Publications by authors named "Maria Ines Dias"

Agricultural by-products, often underutilized, represent a significant opportunity to obtain sustainable value-added products to develop new functional foods. In this context, the (typically discarded) aerial parts of tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L. var.

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Lulo or naranjilla ( Lam.) is an Andean fruit with a sour and refreshing flavor, widely used in the preparation of juices and sweets. Despite its potential for international markets, it remains largely unknown outside its native regions, and most existing studies have focused on the whole fruit or its juice.

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This investigation evaluates the valorization of citrus peels (lemon, tangerine, and orange) to recover both on-polar and polar fractions simultaneously. Citrus essential oils, abundant in limonene (74.4-33.

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This study evaluated Tripleurospermum inodorum extract for cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antibiofilm properties, alongside its phenolic profile, predicted pharmacological interactions and in vivo anti-inflammatory properties. The methanolic extract of T. inodorum was rich in apigenin derivatives, including apigenin-O-pentoside (5.

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The extraction of phenolic compounds from eucalyptus leaves was optimized using heat and ultrasound-assisted techniques, and the bioactive potential of the resulting extract was assessed. The independent variables, including time (t), solvent concentration (S), and temperature (T) or power (P), were incorporated into a five-level central composite design combined with Response Surface Methodology. Phenolic content was determined by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS and used as response criteria.

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This study evaluated the fruit by-products (peels, seeds, and fibrous strands) from 11 pumpkin genotypes cultivated in Greece aiming to valorize them as natural sources of bioactive compounds. Five compounds, including (-)-epicatechin and chicoric acid isomers, were identified in peels, while seeds and fibrous strands mainly contained (-)-epicatechin. Organic acids and tocopherols varied significantly among genotypes, with oxalic, quinic, and malic acids being predominant.

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This study provides a comprehensive characterization of L., covering the nutritional composition of the fruit and the phytochemical profiles and in vitro bioactive properties of berry and calyx extracts. The fresh fruit stood out as a source of dietary fiber (5.

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Background/objectives: Côa Valley, located in the northeast of Portugal, harbors more than 500 medicinal plant species. Among them, four species stand out due to their traditional uses: Desf. (hemorrhages, urethritis, hepatitis), L.

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Background And Aim: Papillomaviruses (PVs) infections have been documented in numerous animal species across different regions worldwide. They often exert significant impacts on animal health and livestock production. Scientists have studied natural products for over half a century due to their diverse chemical composition, acknowledging their value in fighting cancer.

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This study aimed at investigating the chemical composition and a selected group of bioactivities of jatoba ( L.) pod residue. An aqueous extract (deionized water; AE) and a hydroethanolic extract (ethanol: deionized water, 70:30 /; ETOH) were obtained via maceration.

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Polyphenolic compounds are common constituents of human and animal diets and undergo extensive metabolism by the gut microbiota before entering circulation. In order to compare the transformations of polyphenols from yerba mate, rosemary, and green tea extracts in the gastrointestinal tract, simulated gastrointestinal digestion coupled with colonic fermentation were used. For enhancing the comparative character of the investigation, colonic fermentation was performed with human, pig and rat intestinal microbiota.

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Coriander, caraway, and mystical cumin are famous for their aromatic properties and widely used in Moroccan cuisine. The nutritional/phytochemical composition of their seeds (used for food flavoring and preservation) were compared. Their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic and hepatotoxic effects were also explored.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to evaluate the effects of combining ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) with enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE) on extracting compounds from sea buckthorn berries.
  • Researchers used specialized software to optimize extraction parameters and created four different extracts to analyze the impact of pH on extraction efficiency.
  • The results showed that non-buffered extracts had the highest yields, and the combined E-UAE method produced the most potent antioxidant activity, with HPLC-MS analysis revealing a rich composition of flavonoids and polyphenolic compounds.
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This study investigated the potential of incorporating cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L.) blades as bioactive and dietary fiber ingredients in vegetable/fruit-based smoothies, within a zero-waste approach. The smoothie formulations were pasteurized by high-pressure (550 MPa for 3 min, HPP) and thermal (90 °C for 30 s, TP) treatments and stored at 4 °C for 50 days.

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Red rice has been proposed as a super-food. Accordingly, the nutritional properties (AOAC), as well as its chemical composition, including sugars (HPLC-RI), organic acids (UFLC-PDA), tocopherols (HPLD-FD), and phenolic compounds (LC-DAD-ESI/MSn), together with the main bioactive properties (antioxidant, cytotoxic, antiproliferative, and antibacterial activities), were evaluated to access its nutritional benefits and health improvement potential. The most abundant macronutrients found were carbohydrates (87.

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Olive pomace is an agro-industrial waste product generated from the olive oil industry and constituted by bioactive compounds with potential applications in several industrial sectors. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the effects of electron beam (e-beam) radiation on olive pomace, specifically on phenolic compounds (by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS) and the bioactive properties (antioxidant, antiproliferative, and antimicrobial activities) of crude olive pomace (COP) and extracted olive pomace (EOP) extracts. The amount of total flavonoid content and the reducing power of COP extracts were higher than those obtained for EOP extracts.

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Today, there is growing recognition of the importance of antioxidants in promoting human health and well-being [...

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Germination is a natural, simple, and economical process used to improve the quality of nutritional and technological grains. In this study, native and sprouted sorghum flours were characterized regarding their technological properties (particle size distribution, water, and oil absorption capacity, swelling power and solubility, microscopy of starch granules, and pasting and thermal properties). Nutritional and phytochemical characterization profiles, including free sugars, fatty acids, organic acids, tocopherols, and phenolic compounds, were explored through chromatographic methods.

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This study presents a sustainable and cost-effective method for preserving the bioactivity of phenolic compounds in olive leaves (OLE) during their application. The extraction and nanoencapsulation of OLE were performed in a single-step process using a rotor-stator system with zein as the encapsulating agent. The nanoprecipitation step was carried out using an aqueous sodium caseinate solution, resulting in spherical particles with an average diameter of about 640 nm, as confirmed by Transmission Electron Microscopy.

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The capitulum constituents (stigma, corolla, bracts, pappus, and receptacle) of seven cardoon cultivars were studied for their polyphenolic composition and bioactive properties. Fifteen phenolic compounds were identified, secoiridoid, secoxyloganin, and apigenin-O-hexuronoside in higher concentrations. The bracts had the highest concentration of phenolic compounds, and the corolla had the greatest variety.

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In this work, a comparison between the extracts of dehydrated yerba mate () and bio-waste of yerba mate leaves from the Brazilian industry was made. The incorporation of the functional extract as a preservative/functional ingredient in a pastry product (pancakes) was tested. The individual profile of phenolic compounds was determined by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS, and the bioactive potential was assessed using in vitro assays for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activities.

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The present study aims to determine the combined effect of cropping system and irrigation regime on the chemical composition and bioactive properties of lemon balm aerial parts. For this purpose, lemon balm plants were grown under two farming systems (conventional farming vs organic farming) and two irrigation levels (full irrigation vs deficit irrigation) and harvested twice throughout the growing period. The collected aerial parts were subjected to three different methods of extractions, namely infusion, maceration and ultrasound-assisted extraction and the obtained extracts were evaluated in terms of chemical profile and bioactivities.

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With great cultural significance, spirits and distillate beverages constitute an important niche market in Europe. The development of new food products, particularly for the functionalization of these beverages, is increasing exponentially. The present work aimed to develop a new wine spirit beverage aged with almond shells and flowers of for further characterization of bioactive and phenolic compounds, coupled with a sensorial study to evaluate the acceptance of this new product by the market.

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