Nutraceutical Potential of Phenolics from `Brava´ and `Mansa´ Extra-Virgin Olive Oils on the Inhibition of Enzymes Associated to Neurodegenerative Disorders in Comparison with Those of `Picual´ and `Cornicabra´

The increasing interest in theMediterranean diet is based on the protective effects against several diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders. Polyphenol-rich functional foods have been proposed to be unique supplementary and nutraceutical treatments for these disorders. Extra-virgin olive oils (EVOOs) obtained from 0Brava0 and 0Mansa0, varieties recently identified from Galicia (northwestern Spain), were selected for in vitro screening to evaluate their capacity to inhibit key enzymes involved in Alzheimer0s disease (AD) (acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX)), major depressive disorder (MDD) and Parkinson0s disease (PD) (monoamine oxidases: hMAO-A and hMAO-B respectively). 0Brava0 oil exhibited the best inhibitory activity against all enzymes, when they are compared to 0Mansa0 oil: BuChE (IC50 = 245 ± 5 and 591 ± 23 mg.mL-1), 5-LOX (IC50 = 45 ± 7 and 106±14 mg.mL-1), hMAO-A (IC50 = 30 ± 1 and 72 ± 10 mg.mL-1) and hMAO-B (IC50 = 191 ± 8 and 208 ±14 mg.mL-1), respectively. The inhibitory capacity of the phenolic extracts could be associated with the content of secoiridoids, lignans and phenolic acids.This work received financial support from Programa de Cooperación Interreg V-A España—Portugal (POCTEP) 2014–2020 (projects Ref.: 0181_NANOEATERS_01_E and Ref: 0377_IBERPHENOL_6_E)

Characterization of virgin olive oils produced with autochthonous Galician varieties

The interest of Galician oil producers (NW Spain) in recovering the ancient autochthonous olive varieties Brava and Mansa has increased substantially in recent years. Virgin olive oils produced by co-crushing both varieties in two different proportions, reflecting the usual and most common practice adopted in this region, have gradually emerged for the production of virgin olive oils. Herein, the sensory and chemical characteristics of such oils were characterized by quality and genuineness-related parameters. The results of chemical analysis are discussed in terms of their effective contribution to the sensory profile, which suggests useful recommendations for olive oil producers to improve the quality of oils. Antioxidant compounds, together with aromas and coloured pigments were determined, and their contribution in determining the functional value and the sensory properties of oils was investigated. In general, given the high levels of phenolic compounds (ranging between 254 and 375 mg/kg oil), tocopherols (about 165 mg/kg oil) and carotenoids (10-12 mg/kg oil); these are oils with long stability, especially under dark storage conditions, because stability is reinforced with the contribution of chlorophylls (15-22 mg/kg oil). A major content of phenolic compounds, as well as a predominance of trans-2-hexen-1-al within odor-active compounds (from 897 to 1645 μg/kg oil), responsible for bitter sensory notes. This characterization allows to developing new antioxidant-rich and flavour-rich VOOs, when co-crushing with a higher proportion of Brava olives, satisfying the consumers' demand in having access to more healthy dishes and peculiar sensory attributes

Evaluation of the neuroprotective and antidiabetic potential of phenol-rich extracts from virgin olive oils by in vitro assays

In this work, phenol-rich extracts from ‘Cornicabra’ and ‘Picual’ virgin-olive oils (EVOOs) were examined, for the first time, to establish their capacity to inhibit key enzymes involved in Alzheimer's disease (AD) (acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) and 5-lipoxygenase (LOX)), major depressive disorder (MDD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) (monoamine oxidases: hMAO-A and hMAO-B respectively), and diabetes mellitus (DM) (α-glucosidase and α-amylase). ‘Cornicabra’ displayed the best inhibitory activity against all enzymes, when compared to ‘Picual’: BuChE (IC50 = 156 ± 4 and 308 ± 33 mg mL−1), LOX (IC50 = 26 ± 0.5 and 37 ± 3 mg mL−1), hMAO-A (IC50 = 20 ± 2 and 37 ± 0.2 mg mL−1), hMAO-B (IC50 = 131 ± 7 and 215 ± 13 mg mL−1) and α-glucosidase (IC50 = 154 ± 17 and 251 ± 31 mg mL−1), respectively. The behaviour observed can be associated with the higher content of secoiridoids, lignans and phenolic acids in ‘Cornicabra’ EVOO.POCTEP | Ref. 0377_IBERPHENOL_6_EFundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia | Ref. UID/QUI/50006/2013Norte Portugal Regional Operational Programme | Ref. NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000024Xunta de Galici

Implementación del aprendizaje basado en proyectos en la enseñanza de química analítica: Un caso práctico

La estrategia metodológica del aprendizaje basado en proyectos (ABP) se ha implementado para abordar la parte práctica de una asignatura de Química Analítica, con el objetivo de generar un aprendizaje más efectivo, motivar a los estudiantes, potenciar su creatividad y análisis crítico, y promover el trabajo colaborativo. El ABP puede aportar un valor añadido a las asignaturas que tengan cierto carácter experimental, ya que proporciona un contexto interesante para el trabajo práctico y anima a los estudiantes a: formular preguntas; discutir ideas; definir sus objetivos; elegir las muestras a analizar y la herramienta analítica a utilizar para resolver el problema; diseñar y planificar sus experimentos; generar, recoger y analizar datos; sacar conclusiones; comunicar sus resultados; e identificar posibles mejoras. En esta comunicación se describirá el contexto en el que se ha aplicado el APB, cómo se realizó la implementación del mismo en la asignatura de “Metodologías Bioanalíticas Avanzadas” (3er curso del Grado en Bioquímica de la Universidad de Granada) y se finalizará con algunas reflexiones y valoraciones globales, así como con las conclusiones alcanzadas tras esta experiencia.Fil: Olmo García, Lucía. Universidad de Granada; EspañaFil: Serrano García, Irene. Universidad de Granada; EspañaFil: Monasterio, Romina Paula. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza; ArgentinaFil: Reboredo Rodríguez, Patricia. Universidad de Vigo. Escuela de Ingenieria de Minas y Energia.; EspañaFil: Carrasco Pancorbo, Alegría. Universidad de Granada; Españ

Singular olive oils from a recently discovered Spanish North-Western cultivar: an exhaustive 3-year study of their chemical composition and in-vitro antidiabetic potential

In this work, the quality and physicochemical parameters, phenolic composition, and antidiabetic potential of olive oils obtained from olives belonging to centenarian olive trees of the so-called ‘Mansa de Figueiredo’ cultivar were evaluated during three consecutive crop seasons (2017–2019). The oils produced during the three crop years were classified as extra virgin based on the quality-related indices, sensory analysis, and the genuineness-related parameters. In addition, LC-ESI-TOF MS was used to get a comprehensive characterisation of the phenolic fraction while LC-ESI-IT MS was applied for quantitation purposes. The content of phenolic compounds (ranging from 1837 to 2434 mg/kg) was significantly affected by the harvest year due to the environmental conditions and ripening index. Furthermore, although significant differences in the inhibitory effects against the α-glucosidase enzyme for the EVOOs extracted throughout the three successive years were detected, all the studied EVOOs exhibited a stronger inhibitor effect than that found for acarbose.Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. RTI2018-098633-B-I00FEDER/Junta de Andalucía | Ref. P20_00263FEDER/Junta de Andalucía | Ref. B-AGR-416-UGR18Ministerio de Universidades | Ref. FPU19/0070

Industrial-Scale Decontamination Procedure Effects on the Content of Acaricides, Heavy Metals and Antioxidant Capacity of Beeswax

María Dolores Navarro-Hortal is a FPU fellow from the Spanish Ministry of Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades. We acknowledge Nutraceutical Translations for English language editing of this manuscript.Beeswax is useful for the beekeeping sector but also for the agro-food, pharmaceutical or cosmetics sectors. Frequently, this bee product is contaminated with pesticides reducing its utility and causing the decline in its market. This study aimed to prove the effectiveness of an industrial-scale decontamination method in removing acaricides from beeswax. Chlorfenvinphos and coumaphos decrease was higher than 90%, whereas tau fluvalinate decrease was only 30%. No changes were observed in the beeswax content of hydrocarbons and monoesters, whereas a decrease in the concentrations of Ca, Fe, Zn, Hg, Mn and P, and an increase in the concentrations of As and Si were found after the decontamination. Filtration reduced total phenolics, flavonoids and the antioxidant capacity of the lipophilic extract. These results demonstrate that the industrial method used was as effective as the method previously tested on a laboratory scale. The study also contributes to a better knowledge and characterization of beeswax, specially related to trace and ultra-trace elements and antioxidant capacity. Moreover, it offers the chance to further develop a method to effectively detect wax adulterations based on the chemical elements profile.The present study was partially funded by the “National Beekeeping Aid Program (Programa Nacional de Ayudas a la Apicultura)”, cofounded by the European Union and assigned to Spanish FEGA and FEAGA agencies (2016)

Phenolic Compounds Isolated from Olive Oil as Nutraceutical Tools for the Prevention and Management of Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have become the largest contributor to worldwide morbidity and mortality. Among them, cancer and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are responsible for a 47% of worldwide mortality. In general, preventive approaches modifying lifestyle are more cost-effective than treatments after disease onset. In this sense, a healthy diet could help a range of NCDs, such as cancer and CVDs. Traditional Mediterranean Diet (MD) is associated by the low-prevalence of certain types of cancers and CVDs, where olive oil plays an important role. In fact, different epidemiological studies suggest that olive oil consumption prevents some cancers, as well as coronary heart diseases and stroke incidence and mortality. Historically, the beneficial health effects of virgin olive oil (VOO) intake were first attributed to the high concentration of monounsaturated fatty acids. Nowadays, many studies indicate that phenolic compounds contained in olive oil have positive effects on different biomarkers related to health. Among them, phenolic compounds would be partially responsible for health benefits. The present work aims to explore, in studies published during the last five years, the effects of the main phenolic compounds isolated from olive oil on different cancer or CVD aspects, in order to clarify which compounds have more potential to be used as nutraceuticals with preventive or even therapeutic properties

Beeswax by-Products Efficiently Counteract the Oxidative Damage Induced by an Oxidant Agent in Human Dermal Fibroblasts

The antioxidant capacity and the phytochemical composition of two by-products from beeswax recycling processes were recently investigated. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the efficacy of one of these by-products, MUD1, against the oxidative stress induced by 2,20-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) in human dermal fibroblast (HDF) cells. After a preliminary viability assay, the protective effect of MUD1 was investigated through the measurement of apoptosis level, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitrite (NO2-) production, the level of protein and lipid biomarkers (carbonyl groups, total glutathione and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance) of oxidative damage, and the measurement of antioxidant enzymes activities (glutatione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione transferase, superoxide dismutase and catalase). The obtained results showed that MUD1 exerted protective effects on HDF, increasing cell viability and counteracted the oxidative stress promoted by AAPH-treatment, and improved mitochondria functionality and wound healing capacities. This work shows the antioxidant effects exerted by beeswax by-products, demonstrating for the first time their potential against oxidative stress in human dermal fibroblast cells; however, further research will be necessary to evaluate their potentiality for human health by more deeply in vitro and in vivo studies.The present study was partially funded by the “National Beekeeping Aid Program (Programa Nacional de Ayudas a la Apicultura)”, cofounded by the European Union and assigned to Spanish FEGA and FEAGA agencies. Patricia Reboredo-Rodríguez acknowledges award of a post-doctoral contract from Xunta de Galicia

¿Cómo afrontar la enseñanza de la Calibración Metodológica en Química Analítica?: Visión compartida por distintas docentes del área

Esta contribución surge como consecuencia de que distintas profesoras que desarrollamos la totalidad o, al menos, parte de nuestra actividad docente en el ámbito de la Química Analítica, hemos compartido recientemente nuestras experiencias a la hora de explicar a los estudiantes los diversos tipos de calibración metodológica que existen y cuándo es más conveniente aplicar uno u otro. Resultó muy enriquecedor comparar cómo se abordaba la enseñanza de las metodologías de calibración y cuantificación analítica (principalmente calibración con patrones externos, calibración con patrón interno y calibración con adición de patrón) en las distintas universidades, qué resultados se obtenían y cuáles eran las principales dificultades surgidas (junto con posibles soluciones).En el presente trabajo nos centraremos en: -ver cómo se diseña la enseñanza de este tema en distintas materias de nuestras universidades (que difieren, lógicamente, en el número de estudiantes matriculados y número de créditos asignados); -valorar si sería suficiente impartir clases expositivas (lecciones magistrales) donde se expliquen los diferentes tipos de calibración, sus características y necesidades específicas para que el alumnado obtenga las herramientas para discernir cuándo corresponde utilizar cada uno; -recalcar la relevancia de resolver ejercicios prácticos (de aula) para comprender cuándo un resultado nos está indicando que debemos utilizar otro método de calibración; -identificar qué actividades prácticas de laboratorio organizábamos en cada sede universitaria y si nos parecían suficientes; -así como en enumerar las principales dificultades que habíamos observado, intentando proponer acciones de mejora eficaces. Todo lo aquí expuesto nos llevó a identificar muchos aspectos en común en el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje de la calibración analítica indirecta independientemente de la universidad considerada y a diseñar estrategias de aprendizaje que podrían resultar de gran utilidad en el futuro próximo.Fil: Olmo García, Lucía. Universidad de Granada; EspañaFil: Serrano García, Irene. Universidad de Granada; EspañaFil: Reboredo Rodríguez, Patricia. Universidad de Granada; EspañaFil: Carrasco Pancorbo, Alegría. Universidad de Granada; EspañaFil: Monasterio, Romina Paula. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza; Argentin