Nanoparticles and interfaces with toxic elements in fluvial suspended sediment

Studies examining nanoparticles (NPs) and hazardous elements (HEs) contained in suspended sediments (SSs) are vital for watershed administration and ecological impact evaluation. The biochemical consequence of titanium-nanoparticles (Ti-NPs) from SSs in Colombia's Magdalena River was examined utilizing an innovative approach involving nanogeochemistry in this study. In general, the toxicity and the human health risk assessment associated with the presence of some Ti-NPs + HEs in SSs from riverine systems need to be determined with a robust analytical procedure. The mode of occurrence of Ti-NPs, total Ti and other elements contained within SSs of the Magdalena River were evaluated through advanced electron microscopy (field emission scanning electron microscope-FE-SEM and high resolution transmission electron microscope-HR-TEM) coupled with an energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis system (EDS); X-Ray Diffractions (XRD); and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). This work showed that enormous quantities of Ti-NPs were present in the river studied and that they displayed diverse geochemical properties and posed various possible ecological dangers. Ti-NP contamination indices must be established for measuring the environmental magnitudes of NP contamination and determining contamination rank among rivers. Finally, SS contamination guidelines must be recommended on an international level. This study contributes to the scientific understanding of the relationship of HE and Ti-NP dynamics from SSs in riverine systems around the world

Eficácia dos antibióticos: a perceção do usuário das regiões do Vale do Ave e de Aveiro

Os antibióticos são um grupo de drogas de extrema importância na luta contra inúmeras infeções. No entanto, a antibiótico-terapia em grande escala proporciona uma forte pressão seletiva sobre as bactérias, o que aumenta a incidência da resistência aos antibióticos e pode, a longo prazo, comprometer sua eficácia e utilidade. Uma das principais causas de resistência aos antibióticos é o tratamento inadequado.Este trabalho é financiado por: Fundos Europeus Estruturais e de Investimento, na sua componente FEDER, através do Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (COMPETE 2020) [Projeto nº 006971 (UID/SOC/04011)]; e por Fundos Nacionais através da FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, no âmbito do projeto UID/SOC/04011/2013.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Determination and comparison of the chemical composition of Calendula L. species growing in Continental Portugal

11th National Meeting of Organic Chemistry and 4th Meeting of Therapeutic Chemistry.The flora of Continental Portugal includes three species of Calendula L. (Calendula officinalis L., C. arvensis L., C. suffruticosa Vahl), one of which comprises three subspecies (C. suffruticosa subsp. algarbiensis (Boiss.) Nyman, C. suffruticosa subsp. lusitanica (Boiss.) Ohle and C. suffruticosa subsp. cinerea (Ohle) P.Silveira & A.C.Gonç.). C. officinalis is recognised for its medical properties and its chemical composition has been widely studied (Muley, B. P., et al. J. Pharm. Res. 2009, 8, 455; Safdar, W., et al. Int. J. Cell Mol. Biol. 2010, 1, 108). Nevertheless, little is known about the chemical composition of C. arvensis and even less regarding the different subspecies of C. suffruticosa. Therefore, the present study aims the elucidation of these plants’ chemical composition and to compare and identify differences and/or similarities among them. […].Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas; Universidade de Aveiro; FCT / MEC (FCT UID / QUI / 00062/2013); UEM CESAM (UID / AMB / 50017); FEDER (Acordo de Parceria PT2020).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

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

Antioxidant activity evaluation from Artemisia gorgonum extracts

XXIII Encontro Nacional da Sociedade Portuguesa de Química. Aveiro, 12-14 de Junho 2013.Artemisia gorgonum (Asteraceae) known as “losna or lorna” is used in Cape Verde in traditional medicine to treat inflammation, fever and gastroenteritis. The antioxidant activity of methanol, 70% ethanol, chloroform-methanol and chloroform extracts from A. gorgonum leaves was evaluated using the DPPH assay and the results presented.Thanks are due to the University of Aveiro, Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), European Union, QREN, FEDER and COMPETE for funding the QOPNA research unit (project PEst-C/QUI/UI0062/2011), the CICECO (PEst-C/CTM/LA0011/2011-FCT) and CESAM

Titanium nanoparticles in sedimented dust aggregates from urban children’s parks around coal ashes wastes

Recently, an increased interest in nanoscience applications can be observed in various fields. Soils around coal power plants may contain potentially hazardous elements (PHEs) and nanoparticles (NPs), which can be neo-produced pollutants or can be a product of industrial coal utilization. While titanium (Ti)-NPs contact is a worldwide concern, transference of Ti-NPs to infants as well as their human health impact is still imprecise. In general, the toxicity and the human health risk assessment associated with the presence of some Ti-NPs, needs to be determined with a robust and fast analytical methodology. The mode of occurrences of Ti-NPs in children’s playgrounds were evaluated by advanced electron microscopy techniques (field emission scanning electron microscope-FE-SEM and high resolution transmission electron microscope-HR-TEM) coupled with an energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis system (EDS); Raman Spectroscopy (RS); and X-Ray Diffractions (XRD). The reported data showed that when the size of the NPs reduced, the ability of sedimented dust aggregates to transport PHEs increased. Carbonaceous matter and amorphous silica were the main factors that influenced the distribution of PHEs among the studied Ti-NPs aggregates. Together, the data indicate that the proportions of PHEs in sedimented urban dust in the urban area around coal power plants are mainly due to emissions related to vehicle traffic and the coal industry, representing immediate environmental risks and long-term health risks. Therefore, actions are required to monitor and mitigate the impact of Ti-NPs aggregates in the urban area and nearby ecosystems. Such pollutants are necessary to be observed as children represent a susceptible cluster likened to adults. The currently estimated risk can be influenced by factors such as absorption, form of Ti-NPs, particle fraction, particle size, and physico-geochemical properties in relation to toxicity, among others. Analysis of actual particle concentrations in human organs, as well as organ concentrations and effects in liver and the reproductive system after chronic exposure to well-characterized Ti-NPs in animals are recommended to refine this assessment

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

Nanoparticles as vectors of other contaminants in estuarine suspended sediments: Natural and real conditions

Studding the behaviour and danger of nanoparticles (NPs, minerals and amorphous phases) in the estuarine ecosystem is presently incomplete by the lack of measureable description of NPs in the ecological conditions, such as suspended-sediments (SS). In the last years, several works have revealed the toxic consequences of ultra-fine and nanoparticulate compounds on diverse systems, raising apprehensions over the nanocontaminants behaviour and destiny in the numerous ecological partitions. The general objective of the manuscript is to explain the geochemical conditions of the LES (Laguna estuarine system, southern Brazil) suspended sediments covering an area around the main South American coal plant, enhancing the creation of future public policies for environmental recovery projects. Subsequently the discharge of nanoparticles and toxic element (TE) in the ecosystem, NPs react with several constituents of the nature and suffers active alteration progressions. Contamination coming from engineering actions, wastewater, are something identifiable, however when these contaminations are accompanied by other contamination sources (e.g. mining and farming) the work gets defaulted. By combining material about the concentration of TE contaminants and NPs occurrences, this work offers novel visions into contaminant contact and the possible effects of such exposure on estuarine systems in Brazil. The results presented here will be useful for different areas of estuaries around the world

Valorization of Kiwiberry Leaves Recovered by Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction for Skin Application: A Response Surface Methodology Approach

This study aims to evaluate the optimal ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) conditions of antioxidants polyphenols from Actinidia arguta (Siebold & Zucc.) Planch. Ex Miq. (kiwiberry) leaves using a response surface methodology (RSM). The effects of solid:liquid ratio (2.5–10.0% w/v), time (20–60 min), and intensity (30–70 W/m2) on the total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant/antiradical activities were investigated. The optimal UAE conditions were achieved using a solid:liquid ratio of 10% (w/v) and an ultrasonic intensity of 30 W/m2 for 31.11 min. The results demonstrated that the optimal extract showed a high TPC (97.50 mg of gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g dw) and antioxidant/antiradical activity (IC50 = 249.46 µg/mL for ABTS assay; IC50 = 547.34 µg/mL for DPPH assay; 1440.13 µmol of ferrous sulfate equivalents (FSE)/g dw for ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP)) as well as a good capacity to scavenge superoxide and hypochlorous acid (respectively, IC50 = 220.13 μg/mL and IC50 =10.26 μg/mL), which may be related with the 28 phenolic compounds quantified. The in vitro cell assay demonstrated that the optimal extract did not decrease the keratinocytes’ (HaCaT) viability, while the fibroblasts’ (HFF-1) viability was greater than 70.63% (1000 µg/mL). This study emphasizes the great potential of kiwiberry leaves extracted by UAE for skin application.Ana Margarida Silva (SFRH/BD/144994/2019) and Diana Pinto (SFRH/BD/144534 /2019) are thankful for their Ph.D. grants financed by POPH-QREN and subsidized by the European Science Foundation and Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior. Manuela M. Moreira (CEECIND/02702/2017) and Francisca Rodrigues (CEECIND/01886/2020) are thankful for their contracts financed by FCT/MCTES—CEEC Individual Program Contract. The authors also thank the project SYSTEMIC “An integrated approach to the challenge of sustainable food systems: adaptive and mitigatory strategies to address climate change and malnutrition”. The Knowledge hub on Nutrition and Food Security has received funding from national research funding parties in Belgium(FWO), France (INRA), Germany (BLE), Italy (MIPAAF), Latvia (IZM), Norway (RCN), Portugal (FCT) and Spain (AEI) in a joint action of JPI HDHL, JPI-OCEANS and FACCE-JPI launched in 2019 under the ERA-NET ERA-HDHL (no. 696295).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A Green and Simple Protocol for Extraction and Application of a Peroxidase-Rich Enzymatic Extract

Recently there is a great social expectation that scientists should produce more sustainable and environmentally friendly chemical processes. Within this necessity, biocatalysis presents many attractive features because reactions are often performed in water, under mild conditions, the catalyst is biodegradable and can be obtained from renewable raw materials. In this work, we propose a simple, rapid and low-cost method for the preparation and application of an enzymatic extract from turnip root. The protocol described includes (1) the preparation of the enzymatic extract, (2) the procedure for the assessment of the more favorable working parameters (temperature, pH) and (3) the methodology for the application of the extract as the catalyst for biotransformation reactions. We anticipate that the protocol in this research will provide a simple way for obtaining an enzymatic extract which can operate efficiently under mild conditions and can effectively catalyze the biotransformation of simple phenols.This research was funded by FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, the European Union, QREN, FEDER, COMPETE, by funding the cE3c centre (UIDB/00329/2020), the LAQV-REQUIMTE (UIDB/50006/2020) and QOPNA (FCT UID/QUI/00062/2019) research units.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio