A novel natural coating for food preservation: Effectiveness on microbial growth and physicochemical parameters

This work describes the development of a sustainable and natural coating solution based on iota-carrageenan and rosemary extract intended to preserve cooked ham through dipping. Upon comparing the physical and microbial load changes between this solution and the traditional plastic wrap along 15 consecutive days, the results showed that in terms of microbial load the samples treated with the developed solution had a lower microbial count. Furthermore, only slight changes in moisture loss and hardness were observed between samples using the two tested preservation strategies. Colour analysis revealed that dipped samples presented reduced lightness, with a tendency to avoid shifting to a blue tone over the 15-days of storage. This work indicates that natural polymers combined with natural antimicrobials and antioxidants can be employed to reduce the dependence on synthetic polymers and offer feasible solutions to be applied at an industrial level.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal and FEDER, under Program PT2020 for financial support to CIMO (UID/AGR/00690/2013); to project POCI-01- 0145-FEDER-006984 – Associate Laboratory LSRE-LCM funded by FEDER through COMPETE2020-POCI and by FCT; M. Carocho (SFRH/ BPD/114650/2016) and S.A. Heleno (SFRH/BPD/101413/2014) postdoctoral grants and L. Barros' contract. This work is funded by the European Structural and Investment Funds (FEEI) through the Regional Operational Program North 2020, within the scope of Project NORTE- 01-0145-FEDER-023289: DeCodE. The authors thank “SONAE MC” for the donation of the ham piece that were used in this work.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Influence of natural preservatives on the bioactivity and stability of a nutraceutical formulation

The medicinal properties of plants have been well known from an early age, but nowadays there are many scientific studies supporting these claims. Aloe Arborescens Mill. is one of the most abundant species of the Aloe genus, native to South Africa which has been imported into many countries as an ornamental and medicinal plant due to its biological effects, namely antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and scab healing properties, which have been proven by scientific studies [1]. Beyond this, A. arborescens is also used for the extraction of active ingredients with cosmetic and nutraceutical interest [2]. The growing concern about the amount of chemicals added to foods as well as pharmaceutical and cosmetic products lead consumer preference to tilt towards products with low additives, and, when possible, natural additives, which are perceived by consumers as less harmful to human healthThe authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) and FEDER under Programme PT2020 for financial support to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020); the PhD grant of Filipa A. Fernandes (SFRH/BD/145467/2019). Lillian Barros thanks FCT through the institutional scientific employment program-contract for her contract, while Márcio Carocho, Sandrina A. Heleno and José Pinela thank FCT through the individual scientific employment program-contracts (CEECIND/00831/2018 and CEECIND/03040/2017); European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Regional Operational Program North 2020, within the scope of Project GreenHealth - Digital strategies in biological assets to improve well-being and promote green health, Norte-01-0145-FEDER-000042. To the MICINN for the contract to researcher Miguel A. Prieto. To the Kontaktotal - Consultores Associados, Lda. - Dep. CuraNatura for the collaboration in this project.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Influence of natural preservatives on the bioactivity and stability of a nutraceutical formulation

The medicinal properties of plants have been well known from an early age, but nowadays there are many scientific studies supporting these claims. Aloe Arborescens Mill. is one of the most abundant species of the Aloe genus, native to South Africa which has been imported into many countries as an ornamental and medicinal plant due to its biological effects, namely antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and scab healing properties, which have been proven by scientific studies [1]. Beyond this, A. arborescens is also used for the extraction of active ingredients with cosmetic and nutraceutical interest [2]. The growing concern about the amount of chemicals added to foods as well as pharmaceutical and cosmetic products lead consumer preference to tilt towards products with low additives, and, when possible, natural additives, which are perceived by consumers as less harmful to human healthThe authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) and FEDER under Programme PT2020 for financial support to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020); the PhD grant of Filipa A. Fernandes (SFRH/BD/145467/2019). Lillian Barros thanks FCT through the institutional scientific employment program-contract for her contract, while Márcio Carocho, Sandrina A. Heleno and José Pinela thank FCT through the individual scientific employment program-contracts (CEECIND/00831/2018 and CEECIND/03040/2017); European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Regional Operational Program North 2020, within the scope of Project GreenHealth - Digital strategies in biological assets to improve well-being and promote green health, Norte-01-0145-FEDER-000042. To the MICINN for the contract to researcher Miguel A. Prieto. To the Kontaktotal - Consultores Associados, Lda. - Dep. CuraNatura for the collaboration in this project.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Comparison of different bread types: chemical and physical parameters

In this work, the chemical and physical profile of 5 different bread types (Multicereal bread, Bavaria wheat bread, Wholemeal bread, Rye and Oat bread) were analysed in depth, namely the nutritional profile, individual fatty acids and soluble sugars through GC-FID and HPLC-RI, respectively, as well as the mineral profile, including micro and macroelements. Furthermore, a texture profile analysis was carried out in addition to the measurement of the crust colour. Each bread type showed a distinct profile, with Wholemeal and Bavaria having the lowest calories, and Oat the highest. Multicereal showed the highest amount of unsaturated fatty acids, while Wholemeal and Rye scored the least sodium amounts. The hardest bread was Rye and the easiest to chew were Oat and Bavaria breads. The latter was also the one with the darkest crumb of all the analysed breads. This work shows that bread can be baked to meet the needs and particularities of various kinds of diets.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) and FEDER, under Program PT2020 for financial support to CIMO (UID/AGR/00690/2019). This work was funded by the European Structural and Investment Funds (FEEI) through the Regional Operational Program North 2020, within the scope of Project Mobilizador ValorNatural®, and funded by ALIMNOVA research group (UCM 252/2017). The authors are also grateful to FEDER-Interreg España-Portugal programme for financial support through the project TRANSCoLAB 0612_TRANS_CO_LAB_2_P. L. Barros and S. Heleno thank the National funding by FCT, P.I., through the institutional scientific employment and individual program-contract, respectively. M. Carocho thanks ValorNatural® project for his contract. The authors also thank M. Ferreira & Filhas (Pão de Gimonde) for providing the bread samples used in this work.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pharmacognostic characterization of Celtis iguanaea (Jacq.) Sargent

Celtis iguanaea (Jacq.) Sargent (Ulmaceae) é conhecida popularmente como esporão-de-galo e amplamente utilizada na medicina popular brasileira. O objetivo desse trabalho foi realizar o estudo farmacognóstico das folhas e caules jovens da C. iguanaea através de análises macro e microscópicas, triagem fitoquímica, ensaios de pureza (umidade, cinzas totais e insolúveis em ácido) e determinação dos teores de polifenóis e flavonóides totais. As folhas são anfiestomáticas, apresentando grande quantidade de tricomas tectores, litocistos e estômatos na epiderme abaxial. Na triagem fitoquímica foram detectados mucilagem, flavonóides e cumarinas. Os teores de umidade, cinzas totais, cinzas insolúveis em ácido, polifenóis e flavonóides totais encontrados, foram de 7,05 ± 0,22 %, 18,2 ± 0,18 %, 7,43 ± 1,03 %, 0,55 ± 0,03 % e 0,53 ± 0,007 %, respectivamente. Esses resultados podem subsidiar estudos futuros e contribuir para a obtenção de informações relevantes acerca da padronização e controle de qualidade da matéria-prima dessa espécie.Celtis iguanaea (Jacq.) Sargent (Ulmaceae) is popularly known as esporão-de-galo and widely used in Brazilian folk medicine. The aim of this work was to perform a pharmacognostic study of C. iguanaea leaves and young stem through macro and microscopic analysis as well as phytochemical screening, purity assays (moisture, total and acid insoluble ash contents), total polyphenols and total flavonoids contents. The leaves are amphistomatic, presenting large amounts of tector trichomes, lytocists and stomata were noted on the abaxial leaf surface epidermis. The phytochemical screening detected flavonoids, coumarins and mucilage. The moisture, total ash, acid insoluble ash, polyphenol and flavonoid contents were 7.05 ± 0.22 %, 18.2 ± 0.18 %, 7.43 ± 1.03 %, 0.55 ± 0.03 % and 0.53 ± 0.007 %, respectively. These results must to subsidize further studies and contribute to the obtainment of relevant informations about this raw material standardization and quality controlColegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Pharmacognostic characterization of Celtis iguanaea (Jacq.) Sargent

Celtis iguanaea (Jacq.) Sargent (Ulmaceae) é conhecida popularmente como esporão-de-galo e amplamente utilizada na medicina popular brasileira. O objetivo desse trabalho foi realizar o estudo farmacognóstico das folhas e caules jovens da C. iguanaea através de análises macro e microscópicas, triagem fitoquímica, ensaios de pureza (umidade, cinzas totais e insolúveis em ácido) e determinação dos teores de polifenóis e flavonóides totais. As folhas são anfiestomáticas, apresentando grande quantidade de tricomas tectores, litocistos e estômatos na epiderme abaxial. Na triagem fitoquímica foram detectados mucilagem, flavonóides e cumarinas. Os teores de umidade, cinzas totais, cinzas insolúveis em ácido, polifenóis e flavonóides totais encontrados, foram de 7,05 ± 0,22 %, 18,2 ± 0,18 %, 7,43 ± 1,03 %, 0,55 ± 0,03 % e 0,53 ± 0,007 %, respectivamente. Esses resultados podem subsidiar estudos futuros e contribuir para a obtenção de informações relevantes acerca da padronização e controle de qualidade da matéria-prima dessa espécie.Celtis iguanaea (Jacq.) Sargent (Ulmaceae) is popularly known as esporão-de-galo and widely used in Brazilian folk medicine. The aim of this work was to perform a pharmacognostic study of C. iguanaea leaves and young stem through macro and microscopic analysis as well as phytochemical screening, purity assays (moisture, total and acid insoluble ash contents), total polyphenols and total flavonoids contents. The leaves are amphistomatic, presenting large amounts of tector trichomes, lytocists and stomata were noted on the abaxial leaf surface epidermis. The phytochemical screening detected flavonoids, coumarins and mucilage. The moisture, total ash, acid insoluble ash, polyphenol and flavonoid contents were 7.05 ± 0.22 %, 18.2 ± 0.18 %, 7.43 ± 1.03 %, 0.55 ± 0.03 % and 0.53 ± 0.007 %, respectively. These results must to subsidize further studies and contribute to the obtainment of relevant informations about this raw material standardization and quality controlColegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Pharmacognostic characterization of Celtis iguanaea (Jacq.) Sargent

Celtis iguanaea (Jacq.) Sargent (Ulmaceae) é conhecida popularmente como esporão-de-galo e amplamente utilizada na medicina popular brasileira. O objetivo desse trabalho foi realizar o estudo farmacognóstico das folhas e caules jovens da C. iguanaea através de análises macro e microscópicas, triagem fitoquímica, ensaios de pureza (umidade, cinzas totais e insolúveis em ácido) e determinação dos teores de polifenóis e flavonóides totais. As folhas são anfiestomáticas, apresentando grande quantidade de tricomas tectores, litocistos e estômatos na epiderme abaxial. Na triagem fitoquímica foram detectados mucilagem, flavonóides e cumarinas. Os teores de umidade, cinzas totais, cinzas insolúveis em ácido, polifenóis e flavonóides totais encontrados, foram de 7,05 ± 0,22 %, 18,2 ± 0,18 %, 7,43 ± 1,03 %, 0,55 ± 0,03 % e 0,53 ± 0,007 %, respectivamente. Esses resultados podem subsidiar estudos futuros e contribuir para a obtenção de informações relevantes acerca da padronização e controle de qualidade da matéria-prima dessa espécie.Celtis iguanaea (Jacq.) Sargent (Ulmaceae) is popularly known as esporão-de-galo and widely used in Brazilian folk medicine. The aim of this work was to perform a pharmacognostic study of C. iguanaea leaves and young stem through macro and microscopic analysis as well as phytochemical screening, purity assays (moisture, total and acid insoluble ash contents), total polyphenols and total flavonoids contents. The leaves are amphistomatic, presenting large amounts of tector trichomes, lytocists and stomata were noted on the abaxial leaf surface epidermis. The phytochemical screening detected flavonoids, coumarins and mucilage. The moisture, total ash, acid insoluble ash, polyphenol and flavonoid contents were 7.05 ± 0.22 %, 18.2 ± 0.18 %, 7.43 ± 1.03 %, 0.55 ± 0.03 % and 0.53 ± 0.007 %, respectively. These results must to subsidize further studies and contribute to the obtainment of relevant informations about this raw material standardization and quality controlColegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Effect of natural preservatives on the nutritional profile, chemical composition, bioactivity and stability of a nutraceutical preparation of aloe arborescens

Citric acid, quercetin, dried chestnut flowers and an aqueous extract of chestnut flowers were screened as candidates for preserving a drinkable nutraceutical preparation for 45 days. The assays encompassed antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, nutritional and chemical profiles, and individual profiles of fatty acids and mineral composition, all of which in comparison with a sodium benzoate, a synthetic preservative. The centesimal composition of the nutraceutical formulation was mainly composed of carbohydrates, followed by proteins and fat, with moisture levels between 66% and 71%. Palmitic and stearic acid were the most abundant fatty acids, while calcium and magnesium where the minerals in higher amount. Anthroquinones, followed by flavonoids where the most abundant groups of phenolic compounds. In terms of the preserving e ects of the extracts, the chestnut flowers and the citric acid were the most e ective natural preservatives, which better preserved phenolic compounds. Furthermore, these two ingredients also revealed the strongest capacity to control the microbial growth in the formulation by inhibiting the growth of food contaminants. In general, these ingredients revealed higher preservation capacity than sodium benzoate, while not altering the nutritional and fatty acid profile. The chestnut flowers and citric acid could be used to preserve foods, food supplements, and nutraceutical formulations after passing the required regulatory procedures for food additives.The authors are grateful to Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) and FEDER under Programme PT2020 for financial support to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020); the PhD grant of Filipa Fernandes (SFRH/BD/145467/2019). National funding by FCT, P.I., through the individual scientific employment program-contract for Sandrina A. Heleno and institutional to Maria Inês Dias, José Pinela and Lillian Barros. FEDER-Interreg España-Portugal through project 0377_Iberphenol_6_E and TRANSCoLAB 0612_TRANS_CO_LAB_2_P., Project Mobilizador Norte-01-0247-FEDER-024479: ValorNatural®forM. Carocho’s contract.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Improving the physicochemical properties of a traditional portuguese cake – “económicos” with chestnut flour

“Económicos” are traditional Portuguese pastry products; although their production is low-cost, their nutritional value is equally low. Since it is a widely consumed product in the Trás-os-Montes region, it is important to add value to it without making significant changes to the traditional recipe. Thus, this work has the main objective to increase the nutritional power of “económicos” through the incorporation of chestnut (Castanea sativa) fruit flour. The influence of the incorporation of 9% of chestnut flour as a new ingredient was analysed in terms of physical parameters (texture, colour, pH, water activity and moisture), nutritional content (according to the official AOAC methodology) and chemical parameters (sugars, fatty acids and organic acids) and the ability to control the microbial load over shelf life (32 days). Overall, the addition of the chestnut flour did not drastically change the appearance of the chemical and physical profiles of the cakes, but resulted in a lighter crumb (L*), slight changes in the texture profile, reduction of fat, and most importantly, introduced healthier flour to this inexpensive cake. Moreover, it did not stimu- late the growth of microorganisms (total aerobic mesophiles, coliforms, Bacillus cereus, molds, and yeasts) during the 32 days of storage.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support through the national funds FCT/MCTES to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020). This work was funded by the FEDER-Interreg España-Portugal pro- gramme through the project TRANSCoLAB 0612_TRANS_CO_LAB_2_P and by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Regional Operational Program North 2020, within the scope of Project GreenHealth - Digital strategies in biological assets to improve well-being and promote green health, Norte-01-0145-FEDER-000042, to which J. Ueda is thankful for his grant. S. Heleno and M. Carocho thank the FCT for their individual employment program–con- tracts (CEECIND/00831/2018 and CEECIND/03040/2017), while L. Barros is thankful for her institutional scientific contract. F. Fernandes and M. Pedrosa thank the FCT for their PhD grants (SFRH/BD/145467/2019 and SFRH/BD/2021.04531, respectively).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Solvent-Free Microwave Extraction of Thymus mastichina Essential Oil: Influence on Their Chemical Composition and on the Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities

This article belongs to the Special Issue Antiradical, Chemopreventive and Antimicrobial Analysis of Bioactive SubstancesSolvent-free microwave extraction (SFME) is a combination of microwave heating and dry distillation performed at atmospheric pressure without the addition of water or organic solvents that has been proposed as a green method for the extraction of essential oils from aromatic and medicinal herbs. In this work, SFME and the conventional techniques of steam distillation (SD) and hydrodistillation (HD) were compared with respect to the extraction and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Thymus mastichina essential oil. The main constituent of essential oils obtained using different methods was 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol). The results showed that the essential oils extracted by means of SFME in 30 min were quantitatively (yield) and qualitatively (aromatic profile) similar to those obtained using conventional HD over 120 min. In addition, SFME generates less waste and less solvent, consumes less energy, and provides a higher yield for a shorter extraction time, which is advantageous for the extraction of the T. mastichina essential oil compared to SD. The antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the T. mastichina essential oil obtained from either SFME or conventional extraction methods (SD or HD) showed a similar pattern. Large-scale experiments using this SFME procedure showed a potential industrial application.The authors acknowledge the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER), and COMPETE 2020 for their financial support under theresearch project “The development of dermo-biotechnological applications using natural resourcesin the Beira and Serra da Estrela regions—DermoBio”, ref. SAICT-POL/23925/2016, presentedin the Notice for the Presentation of Applications No. 02/SAICT/2016—Scientific Research andTechnological Development Projects (IC & DT) in Co-Promotion (PDF) Solvent-Free Microwave Extraction of Thymus mastichina Essential Oil: Influence on Their Chemical Composition and on the Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio