Article
Chemistry, Applied
Zekun Zhou, Dong Yang
Summary: Ultrasound assisted anthocyanin isolation was optimized using time, ethanol concentration, pH, and temperature. The optimal condition was found to be at a material liquid ratio of 1:15, using 78.9% ethanol and pH 7.0 at 63.8 degrees C for approximately 48 minutes. This method improved the extraction efficiency of anthocyanins and resulted in the identification of two additional anthocyanins. It is an economical, eco-friendly, and efficient isolation method.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Maura Ferri, Vasco Lima, Alessandro Zappi, Ana Luisa Fernando, Dora Melucci, Annalisa Tassoni
Summary: In the past 20 years, researchers have shown increased interest in using different types and combinations of enzymes to extract phenolic compounds from grape pomace. This study aimed to improve the recovery of phenolic compounds from Merlot and Garganega pomace using five commercial cellulolytic enzymes. The results showed that the enzyme/substrate ratio and incubation time had significant effects on the extraction yield, and the use of different enzymes resulted in different compositions of the extracts. The enzymatic and acetone extracts were found to be complex mixtures of compounds.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Diletta Balli, Lorenzo Cecchi, Marzia Innocenti, Maria Bellumori, Nadia Mulinacci
Summary: This study focused on pasta fortified with grape pomace or olive pomace, which retained phenolic compounds after cooking and increased fiber content. The enriched pasta showed good cooking resistance and texture, enhancing the nutritional profile of a staple food.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Angela Punzo, Emanuele Porru, Alessia Silla, Patrizia Simoni, Paola Galletti, Aldo Roda, Emilio Tagliavini, Chiara Samori, Cristiana Caliceti
Summary: This study focused on the extraction and utilization of polyphenols from grape pomace, revealing that new formulations based on natural deep eutectic solvents showed promising antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties for cosmeceutical applications.
Article
Polymer Science
Gianluca Viscusi, Elena Lamberti, Carmela Gerardi, Giovanna Giovinazzo, Giuliana Gorrasi
Summary: Novel bio-based hydrogel beads were fabricated using soybean extract and Lambrusco grape extract, and their physical properties, swelling degree, and release kinetics were studied. pH-sensitive properties of the hydrogel beads were determined through spectroscopic analysis. The study opens new possibilities for the design and fabrication of active materials from food industry by-products.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jorge Santos, Danilo Escobar-Avello, Pedro Magalhaes, Jorge Manuel Martins, Julia Gonzalez-alvarez, Luisa Hora de Carvalho
Summary: The study aims to valorize grape canes through alkali extraction, and the results demonstrate that steam pressure alkali extraction is a simple and environmentally friendly method that can efficiently extract high-value compounds.
FOOD AND BIOPRODUCTS PROCESSING
(2022)
Article
Ophthalmology
Meiqi Fan, Su Ah. Kim, Young-Jin Choi, Yujiao Tang, Hyun Pil Yang, Eun-Kyung Kim
Summary: This study investigated the clinical efficacy of anthocyanin oligomers for the treatment of dry eye disease. It was found that anthocyanin oligomers were safe and effective in improving various clinical indices and symptoms of mild-to-moderate dry eye patients. Oral administration of anthocyanin oligomers can enhance therapeutic effect and improve patients' quality of life.
CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL OPHTHALMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mingyue Li, Xinjie Zhao, Yuxia Sun, Zhen Yang, Guomin Han, Xue Yang
Summary: The study found that adding sinapic acid and grape tannins to cherry wine can help maintain a high fraction of colored forms of anthocyanins, maximizing color intensity and improving product quality.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Hatice Betul Yeler, Sebahattin Nas
Summary: This study aimed to determine the optimal parameters for producing food colorant from grape pomace and investigated the phenolic components and antioxidant activity. The most suitable extraction conditions for anthocyanins were found to be at 50 degrees C, 180 min, and 50:50 solvent ratio.
FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Valery A. Dyatlov, Victoria G. Kharitonova, Darya Kupriyanova, Efrem G. Krivoborodov, Igor A. Derevnin, Alexey I. Kovalev, Irina A. Khotina
Summary: Ethyl 3-alkoxy-2-cyanopropanoates were synthesized via the reaction of ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate with linear alkanols C6-C12 in an acidic medium. Treatment of these compounds with water as a weak nucleophile led to the formation of oligocyanoacrylates terminated with alkoxy groups by eliminating the alkanol. The oligomers were characterized using NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, MALDI-TOF mass-spectrometry, and dynamic light scattering.
MENDELEEV COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Noelia Cambeiro-Perez, Maria Figueiredo-Gonzalez, Maria Rosa Perez-Gregorio, Catarina Bessa-Pereira, Victor De Freitas, Borja Sanchez, Elena Martinez-Carballo
Summary: Apples, rich in phenolic compounds, have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities. This study found that apple extracts inhibit the release of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1 beta in THP-1 macrophages and have differential effects on cellular metabolism.
FOOD RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Diogo Sousa, Nuno Basilio, Joana Oliveira, Victor de Freitas, Fernando Pina
Summary: The kinetics and thermodynamics of pH-dependent reversible and irreversible processes leading to color fading of certain dyes are investigated. The disappearance of quinoidal bases occurs in three distinct steps upon the addition of base.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Luis Cruz, Nuno Mateus, Victor de Freitas
Summary: In this study, a natural polysaccharide (alginic acid) was chemically modified with 3-aminophenylboronic acid to create a bifunctional material for pH-dependent selective interaction with colored cyanidin-3-glucoside. The results showed that the modified alginate exhibited enhanced stability in the interaction with the anthocyanin dye.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fernanda M. F. Roleira, Saul C. Costa, Ana R. Gomes, Carla L. Varela, Cristina Amaral, Tiago Augusto, Georgina Correia-da-Silva, Isabella Romeo, Giosue Costa, Stefano Alcaro, Natercia Teixeira, Elisiario J. Tavares-da-Silva
Summary: New steroidal aromatase inhibitors (AIs) were synthesized and tested. Carbonyl group at C-11 position and C-ring epoxides were found to be more effective in aromatase inhibition. Compound 7 exhibited the strongest AI activity with an IC50 of 0.011 μM, outperforming the clinically used AI Exemestane with an IC50 of 0.050 μM. A-ring epoxides were found to be less potent than A-ring olefins. 713-methyl substitution was shown to be more effective than 7 alpha-methyl substitution in aromatase inhibition.
BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Fernando Pina, Nuno Basilio, A. J. Parola, Maria J. Melo, Joana Oliveira, Victor de Freitas
Summary: Blue was the last color to be spread in Nature by anthocyanins, and the last color to be managed by Humans in Anthropocene. It took a long time for humanity to figure out how to reproduce and use blue, but plants developed strategies like intramolecular copigmentation and metalloanthocyanins to achieve the color. Blue was absent in early cave paintings and came later than red and green in LEDs and LASERs. It was only in the late 20th century that genetic engineering created blue flowers and blue remains sought after as a natural alternative to synthetic colorants. Despite being second-rate in the West, blue is now the preferred color in many countries.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Monica de Jesus, Carlos Guerreiro, Elsa Brandao, Nuno Mateus, Victor de Freitas, Susana Soares
Summary: The interaction between phenolic compounds and salivary proteins affects astringency perception. Green tea extract binds to oral cell models cumulatively, with increased salivary flow enhancing the binding capacity. Different salivary proteins may play different roles in the enhanced astringency perception.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Rodrigo T. Neto, Sonia A. O. Santos, Joana Oliveira, Armando J. D. Silvestre
Summary: The molecular characteristics of proanthocyanidins, especially mean degree of polymerization (mDP), significantly influence their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Conventional extraction techniques cannot overcome the compositional variabilities in proanthocyanidin extracts. Eutectic solvents, a new class of solvents, can be customized for specific applications. By adjusting the eutectic solvent's composition, proanthocyanidins with specific mDP values can be obtained regardless of the raw material. The use of a quaternary eutectic solvent system successfully standardized proanthocyanidin extracts' mDP from grape pomace, overcoming the limitations of conventional solvents.
JOURNAL OF FOOD COMPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cristina Amaral, Georgina Correia-da-Silva, Cristina Ferreira Almeida, Maria Joao Valente, Carla Varela, Elisiario Tavares-da-Silva, Anne Marie Vinggaard, Natercia Teixeira, Fernanda M. F. Roleira
Summary: This study investigates the anti-cancer properties and multi-target potential of compound 1 alpha,2 alpha-epoxy-6-methylenandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione (Oxy) in breast cancer cells. The results show that Oxy acts as an ER alpha antagonist and AR agonist, suggesting it could be a new multi-target drug. Furthermore, Oxy has the ability to sensitize AI-resistant breast cancer cells.
Article
Integrative & Complementary Medicine
Hassan El-Abid, Cristina Amaral, Sara C. Cunha, Georgina Correia-da-Silva, Jose Fernandes, Mohieddine Moumni, Nattercia Teixeira
Summary: This study investigated the hydroethanolic extracts of Juniperus oxycedrus L., a common Mediterranean tree, and found that they have anti-cancer and antioxidant properties in ER+ breast cancer cells, suggesting their potential therapeutic role as an adjunct treatment for this type of cancer.
JOURNAL OF HERBAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Humanities, Multidisciplinary
Rafael Javier Diaz Hidalgo, Ricardo Cordoba, Hermine Grigoryan, Marcia Vieira, Maria J. Melo, Paula Nabais, Vanessa Otero, Natercia Teixeira, Sara Fani, Hossam Al-Abbady
Summary: This paper systematically summarises the medieval preparation of black writing inks found in a thirteenth-century Andalusian technical treatise. The study focused on iron gall inks based on galls and used a multi-analytical approach to characterise them. The results showed that gallotannins are the main compounds in the gall extracts, with gallic acid as a minor component.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joao Maia, Fabio Arturo Iannotti, Fabiana Piscitelli, Bruno Miguel Fonseca, Antonio Braga, Jorge Braga, Natercia Teixeira, Vincenzo Di Marzo, Georgina Correia-da-Silva
Summary: Preeclampsia (PE) is a disease with a long history, but there are still a lack of biomarkers to determine its severity and type. The importance of the expanded endocannabinoid system (eCBome) has recently emerged in placental physiology and pathology, but its potential alterations in PE have not been fully explored. This study for the first time demonstrates the presence of certain eCBome members in both normotensive and PE placental tissues and suggests their potential role as biomarkers of PE.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ana Rita Pereira, Carina Costa, Nuno Mateus, Victor de Freitas, Alirio Rodrigues, Joana Oliveira
Summary: Large amounts of vine shoots generated during vine pruning still contain compounds from the original plant, including phenolic compounds and structural compounds like cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. This study proposes the extraction of lignin from vine shoots for the production of nanoparticles, using ethanol/toluene and water/ethanol as solvents. The lignin nanoparticles showed excellent antioxidant properties and the extracts from biomass pretreatment also exhibited antioxidant activity. Overall, this work contributes to the integral reuse of vine shoot byproduct, promoting sustainability.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Cristina Ferreira Almeida, Natercia Teixeira, Maria Joao Valente, Anne Marie Vinggaard, Georgina Correia-da-Silva, Cristina Amaral
Summary: Estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer accounts for 70-85% of cases and combining CBD with aromatase inhibitors (AIs) may improve treatment effectiveness. CBD potentiates the anti-tumor effects of exemestane (Exe) by modulating cell death and specific targets such as ERa and AR. This study highlights the potential benefits of combining CBD with Exe and suggests new therapeutic approaches using cannabinoids.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bruno M. Fonseca, Niloy Bhowmick, Sara Cunha, Joao Maia, Georgina Correia-da-Silva, Natercia Teixeira, Susana I. Sa
Summary: Steroid hormones can modulate the ECS, with estrogen increasing the expression of CB1 and CB2 receptors and altering the levels of AEA. This study investigated the mechanisms of ECS fluctuations in the central nervous system and examined the effects of TAM on AEA regulation. The results suggest that TAM disrupts cyclic fluctuation and reduces AEA levels in all brain areas, with differential effects in the hypothalamus and pituitary gland.
Review
Food Science & Technology
Alphonse Laya, Honore Wangso, Iva Fernandes, Raphael Djakba, Joana Oliveira, Eugenia Carvalho
Summary: This study explores the potential use of traditional fermented condiments as an adjuvant treatment for obesity and type 2 diabetes. The collected data on bioactive compounds in these condiments demonstrate their promising antiobesity and antidiabetic effects, both in animal, human, and clinical studies.
JOURNAL OF FOOD QUALITY
(2023)
