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Evaluation of Rubus grandifolius L. (wild blackberries) activities targeting management of type-2 diabetes and obesity using in vitro models

Publication . Spínola, Vítor; Pinto, Joana; Llorent-Martínez, Eulogio J.; Tomás, Helena; Castilho, Paula C.

Rubus grandifolius Lowe (wild blackberries) is an endemic species from Madeira Archipelago (Portugal) used in folk medicine for alleviating diabetic complications. In this work, R. grandifolius methanolic extracts were analysed for in vitro inhibitory effect on digestive enzymes linked to type-2 diabetes, as well as aldose reductase activity and protein glycation. The phenolic composition, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities were also determined. Methanolic extracts exhibited strong inhibition of glucosidases (α- and β), but were less potent for α-amylase and pancreatic lipase when compared to current pharmaceutical drugs. The total phenolic content determined by HPLC-DAD varied between 92.96 - 97.47 and 118.01-137.41 mg g-1 of dry extract for berries and leaves, respectively. Fifty polyphenols were quantified, anthocyanins and ellagitannins being the main compounds. Cyanidin-3-glucoside was identified as one of the main hypoglycaemic and hypolipidemic agents in all extracts. R. grandifolius also prevented glycation of bovine-serum albumin (BSA) and showed strong radical scavenging activity against tested free radicals. At low concentration, the extracts were not cytotoxic against Caco-2 cells. Based on the results of this study, wild blackberry extracts demonstrated a potential beneficial effect on the control/management of type-2 diabetes mellitus, validating their use in folk medicine.

2019Journal article

Restricted access

Establishment of Monstera deliciosa fruit volatile metabolomic profile at different ripening stages using solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Publication . Spínola, Vítor; Perestrelo, Rosa; Câmara, José S.; Castilho, Paula C.

The volatile metabolomic profile of Monstera deliciosa fruits (M. deliciosa, ceriman) at three ripening stages, ripe, half-ripe and unripe, was established using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) combined with gas chromatography–quadrupole mass spectrometry detection (GC–qMS). To obtain the optimal HS-SPME conditions, the main experimental parameters that influence the extraction efficiency and experimental response were analyzed. The highest extraction efficiency was achieved with 1 g of ceriman sample, using a polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene (PDMS/DVB) fiber for 60 min at 40 °C with 15% NaCl (w/w). After optimization, all ceriman samples were analyzed with the best extraction conditions that allowed to identify 80 volatile metabolites (VOMs), belonging to different chemical groups namely ethyl esters (88.61–77.94%), terpenoids (18.08–9.83%), carbonyl compounds (3.41–1.05%), higher alcohols (1.41–0.51%) and lactones (0.14–0.03%). Thirty-eight of the identified volatile metabolites (47.50%) have not been reported in M. deliciosa, so far, providing a more complete characterization of its volatile composition. The predominant VOMs identified in M. deliciosa fruits were ethyl butanoate, linalool, ethyl hexanoate, ethyl 2-methyl butanoate, butanoic acid, ethyl benzoate and propyl butanoate. Remarkable differences were found in both the quantitative and qualitative composition of M. deliciosa fruits at different ripening stages. Principal component analysis (PCA) provided a suitable tool to differentiate the volatile profile of target fruits among three ripening stages.

2015Journal article

Restricted access

Changes in the phenolic compositions of Elaeagnus umbellata and Sambucus lanceolata after in vitro gastrointestinal digestion and evaluation of their potential anti-diabetic properties

Publication . Spínola, Vítor; Pinto, Joana; Llorent-Martínez, Eulogio J.; Castilho, Paula C.

In this work, the phenolic composition of E. umbellata leaves and berries is reported. Berries were rich in flavonols, whereas leaves presented abundant flavonols and ellagitannins. Then, the enzyme-inhibitory properties, anti-glycation and antioxidant activities of E. umbellata and Sambucus lanceolata (its phenolic profile has been already established in a previous work) were tested by several in vitro assays and compared. The simulated gastrointestinal digestion resulted in a decrease on their phenolic composition. Nevertheless, both species still had the ability to inhibit aldose reductase activity and protein glycation and scavenge free radicals at the end of the process. Thus, the potential beneficial effects of E. umbellata and S. lanceolata seems to be kept to some extent after passage throughout the digestive system. Altogether, this study provides further insight into investigation of these species as dietary sources of bioactive compounds to lower the risk of type-2 diabetes and obesity.

2019Journal article

Open access

Antioxidant polyphenols of Madeira sorrel (Rumex maderensis): How do they survive to in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion?

Publication . Spínola, Vítor; Llorent-Martínez, Eulogio J.; Castilho, Paula C.

In this work, we report the phytochemical profile and antioxidant activity of different morphological parts of Rumex maderensis Lowe (Polygonaceae), a wild leafy-vegetable growing in Madeira Island (Portugal). Methanol extracts from leaves, flowers, and stems were submitted to high-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry detection to obtain the phytochemical profile, which allowed the identification of 86 polyphenols (about 70% C- and O-flavonoids) and 9 non-phenolic compounds. In vitro antioxidant activities were measured against ABTS, DPPH, nitric oxide and superoxide free radicals. Then, the samples were subjected to an in vitro digestion, observing a decrease of about 50% in both the content of phenolics and the antioxidant activity. However, relevant antioxidant capacity was still observed after the simulated digestion. Therefore, this study supports the consumption of R. maderensis as an interesting foodstuff and a dietary source of antioxidant phytochemicals that survive the gastrointestinal digestion process.

2018Journal article

Open access

Inhibition of α-amylase, α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase by phenolic compounds of Rumex maderensis (Madeira sorrel). Influence of simulated gastrointestinal digestion on hyperglycaemia-related damage linked with aldose reductase activity and protein glycation

Publication . Spínola, Vítor; Llorent-Martínez, Eulogio J.; Castilho, Paula C.

In this work, we report the in vitro inhibitory potential of Rumex maderensis methanolic extracts (leaves, flowers, and stems) towards key digestive enzymes linked to type-2 diabetes and obesity (α-amylase, α-glucosidase, pancreatic lipase). The inhibitory activity towards aldose reductase and glycation of bovine serum albumin (BSA) is also reported; in these latter assays, the effect of simulated digestion on the bioactivities was evaluated. The inhibitory activities of R. maderensis extracts were statistically compared with the inhibition produced by reference compounds for each assay. The analysed extracts exhibited significant inhibitory activities, which decreased after the gastrointestinal digestion, possibly due to some loss of phenolics that took place during the digestion process. The most important results were observed during the BSA-glycation assay, in which the analysed extracts presented higher potency than a reference compound: aminoguanidine (AMG). This research is the first showing the potential anti-diabetic activity of R. maderensis.

2020Journal article

Open access