GC- and UHPLC-MS Profiles as a Tool to Valorizate the Red Alga Asparagopsis armata

Conference Report XVI International Symposium on Marine Natural Products | XI European Conference on Marine Natural Products, 1-5 September 2019, Peniche, Portugal.Asparagopsis armata is considered a biological invader and this red alga is in the last few years one of the worst nightmares for Azores coast biodiversity. So efforts to find an economically valuable application are welcome. In this context biological evaluations of its extracts, such as anti-aging, antioxidant and anticholinesterasic activities, were recently presented [1,2]. Naturally, the knowledge of this species chemical composition is utmost importance not only to find some valuable utilization but also to discovery its mechanisms of defence that can explain its invasive behaviour. In our effort to contribute to this problem solution we establish the GC-MS and UHPLC-MS profiles of both the non-polar and polar extracts. The main compounds in the lipophilic extract were palmitic acid and 1-monopalmitin and brominated compounds dominate both extracts. The detailed results will be presented and discussed in the presentation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

An overview of Salicornia genus : the phytochemical and pharmacological profile

Copyright © 2014 Daya Publishing House.Salicornia L. (Chenopodiaceae) is a genus of annual, apparently leafless halophytic herb that have articulated and succulent stems. The Salicornia species comprise the most salttolerant land plant and frequently occur in saline areas. The use of glasswort as food is referred by the forensic palynology as a reality at least from 550 years ago. Nowadays it is much appreciated as a gourmet product in Europe but particularly in Asian countries, where is used in fresh salads and pickles. Some of the Salicornia species display applications on folk medicine (for treatment of bronchitis, hepatitis and diarrhea) and showed important biological properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic and cytotoxic activities. The phythochemical studies on this genus reported the presence of fatty acids, sterols, saponins, chlorogenic acid derivatives, alkaloids, flavonoids and other kind of phenolic compounds.The purpose of this review is to highlight the advances in Salicornia genus knowledge by presenting its biological and medicinal applications, phytochemical studies and the relationship between the isolated compounds with the described biological and/or medicinal properties.Thanks are due to the Universities of Aveiro and Azores and also to Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) and FEDER for funding the Organic Chemistry Research Unit (project PEst-C/QUI/UI0062/2011). The authors also wish to acknowledge generous contribution of José M G Pereira for the original photographs of Salicornia in Aveiro region (Ecomuseu da Troncalhada, 40° 38' 32.32" N, 8° 39' 47.52" W)

The genus Inula and their metabolites : From ethnopharmacological to medicinal uses

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The genus Inula comprises more than one hundred species widespread in temperate regions of Europe and Asia. Uses of this genus as herbal medicines have been first recorded by the Greek and Roman ancient physicians. In the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, from the 20 Inula spp. distributed in China, three are used as Traditional Chinese medicines, named Tumuxiang, Xuanfuhua and Jinfeicao. These medicines are used as expectorants, antitussives, diaphoretics, antiemetics, and bactericides. Moreover, Inula helenium L. which is mentioned in Minoan, Mycenaean, Egyptian/Assyrian pharmacotherapy and Chilandar Medical Codex, is good to treat neoplasm, wound, freckles and dandruff. Many other Inula spp. are used in Ayurvedic and Tibetan traditional medicinal systems for the treatment of diseases such as bronchitis, diabetes, fever, hypertension and several types of inflammation. This review is a critical evaluation of the published data on the more relevant ethnopharmacological and medicinal uses of Inula spp. and on their metabolites biological activities. This study allows the identification of the ethnopharmacological knowledge of this genus and will provide insight into the emerging pharmacological applications of Inula spp. facilitating the prioritirization of future investigations. The corroboration of the ethnopharmacological applications described in the literature with proved biological activities of Inula spp. secondary metabolites will also be explored.University of Aveiro, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal), the European Union, QREN, FEDER, COMPETE, for funding the Organic Chemistry Research Unit (QOPNA) (project PEst-/QUI/UI0062/2013; FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-037296). The work was also supported by a grant of UEFISCDI, Romania, PN-II-PT-PCCA-2 no. 134/2012.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Impact of a novel sugarcane straw extract-based ingredient on skin microbiota via a new preclinical in vitro model

During cosmetic product development, the impact on the skin microbiota needs to be evaluated, as it plays an important role in skin health. Clinical studies are frequently used to assess cosmetic effects, but are expensive, time-consuming and require finished ingredients, which may be a limiting factor. Thus, this study had two main objectives, the development of a preclinical in vitro model for the evaluation of the effect of cosmetic ingredients on the skin microbiota, and its use to evaluate a novel sugarcane straw extract-based ingredient. In the development of the preclinical in vitro model, the microbiota incubation time and atmospheric conditions were optimized. The model was validated using a benchmark ingredient with reported in vivo effects on skin microbiota. Then, the new sugarcane straw extract-based ingredient was tested in the model, using skin microbiota samples from 12 healthy female volunteers. The impact on microbial groups was analyzed using qPCR and next-generation sequencing. The best conditions for the in vitro model were 24 h incubation under aerobic conditions. Furthermore, the results obtained with the benchmark ingredient agreed with those obtained in vivo, thus validating our model. Sugarcane straw extract-based ingredient was found to have no effect on community α-diversity, however it appears to affect S. epidermidis. In conclusion, the developed model can be used as a tool to assess the impact of novel cosmetic ingredients on skin microbiota. Also, the novel ingredient seems to have an impact on commensal S. epidermidis.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Compounds identified on hexane and dichloromethane extracts of Salicornia ramosissima

3rd Portuguese Meeting on Medicinal Chemistry and 1st Portuguese-Spanish-Brazilian Meeting on Medicinal Chemistry, Aveiro, 28-30 Novembro 2012.Salicornia ramosissima J. Woods (common purple glasswort) is an annual halophyte, widely distributed in the salt marsh of Ria de Aveiro (Portugal), that belongs to the Salicornia L. genus (Chenopodiaceae).[4] Although phytochemical studies genus on this genus report the presence of compounds which are well-recognized for their biological activities, such as flavonoids, chromones and alkaloids,[3] too little is known about secondary metabolites on purple glasswort. In our previous work we were able to isolate and identify ethyl o-hydroxycinnamate, (E)-fatty alcohol ferulic acid and scopoletin from the dichloromethane extract of S. ramosissima aerial parts. The structure and spectroscopic characterization of some secondary metabolites isolated from dichloromethane crude extract also will be presented and discussed.Thanks are due to the University of Aveiro, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) and FEDER for funding the Organic Chemistry Research Unit (project PEst-C/QUI/UI0062/2011) and Portuguese National NMR Network (RNRMN)

Some aromatic compounds from dichloromethane extract of Salicornia ramosissima.

6th Spanish-Portuguese-Japanese Organic Chemistry Symposium, Lisboa, de 18 a 20 de Julho de 2012 (Poster Communication).Salicornia ramosissima J. Woods, is an annual halophyte, confined to saline habitats, widely distributed in the salt marsh of Ria de Aveiro (Portugal) and also present in many salt marshes of the Iberian Peninsula. Our interest in the phytochemical study of this specie, which belongs to the genus Salicornia and family Chenopodiaceae, is based on previous knowledge that plants of this genus presented compounds such as flavonoids, chromones and alkaloids which are well-recognized for their biological activities. Salicornia ramosissima was subject to some studies of growth conditions and salinity, but its phytochemical composition remains unknown. The analysis of the dichloromethane extract from S. ramosissima aerial parts allowed the isolation of some aromatic compounds, from which we present here their unequivocal structure elucidation.Thanks are due to the University of Aveiro, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) and FEDER for funding the Organic Chemistry Research Unit (project PEst-C/QUI/UI0062/2011) and Portuguese National NMR Network (RNRMN). The authors also wish to acknowledge generous contribution of José M G Pereira for the original photographs of Salicornia in Aveiro region

Synthesis and antioxidant activity of new xanthone-type compounds

3rd Portuguese Meeting on Medicinal Chemistry and 1st Portuguese-Spanish-Brazilian Meeting on Medicinal Chemistry, Aveiro, 28-30 Novembro 2012.Owing to our continuing interest in the synthesis of novel oxygen heterocycles we have recently developed a unique synthetic procedure towards the synthesis of new xanthenodiones (2)[5] and extend the work to their aromatization into xanthones (3). Our aim was also to obtain new derivatives with potential biological activities, therefore their ability to scavenge the DPPH radical and to reduce iron(III) were also evaluated. In the present communication we will present and discussed our last results on the synthetic and potential application of xanthones (3).Thanks are due to the University of Aveiro, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) and FEDER for funding the Organic Chemistry Research Unit (project PEst-C/QUI/UI0062/2011). We are also grateful to the Portuguese National NMR Network (RNRMN) supported with funds from FCT

Organic compounds isolated from Juniperus brevifolia bark

10º Encontro Nacional de Química Orgânica e 1º Simpósio Luso-Brasileiro de Química Orgânica, Lisboa, 4-6 Setembro de 2013In continuation of our study on the chemical characterization of endemic plants of the Azores archipelago, we have examined Juniperus brevifolia. Our interest in this plant was stimulated by the wide range of biological activities reported for other species of this genus and/or of their constituents. Previous work showed that leaves extracts, for instance dichloromethane extract and chloroform-soluble fraction of the acetone extract, showed high activity against HeLa and Hep-2 tumour cell lines. Chemical investigation of these extracts afforded more than thirty compounds, mainly abietane and pimarane derivatives, eight of them were new natural compounds and other exhibit interesting antitumor activity.These findings prompted us to study bark extracts.Thanks are due to Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal), the European Union, QREN, FEDER, COMPETE, for funding the Organic Chemistry Research Unit (QOPNA) (project PEst-C/QUI/UI0062/2011) and the Portuguese National NMR Network (RNRMN). M. Martins is grateful to CNPq, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico – Brasil, for the scholarship granted

Xanthenedione derivatives, new promising antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibitor agents

Natural and synthetic xanthone derivatives are well-known for their ability to act as antioxidants and/or enzyme inhibitors. This paper aims to present a successful synthetic methodology towards xanthenedione derivatives and the study of their aromatization to xanthones. Additionally their ability to reduce Fe(III), to scavenge DPPH radicals and to inhibit AChE was evaluated. The results demonstrated that xanthenedione derivative 5e, bearing a catechol unit, showed higher reduction capacity than BHT and similar to quercetin, strong DPPH scavenging activity (EC50 = 3.79 ± 0.06 μM) and it was also showed to be a potent AChEI (IC50 = 31.0 ± 0.09 μM) when compared to galantamine (IC50 = 211.8 ± 9.5 μM)