachiaria sp.), were evaluated for soil aggregation and aggregate stability. Three long-term experiments (9 and 11 years) in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul were sampled in the layers 0–5, 5–10 and 10–20 cm for determination of the aggregate stability in wet and dry sieving. The mean weight diameter (MWD) and the aggregate stability index (IAS) were calculated. In all experiments, the greatest soil volume was verified in the systems with isolated pastures or in rotation with crops, constituting aggregates of over 4.76 mm. The soil volume was largest in the crop system, in the three experiments, with aggregate sizes between 0.25 and 2.00 mm. These effects ocurred similarly at all studied depths. In the pasture systems, the MWD was largest and IAS highest in all experiments. The clay effect in the aggregation was greatest in Maracaju and lowest in Campo Grande. A close relation between the IAS and soil carbon was observed. The formation of macro-aggregates seems to be related to the presence of roots, which are more abundant under grass pastures

Soil aggregation and aggregate stability under crop-pasture systems in mato grosso do sul state, brazil

Sistemas de manejo do solo, incluindo lavouras em plantio direto, lavouras (soja) em rotação com pastagens em plantio direto e pastagens permanentes (Brachiaria sp.), foram avaliados quanto à agregação do solo e estabilidade dos agregados. Em três experimentos de longa duração (9 e 11 anos) localizados em Mato Grosso do Sul, o solo foi amostrado nas camadas de 0 a 5, 5 a 10 e 10 a 20 cm, para determinação da estabilidade dos agregados em água e a seco. Foram calculados o diâmetro médio ponderado (DMP) e o índice de estabilidade dos agregados (IEA). Em todos os experimentos, nos sistemas com pastagens, seja de forma isolada ou em rotação com lavouras, foi verificado maior volume do solo, constituindo agregados com tamanho superior a 4,76 mm. Os sistemas com pastagens também apresentaram maior DMP e maior IEA em todos os experimentos. O sistema apenas com lavouras apresentou, nos três experimentos, o maior volume de solo com agregados de tamanho entre 0,25 e 2,00 mm. Esses efeitos ocorreram de forma semelhante em todas as profundidades avaliadas. Entre os locais, observou-se o efeito do teor de argila na agregação, sendo maior em Maracaju e menor em Campo Grande. Foi observada estreita relação entre a estabilidade dos agregados e o teor de C no solo. A formação de macroagregados parece estar relacionada à presença de raízes, que são mais abundantes sob pastagem de gramíneas.Soil management systems, with crops under no-tillage (NT), crops (soybean) in rotation with pastures under NT and permanent pastures (Brachiaria sp.), were evaluated for soil aggregation and aggregate stability. Three long-term experiments (9 and 11 years) in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul were sampled in the layers 0–5, 5–10 and 10–20 cm for determination of the aggregate stability in wet and dry sieving. The mean weight diameter (MWD) and the aggregate stability index (IAS) were calculated. In all experiments, the greatest soil volume was verified in the systems with isolated pastures or in rotation with crops, constituting aggregates of over 4.76 mm. The soil volume was largest in the crop system, in the three experiments, with aggregate sizes between 0.25 and 2.00 mm. These effects ocurred similarly at all studied depths. In the pasture systems, the MWD was largest and IAS highest in all experiments. The clay effect in the aggregation was greatest in Maracaju and lowest in Campo Grande. A close relation between the IAS and soil carbon was observed. The formation of macro-aggregates seems to be related to the presence of roots, which are more abundant under grass pastures