Artigos em revistas internacionais
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Browsing Artigos em revistas internacionais by Field of Science and Technology (FOS) "Ciências Naturais::Ciências Biológicas"
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- Microalgae and cyanobacteria as natural sources of antioxidant enzymes and enzyme inhibitors for Alzheimer's and diabetesPublication . Odenthal, Kilian; Nunes, Emmanuel; Nunes, Nuno; Fernandes, Tomásia; Fernandes, Igor A.; Carvalho, Miguel A. A. Pinheiro de; Nunes, Nuno; Fernandes, Tomásia; Almeida Pinheiro de Carvalho, Miguel AngeloMicroalgae and cyanobacteria biomass can be cultivated in large amounts, producing a variety of bioactive compounds. As a result, various industries have begun to study the potential of this biomass in a wide range of applications such as biofuel production, environmental remediation for contaminated soil and water, food supplements, and as a source of feed for aquaculture. The cultivation conditions have a profound impact on microalgae biochemical composition. Therefore, the culture conditions must be tailored to the specific appli cation of the biomass. This entails careful control of factors such as light exposure, nutrient concentration, and the application of stress conditions. To further enhance the value of microalgae biomass beyond its nutritional analysis, this review aims to explore the potential of the biomass as biofactories for producing antioxidant en zymes and inhibitors targeting Alzheimer's and diabetes diseases. Both chronic diseases are a growing concern due to an aging population and an increase in obesity rates. Microalgae when exposed to stressful conditions enhance the activity of antioxidant enzymes. However, further studies in the isolation and storage of these en zymes need to be performed. From the literature reviewed microalgae exhibited great potential in inhibiting key enzymes involved in Alzheimer's and Diabetes. The inhibitory potential was observed both in vitro and at a cellular level making them a promising natural alternative to current medication used to inhibit these enzymes.
- Microplastic ingestion and plastic additive detection in pelagic squid and fish: implications for bioindicators and plastic tracers in open oceanic food websPublication . Sambolino, Annalisa; Iniguez, Eva; Herrera, Inma; Kaufmann, Manfred ; Dinis, Ana; Cordeiro, Nereida ; Sambolino, Annalisa; Iñiguez Santamaría, Eva; Kaufmann, Manfred; cordeiro, nereidaThe ubiquitous presence of microplastics (MPs) in the ocean represents a potential threat to marine organisms, with poorly understood long-term adverse effects, including exposure to plastic additives. The present study investigated the ingestion of MPs in two epipelagic fish species (Trachurus picturatus and Scomber colias) and three pelagic squid spe cies (Loligo vulgaris, Ommastrephes caroli and Sthenoteuthis pteropus) from an open oceanic region of the Northeast Atlan tic. Seven phthalate esters (PAEs) were also analysed in the organisms' tissue, and the potential correlation between PAEs concentrations and ingested MPs was investigated. Seventy-two fish and 20 squid specimens were collected and analysed. MPs were found in the digestive tract of all species and in the squid species' gills and ink sacs. The highest occurrence of MPs was in the stomach of S. colias (85 %) and the lowest in the stomach and ink sac of O. caroli and L. vulgaris (12 %). Most of the particles identified (>90 %) were fibres. Among all the ecological and biological factors considered (dietary preferences, season, body size, total weight, liver weight, hepatosomatic index and gastrosomatic index), only gastrosomatic index (GSI) and season were significant predictors of MPs ingestion in fish species, with a greater likelihood of ingestion in the cold season and in specimens with higher GSI values (i.e. higher feeding inten sity). Four PAEs (DEP, DIBP, BBP, DEHP) were detected in all the species analysed, with average ∑PAEs concentrations ranging between 10.31 and 30.86 ng/g (wet weight). DIBP was positively correlated with ingested MPs, suggesting this compound might represent a “plastic tracer”. This study looks into the problem of MPs ingestion for pelagic species in an open oceanic region, highlighting the most suitable bioindicators and providing essential insights into the factors that may influence ingestion rates. Additionally, the detection of PAEs in all species indicates the need for further re search on the contamination sources, the effects of these chemicals on marine organisms, and the potential risks to human health through seafood consumption.
- Polystyrene microplastic particles in the food chain. Characteristics and toxicity: a reviewPublication . Siddiqui, Shahida Anusha; Singh, Shubhra; Bahmid, Nur Alim; Shyu, Douglas J.H.; Domínguez, Rubén; Lorenzo, Jose M.; Pereira, Jorge A. M.; Câmara, José S.; Augusto Machado Pereira, Jorge; Câmara, JoséPolystyrene (PS) is a crucial material for modern plastic manufacturers, but its widespread use and direct discard in the environment severely affect the food chain. This review provides a detailed study on the impact of PS microplastics (PS-MPs) on the food chain and the environment, including information on their mechanism, degradation process, and toxicity. The accumulation of PS-MPs in organisms' different organs leads to various adverse reactions, such as re duced body weight, premature deaths, pulmonary diseases, neurotoxicity, transgenerational issues, oxidative stress, metabolic alterations, ecotoxicity, immunotoxicity, and other dysfunctions. These consequences affect diverse ele ments in the food chain, spanning from aquatic species to mammals and humans. The review also addresses the need for sustainable plastic waste management policies and technological developments to prevent the adverse im pacts of PS-MPs on the food chain. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of developing a precise, flexible, and effective methodology for extracting and quantifying PS-MPs in food, considering their characteristics like particle size, polymer types, and forms. While several studies have focused on the toxicity of polystyrene microplastics (PSMPs) in aquatic species, further investigation is required to understand the mechanisms by which they are transferred across multiple trophic levels. Therefore, this article serves as the first comprehensive review, examining the mecha nism, degradation process, and toxicity of PS-MPs. It presents an analysis of the current research landscape of PS MPs in the global food chain, providing insights for future researchers and governing organizations to adopt better ap proaches to managing PS-MPs and preventing their adverse impacts on the food chain. As far as we know this is the first article on this specific and impactant topic.
- Volatilomic fingerprinting from edible flowers. Unravelling some impact compounds behind its attractivenessPublication . Izcara, Sergio; Perestrelo, Rosa; Morante-Zarcero, Sonia; Sierra, Isabel; Câmara, José S.; Câmara, José; Perestrelo, RosaIn recent years edible flowers emerged in gourmet cuisine, giving any dish the beauty of attractive colours, freshness, texture, and aromatic notes. Moreover, they also constitute a potential source of phytochemical compounds associated with beneficial effects on human health. In this work, the volatilomic fingerprinting of 4 different species of edible flowers [blue mallow (Malva sylvestris L.), pomegranate flower (Punica granatum L.), hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L.), and nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.)] used in gourmet dishes, was estab lished, and comparatively investigated. The volatile metabolites were extracted by solid-phase microextraction in headspace mode and identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to understand the chemistry behind its attractiveness better. A total of 78 volatile metabolites, belonging to diverse chemical groups were identified. Blue mallow is mainly characterised by sesquiterpenoids (61.5% of the total volatile fraction), whereas in flowers from pomegranate, hibiscus, and nasturtium, terpenoids (56.6%), carbonyl compounds (88.0%) and organo sulfur compounds (98.0%) are the dominant chemical groups, respectively. In blue mallow flowers, τ-muurolene and valencene are the dominant volatiles, followed by α-cubebene and δ-cadinene. Pomegranate flowers are rich in furfural and linalool, while the aldehydes 2-hexenal, hexanal and 2-octenal are dominant volatile metabolites in hibiscus. Benzyl isothiocyanate, a potent antimicrobial agent, accounts for 98% of the total volatile fraction of nasturtium flowers. In addition to flavour notes, some of the identified volatile metabolites present bioactive properties, which could be explored for application in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. The volatile metabolites profiles combined with unsupervised principal component analysis facilitated the differ entiation of the edible flowers under investigation, revealing the most related volatile metabolites of each sample, which can be used as markers for the authentication of these valuable food samples.