Assessment of genotoxicity of aflatoxin M1 and B1 contaminated milks after in vitro human digestion

Introduction - Milk is considered a complete food from the nutritional point of view. Milk can be exposed to various types of contamination, such as mycotoxins. These metabolites are naturally occurring toxic compounds produced by fungi. Several studies on milk samples have reported the presence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and M1 (AFM1), due to the high incidence in samples intended for human consumption, carcinogenicity proven AFB1 and resistance of the contaminants to the process of digestion, making those available for intestinal absorption. Considering these aspects, the objective of this study was to evaluate the genotoxicity of milk samples contaminated by AFB1 and AFM1 before and after the action of lactic acid bacteria using Caco-2 intestinal human cells

How gamma radiation affects antimicrobial potential of medicinal plants: Mentha x piperita L. as a case study

Medicinal plants are being used by the food and pharmaceutic industries to extract relevant compounds. To be used in these industries as raw materials, it is required the non-presence of microorganisms. Therefore, it is essential that they undergo a decontamination process before entering processing lines, and these methods should not compromise their bioactive properties. In this context a non-thermal technology, gamma irradiation, was used as a decontamination procedure. For this purpose, samples of Mentha piperita L. (peppermint) was irradiated using a 60Co experimental chamber, at the doses of 1, 5, and 10 kGy. The hydroethanolic extracts were then further evaluated through the virucidal efficacy assay, using two enteric viruses – human adenovirus type-5 (HAdV-5) and murine norovirus type-1 (MNV-1, as a human norovirus surrogate). The antibacterial activity was evaluated against a set of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. For the virucidal activity, data suggested that the irradiation treatment of all species can preserve the natural properties of the plant against enteric viral pathogens. The hydroethanolic extracts of peppermint reveal a low antibacterial potential for all the tested bacteria. However, antibacterial activity of gamma irradiated samples did not affect this bioactivity for none of the microbial agents tested. Validation of antimicrobial potential of medicinal plants, after gamma irradiation processing, are scarce in the literature. This study allowed defining the influence of this treatment on the bioactive properties of peppermint.Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) and FEDER under Programme PT2020 for financial support to CIMO (UID/AGR/00690/2013), C2TN (UID/Multi/04349/2013), grant to A. Fernandes (SFRH/BPD/114753/2016) and L. Barros contract; European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) (Regional Operational Program Norte 2020, Project ValorNatural®); Rural Development Program (Project MicoCoating, PDR2020-101-031472); International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Coordinated Research Project D61024 DEXAFI.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Effects of gamma radiation on the bioactivity of medicinal and aromatic plants: Mentha × piperita L., Thymus vulgaris L. and Aloysia citrodora Paláu as case studies

Irradiation is a feasible and safe decontamination technique, being applied to several types of foods including edible and medicinal plants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different gamma radiation doses (1, 5 and 10 kGy) on the individual profile of phenolic compounds determined by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS, and the bioactive potential (cytotoxic, virucidal, and antimicrobial activities) of Aloysia citrodora Paláu (lemon verbena), Mentha × piperita L. (peppermint) and Thymus vulgaris L. (thyme). The observed cytotoxic activity varied with the plant and with the applied dose, being higher in Thymus vulgaris irradiated with 10 kGy. The virucidal activity was also dependent on the radiation dose, but was preserved with irradiation treatment. Gamma rays had no effect on the antimicrobial activity of the studied plants. Otherwise, the effects of gamma radiation on the phenolic profile were heterogeneous, with an increase in some compounds and decrease in others, depending on the species and on the radiation dose.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) and the FEDER under Programme PT2020 for financial support to CIMO (UID/AGR/00690/2013), C2TN (UID/Multi/04349/2013), L. Barros and R. C. Calhelha contracts. The authors are grateful to the FEDER-Interreg España-Portugal programme for financial support through the project 0377_Iberphenol_6_E.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Padrões de inactivação microbiana em hortelã-pimenta por radiação gama

As plantas podem ser utilizadas como aditivos alimentares e em benefício da saúde, como ingredientes em formulações de alimentos funcionais e nutracêuticos. Um dos principais problemas associado ao seu consumo e comercialização é a sua contaminação microbiana, que pode ocorrer ao longo da colheita, no processamento e na distribuição. Deste modo, torna-se necessário encontrar uma solução viável para a conservação de plantas comestíveis ou medicinais e que cumpra as normas de segurança alimentar e farmacêutica. Actualmente, o processamento de ervas e especiarias por radiação ionizante é reconhecido como uma tecnologia segura e eficaz na descontaminação e desinfecção microbiana. Porém, a maioria dos estudos em irradiação de plantas incide nos efeitos da tecnologia nas propriedades químicas das plantas. O objectivo específico deste trabalho foi estudar os padrões de inactivação por radiação gama da microbiota de Mentha x piperita (hortelã-pimenta). A metodologia seguida baseou-se na determinação da carga microbiana (bactérias mesófilas e fungos filamentosos) de amostras secas de hortelã-pimenta antes e após irradiação a várias doses de radiação gama (1,5 kGy a 10 kGy), recorrendo a métodos convencionais de cultura. As irradiações foram efectuadas num equipamento de 60Co a um débito de dose de 1,2 kGy/h. Os resultados obtidos indicaram uma cinética de inactivação não-linear (côncava) para a população bacteriana das plantas, e uma curva de sobrevivência linear para a população de fungos filamentosos. A análise da contaminação diferencial das amostras indicou após irradiação a 10 kGy, um decréscimo de 3 log em relação à carga bacteriana inicial de 5 log UFC/g, e uma redução de 2 log para a população fúngica inicial de 4 UFC/g. De referir, que não foi detectada a presença de coliformes totais nas amostras irradiadas a partir dos 1,5 kGy. As eficiências máximas de inactivação observadas nas condições do estudo foram de 99,9% para a população bacteriana e de 99% para a população fúngica. Assim, este estudo sugere a tecnologia de irradiação, como um tratamento promissor e mais amigo do ambiente, pretendendo-se validar a sua aplicação na descontaminação/desinfecção microbiana de plantas secas com interesse alimentar e medicinal, sobre as quais este tipo de processamento e seus efeitos não se encontra documentado.PRODER - Projecto AROMAP e FCT (Portugal) RECI/AAG-TEC/0400/2012 pelo apoio financeiro à execução do trabalho e à empresa “MaisErvas - Aromáticas e Medicinais” (Portugal), pela disponibilização das amostras

Effects of gamma irradiation on cytotoxicity and phenolic compounds of Thymus vulgaris L. and Mentha x piperita L.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of gamma irradiation on cytotoxicity and phenolic compounds of Thymus vulgaris L. and Menta × piperita L. (methanolic extracts), used in traditional medicine. Thirteen and fourteen phenolic compounds, including caffeoyl derivatives and flavonoid glycosides, were detected in T. vulgaris and Mentha piperita, respectively, none of which was affected by the irradiation dose used (10 kGy). Furthermore, the irradiation up to 10 kGy did not change the cytotoxic properties of peppermint samples on tumor cell lines (MCF-7, NCI-H460, HeLa and HepG2), whereas thyme samples irradiated at 10 kGy increased their cytotoxicity in the assayed tumor cell lines compared with samples submitted to 2 and 5 kGy. All in all, the dose of 10 kGy was considered as suitable to be applied for the purpose of disinfestation and microbial decontamination of these plants without modifying their phenolic composition and bioactive properties.The authors are grateful to Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support to CIMO (PEst-OE/AGR/ UI0690/2014), C2TN (RECI/AAG-TEC/0400/2012) R.C. Calhelha (SFRH/BPD/BPD/68344/2010) and L. Barros (SFRH/BPD/107855/ 2015). The authors are also grateful to Ministry of Agriculture, Portugal (Project AROMAP- PRODER/FEADER), for financial support of the work and E. Pereira and Andreia I. Pimenta grants, and to “MaisErvas - Aromáticas e Medicinais” company for providing the samples.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Avaliação dos recursos sociais e risco de desnutrição do idoso em domicílio

No final do século passado e no início do presente a nutrição é reconhecida como a base da esperança média de vida emergindo a relação nutrição e envelhecimento como uma questão de saúde pública. Evidências epidemiológicas apontam para o facto do risco de inúmeras patologias associadas ao envelhecimento poder ser minimizado por uma intervenção adequada ao nível dos estilos de vida, nomeadamente, alimentação/nutrição, atividade física, entre outros. Os aspetos sociais como a pobreza, o isolamento social, entre outros, influenciam a ingestão alimentar e, consequentemente, o estado nutricional. Foram objetivos desta investigação identificar situações de desnutrição, avaliar os recursos sociais do idoso e verificar se existiam diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre os nutridos e os desnutridos no que diz respeito aos recursos sociais acessíveis ao idoso. Para esse efeito, recolheu-se uma amostra acidental, constituída por 109 elementos, de um total de 487 idosos, com 75 anos ou mais a residir, no domicílio, no concelho de Alfandega da Fé, distrito de Bragança. Na recolha de dados, que decorreu de novembro a dezembro de 2012, foram utilizados dois questionários, o Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) desenvolvido pela Nestlé Nutrition Institute (2006) e a Escala de Recursos Sociais (OARS) desenvolvida pela Duke University Center (1978). Do total de participantes, 62,4% (68) eram do género feminino e os restantes 37,6% (41) eram do género masculino. Os resultados mostraram que 28,4% (31) dos idosos encontravam-se em risco de desnutrição e 71,6% (78) registaram um estado nutricional normal. Uma percentagem significativa (40,4%) mostrou ter recursos sociais adequados, enquanto que a maioria (59,6%) apresentou ter recursos sociais deteriorados. A maioria dos idosos apontou os filhos, a esposa e a nora como sendo os principais cuidadores, em situação de doença ou dependência. Por fim, verificou-se que o estado nutricional não é diferenciador dos recursos sociais do idoso. Após a realização deste estudo tornou-se evidente a importância de referenciar os idosos em risco e com recursos sociais deteriorados para um melhor acompanhamento por parte dos profissionais de saúde. Efetuar ações de sensibilização e educação como fazer uma alimentação saudável, incentivar o convívio social e promover a autonomia do idoso realizando ações para esse efeito é uma responsabilidade que deve ser partilhada por toda a comunidade

Effects of gamma radiation on cork wastewater: Antioxidant activity and toxicity

A comprehensive assessment of the toxicity and antioxidant activity of cork boiling wastewater and the effects of gamma radiation on these parameters was performed. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using different methodologies as DPPH radical scavenging activity, reducing power and inhibition of ß-carotene bleaching. The results have shown that gamma radiation can induce an increase on the antioxidant activity of cork boiling wastewater. Toxicity tests were performed to access the potential added value of the irradiated wastewaters and/or minimization of the impact for discharge in the environment. Two different methods for toxicity evaluation were followed, bacterial growth inhibition test and cytotoxicity assay, in order to predict the behavior of different cells (prokaryotic and eukaryotic) in the presence of cork wastewater. Non-treated cork boiling wastewater seemed to be non-toxic for prokaryotic cells (Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus subtilis) but toxic for eukaryotic cells (A549 human cells and RAW264.7 mouse cells). The gamma radiation treatment at doses of 100 kGy appeared to increase the toxicity of cork compounds for all tested cells, which could be related to a toxic effect of radiolytic products of cork compounds in the wastewaters.This work was supported by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal) through financial support of RECI/AAG-TEC/0400/2012 “Application of Ionizing Radiation for a Sustainable Environment” project. C2TN/IST authors gratefully acknowledge the FCT support through the UID/Multi/04349/2013 project. The authors are also grateful to International Atomic Energy Agency (Contract No. 16513) and to the cork industry (Amorim S.A) for allowing us to collect all the samples necessary for the accomplishment of this work.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The impact of gamma irradiation on the cytotoxic properties and phenolic composition of Thymus vulgaris L. and Menta x piperita L.

Irradiation has been increasingly recognized as an effective decontamination technique, also ensuring the chemical and organoleptic quality of medicinal and aromatic plants 1 . The use of medicinal plants in the prevention and or treatment of several diseases has revealed satisfactory results as anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, anti-cancer and antioxidant agents 2 . The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of gamma irradiation on the cytotoxic properties and phenolic composition of Thymus vulgaris L. and Menta x piperita L. (methanolic extracts). Phenolic compounds were analyzed by HPLC-DAD-ESI MS, while the cytotoxicity of the samples was assessed in MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), NCI-H460 (non-small cell lung cancer), HeLa (cervical carcinoma), HepG2 (hepatocellular carcinoma) cell lines, as also in non-tumor cells (PLP2). Thirteen and fourteen phenolic compounds were detected in T. vulgaris and M. piperita, respectively, but none of them was affected by the irradiation up to a dose of 10 kGy. However, despite there were no changes in the cytotoxic properties of irradiated peppermint samples in tumor cell lines, the thyme samples irradiated with 10 kGy showed higher cytotoxicity in comparison with the samples submitted to other doses (2 and 5 kGy). This highlights that 10 kGy can be a suitable dose to ensure the sanitary treatment, without modifying the bioactive composition and properties of these aromatic plants

Assessment of gamma radiation effects on antioxidant activity of cork wastewater

Cork cooking wastewater results from the process of boiling cork planks. It is an aqueous and complex dark liquor with high concentration of phenolic compounds such as phenolic acids and tannins [1, 2], which are known for their high antioxidant activity. The aim of this work is to perform a compreensive assessment of the effects of gamma radiation on the antioxidant activity of cork cooking water. The irradiation experiments were carried out at room temperature in a Co-60 experimental equipment (Prescisa 22, Graviner, Lda, UK), with an activity of 140 Tbq (3.77 kCi) and at a dose rate of 1.5 kGy/h, located at the Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares (Portugal). Samples of wastewater were irradiated at. three distinct. doses (10, 20 and 50 KGy) and the antioxidant activity was evaluated by in vitro assays based on different mechanisms of action: DPPH radical scavenging activity, reducing power and inhibition of β-carotene bleaching. Antioxidant capacity was compared with the physico-chemical characterization [3) of cork wastewater - Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and Total Phenolic Content. (TP) - when exposed to gamma radiation. The obtained results point out that gamma radiation induces changes in complex compounds leading to an increase in the antioxidant capacity. These results demonstrate the potential of this technology in order to increase the added value of cork wastewaters.We are grateful to FCT (Portugal) by the supporting of RECI/AAG-TEC/0400/2012 "Application of lonizing Radiation for a Sustainable Environment" project and to lnternational Atomic Energy Agency (Austria) by the supporting of CRP 1539 - F23029 "Radiation Treatment of Wastewater for Reuse with Particular Focus on Wastewaters Containing Organic Pollutants"' project.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Building a Portuguese Coalition for Biodiversity Genomics

The diverse physiography of the Portuguese land and marine territory, spanning from continental Europe to the Atlantic archipelagos, has made it an important repository of biodiversity throughout the Pleistocene glacial cycles, leading to a remarkable diversity of species and ecosystems. This rich biodiversity is under threat from anthropogenic drivers, such as climate change, invasive species, land use changes, overexploitation or pathogen (re)emergence. The inventory, characterization and study of biodiversity at inter- and intra-specific levels using genomics is crucial to promote its preservation and recovery by informing biodiversity conservation policies, management measures and research. The participation of researchers from Portuguese institutions in the European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA) initiative, and its pilot effort to generate reference genomes for European biodiversity, has reinforced the establishment of Biogenome Portugal. This nascent institutional network will connect the national community of researchers in genomics. Here, we describe the Portuguese contribution to ERGA’s pilot effort, which will generate high-quality reference genomes of six species from Portugal that are endemic, iconic and/or endangered, and include plants, insects and vertebrates (fish, birds and mammals) from mainland Portugal or the Azores islands. In addition, we outline the objectives of Biogenome Portugal, which aims to (i) promote scientific collaboration, (ii) contribute to advanced training, (iii) stimulate the participation of institutions and researchers based in Portugal in international biodiversity genomics initiatives, and (iv) contribute to the transfer of knowledge to stakeholders and engaging the public to preserve biodiversity. This initiative will strengthen biodiversity genomics research in Portugal and fuel the genomic inventory of Portuguese eukaryotic species. Such efforts will be critical to the conservation of the country’s rich biodiversity and will contribute to ERGA’s goal of generating reference genomes for European species.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio