Seasonal variations of the nutritive value and phytotherapeutic potential of Cladium mariscus L. (Pohl.) targeting ruminant’s production

In our endeavor to identify salt-tolerant plants with potential veterinary uses in ruminants' production strategies, we focused on Cladium mariscus L. Pohl (sawgrass), due to its high total phenolic and tannin content, anti-radical properties, and ethnomedicinal uses. Aerial parts were collected along the year in Southern Portugal and evaluated for the nutritional profile and in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD), aiming for its use as feed. Acetone extracts were appraised for total contents in phenolics (TPC), flavonoids (TFC), and tannins (CTC), as well as the chemical composition by HPLC-DAD and in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, targeting its exploitation as phytotherapeutic products. Sawgrass biomass has a limited nutritive value, due to its high neutral detergent fiber (NDF; 596-690 g kg-1 dry matter (DM)) and acid detergent fiber (ADF; 330-418 g kg-1 DM) contents, low crude protein (51.8-87.3 g kg-1 DM) and IVOMD (172-317 g kg-1 organic matter (OM)). Despite differences among seasons, the mineral profile was adequate. The extracts were rich in TPC (88-112 mg g-1), CTC (115-169 mg g-1), and TFC (18.5-20.2 mg g-1), and displayed significant antioxidant capacity, particularly in summer and autumn, whilst no seasonal influence was detected for anti-inflammatory properties (30% reduction of nitric oxide production). Eleven phenolics were quantified: chlorogenic, ferulic, and syringic acids were the most abundant, especially in the autumn sample. Overall, despite the low nutritional interest, sawgrass extracts hold the potential as a source of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phenolic compounds.FCT: GreenVet-ALG-01-0145-FEDER-028876/ UIDB/04326/2020/ SFRH/BD/116604/2016/ CEECIND/00425/2017.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Atmospheric trends of CO and CH4 from extreme wildfires in Portugal using sentinel-5P TROPOMI level-2 data

PCIF/GFC/0078/2018 UIDB/00100/2020 UIDB/04085/2020 DL 57/2016Large forest fires have repeatedly affected Europe, in particular the Mediterranean countries. It is now crucial to continue the effort to feed the several layers of prediction models and understand how wildfire spreads in order to develop modern preventative and mitigation methods. The present study evaluates the performance of Sentinel 5-P TROPOMI for the monitoring of carbon monoxide (CO) and methane (CH4) during extreme fire events in Portugal, focusing on the Monchique (2018) and Vila de Rei/Mação (2019) wildfires, which devastated 27,154 ha and 9249 ha, respectively. The spatial distribution and trend of CO and CH4 prior to, during, and following the fire event were accessed and linked with in situ data in a qualitative and quantitative exploration. Large CO plumes were observed with CO columns exceeding 4.5 × 1018 and 6 × 1018 molecules/cm2 on 21 July 2019, and 7 August 2018, respectively. CO distribution profiles after consecutive digital processing steps showed the ability to follow CO fluctuations according to the fire spread. Furthermore, statistically significant differences were found between CO emissions inside and outside the burning area in both fire events. Finally, the CO2 estimated through CO column data presented an emission of 7.6 × 1019 molecules/cm2 for the uppermost emission day on 7 August 2018. Although CH4 monitoring is still unwavering to draw exact conclusions, the CO patterns during extreme fire events show promising and consistent data when compared with in situ data.publishersversionpublishe

Unlocking the in vitroanti- inflammatory and antidiabetic potential of Polygonum maritimum

Context: Several Polygonum species (Polygonaceae) are used in traditional medicine in Asia, Europe and Africa to treat inflammation and diabetes. Objective: Evaluate the in vitro antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic potential of methanol and dichloromethane extracts of leaves and roots of the halophyte Polygonum maritimum L. Material and methods: Antioxidant activity was determined (up to 1mg/mL) as radical-scavenging activity (RSA) of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS), copper (CCA) and iron (ICA) chelating activities and iron reducing power (FRAP). NO production was measured in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages for 24 h at concentrations up to 100 mu g/mL and antidiabetic potential was assessed by alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase inhibition (up to 10 g/mL) assays. The phytochemical composition of the extracts was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results: The methanol leaf extract had the highest activity against DPPH center dot (IC50 = 26 mu g/mL) and ABTS1(+)center dot (IC50 = 140 mu g FRAP (IC50 = 48 mu g/mL) and CCA (IC50 = 770 mu g/mL). Only the dichloromethane leaf extract (LDCM) showed anti-inflammatory activity (IC50 = 48 mu g/mL). The methanol root (IC50 = 19 mu g/mL) and leaf (IC50 = 29 mu g/mL) extracts strongly inhibited baker's yeast alpha-glucosidase, but LDCM had higher rat's alpha-glucosidase inhibition (IC50 = 2527 mu g/mL) than acarbose (IC50 = 4638 mu g/mL). GC-MS analysis identified beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol, 1-octacosanol and linolenic acid as possible molecules responsible for the observed bioactivities. Conclusions: Our findings suggest P. maritimum as a source of high-value health promoting commodities for alleviating symptoms associated with oxidative and inflammatory diseases, including diabetes.XtremeBio project - Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) [PTDC/MAR-EST/4346/2012]; Portuguese National Budget; FCT [CCMAR/Multi/04326/ 2013, IF/00049/2012, SFRH/BPD/86071/2012, UID/Multi/00612/2013

From Threat to Opportunity: Harnessing the Invasive <i>Carpobrotus edulis</i> (L.) N.E.Br for Nutritional and Phytotherapeutic Valorization Amid Seasonal and Spatial Variability

Carpobrotus edulis (L.) N.E.Br. (Hottentot-fig) is a problematic invasive species found in coastal areas worldwide. Mechanical removal is a common control method, leaving the removed biomass available as a possible source of natural phytochemicals with prospective commercial applications. While the Hottentot-fig’s vegetative organs have been studied previously, this work establishes for the first time a seasonal and spatial comparative analysis of its nutritional, chemical, and bioactivity profiles (in three locations over four seasons). Proximate and mineral contents were assessed, along with its phenolic composition and in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Hottentot-fig’s biomass offered a good supply of nutrients, mainly carbohydrates, proteins, and minerals, with a tendency for higher concentrations of the most relevant minerals and proteins in autumn and winter, and in plants from sites A (Ria de Alvor lagoon) and B (Ancão beach). The extracts were rich in polyphenolics, with higher levels in spring and summer, especially for luteolin-7-O-glucoside and salicylic and coumaric acids. The extracts were also effective antioxidants, with stronger radical scavenging activities in spring and summer, along with anti-inflammatory properties. Our results suggest that the usually discarded plant material of this invasive halophyte could be valuable as a source of natural products with potential biotechnological applications in the food and nutraceutical industries

Multi-Spheres Adsorptive Microextraction (MSAμE)—Application of a Novel Analytical Approach for Monitoring Chemical Anthropogenic Markers in Environmental Water Matrices

Multi-spheres adsorptive microextraction using powdered activated carbons (ACs) was studied as a novel enrichment approach, followed by liquid desorption and high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (MSA&micro;E(AC)-LD/HPLC-DAD) to monitor caffeine (CAF) and acetaminophen (ACF) traces in environmental matrices. In this study, commercial activated carbons (N, NOX, and R) were tested, with the latter showing a much better performance for the analysis of both anthropogenic drugs. The main parameters affecting the efficiency of the proposed methodology are fully discussed using commercial AC(R). Textural and surface chemistry properties of the ACs sample were correlated with the analytical results. Assays performed on 30 mL of water samples spiked at 10 &micro;g L&minus;1 under optimized experimental conditions, yielding recoveries of 75.3% for ACF and 82.6% for CAF. The methodology also showed excellent linear dynamic ranges for both drugs with determination coefficients higher than 0.9976, limits of detection and quantification of 0.8&ndash;1.2 &micro;g L&minus;1 and 2.8&ndash;4.0 &micro;g L&minus;1, respectively, and suitable precision (RSD &lt; 13.8%). By using the standard addition method, the application of the present method to environmental matrices, including superficial, sea, and wastewater samples, allowed very good performance at the trace level. The proposed methodology proved to be a feasible alternative for polar compound analysis, showing to be easy to implement, reliable, and sensitive, with the possibility to reuse and store the analytical devices loaded with the target compounds for later analysis

A Fast and Validated High Throughput Bar Adsorptive Microextraction (HT-BAµE) Method for the Determination of Ketamine and Norketamine in Urine Samples

We developed, optimized and validated a fast analytical cycle using high throughput bar adsorptive microextraction and microliquid desorption (HT-BA&mu;E-&mu;LD) for the extraction and desorption of ketamine and norketamine in up to 100 urine samples simultaneously, resulting in an assay time of only 0.45 min/sample. The identification and quantification were carried out using large volume injection-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry operating in the selected ion monitoring mode (LVI-GC-MS(SIM)). Several parameters that could influencing HT-BA&micro;E were assayed and optimized in order to maximize the recovery yields of ketamine and norketamine from aqueous media. These included sorbent selectivity, desorption solvent and time, as well as shaking rate, microextraction time, matrix pH, ionic strength and polarity. Under optimized experimental conditions, suitable sensitivity (1.0 &mu;g L&minus;1), accuracy (85.5&ndash;112.1%), precision (&le;15%) and recovery yields (84.9&ndash;105.0%) were achieved. Compared to existing methods, the herein described analytical cycle is much faster, environmentally friendly and cost-effective for the quantification of ketamine and norketamine in urine samples. To our knowledge, this is the first work that employs a high throughput based microextraction approach for the simultaneous extraction and subsequent desorption of ketamine and norketamine in up to 100 urine samples simultaneously

Anti-acetylcholinesterase and Antioxidant Activity of Essential Oils from Hedychium gardnerianum Sheppard ex Ker-Gawl

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Application of Microextraction-Based Techniques for Screening-Controlled Drugs in Forensic Context—A Review

The analysis of controlled drugs in forensic matrices, i.e., urine, blood, plasma, saliva, and hair, is one of the current hot topics in the clinical and toxicological context. The use of microextraction-based approaches has gained considerable notoriety, mainly due to the great simplicity, cost-benefit, and environmental sustainability. For this reason, the application of these innovative techniques has become more relevant than ever in programs for monitoring priority substances such as the main illicit drugs, e.g., opioids, stimulants, cannabinoids, hallucinogens, dissociative drugs, and related compounds. The present contribution aims to make a comprehensive review on the state-of-the art advantages and future trends on the application of microextraction-based techniques for screening-controlled drugs in the forensic context