Analysis of phenolic, polysaccharidic and lipidic fractions of mushrooms from northeast Portugal

Mushrooms consumption continues to increase due to their functional benefits and presence of bioactive compounds. Herein, phenolic, polysaccharidic and lipidic fractions of wild mushrooms from Northeast Portugal (Coprinopsis atramentaria, Lactarius bertillonii, Lactarius vellereus, Rhodotus palmatus and Xerocomus chrysenteron) were analysed. Protocatechuic, phydroxybenzoic, p-coumaric and cinnamic acids were found in the phenolic fraction; ramnose, xylose, fucose, arabinose, fructose, glucose, manose, mannitol, sucrose, maltose and trehalose were quantified in polysaccharidic fraction; linoleic and stearic (only in Lactarius sp.) acids, and β- and γ-tocopherols were the main compounds in the lipidic fraction

Phenolic compounds and bioactive properties of wild German and Roman chamomiles

Natural products represent a rich source of biologically active compounds and are an example of molecular diversity, with recognized potential in drug discovery. In the present work, methanolic extracts of Matricaria recutita L. (German chamomile) and Chamaemelum nobile L. (Roman chamomile) and their decoction and infusion (the most consumed preparations of these herbs) were submitted to an analysis of phenolic compounds and bioactivity evaluation. Phenolic compounds were characterized by HPLC-DAD/ESI-MS. The bioactivity of the samples was tested in human tumour cell lines (breast- MCF-7, non-small cell lung- NCI-H460, colon- HCT-15, cervical- HeLa and hepatocellular- HepG2 carcinomas), and the hepatotoxicity was evaluated using a porcine liver primary cell culture (non-tumour cells, PLP2) [1,2]. Methanolic extracts of both chamomiles presented the highest amount of phenolic compounds compared to decoction and infusion, although varying in their composition. Furthermore, it was observed a decrease in the amount of phenolic compounds in decoction preparations of both samples. The major compounds found were luteolin O-acylhexoside in German chamomile, and 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid and an apigenin derivative in Roman chamomile. Methanolic extract and infusion preparation of both herbs showed inhibitory activity of the growth of HCT-15 and HeLa cell lines, without hepatotoxicity (GI50>400 µg/mL). Roman chamomile methanolic extract presented the highest inhibitory activity for all the cell lines (GI50400 µg/mL), which could indicate that this bioactivity might be related to the compounds (including phenolic compounds) that were not extracted or that were affected by the decoction procedure. Overall, both chamomiles, mainly the methanolic extracts, contain important phytochemicals with bioactive properties to be explored in the medicine, food, and cosmetic industries.The authors are grateful to strategic project PEst-OE/AGR/UI0690/2011 for financial support to CIMO. R. Guimarães, L. Barros and R. Calhelha thanks to FCT, POPH-QREN and FSE for their grants (SFRH/BD/78307/2011, SFRH/BPD/4609/2008 and SFRH/BPD/68344/2010). The GIP-USAL is financially supported by the Consolider-Ingenio 2010 Programme (FUN-C-FOOD, CSD2007-00063)

Multi-triangulations as complexes of star polygons

Maximal $(k+1)$-crossing-free graphs on a planar point set in convex position, that is, $k$-triangulations, have received attention in recent literature, with motivation coming from several interpretations of them. We introduce a new way of looking at $k$-triangulations, namely as complexes of star polygons. With this tool we give new, direct, proofs of the fundamental properties of $k$-triangulations, as well as some new results. This interpretation also opens-up new avenues of research, that we briefly explore in the last section.Comment: 40 pages, 24 figures; added references, update Section

Bioactivity and chemical characterization of phenolic and anthocyanin extracts of Arbutus unedo L. wild fruits

Phenolic metabolites are common constituents of fruits and vegetables, and the interest of plant phenolic extracts derives from the evidence of their potent antioxidant activity and their wide range of pharmacologic properties including anticancer, antimicrobial and platelet aggregation inhibition activities. The fruits of Arbutus unedo L. are eaten raw or made in liqueurs (1 ]. In traditional folk medicine, they are reported as having antiseptic, diuretic and laxative effects, being also used to treat arterial hypertension (2) .Moreover, the bark or roots decoctions are used as anti-inflammatory, laxative, carminative, digestive, odontalgic and cardiotonic. In this work, two different enriched phenolic extracts were prepared from A. unedo frutis, in order to evaluate and compare their bioactivity: a phenolic extract without anthocyanins (PE; with phenolic acids, flavones/ols, flavan-3-ols and galloyl derivatives) and a separate anthocyanins extract (AE). A. unedo PE presented the highest antioxidant activity in all the in vitro assays (free radicals scavenging activity, reducing power and lipid peroxidation inhibition), which could be related to the presence of galloyl derivatives. The antiproliferation activity was tested in different human tumour cell lines (breast, lung, colon, cervical and hepatocellular carcinomas), and the hepatotoxicity was evaluated using a porcine liver primary cell culture (PLP2). A. unedo PE also gave the highest antiproliferation inhibition presenting a Gl50 value=38 119/ml for NCI-H460- non-small lung carcinoma cell line, without toxicity for PLP2 (GI 50>400 119/m l). Overall, the results showed that A. unedo fruits may have great potential for food industries as a source of colors and flavors, as well as bioactive molecules such as phenolic compounds for dietary supplements or functional foods

Relationship between the occurrence of filamentous bacteria on Bathymodiolus azoricus shell and the physiological and toxicological status of the vent mussel

En libre-accès sur Archimer : http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2009/publication-6821.pdfInternational audienceThe edifice walls of the Eiffel Tower hydrothermal vent site (Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Lucky Strike vent field) are populated with dense communities of dual symbioses harboring vent mussel Bathymodiolus azoricus, some of which are covered by white filamentous mats belonging to sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. Mussels were collected in both the presence and absence of the filamentous bacteria. A sample of the filamentous bacteria was collected and water measurements of temperature, CH4 and H2S were recorded at the collection area. The whole soft tissues were analyzed for total lipid, carbohydrate and total protein. Metallothioneins and metals (Cu, Fe and Zn) levels were determined in the major organs. The results showed no significant physiological and toxicological evidence that emphasizes the influence of associated sulfur-oxidizing filamentous bacteria on B. azoricus mussel shells. However, B. azoricus mussel seems to be well adapted to the assorted physico-chemical characteristics from the surrounding environment since it is able to manage the constant fluctuation of physico-chemical compounds

Comparative study of the phenolic profile and antioxidant properties of Chamaemelum nobile: infusion, decoction, and hydroalcoholic extract

This stud} aimed to determine the phenolic composition and to evaluate the antioxidant activity o f different preparation' of Roman chamomile: infusion. decoction and methanol: water (80:20) extract. The hydroalcoholic extract revealed the highest antioxidant activity in almost all the performed assays (EC\ , ≤0.62 mg/ml. depending on the assay ). which was in agreement with its highest total content in phenolic compounds. Otherwise. decoctions presented the lowest antioxidant potential (EC50 ≤1.4S mg/mL. depending on the assay). The phenolic profile of the different preparations was identical. varying only in the concentrations found. Phenolic acids (caffooylquinic acids). flavonols (quercetin and kaempferol derivatives) and flavones (apigenin and luteolin derivatives) were found in the three preparations. The most abundant compounds in the infusion and hydroalcoholic ex tract we re 5-0 -caffeoylquinic acid and an apigenin derivative. These. as also the other phenolic compounds, decreased significantly in the decoction

Bioactivity and chemical characterization of phenolic and anthocyanin extracts of Arbutus unedo L. wild fruits

Phenolic metabolites are common constituents of fruits and vegetables, and the interest of plant phenolic extracts derives from the evidence of their potent antioxidant activity and their wide range of pharmacologic properties including anticancer, antimicrobial and platelet aggregation inhibition activities. The fruits of Arbutus unedo L. are eaten raw or made in liqueurs (1 ]. In traditional folk medicine, they are reported as having antiseptic, diuretic and laxative effects, being also used to treat arterial hypertension (2) .Moreover, the bark or roots decoctions are used as anti-inflammatory, laxative, carminative, digestive, odontalgic and cardiotonic. In this work, two different enriched phenolic extracts were prepared from A. unedo frutis, in order to evaluate and compare their bioactivity: a phenolic extract without anthocyanins (PE; with phenolic acids, flavones/ols, flavan-3-ols and galloyl derivatives) and a separate anthocyanins extract (AE). A. unedo PE presented the highest antioxidant activity in all the in vitro assays (free radicals scavenging activity, reducing power and lipid peroxidation inhibition), which could be related to the presence of galloyl derivatives. The antiproliferation activity was tested in different human tumour cell lines (breast, lung, colon, cervical and hepatocellular carcinomas), and the hepatotoxicity was evaluated using a porcine liver primary cell culture (PLP2). A. unedo PE also gave the highest antiproliferation inhibition presenting a Gl50 value=38 119/ml for NCI-H460- non-small lung carcinoma cell line, without toxicity for PLP2 (GI 50>400 119/m l). Overall, the results showed that A. unedo fruits may have great potential for food industries as a source of colors and flavors, as well as bioactive molecules such as phenolic compounds for dietary supplements or functional foods

A importância dos ácidos fenólicos na atividade anti-inflamatória de cogumelos comestíveis

Os cogumelos comestíveis são uma fonte rica de moléculas bioativas que lhes conferem importantes atividades biológicas. Moléculas como os Polissacáridos, terpenóides e os compostos fenólicos têm sido descritos como os componentes mais importantes no que respeita á atividade anti-inflamatória dos cogumelos (1). No presente trabalho, os extratos etanólicos de cogumelos comestíveis foram obtidos por maceração e caracterizados quimicamente em termos de ácidos fenólicos por técnicas de HPLC-DAD. Além disso, derivados metilados e glucuronados dos ácidos fenólicos identificados foram também sintetizados com o objetivo de mimetizar reações de metabolização no organismo e estudar a capacidade destas moléculas de manter a bioatividade exibida inicialmente. Os extratos obtidos, os ácidos fenólicos e compostos sintetizados foram avaliados pela sua atividade anti-inflamatória. De entre as amostras analisadas, B. impolitus revelou o mais elevado conteúdo em ácidos fenólicos (675 ± 23 μg/g), seguido de C. cibarius > A. caesaria > L. deliciosus > B. aereus > M. esculenta > B. edulis; devido à contribuição do ácido cinâmico que foi encontrada em maior quantidade nesta amostra (505 ± 12 μg/g). Mais ainda, B. impolitus apresentou também maior inibição da produção de NO (EC50=166 ± 10 μg/mL) seguido das amostras A. caesaria > C. cibarius > L. deliciosus > M. esculenta > B. aereus > B. edulis. No que respeita aos compostos individuais, o ácido cinâmico (CA) revelou a atividade mais forte (EC50 = 182 ± 16 μM), seguido pelos ácidos p-hidroxibenzóico (HA) (239 ± 29 μM) e p-Cumárico (CoA) (442± 33 μM), o que realça a importância destas moléculas para a atividade anti-inflamatória dos cogumelos. Comparando a atividade exibida pelos ácidos fenólicos com os respetivos derivados, é possível verificar a seguinte ordem de atividades: ácido p-hidroxibenzóico: HA > HA-M3 > HA-M2 > HA-M1 > HA-G; ácido p-cumárico : CoA-M1 > CoA-G > CoA-M2 > CoA-M3 > CoA e ácido cinâmico: CA-G > CA > CA-M1. Perante os resultados obtidos é de realçar a importância dos ácidos fenólicos na contribuição para a bioatividade exibida pelos cogumelos em estudo. Mais ainda, foi possível concluir que as alterações das moléculas pelas reações de conjugação no organismo têm influência na bioativade das moléculas iniciais, sendo que muitas vezes esta atividade é aumentada

Large atom number dual-species magneto-optical trap for fermionic 6Li and 40K atoms

We present the design, implementation and characterization of a dual-species magneto-optical trap (MOT) for fermionic 6Li and 40K atoms with large atom numbers. The MOT simultaneously contains 5.2x10^9 6Li-atoms and 8.0x10^9 40K-atoms, which are continuously loaded by a Zeeman slower for 6Li and a 2D-MOT for 40K. The atom sources induce capture rates of 1.2x10^9 6Li-atoms/s and 1.4x10^9 40K-atoms/s. Trap losses due to light-induced interspecies collisions of ~65% were observed and could be minimized to ~10% by using low magnetic field gradients and low light powers in the repumping light of both atomic species. The described system represents the starting point for the production of a large-atom number quantum degenerate Fermi-Fermi mixture

Constraining symmetron fields with atom interferometry

We apply the new constraints from atom-interferometry searches for screening mechanisms to the symmetron model, finding that these experiments exclude a previously unexplored region of the parameter space. We discuss the possibility of networks of domain walls forming in the vacuum chamber, and how this could be used to discriminate between models of screening