Universidade da Madeira
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Browsing Universidade da Madeira by Field of Science and Technology (FOS) "Ciências Agrárias"
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- Establishment of authenticity and typicality of sugarcane from Madeira Island, and its derivative sugarcane honey, based on molecular, chemical and chemometric analysisPublication . Silva, Pedro Miguel Capêlo da; Câmara, José de Sousa; Nunes, Fernando Hermínio Ferreira MilheiroFood authenticity has become a worldwide concern, foresting the importance of the development of strategies to guarantee the quality and safety of food products. The purpose of this doctoral thesis was the establishment of the typicality and authenticity of sugarcane cultivars from Madeira Island, and its main derivative, sugarcane honey. The followed strategy was based on the identification of typical volatile, sugars and furan derivatives profiles in sugarcane honey processed by the certified producer Fábrica Mel-de-Cana Ribeiro Sêco, and compare it with sugarcane-based syrups from non-certified regional producers and from producers from different geographical regions. Also, the typical volatile profile throughout all stages of sugarcane honey processing were identified during four years, allowing the evaluation of influence of each stage in the formation of its typicality. In addition, the typical volatile profile of all sugarcane cultivars currently cultivated in Madeira Island were identified, namely amarela, canica, roxa, radiada, verde and violeta. Different analytical methodologies based on effective extractive techniques and high-resolution chromatographic methods were successfully developed, optimized and validated, namely solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the volatile profile, microextraction by packed sorbent combined with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detector for the furan derivatives profile, and ultrasound-assisted liquid-liquid extraction combined with liquid chromatography with a refractive index detector for sugars profile. Furthermore, an innovative and powerful Quality-by-Design approach was selected for development of the methodologies used for quantitation of furan derivatives and SGs. An exhaustive chemometric analysis based on one-way ANOVA, principal component analysis, partial least squares, linear discriminant analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis was successfully applied to recognize the typical profiles of sugarcane honey. This doctoral thesis represents the first attempt to define the typicality, authenticity and traceability of sugarcane honey from Madeira Island, providing a highly valuable information to support its European Union certification.
- Exploring the potential of regional fruits as powerful sources of health-promoting bioactive compoundsPublication . Figueira, José Aldónio Oliveira; Câmara, José de SousaThe work developed along the PhD, aimed the evaluation of the phytochemicals composition in fruits from regular consumption produced in Madeira Island, lemon (Citrus limon var. eureka), tangerine (Citrus reticulata var. setubalense), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum var. gordal) , pitanga (Eugenia uniflora var. red) and uva-da serra (Vaccinium padifolium), and its potential bioactivity. To achieve the proposed aims, diverse analytical approaches were developed and validated. Lycopene (727.1±13.8 mg/g), β-carotene (80.4±1.4 mg/g) and α-, γ-, δ tocopherols were determined by LLUSAE/UHPLC-PDA/FLR, in tomatoes. For tocopherols this methodology presented LODs about 1000 times lower than those reported in literature, allowing the determination, for the first time, of δ-tocopherol in tomato. QuEChERS combined with LC-ESI/MS/MS was applied to determine the free low molecular weight phenolics in uva-da-serra. Twenty-six phenolic compounds were identified, being chlorogenic acid (17.4mg/g) the predominant. The volatile composition of uva-da-serra and tangerine (129 volatiles), was established by HS-SPME/GC-qMS. Moreover, an emerging extraction technique, NTME, was used for the first time, to define the volatomic profile of foodstuff (lemon - 75 volatiles). The volatile profile highlights terpenes as the dominant chemical family, and the relevant presence of phytochemicals with reported health-promoting benefits, such as limonene (lemon) and thymol (tangerine). The volatomic profile of uva-da-serra was analysed for the first time, being identified 72 volatiles. In addition, application of multivariate statistical analysis to the data results, allow the identification of variables that were able to differentiate among fruits according to species, variety, sample type, and ripening stage, supporting the certification of their origin and authenticity, and improving crop quality. The total phenolics, antioxidant, antidiabetic and antihypertensive activities of the target fruits confirmed the health-promoting potential of these fruits, highlighting the potential of added-value of the targeted fruit extracts, constituting a natural biosource of compounds to be used in different fields including food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries.
- O valor cultural das plantas autóctones no Arquipélago da MadeiraPublication . Sousa, Sandro Paulo Figueira de; Nascimento, Maria Teresa Duarte de Jesus Gonçalves doO estudo da importância cultural das plantas autóctones concorre para a sua valorização e a da floresta que integram e, por sua vez, esta revalorização da floresta e da paisagem natural representa uma contribuição para as apostas do futuro na cultura e na sustentabilidade. Através de uma análise multidisciplinar, focada na Gestão Cultural, e atenta às diversas vertentes da cultura, é possível olhar para os produtos culturais e perceber em que medida isto é relevante. Ao longo de seis séculos de ocupação humana do arquipélago da Madeira, as manifestações culturais aí desenvolvidas tiveram influência do ambiente natural envolvente, incluindo as plantas, que adquiriram aplicações utilitárias e simbólicas. Logo no início do povoamento, as plantas foram protagonistas na toponímia. As madeiras valiosas que deram o nome à maior ilha e ao arquipélago, ao longo dos séculos, propiciaram o desenvolvimento de vários e importantes ofícios, suportaram múltiplas atividades quotidianas e tradicionais e foram aplicadas em obras que se encontram, hoje, dignamente musealizadas. Durante séculos, os madeirenses, a partir da sua herança cultural, recorreram às propriedades medicinais, tintureiras e condimentares das plantas nativas que, em muitos casos, são comuns ao Mediterrâneo, chegando, em situações de maior dificuldade, a introduzir na gastronomia raízes e tubérculos que, ainda hoje, podem ser pretexto para a dinamização cultural de algumas localidades. As plantas nativas madeirenses tiveram representação em obras de arte e literatura e um lugar no paisagismo local, com destaque nas quintas, mas também noutros pontos do mundo, onde o seu valor ornamental é apreciado. O vasto conjunto estudado, de objetos e práticas, vivas ou abandonadas, assim como a potencialidade de novas criações da relação dos madeirenses com o meio natural, teriam um enquadramento justo num ecomuseu.